The Wandering Watchers
The Wandering Watchers
Written by Michelle Mohrweis
Illustrated by Dante Gabriel Hookey
Chapter 1
The Feather Quill is the best antique store in the kingdom, or so I decide one sunny day as I stand behind the shop counter, polishing spoons.
It’s not just because my aunt’s store is packed from floor to ceiling with everything you can dream of.
No, it’s the customers that make it truly amazing.
2
“That is them, right?” whispers my friend, Prince Mateo. He’s half hidden behind a giant pile of silver spoons.
“Yep,” I whisper in awe. “That’s the Wandering Watchers.”
I reach for another spoon and rock back and forth as I work. This is amazing!
The Wandering Watchers are the three most famous adventurers in the Kingdom of Pages. They’ve rescued dragons, helped find treasure, and even rescued the queen … twice! Right now they are so close I can smell the polish on their boots.
3
“Let’s talk to them,” suggests Mateo, reaching for another spoon. It might seem odd that a prince is helping us clean, but Mateo likes having a break from the palace.
“You love adventure.”
It’s true. I, Cleo MacGuffin, am an adventure enthusiast! The only person who loves it as much as me is …
“Yes!” gasps Samara, my cousin. She clutches her notebook like a lifeline and stares in awe at the Watchers. “Wait, no. What would we say? What if they don’t like us? Oh no, no, no, we can’t!”
She flops onto the counter, sending spoons clattering to the ground.
4
I’ve never seen Samara like this before.
She’s the confident one, the one who records everything in her notebook so she won’t forget anything, and who always knows what to say and do.
“Are you OK?” I ask.
“Yes. No. Maybe. It’s just – ” Samara’s voice drops to a whisper. “They’re my heroes. I never thought I’d be so close to them!”
5
I wonder if the Watchers notice us watching.
“Come on,” whispers Samara, likely thinking the same. “We have to keep cleaning like normal.” She starts grabbing artefacts from around the counter until she has a towering pile of mirrors and bowls and old shields and books that wobble in her arms.
6
“Do you need help?” asks Mateo.
“I can do it,” she insists, slowly walking towards the shelves to put everything away. She’s almost there when …
“Samara, watch out!” I cry.
Too late! Samara trips on a book.
7