Disclaimer: in this chapter I have used George Copper and the cit of Tortall, which I have placed into my story, however there origin of these character and city is the Tamora Pierce books.

Chapter three

Angie could not believe her own eyes, as she staggered though the humongous city of Tortall, she could not help but stare at the colours, which were so bright that they shone throughout the city, building that stood taller than the oldest oak trees.

Walking side by side with Nat, Angie couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the amount of people that filled the city of Tortall, she had never seen so many people in her entire life, people surround stall, yelling greetings to other people who past.

"Make sure you watch your purse, Angie" warned Nat as they passed a small shop, which was surrounded by large men with grim looking faces.

Angie clutched her purse and gripped Nat's arm, not wanting to be lost among the strange city folk.

As a strange pair in country clothes staggered towards the large metal gate, that lead to the entrance of the palace, two large men at arms that guarded the gate, looked the two country folk over, trying to sum them up.

"Halt, who goes there?" yelled the larger of the man at arms that stood atop the large wall that counselled the palace. His uniform bright with Tortall colours and a spear in one hand. He looked like a furious giant.

"We need to see King Jonathan right away, please" inquired the smaller of the figures. Angie could only just master the strength to ask the guard to see the King; she was still recovering from the trip through the city. Laughter echoed in Angie's ears as the large men laughed.

"You can not see the King" laughed the smaller of the men at arms.

Angie could fell the frustration growing within her, as the two men continued to laugh. Anger consumed Angie. "It is important, we need to speak to the King, it is a matter of life or death" replied Nat, holding on to Angie as she became irritated.

"The answer is still No!" replied the larger man, who had stopped laughing and was now getting board of the two strangers. He started to turn from them, when a sudden shriek of rage blasted from below "LISTEN YOU IGNORAMUS, THIS MAYBE TOO MUCH FOR A MAN OF YOUR MINIMAL INTELLEGENCE TO UNDERSTAND, WE HAVE TRAVELLED ALL THE WAY FROM GLAZED VALLERY AND WE NEED TO SEE THE KING NOW!

The large furious man turned ready to respond at having is intelligence questioned and as he turned he looked down at the small figure that had shrieked at him, a disturbed look crossed his face as he looked into the face of a young women, he amused her age of 17 year, he saw anger in her eyes and fear consume her face, but he could see that it was not him who she feared,

What could it be, though the large man.

He continued to look at the beautiful face of the young women, then sadness ran though him, he could not let them in, "I am sorry you still can not see the king, we are under orders, but if it is a bed you need then you should visit the Dancing Dove, it's an inn in the city." Said the man in a friendly, but stern tone that made Angie realize, they would have to come up with a different way to get to the King. Angie tugged Nat's arm, to make him follow her down the path that lead back to the city.

"We should find the inn that he was talking about we need rest and nourishment, well I know I do" said Nat as they strolled back down the path to the city. Nat looked at Angie's motionless face and new that she was thinking things over, planning.

"Angie are you listening" he asked knowing the answer.

"Uh… yer okay lets find the inn" replied Angie in a distant way. They journeyed down the path back into the city.

"We have to find a way into the palace to see the king, we have to" exclaimed Angie as she replaced her hot mug to the wooden table.

Angie and Nat were sat at a corner table inside the Dancing Dove. They were surrounded by people who were discussing the King affairs and the talk in the city.

"Okay" yawned Nat as he sipped hot cider from a mug, Angie looked at Nat's tired face and felt a twang of pain at the though of her family. After consuming there cider they headed for their separate room to rest.

Back in the little village of Glazed Valley, Lucas had just returned from the village meeting. Beth greeted him with a kiss that made him remember why he loved her so much.

"So what happened?" inquired Beth as her husband slumped into a chair, Lucus's sad and worried face looked up into the worried face of his wife.

"There is nothing that can be done to find them, it is farming session and everyone is needed" replied Lucus as he placed his head in his hands.

"She'll be okay, she is a strong girl Lucus" said Beth trying to comfort her husband.

"I can't believe she did this, I just don't understand what was going through her head when she leaf" said Lucus. He felt a gentle hand being place under his chin, lifting his head; he looked into the eyes of his wife.

