Thwap Talk

NOTE TO READER: This fan fiction takes place in Anneira, and The Green Hollows about 2 weeks after the events in book 4. This story is set as if Janner resurrects at the end of book 4. Janner stood by the bridge over the river, awkwardly swinging the book in his arm behind his back. He let out a sigh of nervousness. He heard someone approaching. He quickly turned, expecting to see Sara. Instead Kalmar jogged up to him, the same mischievous grin on his face that emerged every time he was up to no good. "Janner!" He called waving his hand wildly. Janner rolled is eyes at his little brother. "Kal?" he answered, annoyed. "What are you doing?" Kalmar asked, reaching the bridge. "Uh waiting for someone." "Huh, who?" Kalmar looked at him, confused, and out of breath. "Just Sara." Janner said quickly, making a circle in the dirt with the toe of his boot. "Just Sara?" He mockingly pocked Janner, before bursting into laughter, making Janner flush. He shoved Kalmar, only making him laugh harder. "What about Galya?" Janner teased. Kal immediatley stopped laughing. "That's not funny." He cleared his throat. "What do you want anyways?" "Oh yeah." Kalmar turned and looked at Janner. "I need your help." he said smiling. "With what?" he said. eyeing his brother suspiciously. "I've been in meetings all day, and I need a break." Kalmar said a hint of begging in his eyes. "Kal-" Janner started. "Now, I know what you're going to say." Kalmar stood taller, and and started slowly pacing back and forth. "Kalmar, you're the king. You need to focus on that," Kal started, making his voice three octaves deeper, "and be there for your people. I'm not always going to be here to get you out of trouble." He finished and grinned at Janner, who was shaking his head at Kalmar with his arms crossed. "I do not sound like that." Janner said trying not to laugh. Kal snorted, and both of them doubled over with laughter. "It's true though Kal!" "I know, I know. I get that now. I want to be king, unlike before. It's just-" "Just what?" Janner raised an eyebrow. "I want to play like we used to in Glipwood. Remember?" Janner did remember, although it felt like it was a million years away. "Yeah. I do." He said with a sigh. "But can it wait?" Janner asked. "I'm waiting for Sara. "Oh yeah," Kalmar snorted again. Which resulted in a dirty look from Janner. "Don't bother," Kal started. "She sailed over to the Hollows with Mama, in case they needed help. I'm supposed to tell you." "Oh," Janner said. "She also wanted me to give you this," Kal snickered. He leaned forward and kissed Janner on the cheek. "Ewww!" Janner shrieked at his brother. Vigorously wiping his face. Kalmar took off running, Janner close behind, as Kal darted from rock to rock, and over logs, suddenly he abruptly stopped and stared at the ground. Janner, decided to seize his opportunity and with all his might; jumped, and tackled Kalmar to the floor. His brother absentmindedly pushed him off, and stood in the grass. "What is it?" Janner asked, looking up at Kalmar. "Look at this," he said. Prompting his older brother to stand up. Janner emerged from the ground and looked down. At first he didn't see anything. Then he saw a bright glimmer of light. Kal bent down and picked it up. It was a silver talisman. A ring with a green emerald in the middle. "What's it say?" Janner asked. squinting at the inscription on the ring. "B. Squoon, advisor to the king, and ally to Anneira." Kalmar stated, circling the ring as he read. His voiced trailed off. Then looked at Janner, his mouth hanging open in shock. "Janner grabbed the ring from Kal, and read it himself. "Unbelievable" Janner scoffed. "Where's Oskar?" Janner asked. Staring at Kalmar. He didn't answer, obviously lost in thought. "Kal?" Janner said, tapping his shoulder. "What? Oh-" He said. "He went with Mama, and Sara." "Who didn't go to the Hollows today?" Janner questioned sarcastically. "Leeli's here." Kal shrugged. "By herself?" Janner said confused. "No, Thorn has been here all day as well." Kalmar said casually. "They're fixing Mr. O'sally's wagon I think. "We need to go the Hollows to find Oskar." Kalmar said, not looking at Janner. "Um what?" Janner inquired. "Are you crazy? That'll take all day, and in case you've forgotten, You have a lot to do today." He said pointing at Kalmar. "Besides we can't leave Leeli here by herself. "Thorn's here." Kalmar mumbled. "Oh yeah that makes me feel better." Janner rolled his eyes. "Please?" Kalmar said. Janner knew his brother would convince him. He always did. " I promise I'll do everything tomorrow." "Fine." Janner said, letting out a long sigh. Kalmar yipped, and jumped in the air. Prompting another eyebrow raise from Janner. "Sorry." Kal