Okay make sure you read the first chapters and this one has major spoilers
Things are getting good! (for all the people who loved the 'Kal and Leeli thing' last time you'll enjoy chapter 8 a lot:)
Enjoy!
Chapter 4 “So, Ye Want the Story?”
The sound continued to get louder, and there was a warm orange glow coming from the trees. “Ready yourselves," Artham said, sounding worried. The sound seemed to come closer and the light too. Then suddenly the thing that was making the sound came out from the path of trees.
It was an old man with a peg leg, carrying a little black lantern. When he saw the Wingfeathers and they saw him they all screamed “Ahhhh!!!”. The old man was so startled he accidentally knocked his lantern on the ground. He picked it up and shined it at the Wingfeathers. When he saw Nia he squinted and said,
“Nia is that you?”
“Papa?” she said, puzzled and freaked out.
“Why are ye all here?” Podo asked and then looked at Janner and Sara and said, “And for a matter of fact why are ye two’s faces so red?” No one said anything, they were all too astonished to say anything.
“So I bet ye all want the story huh? And No, Kal I’m not a ghost. Well yes, I was eaten by Yurgen But, he didn't chew me up, he just sort of swallowed me whole. I sat there for 3 days in the slimy belly of that wretched beast.”
At this Leeli made a disgusted face and quietly said, “Blah!”
“Until today!” Podo said and paused for dramatic effect. “I was just sitting there just accepting me fate when I looked up and saw a light, it was golden and swirly. It looked to me like magic.”
At this Leeli looked nervous thinking of 15 minutes ago when a ton of golden magical swirls started swirling in the center of them while they were praying to The Maker that Janner would be healed. Podo continued
“The golden… let's just call it ‘magic’ came and hit that little hangy thing at the back of Yurgen’s throat and he coughed me up. Yurgen was too weak from Gnag’s defeat to try and get me back so I ran for as long as me leg could carry me, but I had to stop. Which I did at some inn and I don't really remember what inn it was, but the owners of the inn were very nice and once I told them my story of the past couple of days as well as the past few years they gladly lent me this lantern,” Podo explained nudging his lantern.
“After a very well needed rest at that very kind and comforting inn, I ventured out into this forest to try and make me way back to you. And here I am,” Podo finished.
At this point Janner and Sara's faces had almost completely returned to their normal color. They were all still a little surprised at Podo’s return.
After Podo finished his story, Nia walked up to him and hugged him and started to cry a little and all the Wingfeathers joined in on the hug. When they let go, Kalmar asked, “So what now?”
“Back to Anniera I guess,” answered Artham.
“Wait, ye all made it to Anniera?” Podo asked.
“Yeah!” Leeli said excitedly.
At this Podo, smiled a big kind smile and said, “I knew ye all could do it.”
Then they all walked out of the cave. When they passed by the well, Kalmar noticed that the Durgon cloak, Janner had been wrapped in, was neatly folded and placed on the stone table.
Just like Janner, Kalmar thought.
They all got out of the forest, the dragons awoke from their sleep and stretched out. At first the dragons were concerned with the fact that there were two more people with them but they worked it out. Artham, Oskar, and Janner rode on the green dragon named Ashwing. And Kalmar, Nia, and Podo rode Alandra, the white and gold dragon. Leeli and Sara rode on Hullwen.
While flying, Kalmar whispered to Podo why Janner and Sara's faces were so red, back at the forest, at this Podo laughed a long deep hearty laugh and whispered back “Good for him!” and laughed again.
It took longer to get home because there were two more people with them but they got home to Anniera at about 12:30 p.m. When they arrived they were all hungry. Nia asked Artham to find out if they had anything in the village that she could use to cook lunch.
So he went off to do this (which he was quite happy about because that meant he could see Arundelle while looking for food). Janner and Kalmar went to collect firewood from the forest and everyone else helped Nia find things around the castle. Finally, around 1:00 p.m. they all ate. They had hogpig sandwiches which the kids thought was the best thing they had eaten in months.
