Free Thursdays with the Crown by Jessica Day George

didn’t believe me. I swear it was a griffin.” He lowered his voice. “That griffin.” He pointed to Rufus’s father, hastily dropping his hand when he saw the griffin looking back.
    They all stared at the big golden griffin. He preened his feathers, and Celie startled them all with a burst of laughter. She believed Ethan. It was exactly the kind of thing that Rufus would have done: steal a shiny gem like the Eye. And now they had a better chance of finding it! There was every possibility that Rufus’s father could lead them right to it!
    â€œWho does the Arkower think stole it?” Lilah asked.
    â€œThe Treaty-breaker,” Ethan said.
    â€œWho?”
    Ethan squirmed. “That’s what we are supposed to callhim. He’s the old Royal Wizard and the last Hathelocke.” He tilted his head at Celie. “Well, until you came here.”
    â€œI’m not a Hathelocke,” Celie said in frustration. “I’m a Glower!”
    â€œWell, technically we’re Hathelocke on our mother’s side. And Arkower on our father’s,” Rolf pointed out.
    â€œArkish,” Ethan corrected him.
    â€œYes, Arkish,” Rolf said with a nod. “Our father’s family is Arkish, and our mother’s is Hathelocke. So, I suppose you could call us Arklockes.” He paused. “No, don’t. That sounds awful.”
    â€œThis treaty-breaker, he’s the old Royal Wizard?” Pogue said, ignoring Rolf. He frowned. “But I thought the Arkower was.”
    â€œThe Arkower was the greatest Arkish wizard,” Ethan said. “And the broker of the peace between us and the Hathelockes. But the Treaty-breaker … I don’t know his real name,” he confessed, “he was the Royal Wizard of the Castle.”
    â€œI — wait — you’re just going to have to tell us more,” Rolf said.
    â€œBut not here,” Pogue said. “We’ve stayed here too long. We need to get moving.” He stood up and looked toward the lake. “Should we just keep going along the shore?”
    â€œIt is being best if we are to stay within the covering trees, Friend Pogue,” Lulath said. He stood up and brushed the sand off his clothes, which were much the worse forwear. “If only there was being another place to be resting, that is not the Castle. For surety the Arkower is seeking us there, and there he is finding us simply.”
    Rolf helped Lilah and Celie to their feet, and the girls dusted each other off. Their gowns were so creased and stained that they were probably ruined. Of course, if they didn’t get home, it would hardly matter.
    â€œI wonder what the other thing on the map is?” Celie said, gazing at Lilah’s cape.
    â€œWhat map?” Pogue followed Celie’s gaze. He frowned. “I don’t —”
    â€œWhat in the name of — there’s a map of the Glorious Arkower on Lilah’s back!” Rolf exclaimed. “It looks just like the wooden one back at the Castle!”
    â€œYes!” Celie clutched at Rolf’s arm, pointing to the map with her other hand. “Do you see it, too? I noticed it before on the boat but didn’t want to say anything in front of the Arkower.”
    â€œMay I be seeing?” Lulath went eagerly behind Lilah to look as well. “A wonder!” he cried. He pointed to the lake and the mountains. “Here is being the Arkower’s only home, and here is being the Castle.” He pointed to the pillar shape at the bottom of the map, while Lilah strained her head over her shoulder to see what they were looking at. “But yes, what is this being?” He rested his finger on the other pillar. “It is not being far from here.”
    Pogue waved to Ethan, summoning him. “You must know,” he said bluntly.
    â€œI shouldn’t tell you,” Ethan said.
    â€œNow you have to,” Rolf told him, his face severe. “We