Author's Note: Okay now I'm just going to put Lief and Jasmine instead of "Anna's mother and father"…it's much easier and I'm pretty sure everyone knows how Anna is related to them…thanks!

Chapter 3: Tora

Anna spent the rest of her birthday night reading the book Lief had given her. It was filled with many adventures he, Jasmine, and Barda had gone on. According to the books, the adventures took place not that long ago. The three companions traveled to the east coast near Dragon's Nest, to Shadowgate, to the shore by the Bone Point Light, and it ended in Del. Then, the three companions traveled to the Plains, where the festival Dragon Night originated. The details were so great, Anna felt tears come out of her eyes many times while she read. For some strange reason, Anna kept glancing back to when the companions defeated the Sister of the North and to when they defeated the Sister of the West. She wondered why Marilen hadn't lingered on the villain Laughing Jack. Anna heard the name before but didn't think anything of it. What interested her most was the ship The Lady Luck. When she was younger, Anna had always pretended she was the captain of a ship and her little brothers were her crew. She had always been punished by her parents for these acts and wondered why. Now she knew the answer, and it was because of Laughing Jack. She wondered if the ghost of the ship was still floating around the western coast and if she could catch a glimpse of it. Maybe she could sneak out to the coast next time she was at Tora…but that wouldn't be until the next holiday which was months away. Anna felt disappointment sink into her stomach again. If only she could go to Tora. Then she might be able to finally go on an adventure of her own…

Anna awoke the next morning to people talking outside of her room.

"I can't believe this has happened!" she heard someone, Lief she thought, exclaim. "And it's only been 17 years! We need those supplies!"

"We all know this, but what can we do?" Anna heard Doom reply. "The message clearly stated that the lands from the other side of the Sea were in grave peril. They have been very generous to us for the past 17 years…I feel we should help them."

"That is unlike you, Doom," Sharn's voice was added to the conversation. Anna heard Doom snort in reply.

"Well, we cannot do anything while we are in Del," Jasmine chipped in. "I feel our best bet is to go to Tora…then maybe we can settle things there." Anna's heart was racing. This may be the only chance she could get to go to Tora. Thinking over her plan, Anna finally opened her door. Everyone who was talking suddenly looked to her, surprised that she was awake.

"You're up early," Jasmine told her, obviously trying to steer her away from the others' conversation. "How about you go down to the kitchens and get some breakfast."

"I heard what you were talking about," Anna quickly said. "And I'm very concerned about it."

"We all are," Lief said, glancing at everyone else. "How about you go downstairs, we'll all come down in a little while."

"I want to go to Tora." Anna stated bluntly. Everyone was taken aback, even Doom.

"This situation is serious, Anna," Jasmine explained to her softly. "You are probably still tired and do not know what you are saying."

"I know all too well what is going on," Anna said, trying to hold back her excitement. Maybe her plan would work after all. "And since one day I will be Queen, I feel maybe I should go to Tora and get an idea of what I would do in a situation like this." She smiled to herself when she saw her parents thinking this over. Doom looked as though he didn't need time to think of this.

"I feel she should come to Tora too." he added. Jasmine glared at him.

"She is my child and I think she is too young," she snapped at Doom.

"She is 16 and not a child anymore!" Doom yelled back. Lief stepped in to stop them from arguing.

"I think this may be a good time to start allowing Anna to see what it is like to rule Deltora." He said, thinking his thoughts over. Anna looked at her father shocked. This was going all too well for her. "Anna is right in saying one day she will rule Deltora, and this may be a chance for her to meet some young men to court." Anna tried not to groan. So this is what Lief wanted Anna to do if she went to Tora: meet some young men her age. Well, this was definitely not going to happen…but it could be good to let her father think this.

"That is right, Father," Anna said, smiling at Lief. "I have been thinking about what you said last night, and what better place too look for my King but Tora?" She saw Jasmine was about to protest but stopped. Lief smiled at Anna.

"Very well then," he said. "It is decided. Anna shall come to Tora."

A/N: Wow! That was the longest yet! Sorry about that…I just got carried away...but this stuff is crucial! Okay thanks for the reviews! Love the feedback.