After eating they all caught Podo up on how they got to Anniera and what he had missed since then. Eventually it was time for bed. Janner was the last of the kids to go to sleep but he finally sat down next to where Kalmar was sleeping and searched his pack for the book he had been writing, but the rustling seemed to awaken his brother. “Sorry, Kal, did I wake you?”
Kalmar didn't answer so Janner assumed he was still asleep. He opened his book and saw the date on the last page he had written; it was from the Green Hollows! Then Janner wrote and wrote and wrote about everything that happened since then; although, he soon fell asleep.
When Nia was ready for bed she went to each of her kids and kissed them on the forehead. When she saw Janner she shook her head and put her hands on her hips. Janner had fallen asleep with his book on his face and his pencil in his hand. Nia carefully removed the two and put them back in his pack, and kissed him on the forehead.
Chapter 5 Dreams
It was about midnight now, everyone was fast asleep, so of course no one noticed when the same golden swirling magic that had appeared at the First well, came and circled around Janner, Kalmar, and Leeli. Suddenly they had a vision. It was a vision from the Maker. They all heard His voice; it rang loudly throughout their minds. “Janner, Kalmar and Leeli, I have something extremely important to tell you. Your world is much bigger than you know, there are four other lands surrounding Aerwiar. These four lands were once united and happy with Aerwiar included. But the leaders began to become greedy. Each one of the lands has a crystal that I gave them to hold their special power. Somewhere in the land they were once hidden but foolish people wanted control over all of them and took them, tried to reunite them incorrectly and destroyed one of their lands. The reason why I'm telling you all this is because there is another dark force rising and planning to do the same. You and your family must go outside of Aerwiar, and defeat this dark force before it grows too dark for your world. Now rest young Wingfeathers, rest.” At this the golden swirling magic disappeared. And the Jewels of Anniera slept peacefully, while a young meep stirred in the bushes.
The next morning the adults woke up with the sun while the kids slept in a little.
Janner woke up to the smell of fresh hogpig bacon and blueberry pancakes. As they all sat at the crackling fire and ate their yummy breakfast. Kalmar started telling the others about the vision. Nia scolded him for talking while chewing food, so Kalmar swallowed and then began to continue to tell them all about their vision. Kalmar explained to them what the Maker had said and everything that they had heard.
“Wait, there’s other places outside of Aerwiar?” Nia asked, confused at this news. Artham looked really uncomfortable but just kept eating his breakfast.
“Yeah, I guess so, if the Maker said that there are other places outside of Aerwiar then it has to be true. '' Janner said while chewing a piece of blueberry pancake.
“In the kind words of Lady Dingle Flopper `What do we do now?’ asked Oskar.
``We have to go and find this ‘darkness’ and find a way to defeat it." Janner said.
“Wait, you're leaving?” Sara asked, frowning.
“Yes… but you're coming too!” Leeli said.
"Wait, I thought I couldn't come, didn't you say The Maker said that just you and your family were supposed to go?”
“Yes, but you are family.” Janner said shyly.
“Thanks.” she said, blushing a little and smiling at Janner. He smiled back.
“But wait, just a sec, who will watch over the castle and take care of the village?” Podo asked.
“I know just the people,'' Sara said with a smile.
Chapter 6 Castle Watchers
…In the rugged streets of Dugtown jumping from roof to roof was the Florid Sword (also known as Gammon) and Shadow Blade (also known as Maraly).
“Thou art ready to go home now?” asked the Florid Sword.
“Yeah, after that last save I really need to cuddle up in my pjs and eat some cheesy chowder. '' said Shadow Blade.
“Then we willest go home now,” said Gammon.
Twenty minutes later, Gammon and Maraly arrived at a little green apartment on the east side of Dugtown. When they walked up, Gammon noticed that their mailbox was stuffed to the brim with mail. “ Oh, why do they just have to stuff that thing to the roof?” Gammon asked with irritation.
Maraly shrugged and said, “Um, I'm gonna go get changed.”
As she went inside, Gammon took about 30 or more things out of the mailbox and dumped it all on the kitchen counter. He was going through the mail when Maraly came bounding down the stairs wearing a blue, off the shoulder top with denim bell bottoms. The mail was mostly just fan mail but then Gammon found a letter that was addressed to Maraly. It was from Anniera. He looked up from the pile and asked, “Maraly, who do you know from Anniera?”
