Ugh! I seriously want to start, but we need one more person to make a charrie before we can!!!! Other people may be evil or captives, but for sure we need one more. (From Wildecrystal.)

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There! I put all the smiley faces on! 

Now can we start?

We can start now! Sorry I took a while. Also, sorry, Phantom. I didn't see the post where you asked if you could join until just now. Of course you may, but I guess I'm a little late. Ookz says crct. Circut? or Cricket?

~Ashlyn~ 

It's only been two days since Tristan disappeared, but funnily enough, it feels like forever. Father drifts around the house like a ghost, wringing his hands and muttering. I decide I have to get out. It feels like our cottage is a monster, trapping me inside it's belly, and every time I see something of Trist's, my breath halts. The market creates a perfect excuse. Every other Monday, in each kingdom, there is one. The farmers and merchants sell their wares, and there are dances and food for all.

Today happens to be a market Monday. 

I don't bother to tell Father where I am going. He'll only know when I return that I have been out at all. I clasp a dark brown cloak around my neck, for the Spring wind still nips like an untrained puppy. My fingers curl protectively around the necklace I always wear around my neck. I never used to have second thoughts about wearing it around town, but since Trist… now I know that everything can be stolen away. I decide to keep it and fling open the door. A rush of cool air blows my caramel strands in my eyes and carries the faint smell of flowers. 

I step out, shutting the door behind me, and stroll down the mountain to the fair. I can see its preperations already, the tables being set up, the merchants wheeling their wagons in, and crowds already beginning to enjoy the bustle. 

I arrive after a ten minute walk, and by that point, the market is in full swing. Of course, there are still a few things to set up, but as far as the people are concerned, this is where it gets fun. The stand owners call out to me as I walk by. "Fresh bananas! 5 coin a bunch!" I enjoy seeing their wares, and I stop by a wood carvers stall and turn a small wooden tiger over in my hand. It's so detailed, I can almost hear it roaring, a lively sparkle etched into it's fierce maplewood eyes. 

"Only 10 coin, miss." The man at the stand winks at me. I regretfully set it back down. Money is tight. Decoration and luxury are things I cannot aford. I float around the marketplace, my mind delightfully empty of worry and the only thoughts that flit through my brain are trivial things. 

It feels almost normal again.

My peaceful reverie is interrupted by the sound of trumpeting. "A messenger from the Queen!" I hear someone say. My heart pounds. Usually our announcements come from Goldford's lord, not the Queen directly.  Something must be terribly amiss.

He is riding up into the market square on a sleek white horse, flanked by men-at-arms decked out in chainmail. He wears no armor himself, but the colorful, ruffled attire that seem to taunt at us drably clothed peasants. The crowd, which had been buzzing like a flock of bees a second ago, silences as he clears his throat.

He unrolls a scroll of parchment.

"People of Goldford," he reads, "on Saturday, May 7, five children were stolen away, one from every kingdom of the honorable land of Nekaria."

Of course, everyone knows this already, but it still causes a scared murmur to sweep across the assembled multitudes.

"We," he continues when everyone quiets again, "have reason to beleive the kidnappers are from Shadowpine, and that our poor youngsters are being held hostage there."

This time, the murmur rises to a shout, and the messenger has to call loudly to return order. 

"We need five brave young people to journey to Shadowpine and rescue our children. We shall take one from each kingdom. You must be brave! You must be prepared! You must be willing to fight for your country! You must be willing to look death in the face! Any volunteers?"

Silence.

A strange feeling began to inch over me. I thought about Trist captured and jailed in Shadowpine. Others going to rescue him. Father and I at home, wondering if they would  ever come back. No. No. Nobody else in the world could realize how important it was that the hostages got back safely. No. No. I feel a fire burning in my throat and my hand shakes as I extend it into the air.

"I would like to go," I say, my voice surprisingly steady. "I volunteer."  

Hawk~

Trading day. The day in which people gather from the plains of Silverplain to sell their crops and animals and goods. 

l lean, half hidden in the shadows against a scrawny tree, haphazardly growing on the edge of the marketplace  l don't know why l'm here, or maybe l do. l like watching people. It's mid mourning, crowds of people are gathered around stalls, idly strolling along, or talking loudly. l like watching the people. People are so interesting if you watch them for long enough.. 

The apple seller a little ways from me keeps nervously tapping his fingers on a wooden barrel. What is bothering you, oh apple seller? It's interesting what people fear. That's what interested me the most. 

A clatter of hooves rings through the marketplace. l look up. A huge crowd quickly gathers at one end of the marketplace. Curious, l slowly saunter over, attempting to peer over the heads of other people to see what everyone's looking at, but l'm too short. Blast. 

"People of Silverplain, on Saturday, May 7, five children were stolen away, one from every kingdom of the honorable land of Nekaria."

There is a mummer among the crowd. l perk my ears, still craning my head to see if l cn spot anything. l can tell that this messenger has recited this a few times before. 

