When everybody woke up in the morning, Brillow told them about the Wilderness. Stan thought it was a lovely place to visit so everyone agreed to go to the Wilderness. They were outside the inn, listening to Brillow tell them more about the Wilderness, when Stan came up from behind Brillow and said, "I found a fast way to get to the Wilderness." Everyone stopped talking and waited for Stan to continue. "I heard some people who drive the trading caravans talk about the Wilderness. We can sneak on them and get a free, fast ride into the Wilderness."

Fruma nodded in approval, and Lysander did the same. "What time do they take off?" asked Fruma.

"I don't know, but we should hurry because they could leave any minute," replied Stan. They ran to the covered wagons, and saw that they were already heading towards the gates of the city. They started to run faster and jumped in the back. Lysander almost didn't make it, but Brillow pulled him aboard. In the wagon, was a large assortment of clay containers. They rattled as the wagon was pulled over the bumpy terrain. There was a stale smell that lingered in the wagon. But no one seamed to care.

Brillow looked out of the wagon and saw the doors of the city close behind them. He tried to look ahead and saw a long line of wagons ahead of them. Each were pulled by horses, and the wheels of eachwagon tossed dirt into the air, making it harder for him to see. He withdrew back into the wagon. All they could do was wait. "I'm hungry," complained Stan.

"Well, look through the jars, there might be something in there," said Brillow. Lysander and Stan started rummaging threw the clay jars. They would open one, look inside, and then put it down. Stan opened one and screamed. He let go of it and it smashed on the floor. He jumped back, against the canvas wall of the wagon. "What is it?" Brillow asked.

"A spider," Stan replied. Many minutes past and Brillow noticed that the temperature had risen. He looked outside. The landscape had changed from woodland to desert. The scorching sun was beating against his blue head. He looked around and all he could see was desert and one ribbon which was the road that snaked across the sand. He pulled his head back in and said, "I think we are here." One by one, they jumped from the back of the wagon.

When the last person, Stan, was out, they walked for a few minutes. Soon, the road disappeared. Brillow looked around and saw three men on horses out at a distance. "Be careful, there are people here who will want to kill us. Stay sharp," said Brillow. He slowed his pace and let Stan walk mindlessly ahead. When he was out of ear shot, Brillow filled Lysander and Fruma in on his plan to kill Stan. There was no objection between Lysander and Fruma so Brillow pulled out his sword, which shimmered in the sunlight, and ran up to Stan.

Brillow lifted the shiny, steel sword above his head. But as he was about to bring it down, upon Stan's head, Fruma shouted, "Brillow! Watch out!" Brillow turned around and saw the three horsemen charging for him. One of them brought out a scimitar and clanged it against Brillow's sword. The sword flew out of Brillow's hands and landed ten feet away in the sand. Lysander brought it his war hammer and swung it at one of the horses, but missed. Fruma brought out her runes and blasted one of the horsemenand a horsewith magicoff its feet. The horse got up and ran away, the guy just laid there.

The remaining two horsemen held Lysander at sword point and took away Fruma's bag full of runes. "You three are under arrest for attempted murder," said one of the horsemen.

"Attempted murder? What? This is the Wilderness, it is OK to kill people her," Stan said.

"The other horseman laughed. "This is Al Kharid, not the Wilderness. Now come along you three, you will be taken to court."

"You can't take them. They are my friends," said Stan.

"Do you think I care?" said a horseman. And the threeof them were lead into the city of Al Kharid, and put in jail until a court date could be set up for them. Meanwhile, Stan followed and wondered the city.