"Ah, yes. To the point. I'm looking for a stone. A magic stone. Do you know of it?"
Jon remained very calm -- it was almost like he'd stepped out of his own skin -- and so said, "Stone?" He paused as he watched the strange man lift a flute to his lips, then lightning-quick (Guess all that silly practice with toy guns as a kid paid off, he thought) dropped his hand to his pocket and said, "I wish you'd go away and never come back!" A small flash of light escaped his pocket, around his wrist.
The man's eyes widened, and a blast of green energy surrounded him; but when it faded, nothing had happened. The strange man at first seemed surprised, but recovered quickly. "Nice try, boy, but my flutes protect me. You'll hand over that stone shortly -- I think I'll name you Megan." He began to play the flute.
Suddenly, a flash of blue light surrounded Jon. When it faded, Jon was still standing there, now completely taken aback. That was nothing compared to the look on the man's face. "How?!" was all he managed.
Jon recovered his wits and took stock of the situation. For whatever reason, his wish hadn't worked. On the other hand, the other man had tried ... something ... and it was equally useless. However, numbers favored the older man.
Jon bravely raced back to his room, slammed the door shut, locked it, and dragged the dresser in front of it. Behind him, he could hear the man yell, "After him, my servants! Bind him, and bring me his stone and then him!"
Jon pulled the stone from his pocket and quickly said...
