((haha--actually, i think that only the one night has passed. so she didn't necessarily even go into hibernation! just got a good night's sleep. there's someone in the hearts dungeon...and the hatter seems to have uncovered a plot...and another messenger will shortly be appearing whenever my posts finally make it that far. so you'll have plenty of stuff to do. ))

((I'm still here, but I've had other stuff that I've been busy with. Anyways, I'll post something short about Fayt right now.))

"No, thank you. I'll be fine without them." Fayt replied politely to Mikhaiel. She smiled, and nodded, before she walked into the room.

Fayt peered around the room a little anxiously. It was dark, but she had no problem seeing, as her cat eyes were good in low light. There was a bed in one corner, a dresser in another, and a long mirror beside it. There didn't seem to be any kind of trap in the room, but Fayt couldn't really think of any reason to hurt someone who was 'insane'. Being 'insane' did have its advantages.

Walking over to the bed, she pulled back the covers. They were surprisingly soft. Fayt smiled once again, and transformed into a cat very suddenly. She leaped up to the small window, and looked around. It was far too high to jump from, and there seemed to be a bed of roses beneath it. It would be more than a little painful to land in those thorns!

The moon was almost full, and cast quite a bit of light. It made the whole castle look very beautiful.

Fayt left the window after a few moments of gazing at the stars. She turned back into a human, and slipped into the bed. Before closing her eyes, she grabbed her teddy bear from her bag.

(( ... ... ... Sorry! ^^; Been kinda stressed lately- and a stressed Ashen=no writing. Buuut... I'm having a cup of very yummy tea at the moment, and it's making me happy. Mmm... tea. <3 So. I shall try to write something.))

The Queen of Hearts took the proffered cup. She took a sip, and nodded. It was quite pleasing- though it could perhaps do with just a touch of honey- and better (in her opinion) than most of the tea the Hatter enjoyed. She listened to the Hatter, sipping her tea.

"...I encountered some Clubs dressed as Heart guards- took them down easily… ... I found no motive or more ‘invaders’ in the area- and without such information, it would have been useless to inform you then...”

She raised a brow at that, but let the Hatter continue. Pursing her lips, she tried to place exactly when this had happened. Hmm... If it was when she thought it was, perhaps it was better he hadn't told her. She had been in quite a mood...

”…Since the King of Clubs is using the map, whatever his ‘attack’ is will likely be something long range- something that he could do from the comfort of his own castle… and it will also likely be something that could total a city- since that’s what he seemed so intent on mapping…"

Bryony set down her tea. She would have to ask the Hatter just what was in this blend. Still, that had to wait. She massaged her temples with gloved fingers. This could prove to be quite a headache- she would rather deal with her sister than the King of Clubs. Her sister she could handle. The territory of Chess she could deal with. Clubs was a wild card. If Clubs was a driving force in the war? That boded ill for everyone.

”Your sister’s nation is also in danger- I know you two don’t always get along, but I don’t think any amount of madness would make it wise to not warn her and simply hope that they get attacked first.”

Bryony raised her head. She very nearly covered her face with her hands and groaned. She understood that their kingdoms were both in danger, but really, could this had happened an a more inopportune time? She had just sent back a very definite 'no' for her sister's offer of alliance. She tapped her fingers on the armrest of her throne.

With a tsk, she rose. Pacing about the room, she contemplated the possible actions. It wasn't long before she had decided, but oh! how the decision chafed her pride.

"LAPIN!!"

((...Evidently Queenie-kins is in a good mood. I'm not sure why... *is scared* XD ))

Aidan Lee sat in a corner space of a relatively empty pub- with no customer aside from himself. His azure eyes stared unblinkingly to the large, old piece of parchment spread across his arms, the cheap bottle of alcohol he'd ordered stood on his table untouched. The barman, obviously bored, took his time to steal some curious glances at this rather peculiar customer. This action of the former, however, was blatantly ignored.

Unknown anyone but himself, it was not the images of the map he was actually seeing through his silver-rimmed spectacles; instead, he was seeing a vision of the Ante Desert; witnessing an army clad in red, bearing the banner of the Territory of Chess, marching towards the Kingdom of Diamonds. Seems exhausting, Lee mused to himself, Does the Red Queen really expected to win if her troops are not in perfect condition?

