On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

Slarb and four other Fangs capture the three children, but Nugget escapes. The Fangs bring the children to the town jail, which is run by a Fang called Commander Gnorm. The siblings sit in a cell and await their fate; they will either be tortured at the jail or sent away in the Black Carriage to their deaths. They hope for the former, and Slarb seems keen to whip them, but Gnorm orders him to send for the carriage instead.

The children are horrified, but there is nothing they can do. Janner tries to keep his siblings from falling into despair. Hours pass, and Tink and Leeli fall asleep as Janner tries to think of a way out. Eventually, they hear Nugget barking outside. Shortly thereafter, Gnorm comes to release them. Nia has bribed Gnorm with a stash of jewelry that her children did not know she had. She is waiting for them with Nugget outside the jail.

Nia leads her children home. Nugget, after escaping from the Fangs on the cliffs, ran home and led Nia to where they were kept at the jail. Nia explains that she was keeping the jewels in case of an emergency like this. She got the jewels from Esben. Fangs can sometimes be bribed because they covet gold and jewels, but Nia also had to promise to make maggotloaf for Gnorm; otherwise, he might have simply taken the jewels and killed them all. On the way home, Nia and the children run into Armulyn, who sings a moving song for a small audience. Janner, Tink, and Leeli feel homesick when they listen to the song but do not know why. Nia hurries them away from Armulyn, who seems interested in the children.

Janner, Tink, and Leeli tell Nia and Podo what happened to them over bowls of cheesy chowder. Podo is particularly impressed to learn that Leeli kicked a Fang. Later, Janner overhears Nia and Podo talking about who might have thrown the stones in the alley. They seem to have a theory, but he is not sure who they are talking about.

The next morning, Podo gives Leeli a new crutch; she lost her old one in all the commotion. He has carved the words “Leeli Igiby: Lizardkicker” on it. Things are back to normal, and the children have chores and studying to do. Janner asks if he and Tink can visit the bookshop to borrow books from Oskar and help him sort a new shipment. Despite her misgivings, Nia agrees to let them go after lunch, as long as they are careful.

Podo brings the boys into town and goes to the pub. Janner and Tink visit Oskar and Zouzab. Oskar’s shop is a labyrinth, with many fascinating books and curiosities on the shelves. The boys help Oskar sort his latest shipment of books, which come from all over Skree.

As he sorts the books, one catches Janner’s eye. The Journal of Bonifer Squoon was written by the “Chief Advisor to the High King of Anniera, Keeper of the Isle of Light” (111). An image of a dragon adorns the cover. Oskar takes the journal before Janner can read more, but he allows the boys to borrow three other books each, subject to his approval. They explore the shop to make their selections. Tink finds a map hidden under the floorboards.

Tink examines the map, hoping nobody will find him. It is a map of Anklejelly Manor, a nearby ruin. An inscription suggests that something is hidden there, but it also warns of dangers and a ghost. When Oskar suddenly arrives, Tink hides the map in his sleeve. The boys leave, and Tink tells Janner about the map. As they walk through town, they hear a carriage and run in case they are about to be kidnapped. They hide and watch Commander Gnorm talk to the driver; it is not the Black Carriage after all. Slarb finds the boys and sneaks up behind them.

Slarb threatens Janner and Tink, but another Fang sees him and stops him from hurting them—Commander Gnorm will be upset if anything happens to them because he wants Nia’s maggotloaf. The boys hurry home. They go to their room and examine the map together. It has a few tiny holes in it and features the same illustration of a dragon that was on Bonifer Squoon’s journal. The dragon illustration also has an inscription mentioning the “Jewels of Anniera” (124). Tink wants to visit Anklejelly; Janner is horrified by the idea and refuses. He reveals to Tink that he has learned their father’s name. Tink continues to insist that they visit Anklejelly Manor.