"My Queen, we have captured the Haluki child."
Eagala sighed and got up from her throne at the news one of the pirates brought her. She'd sent them to retrieve Lani Haluki and was delighted by how quickly the fleet had returned. Perhaps Artime was easier to attack than she imagined. And she certainly expected capturing Lani to be much more difficult.
"Is there anything else, Captain?" she asked, adjusting her crown until it sat perfectly atop her head.
The man nodded, "We also got one of your orange-eyed subjects. He was with Haluki when we caught him."
"Excellent!" Eagala grinned excitedly. She'd be able to make an example out of both of them - you can't escape Warbler without consequences.
"Bring them back down into the far caves. Don't want them escaping anytime soon, do we?"
"Of course not, Your Highness," the pirate said, bowing his head and leaving to fetch the captured Artimeans.
Eagala strolled down a dimly lit cave tunnel, her heels tapping against the stone floor and echoing through the caves. She passed several of her subjects at work, and they all bowed to her as they were taught before returning to work. Her smile widened. I love being queen.
After she reached the cave at the very end of the tunnel system, Queen Eagala didn't have to wait long before the pirate returned, two small, struggling children in each of his arms. They were scrambling to escape, and failing.
"Here they are, Your Majesty," the pirate said gruffly, spilling the two onto the floor at her feet. He turned around and left, closing a heavy wooden door.
Eagala's gaze flicked away with annoyance. "So. Lani Haluki. I see you've ended up right back here, in my clutches, again."
"Lani?"
The queen blinked once. The voice was… masculine. Nothing like the girl Eagala had labeled as her enemy. She quickly swiveled her head in shock.
Out of the two children sitting on the ground together in front of her, neither was Lani Haluki. Eagala recognized Thatcher by his orange-eyes. He'd been a hard worker until he left with all the other Warbler children. Traitor.
The other was a boy about the same age as Thatcher, twelve. He had brown hair and wore a pale pink T-shirt. He looked up at her with wide hazel eyes. "I'm not Lani. I'm her brother!"
Thatcher quickly shushed his friend.
"Ah," Eagala smirked, "And what is your name, then, little boy?"
Thatcher scooted in front of the boy protectively, "His name's Henry Haluki. And I'm not gonna let you hurt him." The boy, Henry, hugged Thatcher nervously from behind.
Her expression softening, Eagala approached the two boys, reaching into a back pocket as she did so. "Oh, dears. I won't hurt you."
Thatcher trembled slightly as Eagala squatted down next two them. Henry closed his eyes nervously, clinging tightly to his companion.
"But you both will make excellent bait for Lani."
She quickly poked a dart into Thatcher's shoulder, and he slumped into Henry's lap. Henry opened his mouth to scream, but Eagala swiftly pulled out another dart. Henry fell back, fast asleep.