The Wingfeather Saga Sequel

Protect Them

"What do we do?" Leeli asked. They knew that the guards were up in the towers and in the village trying to defend it as much as they could. The battle hadn't started yet. But the heavy anticipation of it was in the air.

"I don't know." Janner said with full honesty.

"You don't know?" Kalmar asked, stunned.

"Yes Kal, I don't know. As surprising as it may seem, your Throne Warden does not have all the answers." Janner said with a sigh.

Kalmar out his arms up in the air in surrender. "Sorry, sorry."

Janner sighed and said, "We need to get to the weapons room." He looked down at the sword he had strapped to his waist. The one that his father had made for him. The one that King Esben had engraved, Janner Wingfeather on one side and
My son, on the other. "We have our own strengths with weapons, Kal you need to find some bow and arrows. Leeli, I know you've been practicing with swords."

Leeli's eyes went wide and she stammered,
"W-what? No...I would never..." Then she saw the looks of doubt on her brother's faces and she groaned. "Okat fine. Yes I've been practicing for a while."

"Good. We could use your playing but we also need more people to fight." Janner said with a smile at his younger sister. Leeli beamed and nodded.

"Okay, so weapons room first?" Kal asked.

"Yep. That's the plan." Janner agreed as they snuck down the halls to the weapons room.

"So what do we do after that?" Kal asked.

"We will cross that bridge when we get there." Leeli said with annoyance.

As the Jewels walked down the halls in silence, they had to duck into two doorways, back up once, and hide behind things many times. If they were caught, by Annerian guards or by Lingston's men, they'd be captured either way, for safety or for ransom. It took forever to get to the weapons room but when they did, Janner opened the door quietly and looked inside.

"Oh thank the Maker. No one is inside." Janner whispered as he and his siblings rushed in. Janner shut the big wooden door as quietly as he could and Kal helped his bar the door. They only had one problem: it was extremely dark.

"Eveyone try to find a candle. Just don't cut yourself on something." Kal said as the three of them carefully felt there way around the room.

Leeli's voice came from the other end of the room. "I found a window! Should I open it?"

"Yes but only halfway and stay away from it once you do." Janner instructed.

Leeli slowly opened the window and gasped.

"Leeli, get away from the window!" Janner hissed.

"Guys...." Leeli breathed in fear.

Janner and Kal rushed to the window and looked to see what was wrong. They had been inside for to long. The kingdom was already under attack. You could see the village from here. Men were fighting, women were rushing to get their children to safety and once that was done, they picked up the closest weapon and started to fight. People were screaming, guards were running, trying to keep the bad guys away from the castle. Some people's houses were on fire and to Janner's horror, the Oscar N. Reteep Library was being destroyed.

"Nononono! We have to get out there!" Kal cried as he rushed around to find a weapon. He was mumbling to himself in anger.

Leeli stood still, looking out there and watched with worry. "You think they are okay?" She asked quietly. Janner knew she was thinking about the others. They had split off. And no one knew where they were.

"I know they are. It's gonna be okay Leeli." Janner said as he slowly towed his sister away from the window. "Try to find a sword that is the right size for you. And grab some armor." He instructed. She nodded and started to look.

Janner found some armor for himself right away and he had a his sword already sharpened and ready for battle. He unsheathed it and looked at it closely. He read the words, My son, over and over again. What would Esben do? Janner tried to tell himself everyday to be like his father but...he didn't know him. He only said a few words to him as he watched him die (after years of thinking he was already dead). Janner looked at at his siblings. They were trying to put on their armor. That's when he knew what his father would do. Janner had to protect them. He was the Throne Warden. But he couldn't lock them up and keep them from battle. He had to asked them.

"Guys listen. You don't have to go out there if you don't want to." Janner said as he stood up.

They both stopped moving and looked at him. "Of course we have to. We want to." Leeli said.

"Yeah. We can't let you go out there alone. And besides, we want to fight!" Kal said.

"But don't think about me or yourselves. Think of Momma. Of Uncle Artham and Aunt Arundelle. Leeli, think of Thorn and Kalmar think of Galya." Janner persisted.

They both stoppped for a second and grew silent.

"So, if you guys don't want to go, I understand. Kalmar we can't lose you. You are the king for crying out loud! And Leeli, you are the Song Maiden. What would we do if something happened to you?" I told them.

"Janner, I love Thorn and Momma and Aunt Arundelle and Uncle Artham and Galya. But that's why I am going to fight. Because they deserve a better world than this. Because you and Kal do. Because Father would want that for them. For us. So yes, I'm going to fight. And you can't change my mind." Leeli said with confidence.

Janner smiled and said, "Thank you." She nodded and they both looked at Kal.

"Of course I'm going. I love everyone you named and the whole kingdom. They deserve a better life than that!" He said as he pointed to the window.

"That's exactly what Leeli said." Janner said with a laugh.

"Yeah well she took all the good words I needed to recycle them." Kal said.

The three of them laughed. Janner couldn't help but wonder when the next time they laughed together would be.

They made their way to the secret entrance that they came in the castle in and stopped at the door. None of them moved to open it. They stood there silently. Janner unsheathed his sword, Kal knocked an arrow, and Leeli held her sword tightly in one hand and she adjusted her whistleharp on its strap. They were ready to fight. But Hanner had to say one more thing to them.

"No matter what happens, I want you guys to know I love you." Janner said. He looked at his siblings. He saw Kal's strong build and stature melt away to the boy he wan in Glipwood. He saw Leeli's long hair grow shorter and her face grow younger and he saw Leeli and Tink Iggiby. He knew that he couldn't lose his siblings. He would protect them at all costs.

Leeli hugged both him and Kalmar and said, "We will get through this." With a determined smile.

Kal stood up taller. "Let's make sure to take back the Shinning Isle." He said strongly.

Janner nodded said, "Let's take back our home."

Kalmar opened the door of the passage and they entered the battlefield.

I AM SO SORRY!!! I know it took me MONTHS to write and I feel terrible about it it!! I am going to write more Wingfeather stuff!! I hope you enjoyed!!
God Bless and Stay Gold