Maraly looked up and said, “Wait, Anniera!” Maraly said as she paused, gasped, and rushed over to him and tore the envelope open.
“It's from Sara!” she said excitedly.
“It says she is now in Anniera with... Prince Artham!” At this her eyes widened “He was right! That means Kalmar Igiby and the others are really royalty!” she said in wonder, She continued to read Sara's letter. “She wants us to.. to watch over Castle Rysen!”
“Really! watch over Rysen... Wow!” Gammon said in wonder.
“What are we waiting for, let's go!” Maraly said, walking out the door, forgetting that she was still in her house clothes.
“If we are going to Anniera, then you should get your cape and uniform." Gammon said, eyeing the fact that she was wearing fuzzy squeebin slippers.
``Oh, right.” she said smiling.
It was about noon when they arrived at the Shining Isle of Anniera.
All the Wingfeathers had packed their stuff up and Artham and Podo were lugging it all into their ship named “The Charlotte”.
When Kalmar saw Gammon and Maraly’s ship he shouted, “They're here!”
When they got to shore, Sara gave Maraly a big hug and complimented her new cape. The others came to the shore as well to greet Gammon and Maraly.
When Maraly saw Kalmar she gasped and exclaimed, “Kalmar Igiby?”
“Maraly Weaver?” he asked.
“You two know each other?” Sara asked.
“Yeah! we met back when I was a Strander.” Maraly explained.
“So how did you all get here anyways?” Maraly asked,
“It's a really long story.” Janner said, thinking back to everything that had happened since he last saw Maraly when he was trying to escape to the Ice Prairies.
“Gammon, could you please come over here for a minute? We have something we would like you to look at. " Nia asked,
"Of course Thou has my greatest attention.” Gammon answered as he walked over to where Nia, Podo, Oskar, and Artham were standing.
The kids all talked for a while until Maraly pulled Sara aside where the others couldn't hear them and said with her eyes wide open, “That's the Janner Igiby you're in love with! The prince of all Anniera! I mean I know it’s not a common name but still!”
Sara, turning very red, responded, “First, I’m not in love with him.” At this Maraly made a long umm noise, clearly not convinced. Sara gave her an irritated look and continued, “Second, I don't know!”
Maraly's eyes widened, “You really like him don’t you?”
“No I don’t….” Sara said, thinking about telling her what happened at the First well.
“Ok.. Princess Sara Wingfeather.” Maraly teased.
Sara gasped, “Maraly Weaver!”
“What, I’m just stating the obvious.” she said back. “And I know about what happened at the First well.” she continued, trying to hide her laughter.
“What? How could you know about that…” Sara trailed off wondering why she had almost said what she was thinking.
“Leeli told me, and yes, I know all about what happened between you two.” Maraly responded. “I still can’t believe you actually did that.”
“I can’t either, it just sort of happened.” Sara said.
“You're not even going to say the name of it?” Maraly asked.
“No, I'm not, now can we please stop talking about this topic?” Sara asked exasperatedly.
“Fine…Sara Wingfeather.” Maraly teased.
“Maraly!”
“Fine I’ll stop, for now.” Maraly said, smiling.
“Kids, it's time to go.” Nia called as she nodded at Gammon holding blueprints for something. Sara and Maraly joined the others on the shore to say goodbye.
“So where are you actually going?” Maraly asked.
“Um…outside of Aerwiar, whatever that means.” Kalmar said.
“The Maker said that there were other places outside of Aerwiar and that apparently there is a new dark force rising and we need to stop it so we're going to those other places.” Janner explained.
“Another dark force didn't you guys just defeat Gnag the Nameless, like I don't know, 3 days ago?” Maraly asked.
“Well that’s the way our life goes.” Kalmar shrugged.
“Well we best get going now, ay?” Podo asked with worry in his eyes, concerned about sailing.
Maraly gave Sara a hug and whispered, “Don’t think that I'm not going to tease you when you get back, Sara Wingfeather.”
Sara rolled her eyes playfully and said, “ Ha ha, I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too,” Maraly said and gave her another hug while Janner, Kalmar, Artham, Nia, Oskar, Podo and Leeli boarded the ship.
