"We are running out of options." Noktor pounded his fist on the table. The food was running low and Phobos had again won the upper hand on his food supplies; sending the carts on a route not yet found by the rebels.

Aldarn sighed. He was not as equipped as Caleb to answer the questions of the older men who challenged his authority. "We cannot do anything rash without Caleb's yes and I have already told you we shall speak anon Noktor."

"What about the castle?" Noktor was far more persistant than most, and Aldarn hated him all the more for it. "Caleb told you he could get in didn't he?"

"Sostí; yes, but we barely left alive. I suspect boroún na ton myrízei."

Aldarn's jaw dropped at Noktor's idiocy; "Aye, but they cannot smell us. And I'm sure we'll manage enow with his directionals." Aldarn cursed the damn maps as he continued to fight against Noktor.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Caleb knew that the rebellion were fighting over him. He shouldn't have bothered telling them where he was from. They were going to kick him out, or to save their postion they'd more likely kill him. They didn't care that he didn't want to be on Phobos' side. They didn't believe him.

"What're you doing here Kanénas?" Caleb ignored the voice behind him. Drake was maybe a few years older than Aldarn; 14, and like him, had taken to following every move Caleb made, though unlike Aldarn, Drake did it because he was suspicious. "You shouldn't-"

"I'm drawing a map of the castle." Caleb turned around, the boy was stunned by the fact that he had spoken - when he did it was to few and concversations spread far apart. Caleb picked up the pile of scrolls on the floor; maybe six, and threw them at Drake who clumsily caught them. "These are no good. You haven't got the floor plans right, and they will catch you when you use the current break in points."

Drake raised an eyebrow and Caleb stared down at his parcially drawn map. "They?"

Caleb looked up. "Mourmourízontas ánthropoi kípo mou."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

"Will, when you invited us for a sleepover, you didn't mention the pop quiz." Irma watched as Will threw thick folders of paper at herself and the other girls laying lazily on Will's sofa.

Hay Lin nodded, fiddling with her long black pigtails, "Yeah, we're supposed to be watching videos and braiding each other's hair!"

"And telling me how many, like, boys like me!" Irma rolled her eyes, all too aware that Cornelia was neither being sarcastic, nor joking.

"What are bestfriends for!" Irma grinned as Elyon made a face behind Cornelia, who only heard Elyon's 'sincere' tone of voice.

Will quickly changed the subject. "I kinda sorta volunteered to be in charge of this year's spring carnival."

The girls all stared at her. Irma's jaw literally dropped. Taranee didn't blink as she continued her book, perched on the floor, "You know how much work that is?"

"Okay, here's the thing. That's why I kinda sorta volunteered you guys to be my committee. Please?"

"We have been sleep-over-jacked!" Irma stood up, pointing a heavy glare at the 'puppy eyed' Will. Irma and the girls began rolling up their sleeping bags. "Gotta go!"

"See ya!"

"I'm outta here!"

"Can we go please!"

"So outta here!"

"Principal Knickerbocker said all the cool kids do it!"

Hay Lin stared at her, and Irma rubbed her eyes hoping to wake up. "The same Knickerbocker who attempts to rap the morning announcements?" Irma grinned as the Chinese girl began mock rapping, throwing her fist in the air, " 'Word, have you heard? If you're late for attendance, you're gonna lose you're independence!' "

Will had been defeated. She hung her head, and Irma growled as Will looked past her red locks and pouted. "Okay, I'm lame! But I need a carnival theme by Monday!"

The doorbell rang and a faint yell of "Pizza!" could be heard.

Hay Lin sighed, "At least she ordered food."

"Nuh-uh. But maybe my mom ordered.." Will pulled open the door and grimaced at Martin. Irma's brow furrowed in instant agitation. "a nerd."

"In the time-honored tradition of male Lotharios, I'll be your official pajama-party crasher!" Irma glared as Martin walked past the girls.

"Martin, get your bunny slippers out of here!"

"My PJ-passion flower, I brought pizza and my favorite board game. Hold these." He handed Irma the boxes and she looked down at a picture of a horse and knight. A flash alerted her that he'd taken a picture of the girls. "Wait'll the guys see this!"

Irma rammed the boxes into Will's hand, enjoying the laughing and cheering as she pulled Martin to the door by his collar and threw him across the building hall, slamming the door and cracking her knuckles. "Now then.."

Irma opened the pizza box and pulled out a slice while Will inspected the board game. "'Knights, Knaves, and Knutes?'"

"The games dweeb's play."

Will grinned, getting an idea. "And they're about to play them in the school parking lot!"

Mourmourízontas ánthropoi kípo mou - My murmuring garden people (Murmurers)

boroún na ton myrízei - they can smell him