When William woke up he immediately felt the warmth of the bonfire burning in front of him. He blinked, for a moment didn't know what had happened to him. His body was leaning against something, perhaps a tree trunk, while his head was still dizzy. He turned his head, and saw the yellow-haired girl sitting not far from him. She was eating something and her eyes glanced sharply when she saw William lift his head.
All of his memories came back, from how he got here and how that girl had beaten him. He straightened up. His hand rose to grip his aching jaw. Then he realized, both his wrists were bound by a strong coil of plant roots. William looked down. His ankles and his knees were tied with the same root.
He glanced at the yellow-haired girl who was still chewing. It was clear that he was helpless and a prisoner. Even if his enemy was just a woman, and William hadn't been killed by her, there was still a high chance that she would kill him later or do something terrible. Then he tried to think clearly. There was a possibility this girl didn't intend to kill him though. Maybe she's just scared and tied William so he wouldn't do anything to her.
The girl continued to stare at him, as if trying to study William, then pointed to something burning above the campfire. "Fish. Eat."
William glanced at a skewer of fish that was being grilled. The sweet smell pierced his nose, provoking his rumbling stomach asking to be filled. But he didn't want to react. It must be clear first whether this girl really had no bad intentions towards him, only then would William accept her offer.
"Take it," said the girl again louder.
William shook his head. "Who are you?"
The girl stopped chewing. She took a fish skewer from the fire and threw it at William. The fish fell right into his palm. Of course, it's hot. William groaned, tossing the fish several times in the air, before finally being able to hold the skewer perfectly.
"Hey!" he cried angrily. "Can't you give it better? This is food!"
"Eat!"
"If I don't want to, then what are you going to do?"
The girl drank her wine. "I'm angry."
"Why are you angry?"
"Because you don't do what I say."
"So what if you're angry?"
"I will hit you."
William laughed. "So I really have to eat. Then, after that?"
The girl shrugged. "Do you want me to hit you more?"
"I mean, what do you want from me? Why did you capture me?"
"I don't want to capture you," the girl said.
"Then why are you doing this?"
"Because you came to this place. You shouldn't be," the girl stared. Then she said again, "After eat, you go."
"I go when I want to," said William.
"You have to go."
"Why?"
"Or my friends will kill you," the girl replied flatly.
William nodded, now getting wary. "A lot of them?"
"What?"
"Are there a lot of them?"
"Lots."
"Are they here?"
The girl looked at William again. "Soon."
"Why did they come?" William kept asking.
"Because they want to."
"Do you want to rob villages again?"
The girl's facial expression changed. Now she looked angry. "You ask too many questions. I caught you, I should be the one asking you."
"Well, if you want to chat, you can untie me first," said William. "We can chat as friends."
The girl shook her head. "I already know you. So you eat, then go. If you stay here until morning, you will die."
William froze. The girl's threat looked serious. It seemed true that Hualeg's men has started to arrive in the south. William knew he had to leave quickly and then report this to his comrades in the village, so they could get ready. But he wondered, why did the girl let him go? Not holding him or even killing him? Was it because the girl was actually not as bad as he thought?
Another question arises, why was that girl doing here? Was she looking for something, or was she just making this house her resting place? How did she get here? William didn't see any other boats on the riverbank, so maybe she wasn't alone. There were her friends around this river, who were probably wandering off somewhere.
William ate the fish. He glanced at the wooden house behind the girl. It was his old house, and he wanted to go in to have a look. He probably wouldn't remember anything, but at least there was something in there that could remind him of his father or mother. But the Hualeg girl would definitely not allow it. He firmly wanted William to go, and he agreed, he had to go.
William took a sip of his drink, then thanked her.
The girl unhesitatingly broke the bonds in William's hands and feet with her sword.
William stood up and looked at the tall girl who was also standing in front of him. "You let me go. Aren't you afraid I'll attack you?"
"No," the girl answered.
"Of course, since you're still holding my sword. That one. I can't ask it back, can I?" William tried to joke. "But, I can still attack you without a sword."
"Go."
"You know, maybe we'll meet again later."
"Maybe," the girl replied flatly.
"And fighting again," William continued.
"Maybe."
"And maybe to death."
The girl pondered. "Yes."
"Could be ... later I have to kill you."
This time the girl did not answer.
"So, don't you regret releasing me?"
The girl sighed softly. "No."
William shook his head. "I'm the one who will regret it if I ever do that to you. I won't kill you, not even hurt you! Tonight you did good to me, and I will remember it. So when we meet at the worst possible time, I'll be nice to you. I promise."
"You don't need to promise anything."
"That's up to me."
"Go."
William nodded and then left. He walked down a dark path, circling the undergrowth until he came to the bank of the river. The boat was still moored there. He untied it then jumped up. While preparing to row, he saw the yellow-haired girl standing not far from him. The girl's beautiful face was exposed to the moonlight. William smiled at her, but the girl didn't reply.
William took the boat away. A strange feeling came over him. He really hoped that some of the words he had said to the girl weren't true. He didn't want to see her again in battle, he didn't want to meet her at the worst possible moment. He just wanted to be friends with her, if he could.
Even if it's just hope.
The girl was a Hualeg, and she was his enemy.