"We," he continues when everyone quiets again, "have reason to believe the kidnappers are from Shadowpine, and that our poor youngsters are being held hostage there."

More murmurs. People are sympathetic. 

"We need five brave young people to journey to Shadowpine and rescue our children. We shall take one from each kingdom. You must be brave! You must be prepared! You must be willing to fight for your country! You must be willing to look death in the face! Any volunteers?"

The crowd quiets. Frustrated, l elbow my way to the front of the crowd, shoving through the people. The silence lengthens, growing awkward. The messenger looks embarrassed and unsure of what to do. He reddens in the face. "People of Silverplain, you must realize that this is most important to Nekaria! We need those children rescued!"

No one steps forward. The messenger shifts around, uncomfortable. l am amused by this. And then a thought enters my mind. What do l have to lose? Silverplain is terribly boring, anyways. 

"l! l will, for the good of Silverplain! For the good of Nekaria!" l call out, loudly. Heads are turned. l step forward. 

"l will not hide away in fear of the unknown, nay, l walk boldly as far as the uncharted lands will stretch!" Just look at the guilty expressions on the peoples' faces. 

"l accept." For no real reason, l grin smugly at the messenger. 

"Right….." He looks me over, staring a bit too long at my eye patch. "Let's go then."

Can I repost my other one?

~Ladasha Lilith~

Daeris ~ Mistress Melanthia calls my army the Sisters. And I'm their mother. But she's my mother. In a sense. I'm more like her adopted daughter. So that has to put some borders between me and Mistress Ladasha Lilith. But enough dwelling on the past. I slip in-between the alleys of Greycoast. There. The house. I scale the side of the house, using a tiny bit of the little magic which Mistress Melanthia gave me for this mission. 

I dart into the house, through the open window. Then I realize I'm in a child's room. A girl lies sleeping on her bed. Most of the magic is supposed to be for getting the child's out safely, without waking anyone. I quickly meld most of it over the child, whispering a few well chosen words. I separate a little magic from the main bunch, casting a message over the floor. "Shadowpine is watching." I whisper. 

I whisk the child of her room, towards the dark alley. "To Shadowpine." I whisper to the remaining magic. The child lays in my arms, seeming dead. But she's not.

Godric ~ I know Fiona is gone, but I still can't believe it. What if that happened to Aidan? And Fiona is so fragile. A little whisp of a girl, especially for her age. Twelve. Mother can't stop crying, she's so sick with worry. Aidan rushes in the front door, hopping around. "Godric, Godric Lord Fúren is going to make an announcement!" I sigh, smiling at his antics. "Alright, I'll come." I promise, taking up his hand. He squirms out of my grip, running out the door and into the streets.

"People of Greycoast. On Saturday, May 7, five children were stolen away, one from every kingdom of the honorable land of Nekaria." Loud mutterings sound throughout the crowd. "We have reason to believe, that the kidnappers are from Shadowpine, and that our poor youngsters are being held captive there." At this, the crowd goes silent. The people of Greycoast are a little superstitious. "We need five brave, young people to travel to Shadowpine, and rescue the poor darlings, languishing in Shadowpine. Do we have any volunteers?"

Of course, if you say "the poor darlings, languishing in Shadowpine" you aren't going to get an enthusiastic response. Unfortunately. "I will!" I say, holding up my hand. The words slipped out of my mouth. For Fiona. "I will!" I yell louder. The crowd parts for me. I reach Lord Fúren. "I will." I say again. "Good lad. You will have an hour to prepare, and then we will travel to the capital to meet with the other volunteers."

Alaric~

"Hear ye, hear ye! A messeedge from the queen!" A messenger clatters into the town spare, reining his horse in. People look up, then start to gather around. l do as well, cuirous. 

The messenger dismount, and pulls a scroll from his satchel. He unrolls and read it.

"People of Wildcrystal. On Saturday, May 7, five children were stolen away, one from every kingdom of the great and noble land of Nekaria." By this time, quite a crowd has gathered. People are muttering to one another.  "We have reason to believe, that the kidnappers are from Shadowpine, and that our dear children are being held captive there." We need five brave, young people to travel to Shadowpine, and rescue the poor children, languishing in Shadowpine. Do we have any volunteers?"

The people mutter quietly. No one steps forward.

The messenger doesn't seem to notice that no one shows any sign of wanting to go. "You will have to face death! You will have to march through the horrors of Shadowpine! You will adventure across the land! Anyone?"

To everyone, this seems like a terrible idea. Except one person. Me. l step forward.

"l shall go." The messenger blinks at me a few times, as if shocked. He nods. "Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's go."

~~~~~~~~

The messenger fetches another horse from the stable, this one a chestnut mare. "We're going to the capitol to meet up with the other volunteers." He explains, as the two of us steer our horses to the road. 

"And how long will that be?" l ask.

"Most of a day, with fair weather." The messenger replies. He looks oddly happy. 

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