As if they could somehow hear his thoughts, the army halted their advance, and left their horses to ride on several large, brightly colored avians with multiple eyes instead; Lee noticed that the creatures were summoned by the One-armed commander.

Taking of his glasses, he lowered the browning map and seemed to notice for the first time that his ordered drink had been served, Lee poured himself a portion and took a sip. With a disgusted grimace, he quickly reminded himself to not order any similar product in the future. He was about to stand up and leave (he'd paid for the drink the moment he ordered it) when the door opened from outside. Their boots thumping against the wooden floor with each steps, their uniforms and bulky figures advertising their origins, several Clubs soldiers marched in. The barman promptly squawked in alarm before he nervously proceed to serve the hulking men.

Lee could somewhat understand why the barman was behaving this way. Intimidating as they already were, it was enhanced by their obvious displeasure. He'd heard about it alright- that the Clubs had invaded Spades a few hours ago. The invasion, evidently, did not end well. Deciding whether or not he should attempt to sell them any information, Lee slowly rose from his seat, gaining the soldiers' attention for the first time. Each of the men glared suspiciously at him, but whatever their impression of him was, Lee chose to ignore; greeting them formally, he proceeded to offer them a deal- that he knew some valuable information he'd be willing to share for a price.

He did not receive any response for a while, other than several confused or doubtful stares. It was to be expected that they would not believe him immediately. "It's about the Territory of Chess" Lee added, hoping that giving them an overview of what his 'information' was would convince them to purchase it. It worked; or, at least, it seemed to perk some interests- including that of the barman's.

He started telling them facts that a number of the Red Army has left their bases to invade Diamonds and proceeded revealed that a certain one-armed commander controlled giant avians (his 'clients' immediately recognized them as 'Jubjub birds' ). Intrigued, but unconvinced, the men handed him a pouch filled with quite a lot of money to hold for a while.

Smirking, he slipped out the pub, leaving the soldiers debating about the reliance of his information. If they ever decide that he was bluffing after all, and try to track him down, he'd be long since gone.

((Finally managed to introduce Lee; he's an (unaffiliated) information broker. I'd reckon he'd stir up troubles though, especially if he plans to run around selling information regarding various kingdoms to opposing rulers. Hope you don't mind that, Astra, but knowing that you plan to have Clubs invade Chess anyway, I don't see how it really matters.))

Lapin's eyes snapped open at the sound of her name being yelled. Without hesitating at all, the hare jumped out of bed and left her room, quickly moving closer. When she entered the room, she quickly bowed before the Queen.

"Yes, Your Higness?" Lapin asked, still panting a little from her brisk walk. It was almost certain that the hare would have something to do.

Not that it bothered her. In fact, the prospect of having some nice work to get done seemed like a gift more than anything.

((ashen, i get the impression that we're both about to send a messenger to each other's kingdom, becasue mine is on his way--or will be in my next post XD))

((XD Well, that's the plan. Hopefully Bryony doesn't have a change of heart... ... Ye gods, that's a bad pun...))

((haha--good one XP))

"Doggie!" Yue exclaimed upon spotting Sylph.

"Oh, hell no!" Naesala crowed, grabbing Yue and Tai by the backs of their shirts (or, in Yue's case, cloak). Maybe he was a bit biased, maybe he was a bit paranoid, or maybe he had just cause for concern, but he was not letting his nestlings anywhere near that dog. Petting unfamiliar dogs was a great way to get bitten--and with Yue's low pain tolerance and Tai's severe distrust of Masahiro--the only nearby healer--he wasn't about to let them chance it.

"So, this job?" he asked nonchalantly as Tai and Yue scrambled to get away and Sylph clamored to get back into his jar, looking panicked. Maeve waited until Sylph and his jar were gone before she answered.

"I have a job that requires your...expertise," she said. He released Tai and Yue.

"And what expertise would that be?"

“Your stealth.”

“All Spades are stealthy,” Naesala said. “See this guy here?” He gestured at Masahiro. “This guy could sneak up and kill Death itself. How stealthy could a guy with a big feathery cape be?”

