The Wingfeather Saga Sequel

Lost

"Janner it's going to be okay." Nia said as she rubbed her worried son's back. "I wish we had some clues or something to where she is." Kal said. "Janner, she's fine, where ever she is I know she's fine." Leeli said with reassurance.

Janner hadn't said a word since she was announced missing. Nia had been returned to the castle unharmed a few hours earlier. "Your Majesty. We haven't found her." The head guard said when he walked into the room where the whole royal family was being held for safety. Janner sat with his head in his hands not saying a word.

"Thank you for the report Angus." Nia said. "We've looked Everywhere highness. I'm very sorry." He said. Then, Janner exploded.

He jumped up out of his chair and grabbed Angus by his uniform collar. "You are not sorry." Janner said with great fury. His family stood there in shock. "You are not sorry until every house is searched! I want every alleyway looked in, every street covered by the tracks of your boots. I want every brick in the kingdom to be looked at. Leave no stone unturned. If you still can't find her, only then are you truly sorry. I would go out there right now if you would let us step foot out of this room! Go back out there and find my wife!" Janner yelled.

"Janner thats enough!" Artham said, as he yanked Janner's hands off of Angus' collar. Angus fell to the floor and quickly stood up. "Y-yes sir. R-r-right away." He stammered as he walked out the room.

Janner fell back in his chair and Artham knelt down in front of him. "Janner look at me." He said. Janner had his eyes shut tight and didn't say a word. "Janner I said look at me." Artham said with a bit more tension. Still, Janner didn't move. "Janner I know this is bad but-" Janner cut him off. "Uncle Artham my wife is missing and I don't know where she is or if she's even alive! What do you want me to do?!" He yelled as he shut up.

Artham stood up straight and looked him straight in the eye with anger. He wanted his nephew to get a hold of himself. Unfortunately, he said the wrong things. "Now that's enough you hear me? I know we can't find her and that this is bad but you need to get a hold of yourself! Start acting like an adult! You have always acted like such a child, Esben!"

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. "Why did you call me..." Janner's voice trailed off. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean- I wasn't trying- I didn't know what I was-" Artham tried to get his words out but couldn't.

No one said a word. Arundelle stood next to Artham holding his hand trying to make him feel better while Nia was doing the same for Janner. Leeli and Kal stood in the back of the room. Unable to say a word.

Meanwhile....

Sara just woke up. "Good morning Jan-" she stopped. She wasn't in her bed. She was on the floor. Cold, hard rock. She could see nothing in the pitch blackness that consumed the room. She scooted over to the wall and noticed that it was misshapen and the same material as the floor. "Am I in a cave?" Sara thought aloud.

Then, like a wave crashing over her, she remembered everything that happened to her.

*flashback*

She was walking to their room using the back stairs just as Janner had instructed her to. Taking the back stairs took longer than the main stairs.

When she got to the room, a man was waiting outside her door. "Mrs. Wingfeather you are in danger. Come with me." He said. Sara was about to go with him, thinking he was a guard because he was wearing Annerian guard uniform, but then she saw the slightest flicker in his eyes. He seemed to be hiding something.

"I'll be quite safe in my room." She said gravely. "The boss thought you'd say that." He said. Then, he threw down a packet of powder and Sara tried to run but the smell filled her nose. Her eyes watered and they were stinging so bad they hurt and she felt like her body was stopping. She fell to the floor and she screamed. A hand went over her mouth and she fell into a deep sleep.

*end of flashback*

Sara stood up and tried to feel her way through the room. She realized that if she was in a cave, there had to be an entrance. So, she had a decision to make. She had no idea which way was the entrance and which way led her deeper into the cave. "Maker help me." She said to herself as she walked to her right. Hopefully it was the right choice...

Back at the castle...

Leeli was quietly humming a song. Otherwise, the room was quiet. Artham felt guilty. He feared he had hurt his niece and nephews by mentioning their father's name. Worse. He felt he had hurt Nia. The woman who believed in him most (other than Arundelle of course). Nia had believed that he could be the Artham that he once was. And he had said the name of her husband. Her beloved husband who she missed dearly. Not only that. He called him a child. He insulted his brother in front of his hurting family.

Failure.
You left him.
It's all your fault.

These words hadn't been spoken in his head in a long time and yet, here they were. Ringing in his ears once again.

While Artham was dealing with his guilt, Janner was dealing with his own. Why didn't I let her come with me? She wanted to stay together. We would have been together if I had just listened to her. I could have protected her. It's all my fault.

Janner couldn't stop these thoughts from flowing into his mind. Then, he stood up and walked to the window.

Failure.
You left her.
It's all your fault.

Janner didn't know it, but he was hearing the same words his uncle was hearing in his own mind.

Leeli and Kal were whispering in the back of the room. "Kal I'm scared. What if he takes Mamma or Uncle Artham and Aunt Arundelle. Or one of us." She asked with fear in her voice.

Kal looked down at his little sister. He wanted to cheer her up and calm her fears. So he said, "That won't happen. Besides, Thorn O'sally is much too strong for them to take." Leeli looked up at him questionably. "He said people we loved." Kal said with a grin. Leeli smiled and giggled. "Guess you have to protect Galya then." Leeli said as she returned his grin.

Kal's face grew bright red and he started playing with his fingers. "I don't like her. She's my friend." Kal said all too quickly. "Hmmm." Leeli pretended to scratch her head with question. "First stage of a crush is denial." She singsonged. "Plus. It's obvious." She said trying to hide her laughter.

"Great." Kal said sarcastically. Who else knows? He thought to himself. Then, Leeli hugged him. "I'm so happy for you Kal." She said. Then, they dropped the conversation.

While Leeli was messing with Kal, Sara kept walking. "This cave goes on forever. Maybe I'm going the wrong way." She said to herself.

"No you're doing an excellent job Sara Wingfeather." Someone said from behind. Sara jumped and turned around but all she saw was darkness.

"Who's there?" She asked. "It's okay to be afraid Sara." The voice said. Closer now. Sara took a deep breath. "I'm not afraid." She said in a strong voice.

Then, a light flicked ahead of her and a man came into view. "Hello Sara. I am Charles Lingston. Soon to be the High King of Anneria." He said. Sara's eyes went wide. "What have you done to them?" She asked. "Oh nothing yet. Just breaking their spirits by taking who they love. You see, I don't have a big enough army to fight all of Anneria's guards so, little by little I take a loved one from them, they get weaker in spirit and if they want you back, they give me Anneria." He said with a crooked smile.

Sara looked at the man with determination in her eyes and she said, "No matter how many of us you take. The Jewels of Anneria will stay strong. Anneria will not fall!" The man laughed. "I believe that's why King Esben said when he heard of Gnag the Nameless." He said. Sara froze unable to say a word. "Speaking of Esben, I believe you'll have company soon. His wife perhaps." Then he blew out the light and he was gone.

Sara stood there for a moment making sure the man had gone. She fell back onto the floor and gasped, "Nia!"

Sorry about all the cliffhangers! Hope you enjoy this part! Next part coming soon!!
God Bless and Stay Gold!