“Come on Sara!” Leeli said.
“Coming! Bye Maraly!“
“Bye, Sara Cobbler,” Maraly said with a wink just as Artham released the sail and pulled the anchor up. And then they were off.
Chapter 7 Sailing The Dark Sea
They were sailing across the Dark Sea of Darkness, even though they didn't really know where they were going. But somehow it almost seemed as if Artham knew exactly where they were going. He was staring at the ocean but looking down at the wheel every so often. He was thinking about something that scared him and was bothering him. A moment later he shook his head deciding on something and said, “Guys I need to tell you something.”
So they all gathered around him and listened to what Artham had to say. “I've never told you all this but I've been outside of Aerwiar before.”
“What?” Nia asked.
“How could you have gone outside of Aerwiar.” asked Janner.
“It was a long time ago and we had to go because.. we thought some people out there in the Dark Sea took two missing people from Anniera.” he paused, looking down at the ground with a sad expression on his face. He added, sadly, “We later found out that the people who we thought took them, didn't take them and they just disappeared.”
“Who’s “we”?” asked Nia, raising an eyebrow.
Artham frowned and said, “Esben.”
“What! Esben never told me that.” said Nia.
“It was before you two were married, he didn't want to worry you.” Artham explained.
“So then you must know what's out there?” Kalmar asked suspiciously
“No, I don't, we only went to a little part of an island actually.. a place that I hope to never see again.” Artham answered.
“What was so bad about it?” asked Janner
“Your uncle has been very kind to tell us all this, and it seems like he would not like to talk about it anymore.” said Nia, still a little suspicious of Artham.
“Thanks.” he said and then they went about their business.
A little while later the boat stopped, they all came bustling upstairs to see what happened. When they all got to the deck they looked up to see a giant, thick, purplish-blue mist that separated them from the rest of the ocean.
“We're here!” Artham said. “Janner, did you bring the First Book?” he asked?
“Yes, why?” Janner asked.
“Because Leeli needs to sing a specific song in order to part the mist.”
Janner rushed downstairs to retrieve the First Book.
Leeli asked, “Me, why me?”
“Because you are a Song Maiden, only Song Maidens can part the mist. When your father and I went through my Aunt Lillia parted the Mist.” Artham explained, smiling at her. Janner came back with the First Book from the lower deck and Artham flipped through it trying to find the song for Leeli. When he finally found it, he handed it to Leeli and said, “This song is the key to part the mist.”
Leeli looked it over and held her whistleharp to her mouth and gave it a try. It went a little something like this:
“Part the barrier between us now,
Part the dark purple mist,
Part the mist separating us from the lands hidden beneath,
Part the barrier between us now,
Part the barrier between the worlds,
For our lands will be united again,
Part the barrier between us now,
Part the dark purple mist,
When all is said and done our worlds will be united again,
Part the barrier between us now,
Part the dark purple mist.”
When she finished, the mist blocking the way parted, revealing the other side.
“Oh Come on!” said Kalmar, disappointed “more water! I thought there would be a city, or an evil villain, or even a toothy cow!”
“How in all of Aerwiar would a toothy cow walk on water? It's just not logical, '' Janner lectured.
“You just standing here right now isn't logical. '' said Kalmar, back. Janner opened his mouth then closed it and opened it again and then finally closed it.
“We all got through the wee barrier, so that's good!” Podo said, positively, while they crossed the border to places beyond the maps.
Chapter 8 Sunset Rock
It was now nighttime, Nia had told the kids to wash up and she would be in to say goodnight in a minute. So they all washed up and got ready for bed. Kalmar and Leeli were the last to get ready. Kalmar waited not-so patiently outside the bathroom door for Leeli. When she came out, they high-fived, and Leeli said, “Mission ‘Janna’ is a go!”
“Hey, I thought we were calling it mission ‘Sanner’!” Kalmar said.
“Kal, ‘Janna’ sounds way better than ‘Sanner’ does.” Leeli said, raising an eyebrow at him.
