In the morning, after the three Brother suns rose, everyone both on the hill and in the castle were getting up to get ready for their day ahead.
Kira went and told the two pregnant women that they were better off being in charge of the childlings while they were in their condition, now that she knew about it. How she wished she was old enough for it. She was only 21 trine old.
No one was aware of the ones waiting outside the castle, ready to take it. But they were going to play it cool until further notice, as most of her clan did want a real battle instead, but Seleya was stern this was how to play it.
They began to walk down the hillside to the castle's front where the new bridge now stood.
One of the guards that was keeping watch through the microscope looked and saw some strange new Gelflings coming down the hill. He went to go tell the leaders. Chamberlain wasn't here, and Jen and Kira were busy elsewhere.
He ran into the library, where Jen and Aughra were talking about more Gelfling history. They looked up at him.
"What's wrong?" Jen asked.
"Master Jen, Mother Aughra, sorry to disturb you, but there are some new Gelflings coming down the southeast towards here. We have never seen them before." the guard explained.
"Really? Then, let's go meet them." Jen declared. The history lesson was over for now. "Go get Kira."
"Yes, Master." the guard said and went to retrieve Kira.
When Seleya and her group reached the entrance on the bridge to the castle, they were stopped by the two guards there. "What is your business, strangers?" a female with white hair asked.
"My clan is from the Beta continent, that your leaders met over there. I am Maudra Seleya." she bowed. "I am here to see Jen and Kira. Are they returned yet?"
"Yes, they have indeed returned. Yes. We had heard about you. We can take you to them."
The guards took to leading them to the throne room to meet with Jen and Kira.
Kira had just joined her mate and was just as surprised to see Seleya and her family. "Seleya, what do we owe this pleasure?" she asked.
"We have come to make a full ally commitment to your castle, young Jen and Kira. We changed our minds." Seleya replied.
"I am Maudra Kira now, by the decree of Emperor Chamberlain." Kira declared.
"And where is your Skeksis Lord?" Rahn asked.
"He's away at the moment. He left us in charge." Jen stated.
To Seleya's group, this was not how they had planned it. But, either way, they were still going to take back this castle.
Aughra was also in the room too. She was glad to see some more Gelfling joining the castle. The clans that had once been thought to be long dead were coming back, bit by bit. It would help with every Gelfling they could get to help build their race up once again.
The Chanter was still there as well. He had stayed at the castle for all the times his brother had gone on the trips with the Gelfling. But now, he was feeling like he wanted to get out for a little while. He had heard there was still SkekGra and his brother, urGoh out there in the Crystal Desert. He wanted to go see them. He would speak to Jen about it in a little while, after the meeting with the new Gelflings. He was glad Jen was happy in his new role.
Seleya's clan was welcomed with open arms and were shown around the castle. They were shown where they could rest if needed. And there were plenty of jobs around the castle to do, or even outside. The more, the merrier.
Jen and Kira were sure Sil would approve of this when he returned with the five hunters.
The Chanter then spoke to Jen. "Jen, I see you have things under control here. I have not left the castle for a long time, since Conjunction, aside from trips outside to the nearby falls. I want to take a trip to the Crystal Desert, to see friend, urGoh." he explained.
"Sure, urSol. That'll be fine. You need to do what makes you happy." Jen smiled.
Jen told Kira too, and she made sure that the Chanter would have everything he needed for his trip there, especially plenty of water. He would need plenty of that once he reached the desert, since never knowing if the Dousan would ever find him or not. If found, he knew to say he was going to the Circle of the Suns.
The Chanter left for his trek to the desert after lunch. It was also the first meal the new clan had here. The Gelfling didn't consider him a threat at all, but he was new to being seen by them. Now both the Chamberlain and the Chanter were both gone from the castle. It would be hard telling when urSol would be back, but Sil should be back within a short time.
Sil and his hunters were gathering many animals to take back to the castle cages. He didn't want to go hunting for awhile. It would be something he and they would do, since he would make the decision on what he wanted. And the Gelflings would be welcome to feed them until it was time for them to be eaten. Sil just wanted some food animals in the castle for his protein needs.
In the castle, what was left of Jen and Kira's clan started to show the new ones what they could choose to do to help make things even better.
Some could be clothing makers and fixers, cooks, babysitters, and guards. Others could be left in charge of keeping the castle floors clean. Also animal caretakers because Sil was going to be bringing some back. Some could even be teachers to the young ones that needed Gelfling education. That even included learning to read and write. Jen would be happy to teach them. He would also be happy to teach Skeksis writing as well.
