10 Cliff

"Who are you?"

Those were the first words out of Gregor's mouth.

"Erm... Your "attendant."

"Does attendant mean jailer?" Gregor narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"Yes." Hazel seemed flustered, scratching the back of her head.

Gregor sighed. "Where are my friends?"

"I don't know. You want some cheese?"

Caught off guard by the unexpected change, Gregor asked, "Cheese?"

"Yeah." Hazel tossed a wheel at his head. The cheese was roughly the size of a small pizza. It was white, with brownish-blue splotches. Gregor caught it and held it up to Hazel.

"How do I-" He cut off midsentence as a knife plunged into the middle.

Bemused, and a little in awe, Gregor cut the cheese.

Only now did he think about using the knife to overpower Hazel and escape.

Like she could read his thoughts, Hazel remarked, "Don't even think about it," Hazel said, a bow in her hand. "I'm not your enemy here. They are."

"They?"

"Ugh. I'll explain later. For now, just follow me."

Gregor recounted his options. Follow Hazel to an unknown location, or stay incarcerated in this room.

It was a simple choice.

"Where are we going?" Gregor asked.

Hazel didn't reply, for she had attached a wad of leaves to the wall and lit them on fire.

"Stand back," Hazel warned, backing up to the other side of the room. Gregor obeyed. He still didn't know all the plants in the Underland; for all he knew, those leaves could kill him instantly.

But that was unlikely, as Hazel probably wouldn't kill herself along with Gregor. A soft explosion echoed through the room. Gregor looked at the door.

It was gone.

"Come on," Hazel muttered as she drew her bow. Armed with only a knife, Gregor felt exposed.

The other side of the door led to a long, dark cave. Without shoes, every step Gregor took felt like he was walking on Legos.

Something moved around 30 yards in front of them. Hazel nocked an arrow in one fluid motion and let it loose, exterminating the thing that moved.

Gregor's mind wandered. While thinking about the Prophecy of Night, he almost walked off the edge of a cliff.

Who put a cliff there?

Gregor would have died if Hazel hadn't pulled him back.

"Thanks," Gregor gasped. He was not a fan of falling off cliffs.

Hazel nodded toward the cliff. "Now we have to get down there."

Gregor cursed softly. He had become quite nervous by heights ever since the Rat Battle, around a year ago.

Gregor saw something

A flash of movement in the cave.

Tried to warn Hazel

"Haz-" Gregor was cut off, as a spear almost shish-kabobed him. Spinning away, Gregor slashed his assailant's jaw with his knife.

The attacker retreated, giving Gregor time to think. It was evident that they were soldiers. Soon, the soldiers came back, with a few more people. They were fully decked out, with armor, shields, and swords. It would be almost impossible to beat them all, even with Gregor's rager abilities.

The soldiers waited, jabbing their spears, forcing Gregor and Hazel back toward the cliff. There was nowhere to run.