"You know what was going through her mind; it was the same as what was going through your mind. Lucus, Angie has lost her parents and now her brother has been kidnapped, she just wants to bring him back safe, just as you do. Lucus she will find him I have faith in her, she has power that you or I cannot comprehend" Beth held Lucus's hand waiting for him to reply.

"I have faith too, I just hope that, that faith is not shattered" replied Lucus squeezing a smile from his lips.

"Nat, wake up" yelled Angie as she banged rapidly on the door that separated their rooms. Nat appeared at the door dresses and wide awake.

"Yes, Angie what can I do for you?" asked Nat in his cocky tone that always made Angie giggle,

"God look at you… did you not get enough beauty sleep?" giggled Angie, glancing up at Nat she saw he was pocking his tongue out at her. They stood for a moment laughing.

"Okay come on I'm hungry" said Nat as he strolled down the stairs to the common room.

As they sat at the same table they had the previous night, they ate a delicious breakfast that was prepared by the inns cook, as she ate Angie looked around the room at the other people eating their breakfast, she noticed that there was all sorts of people in today, a small group of people seated in the opposite corner to them, where not eating but talking quietly amongst themselves, this small group captured her attention, as she watched them she noticed that the five people were directing there attention to one man, who was seat at the centre of the table. Straining to hear what they were saying, Angie slipped from her chair creating a large clatter that attracted the attention of the entire room. The inn keeper Solom rushed forward to help lift Angie from the ground " are you okay miss Angie Kirkland?" asked Solom in a worried tone, for all the old man was very friendly. As Angie gathered her self she smiled up at him and replied "yes I just lost my balance sorry." As Angie replaced herself on her seat and Solom rushed of to gather a mop to clear the mess.

"excuse me did you say your name was Kirkland?" asked a voice that was next to Angie, Angie looked up into the face of a man, who would have been good looking not for a abnormally large nose, however he was very handsome. He stood looking down on Angie waiting for a reply

"Yes that's my second name" now looking into the green eyes of the man.

"Are you related to Andrew and Sarah Kirkland?" ask the man, Angie looked down at the table fighting back tears at hearing her parent's names.

"They were my parents" replied Angie, still fight tears. As she looked back up at the man, she noticed he was now smiling at her. "May I sit down" he ask gesturing to an empty seat next to Nat. "yes, please" said Nat gesturing to the seat. The man sat down still looking at Angie with searching eyes.

"Then you must be Angie?" asked the man eagerly. Angie looked up at the handsome man wondering who he was and how he knew her parents and her name. The man noticed the look on her face and quickly resumed talking "where are my manners, I am George Copper, Barron of Pirate Swoop" George introduced himself, Angie suddenly looked up at the man with an expression that startled Nat.

"Your George Copper?" stammered Angie with tears now gathering behind her eyes. She remembered her parent always talked of a George Copper; George had been her father's best friend before they had died. This man was her God father.

"Yes I am, do you know who I am Angie?" asked George with a smile that made Angie's stomach do a double flips. "All I know is that you and my father were best friends before…. (Now tears trickled down her face) they died" said Angie as she wiped her eyes with her sleeve. George handed her a handkerchief, "yes is there anything else that you know Angie?" asked George as Angie dabbed her face with handkerchief.

"You're my God Father" replied Angie looking into the mans face. He smiled "yes I am,"

While the two had their conversation Nat sat there in silence trying to take in what was happening, this man was Angie's God father, but where had her been when her parents died.

"If you are her God father where were you when her parents died?" inquired Nat, both George and Angie turned to face the other person that was sat with them, having forgotten he was there. George looked at the steady eyes of the boy next to him, Nat shifted feeling Georges eyes on him made him uncomfortable.

After a moment George answered "when Andrew died, I wanted Lucus, Angie and John to come and live at Pirate Swoop with my family, but when the King and use others that wanted to have you all live with use, decided that it would be best from you all to stay under the care of Lucus in the life you already had, it was safer for you. And so that is the reason why young man that Angie is not living at Pirate Swoop. George looked at the young man and saw something in the boy that he had love, this young man obvious loved Angie. Smiling George held out a hand to the young man, they shook hands and Nat introduced himself "well then Nat of Glazed Valley, what are you and my God daughter doing here in Tortall?" asked George.