Fan-Kitty ~ Okay, so u like James. Well, I'm not sure if I can make the romance James/Lela, since most of my reviewers like Ted. And I think they'd send my characters after me to chop me up if I didn't put James/Cords, Lela/Ted. But since I'm a whimsical person, I might just change my mind suddenly . . . BEWARE!!! LoL, I'm kidding.

Angel-kiss7 ~ Thank you so much! It helped lots!!! Hehe, one correction though: Cordelia isn't a mage – she's a healer/potions master (no, not Snape, LoL). Close enough, but since I'm a major nitpick, just thought I'd point that out.

Dorkeegrl168 ~ who doesn't like romance? I think it's awesome . . . just not the overly mushy yucky sickly-sweet mush some authors write. And yes, I started the chapter right after the review. And I don't know about the romance part *wink*. Action? Oh, that . . . LoL just kidding, okay, I'll start the action! (Soon, I think…LoL)

Fire of Wolves ~ Totally! GEPAs are over!!! Whoopee! Yay! *runs around crazily* Time to party! (Not really . . . research reports due now. ERG!)

Laur1532 ~ Okay! I'm not dying and I won't be so there's no chance of that before I finish this story! Thnx for the review! Glad someone is thankful I'm alive!! (Hehe)

Babyjayy ~ okay, thnx much!

Stormcloud ~ ok, I got that. Thnx!

Butterflygrl ~ Thnx for reviewing!

Kassi of Pirate's Swoop ~ Thank you for the extra long review! I feel so special!! *beams* Well, don't feel bad, you weren't supposed to see that pairing coming up anyway. No one was supposed to guess James/Cords before I posted. Humph. Well, maybe I might just change it so that I'm getting unpredictable . . . I'll see. Thnx again! U rock!

Fineflyer ~ Thank you! I'm so happy you think so! *bounces around the room, attracts weird stares* Well, I'm happy that you like my story. Very, very happy. Happier than happy. Well, whatever. Ur so sweet! Thnx for the really nice review!

Meishame ~ new reviewer!!! Ooh! Hi! Thnx for reviewing! (Hehe, it's a little bit early in the morning, and I'm not much awake *blinks stupidly*)

Cat ~ Thnx! Well, um, are u still alive???? Hello?? *voice echoes* yeah, well . . . don't die!!! I need pplz to read my story!! LoL. Thnx 4 reviewing!

Queen of Sheba ~ Okay, yeah, ur smart, u guessed what I was gonna do . . . so did a bunch of other pplz, I think. *pout* I feel predictable. Thnx 4 the review!

Anonymous ~ thnx! That's so nice of you!

*****

A/N: Thnx to all for reviewing! Ur all the BEST!!! ~ 3 AryaWinds

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"We're here," Cordelia said suddenly, breaking the quiet mood that had settled over our little group.

I looked up – at a large, stone castle. Maydria's castle.

I felt chills run through me. We were in enemy territory now. Maydria was dangerous.

"Do we have a plan yet?" James whispered.

"We have to get into the castle in daytime," Cordelia said.

We all looked at her as if she were crazy. Go in the daytime?

She noticed our looks, and sighed. "Yes, in the daytime. At night, Maydria has way too many guards posted on watch. We'll never even get close to the castle. Our best chance is during the daytime, when the security is more lax. I don't think they're expecting intruders in broad daylight."

A slow grin spread over James' face. I could tell he liked Cordelia's more strategic way of thinking.

Ted looked thoughtful. "It's worth a try," he said, cracking a smile.

"So . . . we go over tactics now?" I asked.

"Wait; remind me, what's the point of this mission exactly?" James interrupted.

Ted mused over the question, unsure how to word his answer. "We have to stop Maydria," he said finally. "She's endangering the entire royal family, and we have to stop that. But since no one knows about it – and no one knows that we know – we're the only ones who can do anything about it."

I tilted my head. "That sounded complicated."

He gave a small laugh. "Just wait and see – things are going to get much, much worse."

How right he was.

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Cordelia was right. In the daytime, I didn't see nearly as many guards as I had seen patrolling the walls the night before. That made things a little easier for us. A little easier.

"Guards ahead!" James hissed. Automatically, we moved back behind a wall. The sentries, on the other side of the wall, were talking. I heard little pieces of their conversation here and there, and was able to figure out what the rest was.

"Princess left . . . said she ran away with her friend . . . the lord wasn't happy . . . Erik was furious he didn't succeed . . . stupid nobles . . . king and queen . . ."

I froze on that last part. Were they talking about my parents? The king and queen of Kyrria?

". . . Darren was supposed to have acted . . . didn't yet . . . take over throne soon . . ."

Their voices faded away. I leaned against the wall, shaken. What had they meant?

James noticed first. "What's wrong?"

I gave him an incredulous look. "What's wrong?" I repeated. "Didn't you hear anything that they just said?"

"I did. They're already starting to take over the throne. Now your parents are in real trouble, Lela," Ted said quietly from my other side.

"We've got to do something – like, now!" I said. And then I remembered something else that the guards had mentioned. "Oh! Darren! He's on their side?"

Cordelia looked grim. "From what I heard, I'm guessing so."

I seethed with rage. "I knew it! I knew he was evil! I was right not to trust that little lying . . ."

"Calm down, Lela. We're not sure yet. Wait for the evidence before you blow up," James said reasonably.

"If he is in on this plan, I am so going to murder him myself!" I said heatedly.

Cordelia was peering around the wall. "They're gone," she reported. "Let's go."

We were near the side entrance to the castle. Cordelia had convinced us that if would be a lot easier to go through a side passage, and of course, we agreed.

There were thick bushes near the side entrance that we were headed for. I thought that this would be a good thing. If anyone came out of the entrance, it would be easy for us to hide in the bushes.

I never thought that it might also work against us.

We were right outside the door. Cordelia reached out to open the door, but there was no need. The door swung open of its own accord.

A smirking Lord Donovan was on the other side.

We all stood there, stunned, for a few seconds. Cordelia acted first. Curtsying deeply, she said, "Father, I have brought the ones you've requested."

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A/n: I'm so sorry this is a short chapter, but you asked for a chapter! And this was the best I could do for now. I'll update ASAP. I just had to leave a little cliffhanger, hehe. Review please! ~ AryaWinds