The announcement echoed through the city's central square like thunder. A soldier rang a handbell in the middle of the pza at the foot of Hawk's statue before reading the edict to the te-night crowd, who had gathered in confusion, while others peered through their windows. Some were fearful, and others specuted about the reason for such a procmation. The soldier began to read from the scroll:

  " By order of His Excellency, Governor Hawk, representative of His Majesty the King of Engnd, the people of Tiburón Bay are hereby informed that Sammy Van Buuren, granddaughter of the outw Balin Van Buuren, will be executed at dawn unless he surrenders to the authorities. Anyone aiding in her hiding or escape, or that of her grandfather, will be executed. All citizens are required to report their whereabouts. Failure to do so will be severely punished."

  A murmur spread through the crowd, quickly turning into a tumult of worried voices. At the Swan Pond Tavern, the air was lively, thick with the scent of rum and raucous conversation, but suddenly, the news spread, and many began to leave. Sally was tending the bar when she noticed the mood shift and even the pce starting to empty.

  "Martha, what's going on?" Sally asked, puzzled, while vigorously wiping a mug to fill it with beer.

  "The governor made a procmation,"the waitress answered.

  "About what? And at this hour? Did the king die?"

  The waitress shrugged just as Cody came running in.

  "It's Sammy, they're going to execute her at dawn," he shouted, panting.

  The mug slipped from Sally's hands, shattering against the floor.

  "What?"she asked in disbelief.

  "A Hawk's guard just announced it. They say it's because of her grandfather,"Cody continued, his face flushed from running.

  "Her grandfather? That poor old man is a ruined writer. Does he owe them money?" Sally asked.

  Cody shrugged.

  "We can't let them execute her, If Balin doesn't turn up, that sociopath will do it without hesitation... We need a pn." she said firmly.

  "Like what?,"Cody asked, nervous but willing.

  Sally bit her lower lip, thinking. She grabbed the boy by the shirt and pulled him into the storeroom.

  "Listen carefully, I'm going to give you a set of instructions that you must follow in secret".

  Sally disappeared for a moment and returned with an old leather folder, unfolding a map.

  "This is the fortress yout, and this is a secret tunnel to get inside. It will allow you to get Sammy out, but you must be very bold and not get caught," Sally started to expin.

  "I understand, but how do you have this map?"Cody asked.

  "I used it to raid the fortress when we took it from the Spanish over thirty years ago. So hurry, and once you're out, head to my ship."

  Cody ran out of the tavern. Along the way, he ran into Pafi, another friend of them, who joined him after hearing the pn. Together, they made their way to the cliffs beneath the fortress.

  Meanwhile, Wilbur descended into the dungeons. He walked silently through the arched stone corridor until he reached the cell door where Sammy sat against the stone wall. The elf discreetly called her to avoid drawing the guards' attention.

  "What do you want now?" Sammy said disdainfully, seeing him peek through the small window.

  "Listen, I'm trying to help you, do you recognize any of this?" Wilbur said, showing her the pages with elvish symbols.

  Sammy looked at them, leaning closer to the window, but shook her head.

  "I have no idea what they are,"Sammy answered.

  "They're part of your grandfather's journal, which apparently holds the key to deciphering some navigation charts owned by Governor Hawk. These charts reveal the route to a great treasure... the treasure of Verbeck."

  "Are you serious?... Mr. Wilbur,"Sammy said surprised. "my grandfather is a writer of pirate adventures. It's all fantasy… That novel was published under a pseudonym because his former publishing house no longer wanted to do business with him."

  "If it were just fantasy, as Hawk said, why would a pirate bother to sail all the way from Europe to confront him about that journal? And if it were fantasy, why is Hawk after it? And if none of it were real, you wouldn't be in this filthy cell."

  "I think you have a point there," Sammy admitted. "But I insist, my grandfather had no secrets from me."

  "If you tell me where it is, I can save you," Wilbur insisted, leaning toward her.

  "I already told you, I know nothing," Sammy replied sharply.

  Wilbur sighed, frustrated, and shrugged.

  "Well, I hope your grandfather turns up soon, for your sake," he said.

  And with that, he turned and left. Sammy began shouting for help, though, of course, no one would hear her.