So this is why nothing seemed to brush up against me. Could I have literally made myself ghostlike? I touched the door. My hand went through. So I stepped in. His head flew up as he sensed some sort of magic working.

Finally he said "Who's there? I don't appreciate this joke"

I could sense the anger in his voice. It was not often he was bested by anyone. In fact… probably never. He was one of the most powerful mages in the realm if not THE most. I loved this.

Playing with my victim, I "unghosted" (my new word) and picked up one of his books, quickly "ghosting" again. The book floated in the air, yet he STILL couldn't sense me other that the fact that he had a nagging suspicion that I was there. He couldn't feel me either. It was like I wasn't there. Oh this was precious.

He walked (stalked angrily actually) over to the book and grabbed it, I resisted. I was having WAY to much fun torturing him. He reached over and tried to touch me but he just passed through. Oh this was good. I had the most powerful mage in the realm at my mercy.  Finally I couldn't take it anymore. He looked so furious. He was close to screaming. I didn't want that. So I dropped the book. Backed up and let down my shield and collapsed in laughter.

Even then though, I was prepared to put them up at the slightest threat, in case his temper got the better of him. It did. While choking in bouts of laughter I saw him reach for my neck while saying,

"WHY YOU LITTLE…"

I quickly disappeared. And his hands passed right through me. He backed up.

"FINE" he screamed, "I won't hurt you, you , you little-"

I materialized again and cut him off.

"Little what?" I asked, all too innocently.

He started breathing heavily, trying to suppress his anger. When he finally did, the truth dawned upon him and his eyes slowly widened as the facts sunk in and re-arranged themselves in a logical order.

"Who are you?" he asked suspiciously.

"Keita" (well my real name was stupid… I decided I liked Keita better)

"Who taught you?"

"I did"

"How?"

I gave a non-commital "I dunno" sound and a shrug. What can I say? I'm a teenager. Totally laconic and un-responsive.

He stared at me. "You do realize what this means."

"Yes. I am able to hide myself from even the most powerful of magics and I can pass through people and walls. In short I can become a ghost of myself. And it doesn't drain me much at all." I said, exedingly arrogantly (well give me a break, I had reason to be conceited!)

 He looked at me. "You will need training obviously. We need to find out of you can do more. That and I  need to introduce you to the King."

He frowned as I made a face. "Not overly fond of him are we?"

"No. But he's not bad as monarchs go." For a conceited and overbearing prat, I though to myself.

"Good. No time like the present"

"Oh and you'll have to excuse me but I don't exactly feel all that comfortable with people… ahhhhhhh so I'll just be you know…"

And with that I disappeared. Numair sighed.

 Then simply said "Well then, follow me"

And we began to walk. (And walk and walk and walk and… you get the idea… this castle was IMMPOSIBLY ANNOYINGLY HUGE!) When we finally got to the door to the throne room he held it open for me, then realizing his foolishness turned around abruptly.

"Yes Numair? Why are you so pale? Gods' man you look like you've seen a ghost! "

He chuckled. When he saw how serious Numair was he frowned.

"Is it another killing device? I thought they were gone once Blayce died."

"Luckily its not that your majesty…. Keita?"

 The King looked around in confusion.

"Keita!" he said louder this time.

I swiftly materialized right in front of the King. He looked shocked. Numair swiftly began to explain.

"You see your majesty, this girl here, Keita, has the ability to become completely undetectable, even to me. Her magic is colorless and when she decides to go ghost on us we cannot sense her. Even I cannot sense more than a nagging suspicion that she is there. She seems to have no physical form as well. She can go through people and objects. I don't know if there IS a  magic that can detect or stop her. Though I will have to see if Kit can sense her."

The King's really blue-contact-lense looking eyes widened. "You ARE on our side right?" he asked, hs voice laced with well hidden fear and concern. (a/n I donno if the Jon would EVER get all scared, but…let me have my fun here *shifty eyes*)

I looked at the King blankly and answered truthfully,

"I don't know Jonathan, I don't want to get involved with anything. The only reason I came here was because I doubted I could survive a cold winter in the forest. And the fact that I have generally no other talents. But… I have nothing to loose but my life so I guess I'll have to say that I AM on your side… though I'm not sure about any sides at all. I can't guarantee anything. I'm sorry."

