Author's note: for Traxis and Nantor, I put their chapter into first-person. I hope it's okay

Chapter #1

Traxis's POV

"I am not going to that stinking castle!" I cried, trying to control my temper. I swear my brother can be a real tyrant sometimes.

My brother had called me on the carpet to order me to lead some knights, and himself to Castle Voltin. When he knows I hate it there. There are days where I want to slip some poison into my brother's drink, then blame it on Sarman, but this man, all though a royal pain in the butt, is my brother, my own flesh and blood, I could never begin myself to do such a thing yet.

"You will do as you're told," Colgone barked. "As commander of the Royal Army, you are to be there."

I had to girt my teeth to keep from screaming. "I said I'm not going! Besides who died and made you boss anyway!?"

He pointed to his crown. Why does he have to use that thing against me!? "I am king, you are a prince, and therefore you will do as you're told."

I felt my cheeks flare up with rage. "This is my life, Colgone! To do whatever I please!" I snapped on the verge of losing my temper completely. "Just because I'm your little bother doesn't give you the right to order me around like one of your…" I didn't get to finish that statement because one of the guards poked me in the butt for disrespecting the king. Stupid medieval planet! By then I had completely lost my temper "POKE ME IN THE ASS AGAIN, AND I'LL TOSS YOU INTO THE MOAT!"

I lost that battle. O well I guess I'll just tail behind my bother like a shadow, like I always do. It's always been like this. I think my brother is jealous. I'm physical and magical stronger than him. It embarrasses him because I'm the second- born; I shouldn't be stronger than him in anyway.

I sighed, and wiped the sweat off my forehead. You think being a prince, I'd get some special treatment, but here I am, sweating like a hog. Boy, it's hot today! I glanced behind me at the royal carriage, on a hot day like today that carriage is got to be like sitting in a oven. If I had decided to ride in there, I would be sweating like crazy anyway. Plus I'd get sick, my stomach don't take to will to carriage rides, so I'm better off on my horse.

Come to think of it that castle is going to really hot too. I really need to get out this! If I go to that castle today I'll bake, and I can't use my magic to cool myself down. If I try I'll be executed for being a witch. Well, maybe not executed, I am a prince after all, but whatever they'll do to me probably won't be pretty. I'm not willing to take that chance.

Let me think. Maybe if I fake an illness, no that wouldn't work. Cathane will be worried about me, and I'll get in trouble with her. If there's one thing I've learned it's to never tick off a shapshifter. Oh, maybe I can fake a emergency and go off until everything is done. No, that wouldn't work either. Colgone will just communicate with my teammate, Nantor, and he'll blow it for me. Plus I can't commutate with him to tell him my plan, he says I give him a headache, and he's a royal pain when he's got a headache.