It has been two nights and Lina hadn't turned up to class. She hasn't been here for the theory or prac lesions we have at all. She can't be sick, as Snowy's are used to this sort of cold. I tell Josh and he tells me Bryony feels the same way about this. Bryony is precautious of Lina, seeing as she wants to see what the hell is going on with that girl. Later on, He tells me that someone was spying on us and I flip out about it. I tell him to hold a meeting and he knows what i mean by "Oh my Glaux! A spy is watching us, Josh! Tell the others!"
Later we have a meeting at his hollow in the Palace. We are kind of hiding the fear we have of what the heck is going on here. I mean, SOMEONE IS SPYING ON US! I AM FREAKING SCARED AND JOSH IS TRYING TO MAKE ME STOP PANIKING.
"Does anyone see it weird that Lina didn't show up to class two nights in a row? It is strange as we had found out the rumours were Grade "A" Racdrops and she wasn't here when we were looking at possible culprits." Shard states
"Maybe she is behind it?" I announce in question
"We don't have proof, Lyd. We were only left notes. Also the others in the class didn't know about it." Bryony clarifies, obviously bursting my bubble there she then says "I went over to Lina's place and no one was there and I couldn't get in. Not even her parents were there."
Josh gets a copy of the class roll he had stolen from his mother. He pins it on the wall and gets a stick. We draw our attention to the roll as he has highlighted the lower half of Moon Master Class.
"We have five suspects: Lina, Mona, Chad, Brys and Sylvie." He says while pointing to the names of the lower half "We have to find the culprit of this crime against all Moon Master Class stands for." Josh says while imitating his father again.
We are trying not to laugh at the imitations of his dad that he does and Bryony says "Alright, sport. Don't get too carried away or turn into King Boron now." She then says after taking a deep breath "Sure, we can take action, but we we're going to have to find a quiet way of investigating this."
"Josh? Where are you?" Barran calls from the distance, she must have arrived at the Palace early from work.
"Go out the window!" He says while running to open the window "If mum finds out that you guys are here when i said Lydea and me only, she'll flip!" He says while opening the window "Hurry, she's coming." Josh panics as he shoos them out and closes the window.
I quickly get our notebooks and textbooks out and we look busy studying. Josh can lie to his parents when it comes to things (like the secret of us), but when they come home and expect things he has to make sure he looks like he is doing that he has to do. I feel all nervous as i have never fooled anyone before really. My mum always catches me out when i am not studying (When she is actually here, not on a Mission or undercover thing) and she knows when i am lying somehow when I am trying to say that I am doing something that I am clearly not.
When Barran flies in we have friendly banter going and we laugh. To look like we are having a good time studying. I hope the method acting will work. She is not as hard to fool unlike Josh's dad, Boron.
"There you are. I was looking for you everywhere." Barran announces in a relieved tone (I think she hasn't been able to find josh all day)
"Mum. I'm studying and I'd prefer it if we were left alone and where you weren't barging in our personal space." Josh whines
"Josh, you better not be doing what i think you're doing...?" Barran starts to ask when Josh sighs unimpressed
"Mum! I'd never do that! I am not that type of owl teenager. How could you think that I would ever think about...?" Josh yells
"Well I thought that you wanted to be like a normal teenager and stuff to blend in. I hear it is "Normal" to do some things at a study/date." Barran intervenes (this is not going to end good)
"Mum!" Josh yells
"Fine then, I'll leave you to your studies. I have work to do anyway. Don't you dare try and make out because..." Barran starts again, before realising what she said and silently curses under her breath (WTF) and says "Because I don't want you to."
"Mum, I am seventeen, not four. I also don't want to do anything like that yet. I have to study for mid-semester exams." Josh replies, telling her off for smothering him and for saying that (WTF was she doing by saying that anyway).
"I know, but..." Barran starts another time (Will she be leaving soon?)