Aughra could help as well, but being an older woman, she just didn't have all the patience in the world to teach childlings what they needed to know. Sil was younger than her, but still old enough to be considered ancient in age. But he still had far more patience than she did, unless his buttons were pushed too far.
…
It was a couple days later and the Chamberlain still wasn't back. Hopefully, nothing had happened.
Seleya decided now was the time to act, to take this castle the way she wanted to. This clan would be held prisoner until the Skeksis returned, and she would make him surrender.
Her clan began to calmly take all of the clan to a secret location, where they were lured, then jumped upon and tied up. Gagged as well. None of them liked this. Talia was among them.
Jen and Kira, along with Aughra, were left alone. It was when their guards and other clan were not to be found anywhere when things began to be suspicious.
Marak made sure that the pregnant women, babies and small childlings stayed in the nursery area. Some other females backed her up. They would make sure they stayed and not caused trouble. They didn't want to harm children. This was just part of their plan.
When each clan member of the leaders were placed in the two rooms, one for males, the other for females, they were each told that they just needed to behave, and it was to get their leaders' attention. It wasn't just Jen and Kira; it was the Chamberlain.
Jen and Kira began to get worried when they were seeing less and less of the original clan they had brought back from the wilderness areas. They were only seeing Seleya's people.
Soon, Seleya ordered all her people to disappear to the hiding spot beneath the castle, where they all were.
After a whole day of finding no one, Jen and Kira, not to mention Aughra, were finding none of the others. Fizzgig was by Kira's side. All the Podlings were outside now, but some had been taken hostage as well.
"Where is everyone disappearing to?" Kira asked Jen.
"I wish I knew, Kira." Jen replied. They were both nervous.
"Aughra had bad sense about the new Gelflings joining us." Aughra said.
"Why didn't you say anything, Aughra?" Kira asked.
"Thought it was good for more Gelfling to join up, but just had slight feeling about leader, Seleya. She is trouble. Leader of her clan. Find her, you find others." Aughra proclaimed.
"We will, but we don't know where to look. We have looked everywhere." Kira said.
"And Chamberlain isn't back yet." Jen stated.
"Have feeling new Gelflings are setting trap for you all." Aughra said.
"But why? We didn't do anything to them." Jen exclaimed.
"You must find and talk over before something bad happens." Aughra warned.
"But what could they want?" Jen asked.
"Not know unless ask."
Aughra stayed in the throne room while Jen and Kira went to search for their clan. Kira held Fizzgig in her arms.
As they got near the lower catacombs, that was when a group of seven guards came out of nowhere and surprised them. The guards had spears and crossbows on them. They stayed together. Fizzgig barked and growled in fear.
"What's going on?" Kira demanded.
"In the name of our Maudra, Seleya orders you to come with us." one of them demanded of them.
"Where is everyone?" Jen asked.
"You'll find out."
Jen, Kira, and Fizzgig were taken below to the two rooms, where the other Gelfling were. There, they saw Seleya.
"Seleya! What are you doing?!" Kira demanded.
"Sorry, Kira, but you are not All-Maudra. I am. I am going to make sure that the Skeksis hands over all power to me. Then, we will either have him killed or held prisoner. He will be our servant from now on." Seleya decreed. "Never again will Skeksis rule over us. This is our castle now!"
Jen and Kira never would have thought that such evil, or just plain craziness would reside within one of their own kind. It had been enough to deal with from the other Skeksis, but here, this female and her clan that had joined, were acting just like them.
"There is no need to kill us, Seleya. We can come to an understanding." Jen tried to reason with her.
"Kill? Who said anything about killing, Jen? At least not to Gelfling." Rahn said. "We haven't killed anyone here."
"Then where are the childlings? And pregnant ones?" Kira demanded anxiously.
"In a separate location, for their own safety. We want nothing to happen to them. We're just waiting for the Skeksis to return." Smed took over.
Jen and Kira were tied down like the others. Fizzgig was forced from Kira's hands. "Fizzgig, run!" Kira ordered him.
But the poor pet was seized and put in a small gunny sack. He was taken and hung up on a wall. He whined inside it.
There was nothing they could do now but wait. Aughra was the only one free at this point. And who knows how much longer it would be until SkekSil returned, along with his hunters.