"It is known by all that my country produces excellent spies and assassins," she said, glancing at Masahiro. "But my sister’s subjects are notoriously good at their jobs as well. They would find him, and—as skilled as you are, Masahiro—you are young. You may be more than a match for most anyone you’ve fought, but Hearts has guards with five times your age in fighting experience alone. That brings us back to you, Naesala,” she said, shifting her gaze back to the raven. “For it seems that they have little regard for my messengers. I need you to deliver a treaty to Hearts. Directly to the hands of my sister herself.”

“Is that all? Consider it done. Give me the treaty and I’ll be off at dawn,” he said, pushing a few stray locks of hair back, looking for all the world like the confident bastard he knew he was. “Unless, of course, you want me to go now.”

“Pft,” Maeve chuckled, rolling her eyes playfully. “I have to write the treaty first, overeager featherbrain.”

“Ah, that’s right. You’ve had a rather exciting night, have you not?” He wound a stray lock of hair around his fingers restlessly. Whenever he had a job, he tended to want to do it as quickly as possible.

“Far too.” She snapped her fingers and a maid appeared almost at once. “Fetch us something to eat, if you would,” she said. “I fear no one will be getting much sleep tonight.”

“Yes, your Majesty,” the maid curtsied and hurried off.

“Naesala,” Masahiro said, looking at the half-raven. “Be wary—Hearts has an assassin of a caliber far superior to my own. He goes by “Hatter.” I do not think he will harm you, but…”

“No one can retreat faster than me, BlackJack,” Naesala smirked, stretching. Masahiro smiled wearily.

“Be that as it may, I believe the Hatter would be able to catch you if he wanted to. Bear that in mind.”

“Spare me the gloom-and-doom speech,” the raven replied casually, noting that Yue looked quite distressed at the idea of him flying headlong into danger. “I’ll be fine. Just a routine fly-by of Hearts with a brief interlude.”

“That’s why I’m sending him, Masahiro,” Maeve said. “Because far fewer people would notice a raven. Even you, would you not?”

“I am not the Hatter, Maeve,” Masahiro said. He could see he was quite outvoted—Naesala would be going to Hearts, danger or not. In fact, he probably wouldn’t be going if there wasn’t danger. But the healer in him worried. It was always much harder to treat Naesala’s injuries—shapeshifting tended to reopen wounds.

The maid returned with a large, rolling tray of food as well as a raven-feather quill (given as a gift to Maeve by Naesala) and a roll of official-looking Spades parchment. She curtsied again, holding out a silver goblet to the queen. Maeve thanked her, accepted the goblet, and turned to her Knave and her messenger.

“Cheers, gentlemen,” she said, raising her glass. “My will be done.”

*** *** *** *** ***

Maeve read the document one more time, already assured that there weren’t any stupid mistakes but trying to discern how her sister would read it. She had read it several times through, shown it to Malcolm, Masahiro and Naesala, and then read it through again. She sighed. It would have to do.

“Naesala!” she called to her empty study. She waited.

“Surprise,” said a voice from the window. Maeve jumped and whirled around, rapier drawn. Naesala was sitting on the windowsill, his feathered cape in the form of two enormous black wings. He smirked at Maeve’s reaction.

“I expected you at the door,” she said by way of greeting, sheathing the rapier. The jeweled hilt glimmered in the candlelight.

“Finished?”

“It’s as good as it’s going to get,” she said as she melted crimson sealing wax over a candle. She dripped the wax onto the seam of the scroll and pressed her seal into it. After waiting for the wax to harden, she handed the treaty to her messenger.

“Thy will be done,” he teased, putting the scroll into a case and tucking the case into a pouch on the belt he wore across his chest. “Make sure the nestling doesn’t panic too much for me, yes?”

“As you wish,” Maeve said. The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon, the sky turning grey with the promise of the coming dawn. Naesala fluttered his wings, the pale light illuminating his pale face, making him look ancient but—at the same time—much younger. A dark blue aura began to form around him. In moments, the winged human was gone and a large raven sat in his place. Maeve crooked her arm before her and the raven fluttered obediently onto it.

“Good luck, Naesala,” she said. The raven crowed once, pecked playfully at Maeve’s fingers, and took off into the rising light.

***

Mikhaiel was sitting outside Maeve’s study door when she emerged.

“Interesting place to sit,” she said with a smile.

“Fayt did not try to escape,” he replied. “Shall I send for her?”

