After the death of Master Alba Benson goes to Plymouth, where at that time Prince Owl is located. But on the road he encounters one of the skull hunters, who hires Benson as a bodyguard. In a desperate situation, to save the Grey Brothers, Benson decides to sacrifice himself. He writes a letter to Bristol and says goodbye to Alice and the others. However, he remains alive and arrives in Bristol himself—together with the Owl, Master Yorge, and the Plymouth children saved from secret slavery. On the way, Yorge tells him a long and terrible story about a young inquisitor calling himself Pater Lupus.