Tom: I shifted my head uncomfortably and turned onto my back, subconsciously cursing the hard floor of . . .. I frowned, then squinted against the sunlight, opening my eyes. I shot-upright. "WHY?" I demanded, observing the ocean tide in all directions from inside the row-boat. Sharik, the sandy-haired, blue-eyed, muscular figure on the opposite end of the boat - my captain of the guard as it happened - jolted awake at my complaint. He sat up stiffly and looked to his right, then frowned, glancing to his left, then looked to me. "I quit," he informed me. You're probably wondering how exactly...

Tom: "Sire," my psycho addressed me firmly. I walked past him, ignoring his protest, and continued down the corridor. "Enhance your calm," he chided, following closely after me. "Calm? What is Calm? Can I smash it? " I demanded, stomping down the stairs of my entry hall where Lewis and Heather had just entered. Lewis turned as I approached him. PUNCH He turned his head to the side at the blow. "Ow," he replied simply, wiping a little blood from the corner of his mouth. I glared, breathing heavily, not entirely set on my plans for him - death by strangling or death by sword. I frowned,...

Kevin: "Who has the duchess?" I demanded, holding the letter to the side to interrogate the imposter. He audibly released a breath, stepping forward again and indicated the name at the bottom of the note - Killian. Doubtful. I glanced at the name, then looked again to the cloaked man, who still stared at the letter. "Yeah, I saw that," I informed him, "And you are?" No response. He grabbed the ransom note out of my hands and continued to stare at it as if he hadn't seen it before. "And now I'm to presume that you're an innocent?" I inquired impatiently. He shrugged again, then turned and...

Carlose: The guards threw Tissle and I down on our knees before Sullion, or rather King Sullion, as he was now titled. It'd been three days since he'd assumed the throne, and, for some reason, he felt the need to have Tissle and I tracked down despite our enforced cooperation. Matthias had escaped into hiding. "Where did you send her?" Sullion demanded, referring to Isabelle. "What is she going to do?" Tissle reasoned with him, "She can't come back without the tickeece, and it's here on Starline." "The portal can open without the tickeece, as you well know," Sullion snapped, "And she will...