Chapter 11
Rose knocked on the side of Hetty's hollow. The owl poked her head out, and scowled when she saw them. "You." She hissed, it was directed at Hagson.
Hagson flung his wings up in the air in frustration. "Let me guess. I'm an evil freak of nature and you don't want anything to do with me?"
"Exactly." Hetty agreed whole heartedly. "And as leader of my chaw, I have the right the right to refuse you."
That one actually took Hagson by surprise. "What? But no one else-"
Hetty interrupted him. "Rose and Courage actually seem dillusional enough to like you, so of course they'd teach you about their chaw. I'm not sure why Speckle would, but I suspect he was afraid you'd kill him if you refused."
"Now look here!" Courage spat.
Pylphie laid a wing on his shoulder. "Courage, don't do this." She told him. "You don't need to."
"She's right." Hagson agreed. "I probably wouldn't be any good at healing anyway."
"Agreed." Hetty stated. "Now get. Away. From my tree!" And with that she spun around and disappeared into the hollow.
Courage growled, but the owls left. They were heading back to the hollow, ready to take another night off, when they heard voices, and not friendly ones, coming from near the lake. The four exchanged glances and headed in that direction.
The commotion was at Adan's hollow. There were two hagsfiends there. Rose felt her wings going slack. She was going yeep! Courage jabbed her. She flapped against the mild pain and was brought back into focus. She flashed a grateful smile at Courage. Courage however, looked troubled. "Hagson?"
Hagson wasn't exactly going yeep, but he didn't look so good. He dropped down onto a branch nearby. Pylphie flew don't next to it. "Hagson, relax. Breathe." She instructed. "It's okay."
Rose and Courage landed down next to the pair. Rose was about to join the conversation when a hagsfiend laughed and she and Courage turned their attention to them instead.
"And what are you going to do Adan?" The hagsfiend asked. "This is a peaceful Kingdom, you don't know the first thing about fighting." She laughed, and though Rose was angry and afraid, the hagsfiend had a point. "Besides, we're just here to talk."
Adan glared at them skeptically, wisely not making eye contact. "What do you want?" He asked.
"You have something that's ours." The female hagfiend stepped forward. She turned slightly towards Hagson. Hagson instantly looked away. "If he doesn't come back to the Northern Kingdom, we'll have to kill you." She smiled. "Farewell Adan." She and the other hagsfiend flew away.
Rose and Courage exchanged glances of worry. There was no doubt the rest of the owls in the Eastern Kingdom would want to get rid of Hagson, but Rose didn't. And she could tell from Courage's expression that he didn't want to either.
"We need to come up with a plan." Rose breathed.
Courage gave a tiny nod. "Yeah, but what?"
Rose didn't have an answer to that. As she stopped and thought about it, Hagson and Pylphie's conversation came to her ears. "Pylphie I'll go, you can stay here. I'll be back once I take care of the Northern Kingdom." Hagson was saying.
"No you won't. The owls in the in the Western Kingdoms will come after you if you use them. You're going forever or not at all." Pylphie informed him.
Courage and Rose exchanged glances. Hagson sighed. "I guess I'm staying forever then." He said.
"Then I'm coming with you."
"And so are we." Courage added.
Wait. We are? Rose thought.
Hagson must've thought the same thing. "Why?" He scoffed.
"Me personally, I'm tired of staying her. Nothing ever happens here. I'd rather live somewhere else. Besides, we have to make sure the Eastern Kingdom will be safe." Courage said.
Rose sighed. She nodded. "I'm going to get the Ga seeds." She smiled. "Who knows? Maybe they'll grow better outside the Kingdom."
