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,...

'I'm going to be late.' The soldiers retrieved their swords and charged, but then the strange personage did the one thing none of them had expected: it turned, ran, and jumped off the balustrade. The guards rushed to the railing and peered over the edge at the courtyard twenty feet down, but there was nothing there. "Where did he go?" one asked in bewilderment. They were so intent on the courtyard in front of them that they didn't see the hand in the shadows behind them collect a water canteen and an odd assortment of food from their plates. At that moment, she was supposed to be nearing the...

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...