said sheepishly. "Habit." Which caused Janner to chuckle. "Come on!" Kal yelled, as they raced towards the dock. PART 2 Before the boys reached the dock, they ran into Leeli and Thorn. Although only Thorn's legs were visible sticking out from under the houndrick. Leeli was sitting on a stone speaking questions, and orders to him, while scratching Baxter between the ears. The big hillherder dog padded over to Janner and Kal when they approached. Janner in turn scratched him under the chin, before talking to Leeli. "Hey" Kal said. "Hey!" Leeli smiled up at her brothers, before whacking Thorn's leg with her crutch. "Thorn," She said. "Janner, and Kal are here." Thorn crawled out from under the wagon, "Hey guys." He said, standing up. "How's the wagon coming?" Kalmar asked. "It's going real good," Thorn said, slicking his hair back with a comb. Kalmar glanced at Janner making him snort with laughter. "Where are you going?" Leeli inquired. "We're sailing to the Hollows. We need to find Oskar." "Why?" Leeli stood up concerned. Janner placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "No, everything's fine, we just have a question for him. "Oh ok." Leeli breathed a sigh of relief. "Do you want me to come?" She asked. "Leeli?" Thorn called, already under the wagon again. "Hand me that wrench." "Sounds like you've got your hands full," Kalmar joked. "Yeah," Leeli giggled. "I'll see you guys when you get back." The boys jogged over to the dock, and boarded their boat. "Do you remember what to do?" Janner asked. "Yeah," Kal said quietly. A pang of sadness in his eyes. They set sail and made their way to the Hollows. The Watercraw heaved open when they arrived, and they sailed in. As they docked their boat, and walked into town, they spotted Nia, with a basket of apples on one hip, and a large jar of sweetberry jam in the other. The boys ran up to her. "Hi Mama!" Janner said as they approached her. "Boys," She looked down at them, with concern knitted on her face. "Is everything alright? Where's Leeli>" "Yes Mama, everything's fine. Leeli is helping Thorn fix a wagon back home." Kal reassured her. Do you need some help?" He asked. Gesturing to her full hands. "Yes thank you son." Kalmar took the jar of jam, his stomach growling, and Janner took the basket of apples. "What are you boys doing here?" she asked. "We have a question for Oskar about a ring we found." Janner answered. "Do you know where he went we-" Before Kal could finish, a young women with dark hair, and pale skin approached the family. "Your highness," She said, bowing before Kalmar. "Thank you, you may rise." Kal said smiling at her. Janner couldn't be prouder of Kalmar. He'd come a long way. She stood and smiled at Janner. "Well I need run." NIa exclaimed. Will you boys please deliver those to The Orchard Inn?" "Yes mama" Kal said disappointed, " "Your highness, my name is Sarina" the lady started again. Kal turned back towards her. "Yes Sarina?" Kalmar said. "It's not appropriate for a king to carry anything. I can get that for you." Sara jogged up to the brothers. "Hello!" she smiled warmly, and blushed when Janner smiled at her. Playing with her hair. "Sorry I couldn't meet you today. "That's ok." Janner said. "Let me have that jar," Sarina said. She took the jar out of Kal's hands and gave it to Sara. "There. Thank you miss." Salina said abruptly. "Uh no ma'am," Kalmar said. That's quite alright. Sara struggled to hold the jar. Kalmar took the jar of jam from Sara. He smiled as warmly as he could. "I'm perfectly capable of holding a jar ma'am, but thank you very much. "But your highness, she's only a peasant girl. Sara turned red, and looked at the ground. Janner put a hand on her shoulder and scowled at the woman. "That peasant girl is my sister. I wont have you speak to her that way." Kalmar said annoyed. "Thank you ma'am." He strolled away, leaving the woman embarrassed. Janner and Sara exchanged a look and followed. They reached the inn, and delivered the food. "Ok now where is Oskar?" Kal said exasperatedly. They walked the main road for a little bit before finding Oskar, sitting underneath a tree chortling, with a plate of gooseberry pie on his stomach. "Wingfeathers!" He exclaimed when he saw them. "Hello Mr. Reteep!"  "We had a question for you about something that we found. We think it might be important." “ Well come here, come here, show it to me."  Janner and Kalmar approached the tree and Janner pulled out the talisman from his pocket. "Look at the inscription" Kalmar said, showing it to Oskar.  that is very peculiar, Oskar said after reading it in shock. I haven't seen something like this in ages and with that inscription.. Well there's a tail for everything. What do you think that tale is?