“Bring her breakfast,” Maeve said, “I’m yet to decide what to do with her.”

“You don’t trust her, do you?” Mikhaiel asked, not sounding terribly surprised.

Maeve frowned. “It’s like I said to her—I didn’t ask if she worked for Hearts. With Clubs invading, one would think that her first inclination would be to assure me she isn’t a Club. Hearts was the last thing on my mind.”

“You think she’s a Hearts spy, then?”

Maeve looked at the half-Incubus. He was older than he looked—Masahiro’s age or more, but he looked to be in his mid-teens. Despite his heritage, there was something terribly pure an innocent about him. “I do not know, Mikhaiel—I merely know that her loyalty does not lie with Spades.”

Mikhaiel nodded and was quiet for a moment. “Queen Maeve?”

“Mikhaiel?”

“Where might I find a bow?”

“A bow?” Maeve blinked in surprise. “I suppose you don’t mean the kind that’s on the back of my dress.”

“No, your Majesty,” Mikhaiel said with a smile.

“What need have you of a bow?”

“I…I wish to learn how to use it,” he said, blinking his mismatched eyes. “If Spades is to go to war…”

“Mikhaiel, that’s what the army is for,” Maeve chuckled.

“All the same, Maeve,” he said. “I still wish to learn.”

She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. “I shall send Masahiro with a message to someone I know. If he will take you…you could not ask for a finer teacher.”

((^^; massively long post is massively long...masahiro was suspiciously quiet in this one....hmm....))

Aidan stood leaning against a wall in a secluded alley in a town outskirting the Kingdom of Clubs. He seemed to be staring at the scenery before him, but his eyes that glazed behind his glasses saw nothing of it.

The vision he currently saw from the lenses was that of the throne room of the Palace of Clubs. It was probably unnecessary, but Lee wanted to know if the King knew about the information he had just relayed to the soldiers in the pub. The images he saw appeared foggy, and the outlines blurred- perhaps it was protected by some minor enchantments- but it was enough for Aidan to make out that apparently, the King had.

Pulling of the glasses, Lee then turned to the dirty map he had been holding lopsidedly in his left hand. Now is the time to relay this bit of news to the Territory of Chess. Scratching his palm against the uncoated brick walls behind him, Lee allowed several drops of blood to fall on his map- over the Town of Celes. It took a while for the parchment to recognize the red substance as blood belonging to Lee, but once it did, it opened the portal to Celes- the drying stains fading as it did so.

Although from his current position, the Capital of the Red Territory is much closer, and would've given him a smoother, and shorted, travel, Lee also knew that out of the Two Queesn of Chess, the White Queen is easier to negotiate with. The fact that he had once made a deal with her, also, helped.

It was, in fact, the task to convince the Elven Guards of the palace to grant a 'suspicious stranger' like him that proves to be the real challenge.

"I understand that the Queen is busy, but surely she can spare one minute or two?" came Lee's exasperated voice after 15 minutes of reasoning and sucking up to the guards.

"The Queen is busy" insisted the guard; Lee had not known that elves could be so stubborn- not that he'd met one before. "And any spare minutes she has would not be wasted on you. Leave at once!"

Dropping all formalities and mock politeness, Lee's expression turned into a scowl, "Who are you to decide how the Queen should spend her time anyway?" He muttered rudely, "You're just some measly palace guards"

The guards looked enraged at this remark, but quickly regained their composure before they could fully express it, and simply repeated the line they've been saying since his first request, "Leave at once."

Today, the White Queen had decided, was not one of her good days. She had spent her whole morning trying to contact her sister; unsurprisingly, though, the Red Queen had not allowed her to do so. Cassandra had apparently locked away her cat, that Calysta's calls would not reach her.

The frustrated Queen had almost cried in anger, when a handsomely-dressed elf sauntered into the room and vacated the empty throne by her side. Putting aside her anger for her stubborn sister, Calysta turned to him enquiringly. "A stranger is seeking for your audience" her husband then informed her, "he was causing quite a commotion when the guards won't let him in."

"Send him in," ordered Calysta, vaguely pointing at a random servant who immediately scurried out of the room to carry her orders.