One of the young older kids was getting himself untied from one of the others. There was a hole in the wall where he would be able to fit. He was going to get some help. He had to get out quietly. He wasn't seen as he made his way out.
…..
But, they were in luck. Sil, Baron, and the other hunters were arriving back at that time.
Normally, they were greeted by guards on the way inside, but there were none at the moment. "Where are guards at entrance?" Sil demanded.
"I suppose they're busy doing something." one of the other Drenchen guessed.
"Will find. For now, go to Chamber of Life and put caught animals in cages." Sil ordered.
"Yes, my Lord." Baron replied.
The five Drenchen hunters went there to deliver their captures. The animals were all making noises, as they had been captured alive.
The Chamberlain was glad to be back home again, but on the way back to the throne room, he saw no Gelflings anywhere. This was so strange.
"Where is everyone? No guards? No watch? Ingrates! Gelfling?!" Sil called out. He got no reply. He listened more intently.
He went to the dining hall first, and there was no one in there. He went to many other places around the castle, and nothing. When he finally went into the throne room, Aughra was in there. Finally, a sign of life here in the castle. He hadn't even seen his counterpart.
"Mother Aughra." Sil stated.
"Emperor Chamberlain. You are back I see." Aughra returned the greeting.
"Hmmm. Yes. Hunting take many a day to find what Chamberlain wanted here at castle." Sil replied. "Where are Gelflings? Maudra Jen and Kira?"
"That, I do not know. They started disappearing not long after you left. And new Gelflings came to join clan." Aughra explained.
"Hm?" That got Sil's attention. "What new Gelflings?"
"Ones from across big water." she stated.
"Ones from Beta continent?" Sil asked.
"Yes. What I heard." Aughra said. "I had bad feeling about the leader, Seleya. Think she has something to do with friends disappearing."
"Jen and Kira say they want nothing to do with Skeksis. Me. Why would they come here?" Sil pondered.
Just then, a young Gelfling came running into the room. The Drenchen guards were with him. Sil and Aughra turned at the footsteps.
"Lord Chamberlain!" the kid exclaimed.
"He has something most interesting to tell you." Baron declared.
The kid, Vehl, panted hard. He was of Spriton origin. Black hair, brown eyes. Golden clothing. He was about thirteen trines old.
"What is it, Youngling?" Aughra asked.
"Gelflings! The new ones. They… they've taken all… the other ones, my clan, prisoner! Catacombs!" Vehl exclaimed breathlessly.
"Why?" Sil demanded.
Vehl caught his breath finally and replied, "Don't know, my Lord. But they want you there. They want you to turn your power over to Seleya. That's all I know."
"Have Maudra Kira and Jen too?" Sil asked.
"Yes. What can we do to get them out?" Vehl asked. "My parents are with them."
"Where is urSol?"
"He went to take a trip to the Circle of the Suns." Aughra replied. "Just us. Podlings all outside."
"Hmm. Freeing Gelfling will take good plan." Sil began to think of something. "They have weapons?"
"Yes." Vehl replied.
"Hmm. Will need armor. Chamberlain not getting shot again." Sil declared.
The five Drenchens went to get armor on. Sil went to get his own armor on. He had to make due with another Skeksis' because his original had been ruined in the fire so long ago. Aughra wasn't much of a physical fighter. She would stay out of it and let Sil take care of it. Vehl would lead them down to the problem areas.
When they joined up again, Sil ordered, "Lead way, young one."
Vehl nodded in reply. "This way."
He led Sil and the Drenchen ones down to the catacombs. Sil knew them quite well himself, and then he took over, making the young one wait behind from there. He began to sniff them out. The scents were fresh. He also listened for screaming or any voices talking.
Soon, he did indeed hear voices. He stopped the others. "Shhh!" he shushed them. They nodded.
Sil went forward by himself. He peeked around the corner cautiously.
He saw many Gelfling guards standing in front of the imprisoned Gelflings. He also saw Jen and Kira. They all were gagged. Sil also heard the ones standing talking.
"Now we just have to wait for the Skeksis to come back from his trip, wherever it was to."
Sil smirked, his brows lowering in a smug look. 'If they think they are taking power away from me, they got another thing coming.' he thought to himself.
He went back to the other Gelflings.
"So what's going on?" Baron asked.
"I see new Gelflings standing over our clan. Prisoners. Tied up. Jen and Kira among them. They want me. My power. But I have plan to get them away from clan." Sil said in a low voice.
He began to tell them his plan quietly.