With that I ghosted. "I'm still here Jon, I just feel more comfortable not being seen." I windered if they had noticed my casual usgae of his name. They didn't. I suppose they had bigger things to worry about.

My voice seemed to come from no-where yet everywhere at once. Covering my location. This was good. The King was scared. Anyone could see that. I loved having so much power over the most powerful people. When the insaity of the thought came to me, I gulped. I didn't wish to become power-mad. That would not be a good thing. But I decided to let them know one more thing.

"Although I pass through things once I am ghosted anything that I had with me before, and I want to become ghosted, will. That includes weapons." I laughed. "In case you're wondering I have no problems with killing. I'm sorry you had to hear that but it was necessary. Just don't cross me. I'm leaving. Where can I find food?"

The King gave me directions and I left but I doubt he felt very safe even then. He had just realized that no matter how many mages and guards he had protecting him, he was as vulnerable to death as a ant on the road. After I had taken my fill of the food in the kitchens I decided to play some cruel pranks. Those were always fun. I know…not exactly the virtuous wonderful Mary-Sue am I? Nothing serious or damaging, just unnerving and embarrassing. The palace would soon be aware or the presence of Keita.

I walked over to where they had placed a magnificent marzipan figurine. A cook was putting the finishing touches on it. I quickly un-ghosted the ghosted back with a hand on the figure. No-one noticed a person suddenly flicker almost to quickly to see. What they did notice was the enormous marzipan figure suddenly disappear. The cook screamed and the staff went into turmoil. I chuckled my disembodied laugh and let the figure go of my power. It reappeared no worse for the wear and I left giggling at the confusion I left behind.

I was tired though. The pranks were not as funny as I thought they were and I was in no mood for this. I walked into the garden and took a nap on some ornatmenatl moss and grass behind a hedge. After all I was tired, after all this excitement but strangely not the ghosting. That didn't tire me out at all. All for the better I thought, though I did still let it go before I slept. I didn't want to flicker or anything in my dreams. I thought I was sufficiently hidden and my stolen clothes were non-descript and common. No-one would notice. I had fallen asleep very nicely and I was just beginning to awaken when a foot prodded me roughly.

"Eh, you, what are you doing sleeping in the garden?" I sat up and sneered. (I'd always wanted to sneer!)

Then ghosted. The man was shocked. I stood up and flickered while drawing out HIS dagger. I put it up to his throat and nicked it. Then I grabbed his hand and placed his dagger with his drop of blood in his palm.  He looked shocked and he blanched, his eyes going wide with fear. Blood was welling up in the tiny cut I made. I left him standing there shocked. I smiled. This was fun. He reminded my of a the pages that I had read about so much though…

Oh why not I thought… I'll spy for the King. I  wouldn't want one of my favourite characters to get killed. No I wasn't THAT heartless. (Funny, I like book characters better than I like real people) I passed through walls and into the stable. I looked around for a horse that would be nice for me. I stopped at a pale orange mare with a pale cream mane and tail.

'Beautiful' I thought.

Perfect. I materialized and quickly saddled her up not even stopping to frown at how wearisome it was that I knew how to saddle a horse perfectly. I had managed to grab some more weapons from the armory. I was armed with a light but long sword,  a bow and a quiver full of arrows and 3 more daggers. I buckled the sword and quiver onto myself along with the hidden daggers. The bow was strapped to the horse. I ghosted along with the horse and led her through the stable wall. The horse snorted with fear didn't shy away. I got on and galloped.

Wondering if the state of tirelessness that I experienced while ghosted would be passed onto the horse. It was. We galloped non-stop until we reached the Scanran border. There, I saw fighting going on between Tortallans and the Scanrans. Our (see I'm not evil! I think of them as "our") side was losing so I decided to help. I unsheathed my sword and calmly trotted into the battle. My horse, Shaylee I named her, stayed perfectly calm,  she knew by now that when I was on her, she could not be harmed or tired. I started to meander around getting behind archers and dispatching them and cutting the throats of random Scanrans. (It almost shocked me at how comfortable I was at killing people, but then again, I was a Mary-Sue, so… no) The people I was helping looked incredibly taken aback as they saw Scanrans being mowed down by some unknown force. They quickly realized that whatever it was, it was helping them and continued fighting with renewed fervor. I smiled and went back to my work. Soon every Scanran was dead or captured. I smiled and said "Your welcome" and galloped away leaving behind many-a-warrior with tales to tell the people back home.

