The Heirs

Andrew and Amara: Where is She?

Chapter 32:

(Andrew POV) -Albuquerque-

I was out of breath as I run into the castle trying to find everyone. I found the adults in a meeting room and I figured that was good enough for now. "Amara... gone... Malcolm..." I got out as they all looked up at me. I took a breath and started again, "Amara left this note for Uncle Zandar. She is gone and I think it has something to do with Malcolm." Uncle Zandar stood up and calmly tried to brush it off, "I am sure that she is just meeting with some allies or something." I held up the note again, "In Welshire." Everyone went quiet when I mentioned that kingdom. Mom looked up at me, "W-Welshire." She then turned to Dad who was bracing her shoulder. Uncle Zandar took the note and looked it over and handed it to Aunt Hildegard, all of them just trying to take in what happened.

"I'm going after her." I left the room and was walking towards the door when I heard Dad get up, "Andrew, you know that she is not in Wel-" I nodded my head. "I know, I didn't buy it for a second. I'm heading out and just checking the surrounding kingdoms for now. Ask Uncle Zandar and Aunt Hildgeard to pull up everything on this guy. His application, references, where he is from. That will help tomorrow." He nodded his head, "I will contact Chivalry Hall, explain the situation. Hopefully this won't effect things too much." "That doesn't matter right now, I will deal with them later." I said. He nodded his head. I saddled up and began riding from kingdom to kingdom.

I rode all day and all night. None of our allies had seen or heard about anything although all would be on the lookout now. I knew that they had a head start and that they could have gotten her anywhere by now but, I couldn't stop. I then remember the Well. I went to the nearest one for the kingdom that I was in. I made my way to the crystal ball and firmly planted my hand on top of it, "Princess Amara of Tangu." I watched as an image appeared. She wasn't in the image at least not that I could see but, there was a dilapidated, old cabin deep in the desert. There was no sign of life or anyone else around. The roof was caving in an it looked completely abandoned. I continued to watch the image and saw a wagon being pulled up in front of the house. There was some crates and other items inside and two men who I didn't recognize were going to unload everything. One of them pried open one of the crates and lifted something over their shoulder. I quickly saw that it was Amara. He carried her limp body inside the house and shut the door.

I lifted my hand off and brought it to my mouth. I had to swallow the lump in my throat. They had just arrived at their destination so it had to be at least a day away and even though it was in a desert I knew that it couldn't be in Tangu, not with how much they are already looking for her. I had to go talk to them and find out what they already knew. That was the only way I could find where she was and I had to find where she was.

(Amara POV) -unknown-

I felt my eyes open and saw a room that was completely white. There was no windows, no doors, just me on a bed. I looked down and I was in a my gown but it was completely disheveled and everything was sore as I tried to sit up. I heard a loud noise and quickly laid back down and shut my eyes. I didn't know what was going on, but I figured being asleep might be my only defense. I heard a door swing open, but I wasn't sure where it could have come from. I heard footsteps coming closer, "How much did you give her?" A deep loud voice said. "She woke up on the journey and I had to give her a second dosage," A second man said. I had to stay calm if I closed my eyes too tightly or reacted they would see that I was awake. I could feel them looking over me as the loud voice asked, "Are you sure this is her?" "Yes sir, I am positive." I felt one of them lift my arm up and I immediately let it drop as they let it go.

I heard them shuffle out and the loud door close and I opened my eyes. I looked around and noticed a scuff mark on the floor and some sand that they must have tracked in letting me know where the door was. I was still sore and had no way of knowing if they were coming back so I stayed in the bed for now. They would expect me to wake up soon from what I had gathered and I didn't want them to know anything. I had to think. How did I end up here? Last thing I remember was finding the letters in Malcolm's office, what happened after. Everything was just fuzzy and I needed to focus. I ran my hand through my hair and realized that my veil was gone. I swallowed a lump in my throat as I tried to calm myself down. They would find me soon. This was not going to be a big deal. They knew that I was gone by now. I just needed to remember what happened that brought me her. What happened?

(Andrew POV) -Tangu-

I rode back to see people riding in and out quickly. I went inside and found them in the foyer talking to everyone. I made my way up to them, "Any luck?" I shook my head and Uncle Zandar guided me off to a meeting room. He handed me a file, "That is everything we have on Malcolm from before and since he has worked here." I nodded my head flipping through the papers I then looked up at him, "What are the other kingdoms that have a desert within a one day journey from here?" I didn't look up at him as he began to talk, "Um there is a desert at the edge of the kingdom of Isleworth, Maarswik the desert makes up about an eighth of their kingdom, and from what I know Kygrastonia has the second largest desert next to Tangu. Other than that I guess Naparuna, but they are allies of ours and are already on the look out, they are only half a day out though" I nodded my head as I followed along with reading his file. Uncle Zandar didn't ask why I needed to know about deserts and I was glad.

As I read more on of the sheets I looked up, "Malcolm's file says he is from Naparuna, but the city all his references are from is in Beclavark. They are nowhere near each other and Naparuna is a higher-income kingdom with far more connection whereas Beclavark is in poverty, why would he use references from there." I showed Uncle Zandar and he nodded his head. I went over to the map as I tried to think about what we knew so far. Uncle Zandar was close on my heels trying to follow my train of thought. I looked at all the kingdoms that had deserts for any connection. As we looked at the map I saw that on Beclavark's far border was Kygrastonia. "Uncle Zandar from the desert kingdoms that you mentioned who are your allies?" "Islework, Maarswik and Naparuna."

"What about Kygrastonia?" He shook his head, "No, they don't agree with how things are run in Tangu. We tried to reach an agreement with them in the past but, they refused unless Tangu adopted their ways of ruling." I nodded my head, "Would you say that they are more traditional? That they care a lot about titles?" He nodded his head, "Yes they believe in an old monarchy were it passes through the male bloodline." I felt my back stiffen, "How would they feel about a female heir taking the throne without a king?" I turned to face him and his face was still, "Andrew, if you are thinking what I think you are thinking we need to get her out of there now." His face was tense. There was something he wasn't telling me. He grabbed my shoulder, "Andrew, please find her fast." I nodded my head, "Keep going with the search here in case I am wrong. Plus the more people looking for her in other places, the less they will expect that someone is coming to them." "I was going to either way, now go." I gave a short nod and ran out to my horse. The Kygrastonian desert was the second largest next to Tangu and I was going to have to comb through it to find Amara. I had to move quickly.