“You know what, it doesn't matter what the name is. Let's just do it already!” Kalmar said,
“Ok mission.. whatever we are calling it, is a go!” Leeli said and then they walked to their rooms.
Leeli walked into her and Sara’s room and plopped down on her silk purple bed. Sara was sitting on the bed next to her. It had green blankets with little pink flowers embroidered on it. She was trying to find a way to smoothly talk to Sara.
“Soooo….” she started.
“Soooo.. What?” Sara asked as she braided her hair into two long brown braids, with cute little green hair ties.
“Soo… are you going to talk about it?”
“About what?” Sara asked. Leeli sighed and blurted out, giving up on saying it smoothly,
“Sara, you haven't talked to my brother in three days!”
“What are you talking about? I talked to Kalmar just this afternoon.” Sara asked, fully aware of what Leeli was getting at.
“Not Kal, Janner! You two haven't talked since…”
“I’m fully aware of what happened at the First Well, Leeli.'' Sara interrupted, annoyed at the topic.
“Right, I guess you are.” Leeli giggled.
Back in the boy’s room, Kalmar came in through the brown wooden door with carvings of trees and a winged dragon, and plopped down on his bed, messing up the sheets. Unlike Leeli, Kalmar just cut to the chase, and said, “So are you gonna talk to Sara?”.
“What?” Janner asked, as he looked up from his book,
“You two haven’t talked in three days!”
“And, no, at Anneria when we were talking about The Maker’s message that doesn't count.”
“Kal, I've tried, I don’t really know what to say.”
“Well you have to say something, It’s been three days, Janner!”
“Ugh, can we please stop talking about this.” Janner grumbled.
“I will only stop when you admit that you two like each other!” Kalmar said, smiling.
”You know what? I'm going to the deck to clear my head.” Janner said, annoyed.
“Okay! Have fun.” Kalmar said, smiling, waiting for the door to close. When it did he carefully opened it and slipped through.
Janner walked out to see a beautiful sunset. The sun shone like a giant ruby hanging in the red sky. And the water looked like it was on fire as the sun showed and sparkled against it.
When he walked closer to the deck he saw that Sara was leaning against the railing looking at how the light perfectly hit a group of rocks down below. Sara seemed to hear Janner. She turned her head and said,
“Oh, hi Janner.”
“Hi Sara.” he said, walking up to the railing.
While this was happening Leeli snuck out as well as Kalmar and they met in the middle of the hallway right near the entrance to the deck. Kalmar pointed towards Janner and Sara. When Leeli saw this she almost squealed but put her hand on her mouth before anyone could hear her. They high-fived and said “mission “Janna” complete!”
“What’s Mission Janna?” said a voice from behind them. At this they jumped and quickly wiped around to see that the voice was their mother and the others.
“In the words of Admiral Wooly Waper “we didn't mean to scare you.” Oskar whispered. Kalmar and Leeli exchanged glances and Kalmar explained, “Well…We sort of mashed Janner and Sara’s names together to get ‘Janna’, so that’s why it’s called that, but Mission Janna was to get them to talk again.”
“Look, it worked!” Leeli whispered, pointing at Janner and Sara. They all looked around the corner to see Janner and Sara laughing and talking like never before.
“So how did you actually escape The Fork Factory?” Janner asked, “Well, I had some help from the orphans.” Sara told him all about
how she came up with a plan to eventually lock the overseer up.
“Wow, you did all that?”
“Yep! But what I want to know is how did YOU get to Anniera from the Fork Factory?” Sara asked.
“Well It’s a really long story, one with gray fangs, an evil great uncle, a cloven father, and an ancient stone.” Janner said, telling her all about what had happened.
“WHAT!! Gnag the Nameless was your great uncle!!” Sara exclaimed, eyes wide.
“Yep, worst relative ever, am I right?” Janner said as they both laughed. While they were listening, Kalmar took out his sketchbook and pencils and began to sketch the sunset.
“What are you drawing?” Oskar asked.
“Well since no one’s ever been here before, this beautiful place needs a name, I’m thinking Sunset Rock.” Kalmar said.
“It’s perfect.” Nia said with a smile, watching Janner and Sara talk and laugh like they were never apart.
This is SO good!