*

The strange visitor, it turned out, was Aidan Lee, a young informant she came across not long ago- during which he told her of Cassandra's plans to invade Tidea. As she was not in her castle when the transaction occurred, her guards did not know of him- hence their refusal of his entry.

"So tell me, Master Lee, what is it that you have to inform me? I assume that that is your purpose here, am I correct?"

Aidan merely nodded to confirm that her statement was true. "Indeed it is," he said, "Although perhaps this bit of information might not surprise you, considering the current circumstances we are in, but I have learnt that Clubs is planning to invade your sister's territory. In fact, the King had already ordered his troops to do so. I think they may have some sort of Seer- he knew the Red Queen's territory is unguarded."

The people's reaction ranged from doubt, worry to utmost shock when they heard this news. Calysta's was of surprise. Despite the fact that she had expected this to happen, she did not think that they would act so quickly. Yes, she had not considered that Clubs might have a seer; a country so focused on their military, usually neglects the use of magic. Apparently, this does not apply to the King of Clubs.

Slumping on her throne, the White Queen asked faintly, "Should not Cassandra be told beforehand?"

The information broker bowed deeply, his facial expression hidden behind his red bangs, as he answered, "I was under the impression that she would believe her sister's words more than she would a stranger's. Besides, I felt it necessary to warn you of what Clubs knew of, or is capable of knowing. I had feared that you might recklessly send your own troops to aid your disbelieving ally, and leaving your own territory unguarded,"

"I believe you are right..." he heard the Elven Queen spoke absently, obviously not noticing the smirk that escaped from his lips.

*

Leaving the palace after receiving payment, Aidan wondered where he should go next. Perhaps he could go to Kazas and inform the Red Queen of the invasions; that way, he'd be able to earn extra cash for the same information.

But then again, he should also tell the people of Diamonds of the Jubjub birds controlled by the Red Army's commander. They deserve to know what they would be facing, after all.

EDIT: This is the last time I'll post any RP entry using my cell phone. They always screw up when I try to edit the posts.

((ashen, i figure that naesala having to be escorted from place to place will give you time to get to the throne room to meet him.))

The journey to Hearts from Spades was not a long one, at least as the crow flies—or, in this case, the raven. It was slightly after high noon when Naesala touched down outside the main gates of Serdio Castle. He concentrated, shifted into Human form, and assured the startled guard,

“I come from Donau, with a message from Her Majesty Maeve, the Queen of Spades, to be delivered directly to the hands of Her Majesty Bryony d’Obray, the Queen of Hearts.” He tried to ignore the shooting pains in his limbs and the throbbing in his temples, reminding himself that this was nothing compared to how forcing himself to Human form used to feel.

Much to his relief—and his surprise—the guard opened the gate and another guard escorted him through. He smirked and resumed his more-comfortable-by-daylight raven form.

“You’ll forgive me if I resume this form—it’s much more comfortable,” he said. The guard jumped. Apparently he’d never met a talking raven. If not for his beak, Naesala’s smirk would have widened into a grin.

He was mildly unimpressed that they hadn’t questioned if he was carrying any weapons—he flinched, remembering the dagger in his boot and hoping very hard that it wouldn’t be spotted and seized, and he be imprisoned or killed for an assassination attempt. It wasn’t noticeable as a bird—for obvious reasons—but he knew that as soon as he resumed Human form (because he couldn’t deliver the treaty without first retrieving it from his belt, and it wouldn’t be very wise of him to approach the Queen of Hearts as a bird), it would be there.

He forced himself to resume human form without grimacing when he was brought before the Queen of Hearts. He’d been warned that anything might set off her volatile temper. Determined not to make any stupid mistakes, he dropped to one knee before the Queen and bowed deeply.

“Your Majesty, I come with a message from Queen Maeve of Spades. I’ve been ordered to place this directly into your hands.” He drew the scroll from its place on his cross belt. “If you would accept it, your Majesty, I would be most honored.”

♠♠♠

“Why did you send him to Hearts?” Tai asked in Maeve’s direction, referring to Naesala. “Did he do something bad and get a time out?”

Maeve chuckled and ruffled Tai’s hair. “No, Tai—he’s simply the only one of my messengers I trust to be able to pull off being the bearer of bad news. He tends to get himself out of predicaments mostly unscathed, and has escaped so many death traps that it unnerves even him. Besides,” the queen smiled. “He never lets me forget that no one can retreat faster than him.”