In a couple more days I had successfully figured where Maggur was keeping himself (mostly by eavesdropping and scaring people out of their wits). I quickly hid Shaylee a long way into the forest and ran to where I knew he was holed up. He was sitting in a chair drinking wine with is guards all around him.

'Little good it would do him' I thought, laughing mirthlessly.

I unsheathed my keenest dagger and walked up to him. As he lifted his head up to guzzle more wine his neck was exposed. I quickly slit his throat. He had only enough time for a dying gurgle. He slumped down, dead, his guards looking on in horror. He had not left any instructions or someone designated to be his successor and he held all the battle plans and secrets in his vile yet brilliant head.

As soon as he died, the spells of encagement keeping his hostages trapped were broken and they quickly ran away, not followed by the guards who were still completely dumfounded by his death. They soon looked at my knife, or the blood dripping off my knife. I quickly un/re-ghosted before they could see anything. The blood, now safely hidden.

I walked off to where I had hid Shaylee. Once again I climbed onto her back and we were off to Tortall. We whipped through forests and rocks, going through travelers, and land masses alike. Never stopping. The thrill of the speed was more breath-taking than last time, because now, I had no mission weighing down on my chest. I was simply riding, with the wind roaring past my ears, listening to the steady beat of Shaylee's hooves against the road. I continued like that for who knows how long. The days and nights seemed to blend together with the never ending journey to perpetuity. Finally, after an eternity of freedom I decided to face Corus once more.

I had no idea how long I was gone, perhaps only a couple of days, perhaps a month. I galloped into the city, the sound of hooves beating on stone clear. People looked up to see who was riding at such a breakneck pace in the middle of the city. Seeing no-one they went back to their gossiping. I decided to find out what day it was by eavesdropping on some maids chatting by a cart of wool.

"Have ye heard th' news?"

"No! But evr'y one IS acting a bit peculiar now that I think abou' it!"

"Th' Maggots dead! 'Is pers'nal guards say that some demon came an' slit 'is throat, right before their eyes!"

"Hahahaha! Are ye sure they weren't drunk? Sounds like a right foolish tale!"

"I know! But my sister who works in th' palace says that 'is Majesty is right worried 'e is! She says…"

I left them after that…seemed like news of my exploits had reached Corus by now. That means that I was gone for at least three weeks. It would have surely taken that long to get a message through, although I still wasn't very familiar with the how long a regular horse could run in a day, nor how long it would take the spies to actually get wind of the assassination. But if the commoners knew, people in the palace knew as well.

I sighed and cantered back towards the palace, trying to think of what I would do when I got back. Would I just appear in the middle of whatever rooms the King was in? Or would I just discreetly slip in, grab some fresh clothes, eat (I didn't need food while ghosted, but old habits die hard, I wanted FOOD!) and leave to the Scanran border again? I highly doubted that the fighting would stop just because of the Maggot's death. After all, there were still raiding parties to contend with. Hopefully no-one had re-discovered the necromancy spells that Blayce used.

Ever the arrogant and cruel-prankster/freaking-people-out person that I was, I decided against being discreet. I would just pop myself in, drop the (still) bloody dagger (well, dried blood anyway…ewww…that's nasty... I'll have to wash it, and soon) on the Kings lap and see what happened. I'm sure they suspected something about me disappearing and Maggur dying.

I calmly walked in (still on Shaylee - and still invisible) to the throne room, where (no duh) the King and Queen were sitting. People looked up as they heard the clatter of iron horseshoes on flagstone. I hopped off Shaylee and she suddenly became visible. All around various knights and nobles started, surprised to see a random horse appear in the room. Suddenly the King felt a weight drop on his lap. There, on his gleaming blue hose, was a shiny but still bloody dagger. Recognition dawned in his eyes.

"Keita?" he asked.

I stepped back and made myself visible again. A collective gasp ran throughout the room, accompanied by the hiss of newly drawn steel. Obviously the King and Numair hadn't filled anyone in on my presence.

Dammit he left! The stupid flying rat left! ARGHHHHHHHHH! I swear if I didn't need him I'd KILL HIM! Just when I need plot advice he leaves! ARGH! There's a gap in my fic! I have like another 10 pages all planned out except for this GAP! Right between now and more action/humor/my pathetic excuse for "fluff" sorta………

Arghh!