"Can we be alone anytime soon?!" Josh interrupts before getting straight to the point by saying "Mum, I am going to be 18 in two weeks and so is Lydea. I am old enough to be responsible for myself WHEN IT COMES TO MY RELATIONSHIPS!"
"Ok. IT IS NOT NICE TO YELL, JOSH! Want me to ground you? No? Then behave!" Barran says before flying off in an anger spiral (when it comes to people trying her patience, she just leaves before she explodes and I thought it rude of Josh to yell at his mum).
Barran is cool with me being around Josh all the time (and I think she would let us be together as a couple), but Sometimes she can be a real pain. I can understand she is the mother of only one child (and Josh told me that his dad didn't want any more kids for some reason) and I understand what it is like to have something important and wanting to keep it safe and junk like that. Hope that Josh simmers down a bit. I think he is really pissed from the thing there, so is Barran. Oh well...
Meanwhile, on the other side of Ga'Hoole, Lina writes a letter. She writes all about Josh and Lydea and their secret relationship and dramatizes it so much she is very proud of it. When Boron receives it he is not very happy. When he gets home, it is after dawn and Barran is asleep from passing out while marking. Her head leaning on the desk and she has a bit of drool hanging from her beak. Boron tries waking her several times and fails.
"Barran, wake up for Glaux sake! I have been trying to get you up for three minutes." he says unimpressed to his wife. She gets up after groaning and she yawns loudly.
"Sorry. I am really tired. Marking homework is really hard on my lately." She explains before she lets out another yawn and stretches her wings
Boron hands her the note and she reads it.
"King Boron,
It has come to my attention that your son, Prince Josh has been seeing some commoner girl. They meet in secret places across the Great Tree to be together and they make out. Also Josh may ask the girl, Lydea, to be his betrothed when he comes of age in two weeks on the 15thof July. The girl is a few hours older, since she was born on the 14th of July.
I do advise that you and her highness Queen Barran be more aware of what your son does. I know that you are aware of your son's actions and whereabouts, as he hardly leaves the Palace Hollows during the day. Josh is a good kid, but you will agree when I say that he must find a girl who will not make him rebel and he might run away if he is more unsure about his responsibility when it comes to the throne.
From Anonymous"
"Impossible... Lydea is one of Josh's friends and study partners. I don't think he'd have feeling for a friend." Barran says, while handing the note to Boron.
"Barran, it says right here. ...And I quote, "They meet in secret places across the Great Tree to be together". I know you are right, but this theory should be at least looked at in depth. Do you realise that he will be king someday? Do you also realise that he should choose a girl that...?" He asks
"What are you implying? Are you just trying to lose trust with him? Boron... We can't afford to lose him. He is our only son and heir. Do you know this?" She replies in shock of her husband's wording
"I know. He is a smart boy and is becoming more self-reliant... ...But, I don't want him to throw away everything to chase a girl. I don't want him to make the same mistake that i made years ago. I left everything just to find you." He replies in sadness
Barran cuddles up to him and says "Look where that got us. We are the rulers of Ga'Hoole. I know if Josh finds about her Prophecy..."
"What "prophecy"?" He asks
"Oh nothing! Maybe you should get to bed. You're hearing things. I think someone here needs some rest." She replies, covering up the secret she had almost said
"Later. I have something to do first." He replies, pushing Barran off with his wing
She stops him at the hollow entrance and says "Don't you dare do what i think you are doing! Leave him be, Exams are in three weeks and he is trying to study. Don't interfere."
Boron kisses her head and says "You just go to bed." He then flies off (and hires a spy to spy on Josh)
Barran then does what he says and she leaves the room. She then goes into her son's room and Josh is asleep. He is leaning on his desk and she moves him and tucks him in. She may baby him, but she knows he is growing up and gives him as much independence as he would if he is an adult.
Lina is watching this unfold and she returns to her hollow and writes it in a message small enough so her bluebird, which has been trained as a messenger pigeon, can take it to Nyra. Lina knows her plan is working like a charm and nothing can stop her constant thoughts of stealing and letting the Nyctea Royal Family fall apart.