“They say that it’s poor manners to shoot the messenger,” said Masahiro as he came down the hall. Maeve wondered for a moment how it was that everyone seemed to be congregating at her study door. “So you send the one of us most vulnerable to arrows?”

“Bryony doesn’t shoot messengers, Masahiro,” she said, quirking an eyebrow and smiling darkly. “She beheads them—and a raven is an awfully small target to behead, do you not agree?”

“I suppose so. Now, what is it that you want me to do?”

“I want you to be a messenger for a moment,” she said. “I will write a note, and I wish you to deliver it. Your journey will not be a long one. But you will have to wait—there are other things to which I must first attend. Aside that,” she chuckled. “He doesn’t get up until late in the day, given a choice. And now,” she looked at Mikhaiel. “I have another job for you.”

“For me?”

“Yes, you.”

“Your will, your Majesty?”

“You will bring Fayt breakfast.”

“Yes, your Majesty.” Mikhaiel turned to go.

“Mikhaiel!”

“Yes?” he turned around.

“I will meet you in your bedroom in ten minutes,” she said. “After that, you may do your job.”

“Yes, your Majesty,” he bowed, smiling.

{-poke poke- o-o aaaaanyooone out there?

I don't wanna troll this RP with a mountain of my giant humungousaur posts- so I've been waiting for Ashen_Eclipse to post since Naesala is chillin' in her throne room... And Lapin could probably show up in Spades with a similar message too.... at some point...

And also, Adept Rogue- if you wanted to post that Club soldiers were marching into the Red Queen's domain and wreaking havoc, you can and I'll build off of it.

Let's live people!}

((So, I'm assuming Lapin is on her way. For the sake of her head, I certainly hope so. The Queen is not in a good mood now.))

The Queen of Hearts was sitting on her throne. She twirled her sword at her side, frowning. She had sent off a treaty to Spades of all places. Yes, the queen of Spades was her sister, but Spades and Hearts never got along. The history of their rivalry ran deep. Still, with the options presented...

"Your Majesty?" A guard poked his head in. He saw her sword and gulped. "You have a messenger."

The Queen lowered her sword as the messenger walked in. He dropped to one knee before the Queen and bowed.

“Your Majesty, I come with a message from Queen Maeve of Spades. I’ve been ordered to place this directly into your hands.” He drew the scroll from its place on his cross belt. “If you would accept it, your Majesty, I would be most honored.”

She raised a brow. Her sister, sending a message so soon after her last one? Her eye twitched. Something seemed off. She did not like the feeling she was getting.

She stood, holding her sword ready at her side. The sun streamed in through the windows, making the metal shine. She stepped down off the dais, eying the messenger. She strode over to him, watching him for any movement. Gingerly picking up the scroll, she took a step back as she examined the seal. It was indeed Maeve's.

"My messenger is currently... Occupied. If Maeve expects a reply, you shall have to wait."

((Gah, I shall post now. I wasn't very active on AM because of other stuff I had to do, sorry! Malli doesn't want to talk to me, so that part is left rather indecisively.))

Fayt opened her eyes and yawned lazily. The sun was up, and was making the room to bright. She stretched, and walked over to the window. It wasn't that late, but it wasn't that early, either, she decided. Mid morning.

She rubbed her eyes and packed up her things. As comfortable as the beds were here, Fayt knew that she couldn't stay. She had acted much too suspiciously in the throne room that night, and she was bound to have missed something important when she was brought to the room. Grabbing her bag, she slung it over her shoulder and walked towards the door. The door was open, strangely enough.

If I was the guy who brought me here, I probably would have locked the door, Fayt thought. There were two guards in the hall. One turned to look at her, scrutinizing her a bit. Fayt skipped up to the guard, and asked him politely, "May I ask where the throne room is?"

The guard stared, and offered to escort her. Fayt nodded- it was better to be going with a large person than to be locked in a room. She followed the guard closely, and they soon arrived at the throne room. Fayt pulled open a door and went inside, the guards that were there watching her closely. She looked around, and didn't see the queen.

"Hello?" she asked.

