Chapter 518
chapter518
“Hello. Are you this girl’s guardian? I’m Sarah Quillen. I happened to be passing through the area…” After a brief introduction, Sarah provided a concise summary of the incident she had witnessed earlier involving the village children.
“Oh… Thank you so much. I… I must get you something to drink!” The frail woman attempted to rise from the bed, but her strength failed her, and she sank back into the pillows, trembling.
“Please, just rest,” Sarah insisted, gently easing her back down. She then signaled Suri to share a significant portion of the provisions they had brought with the struggling household.
Suri hesitated for a split second, but the resolute determination in Sarah’s eyes left no room for argument.
“You are so generous… like guardians sent to help us in our darkest hour,” the woman murmured, her eyes welling with tears. Being confined to her bed by illness meant she had been unable to secure basic needs, making Sarah’s arrival a literal lifeline.
“It’s no trouble at all. Here, please try to eat,” Sarah said, handing her a fresh roll before sitting down to talk.
She learned that the girl’s name was Amy Hedge. Amy had once been a bright eighteen-year-old, but a severe incident involving a local group a year ago had left her in a fragile, vulnerable state of mind. The woman was Amy’s aunt, though she had raised her with all the devotion of a mother.
The aunt sighed, her voice heavy with weariness. “Eastern Star Mountain has been neglected for too long. Because we are remote, the usual protections of the city don’t reach us. Over the years, a group calling themselves the ‘Star Hounds’ has taken control of the area. Their leader, a man known as Mr. Hound, has imposed his own harsh rules on the people here.”
“He is the one responsible for Amy’s condition,” she continued, her voice trembling. “And now, even the younger generation has begun to mirror that cruelty. It feels as though hope is fading.”
Sarah felt her blood boil with indignation. She found it difficult to grasp that such systemic intimidation could still exist unchecked. How can someone be so heartless?
Just then, a series of heavy, aggressive footsteps sounded outside. A moment later, a loud, metallic thud echoed as someone kicked the door, followed by a threatening shout: “Everyone out! You know the price for ignoring the Star Hounds!”
“It’s Mr. Cobra!” The aunt’s face turned deathly pale, and she began to shake uncontrollably.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here, and I won’t let them intimidate you,” Sarah said, standing up to confront the intruders. She was appalled by their arrogance. They think they can rule this mountain through fear? Let’s see how they handle a Quillen.
“No, please!” The aunt somehow found the strength to grab Sarah’s sleeve. “You don’t understand how dangerous Cobra can be to outsiders! Especially someone like you, Ms. Quillen. If they see you, they will only find more reasons to cause trouble.”
Suri also stepped in Sarah’s path, her expression one of extreme caution. If anything happened to Sarah in this remote village, the consequences for the Quillen family—and the region—would be catastrophic.
Realizing that a reckless confrontation might put the family she was trying to help in even more danger, Sarah forced herself to remain calm and stayed hidden behind a partition for the moment. The aunt signaled for Amy to open the door.
As the door swung open, the leader of the group—Cobra’s son, the oldest of the children from earlier—immediately pushed past Amy with a sneer.
“You think finding an outsider to speak for you changes anything? You still owe the toll!” He began to harass Amy again, pushing her aside with a rough lack of concern for her wellbeing.
Sarah’s hands clenched into fists, her eyes blazing with fury. She wanted to step out and put an end to this blatant injustice right then and there, but Suri held onto her arm with all her strength, silently urging her to wait for a more strategic moment to intervene. I can't let Miss Sarah risk herself until we know exactly what we're up against.