THRONE WARDEN: Oo, I can't wait for the next part! Just a thought: You could maybe make Liam go off searching for Arthie and Itzel, and maybe have Janner looking for them!
RainyDayReading342: Thanks for reading! And as think that is a good idea. We have been developing the plot for the kids and we kinda had the same thought process as you. You'll have to read more to find out if that happens!
ElvenQueenLibrary: Thanks for reviewing, enjoy the chapter!
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"Three hundred silver coins," said the burly and tall woman. She crossed her arms and glared at Liam.
"One hundred," he retorted.
"Two hundred and fifty."
"One hundred."
"Two hundred and thirty is my final offer!" the lady spat.
Liam ran his hands through his hair. He was beyond frustrated. He had only brought one hundred silver coins with him for the whole trip. And now he was bargaining for a boat.
Then the lady got an idea. Her thin lips curled into a wicked smile.
"Actually, I'll give you the boat if you have anything from the royal family themselves!" she chuckled to herself. It was a mean idea, but she would get a laugh out of that when the young man got angrier. There was no possible way he had something from the royal family.
She would never give him the boat just for free.
Liam's face fell into a tired smile.
"Actually, as a matter of fact, I do have something from the royal family!" he exclaimed.
The lady raised her eyebrow.
Liam rummaged through his sack and found his pin. The Jewel of Anneira's royal family pin. He handed it to the lady and smirked.
The lady gasped.
"No, its a hoax!" she fumbled with the pin.
Liam shook his head then pointed to the back, where in gold imprint it read, "The Jewels of Anneira" on it. Proving it was real.
The lady stood dumbfounded. She realized she had just given away her boat for a stupid little pin.
"Thank you very much, miss!" Liam called as he did not hesitate to drag the boat off of the shore and into the water. He untied it from the pole and jumped in. He took off, rowing.
The lady blinked. She still stood there with the pin in her hand. All at once she threw it to the ground and stomped it into the sand.
"Agh! It was a hoax, the little cheat!" She stomped away in fury, and slammed the door of her shop as she posted the sign as closed so that she could scowl all day.
Meanwhile, Liam was rowing as fast as his tired arms would allow. He was still pondering about how the Strander's boat could have gone that fast in the water. Was it something underneath him, speeding him along?
The mystery would have to wait for later, he decided.
One problem at a time.
"They what?!" Maraly screeched. A fierce, protective fire burned in her eyes. Her hands curled into fists.
Janner was pacing the floor, mumbling and murmuring to himself.
Kalmar was shaking as he drilled Sara and the guards for every detail if what had happened last night.
They had come home early because word had been sent by a eagle.
Maraly was shaking with rage and fear.
Sara cringed, and nodded. Maraly could hardly contain herself.
"Kalmar, we have to go get 'em. Now! Send word through the Green Hollows and all of Skree. I want everyone to be lookin'! In fact, let me go meself! They are my children too! We can alert my father in Dugtown and-!"
Kalmar turned to her.
"I know, dear. I want to go right now too, but we can't just stroll into Skree with all of Anneira behind us and wreck every house trying to find them! Its like finding a needle in a haystack!"
"But-"
Kalmar held Maraly's shaking hands.
"We'll find them, I promise. And with Liam after them, hopefully we have a lead."
At that, Janner looked up. Emotion clouded his eyes at the mention of his son's name.
He pulled Sara close and stroked her hair as she silently started crying.
"He did the right thing. I'm proud of him and I trust him. He can manage on his own," he comforted her.
"Captain Gesher! Stand by for orders on a search party," Kalmar called with determination in his voice. He would get Arthedor and Itzel back.
Leeli had been sitting quietly while the commotion was happening. She rested her hand on her growing baby bump and silently prayed to the Maker for the children.
Suddenly the door burst open and Thorn stood there, panting. His coat hung crooked up on his shoulders. Mud streaked his pants. He looked at everyone's surprised faces.
"I came as quick as I could. Mitsy had a new litter at the kennel, and they were a handful. But I was alerted by Queen Nia. She told me everything," his sorrowful gaze drifted to Kalmar. "I'm terribly sorry, sir."
Kalmar nodded and Leeli got up and ushered him inside.
"You said you heard from Mother?" Leeli asked. Thorn nodded.
"Yep, she came back from the Killridge mountains as soon as she got word from the eagle. She stopped by the kennel to tell me and I took her here. She's in the carriage- GLORY BE!"
Thorn's face suddenly flushed pink. He got up and sprinted out the door. He reappeared a minute later with Nia's arm in his, guiding her up the steps.
"Glory, I'm very sorry, your Majesty, I was in such a rush I forgot you, oh, I'm terribly sorry-" he gushed.
Nia waved it away. She had aged, but her steps were still as queenly and majestic as ever.
"Its all right, Thorn," she said.
Janner, Kalmar, and Leeli greeted her with a hug.
"Oh, children, I'm so worried for Itzel, Arthie, and Liam. How are there more Fangs is beyond me. Are you completely sure they were Fangs?"
Janner explained everything as Kalmar resumed pacing.
Thorn and Leeli hugged.
"I've missed you, Leeli. How are you doing? I'm sorry the kennel has taken me off a lot. I'll try to stay home more."
Leeli nodded and smiled.
"I've missed you too."
Then suddenly a breathless guard burst through the door.
"High King Kalmar! There was a dragon spotted on the shore!! And- I think it wants to talk to you!"
A/N: we used the term of sending messages through eagles because we decided in Wingfeather Saga only the nobility can send eagles as a message. It shows the sign of power and the royalty.