Ok guys, can we talk about the fact that Janner was literally 12 YEARS OLD throughout the series?! Listen, I LOVE Podo and Nia, and I understand why they put pressure on Janner. HOWEVER, they put too much on him too fast. I know they had to tell him he was The Throne Warden, but they should have explained it earlier, before basically just making him constantly have to worry about his siblings, who aren't even that much younger than him...? Like they could have given him more warning in my opinion. Also in book three, when he has a bad day and was upset, Nia acted like nothing was wrong, and didn't even ask him if he was ok. After he had given up what he wanted to do for Kalmar. I understand he grew to love The Durgan Guild, but at the same time, he was upset, and felt ignored by his family. Nia is a good mom, she irritates me to the max sometimes though. Also the "Blindplopping" was good for Janner, and kept him safe, I'll admit that. But to drug him, and drop him in the middle of the forest in the middle of winter was crazy. Also forcing him to overeat. I am sure that he is capable, and I get why Nia agreed to it. It's still unacceptable though. She as HIS MOTHER, needs to do a better job at being emotionally there for him. I like Nia, but be for real.

I have wondered sometimes, why Gammon chose to work as a 17th century style superhero, when he could - as a rebellion leader - without any problems take on the duties of governing newly freed Skree? As a result of all members of legitimate Torr dynasty being slaughtered by Fangs (It hurts the royalist in my heart), and Gammon's authority being recognised by everyone, he would easily become political leader. Why he decided not to? Maybe in a gest of humility? Maybe he enjoyed being Florid Sword more than still being in command? It would mean he trusted his people in creating new political system. Does he plan to return, like marshall Józef Piłsudski, military leader who had played a key role in establishing polish independence in 1918 and then, after years of absence in politics, overthrew legal government and introduced authoritarian regime in 1926? I mean, in this case Gammon would engage if the situation grew not as he wished, eg. if chaos or tyranny appeared. Anyway, the comic strip tells us that the new queen in Torborro is Bhora Gumble. She is said to be born in a lower social class, even to be a Strander at some point. How did elitarian merchants of Torrboro accept her on the throne? Well, we go to know, that after Wingfeather War Torrboro was settled by inhabitants of Dugtown. Their influence seems to be the answer. If there was really like that and Dugtowners overtook control of the capital of Skree, the Wingfeather War and Gammon's Rebellion turn out to have effected in a sort of social revolution, where the lower class gains power in the country. What could become with surviving memebrs of old upper class? Were they marginalised? Or maybe they got used to a new conditions? Also, notice that queen Bhora in comic strip is propably afraid of "Piłsudski scenario" in Gammon's case and plans to get rid of him. That is even more likely, if we assume that Bhora really acts to detriment of her own people, cooperating with thieves. The question of the rule of Skree seem to be still developing! Tadhg mac Matha PS This is the result of letting historian into fantasy worlds.