---------------

Malli woke up with a start. She must have fallen asleep! Angry with herself for sleeping, she got up and went to the door. It was time to break out, she decided. There was no reason for her to stay there any more, and she should probably go back to the Duchess to tell her of her failure... If she had to tell her. Malli smiled at the thought of being able to get an object, but decided that it would be better if she simply went home.

Taking a deep breath, she stomped her foot on the ground, thinking of the other side of the door. She appeared there a few seconds later, much to the surprise of the guards. Using this to her advantage, she grabbed a knife from her boots and stabbed one of them. She kicked the other, and held the dagger at his throat.

"Where's my trident?" she asked in her most menacing voice.

"I-In the armoury!" he responded.

"Where's that?"

The guard described the route, and Malli killed him swiftly. No need to leave a witness. Malli ran through the halls in the direction that he had specified. Soon running into some more guards, she attacked them. Malli struck one from a distance with a swiftly thrown knife, and began to teleport towards the other. The guard moved at a bad moment for Malli- when she reappeared, she found the guard's sword stuck in her arm. She gasped, freezing for a moment.

As his black antique clock rang loudly, indicating sunrise, Beast awoke from his short slumber. He had spent the entire night examining his Marionettes, patching up any damage he found, and incinerating those he found faulty (i.e. unable to carry out his orders properly). It was quite a tiring work, even for him.

Blinking several times to get the image of his surroundings to focus, Beast then noticed that he'd disposed most of his Marionettes, and aside from Awnya, only three remained. The half-demon sighed; he never realized that he was keeping that much junk in his chamber.

Washing face to get rid of the last remains of drowsiness, Beast then headed towards the throne room, wondering if the Queen would grant him permission to go off 'hunting'. To his surprise, instead of Queen Maeve, he found the cat girl intruder standing inside. The very one he captured the day before, in fact.

Staring at the girl with obvious dislike (which, coming from him, is nothing unusual), Beast snarled, "If you're plan to escape from the throne room, you're making a BIG mistake, cat."

~*~

Genesis leapt on all fours across the sandy mountains of the Desert, trying to make it to the city as fast as possible. Judging from the pace at which the Red Army is marching, she had at least half a day to prepare and fortify defenses. That was not much time, considering her own speed has its limits as well.

However, upon reaching civilization, a figure appeared, from out of nowhere, right in front of her. A collision was inevitable, and down went the two of them.

Genesis was not in the mood to be patient. "ARE YA BLIND?!" she yelled at the stranger she'd ran into, "I'M IN A HURRY HERE!"

But instead of apologizing, the young man merely responded with eerie calmness, "Oh yes, you should hurry. If you plan to out-speed the Jubjub birds, that is."

Genesis' furrowed her brows upon hearing the statement."Jubjub birds? What are you talking about?"

"Information does not come free, my lady"

The wolf-girl stared at the man in disbelief. Such impudence!

Lee, upon seeing that he would most likely not get anything from this woman decided to leave. Perhaps he'd better inform the Royal Family. If the birds had not been spotted by then, it should gave him plenty of money.

Taking out his map, Lee opened a portal that lead him straight to the palace of Tidea, and disappeared, leaving Genesis to stare in bewilderment at the empty space where he had been.

((I think someone should make a Diamonds ruler. Or should I? ))

{I agree that someone take diamonds, but at the same time, I'd rather it not be you- and that's not saying anything against your RP skills, or anyone else's, but you already have a lot of rulers, and there should be some diversity for the sake of the plot, ya know? o-o

but case and point diamonds does need a ruler... hmmm....}

{{Heheh. You're right. Although, now that I think about it, I'm not really looking forward to see my all my characters merely interacting with each other instead of with other players either. So yeah, I'm not going to make a Diamonds ruler. No worries ^^}}

((I'm really sorry about being so inactive in this RP..I've read all the posts, but I had a bad case of writer's block. I still kinda have it; that's why this post is so short. ^^")

Lapin ran silently, a small sprin in her step causing to to make a movement similar to a hop every few feet.

She was glad to be working again. She was glad, but...something felt wrong. Very wrong. It was almost like there was some thick tension in the air; whatever it was, it made her ears and nose twitch, and her eyes dart nervously. A single thought buzzed through her mind at the same quick pace with which she traveled.

'Hurry, hurry, hurry..I have to hurry.'