"We can't expect any help. The Sunless people are anything but warm-hearted. We just have to hope no one notices us as we pass." Julian said and took a deep breath.
Will distanced himself slightly from the group, and Katherine, seizing the opportunity, whispered anxiously, "We can't stop for long. We're entering Sunless territory, and Edmund warned us about the Bamboo Forest bandits."
Julian placed a reassuring hand on Katherine's shoulder. "We need to rest. The path to the Fires Mountains is long and exhausting. We must endure..."
He trailed off as a sudden burning sensation in his neck was followed by dizziness. It took only a moment for them both to collapse.
"You should've taken the priest's warning seriously."
A dark-skinned young man lifted Katherine and Julian by their legs. "You go after the other one," he said to Clarissa, his voice stern. As he dragged Julian and Katherine behind him with his powerful arms, he reminded her, "Don't forget the horses."
Clarissa followed the path Will had taken, pulling out her blowpipe. She quickly fired a tranquilizing dart at him, and Will collapsed to the ground. But before Clarissa could reach him, a deadly blow struck her back. Blood soaked her clothes as the pain radiated through her body, her veins pulsing in agony. She fell to the ground, writhing, and died before she could see her killer's face.
Meg pulled her axe from Clarissa's back and wiped it clean on her clothes. Despite her slight frame, she hoisted Will onto her shoulder and began to walk.
***
Meg sat down in front of Will. "They've taken your parents... Do you want me to turn you in, too, or are you going to shut up?"
Will hesitated for a moment, then asked worriedly, "Who? Who took them?"
Meg remained calm. "Bandits."
Will frowned and asked no more. He didn't dare to ask what would happen to his family.
Seeing the fear on Will's face, Meg smirked. "I said bandits, not cannibals."
"What will they do with them?" Will asked again.
"Ozhem has fallen into darkness... The surrounding lands are all talking about the return of the wizard."
Will stared at Meg, feeling a coldness creeping into his hands and feet as he waited for her to continue.
"The Ozhemians are known for their peacefulness and warmth, but now they're spreading the word, putting up posters of the victim everywhere."
She gave Will a meaningful look.
Will was now sure that, as Edmund had warned, the victim could only be him and that all of Ozhem was mobilizing to hunt him down. He began to suspect that Meg intended to turn him in, which was a good reason why she had imprisoned him.
Reading his thoughts, Meg said, "If I wanted to hand you over, I had plenty of time to do it while you were unconscious."
It made sense, but now a new question formed in William's mind: "So why did you imprison me?"
Meg pulled her chair closer, her eyes locking onto Will's. "You're free to go... But I tied you up because you might change your mind and decide to come with me so I can save you."
"Can you really save me?" Will asked, his hope and desperation growing.
"Not exactly... But I can take you to someone who can."
"Who is it?"
"The ruler of the Sunless; Griffin Quillon."
William recalled his parents' warnings about the Sunless people. They were untrustworthy and ruthless, and Will couldn't imagine what kind of a monster their ruler must be.
"I can't trust him," Will said.
"That's your choice. You can trust your own people and be sacrificed to the witch, or you can go to the Immortals' Castle and have a chance at survival."
Meg didn't need to spend much time convincing William. He had no other option. William couldn't trust anyone and didn't know how to escape this predicament without his parents. Meeting Griffin Quillon was a risk he had to take for the sake of his life and his family.