"You are not Gillespe?" Padi was not surprised by his reply, she had imagined Gillespe to be an old man, much like the magician himself. She had been dreading meeting another like him, initially she had been surprised that such a young person lived, so isolatedly in a castle like this.

He looked amused. "Padi, how could you think such a thing?" He grinned lopsidedly at her. "Gillespe is a nice old man, but very old, and deaf, quite mouldy really." This likeness drew a laugh from Padi, she was warming to this Jettson fellow. He calmed her, having been so on edge, worried for Sofie, for herself, for her family, for their horses, and the list goes on.

She smiled at him, truly feeling somewhat happy for the first time in what felt like forever.

"I wonder what dear old Gillespe would say to that?" Padi asked amusedly.

"My dear, he would not hear it!" Padi giggled at this, timidly at first and then laughed out right. She could feel a little of the stress and anxiety flow away from her presently, she felt she could forget a little of the past few day's events. Just for a moment. The feeling was indescribable.

Sofie felt her stomach rumbling. Dinner was long past, and Sofie found herself hungry again. Damn it! Dinner must not have been more than a few hours past, thought it feels like a life time. What on earth am I to do!

She pulled herself off her bed and began to think strategically about why the magician wanted her so much. Her father had always said, people are never unpredictable when it comes down to it. You can read them like a book, you just need to know the call number. It had been a favourite of his.

So she began at the beginning. I am a princess. He wants a ransom? No, no why go to such complex measures for gold. Our treasures are not as great as those of Makra or Kyrania. Does he want to get to father? But our military power is not as great as other places, our influence is minimal compared to that of Stackrya. What does Mackra have that nowhere else does? She thought back to the image of the magician. His crooked nose, his rotting teeth. His worn clothes, and the yellowy-green tinge to his ancient skin. Sofie put her head in her hands. She visualised him one last time, feeling she had missed something. His knarled and wart-covered hands. Yellowy-green like the rest of him. Suddenly Sofie jumped. "But of course," she exclaimed, "the colour of his skin! That is not natural, but what would make it change like that? Endoramous Cartabloumon!"

The sun was shining brightly through the thin curtains in Padi's bedroom and she felt better than she had yesterday, for something quite incredible had returned to her.

Hope.

Finding a friend in this foreign place had boosted her confidance, their chances of busting out of this blasted place.

She pulled herself out of bed and let down her long hair, reaching for the comb on her bedside table and combing it through, then braiding it.

She pulled on some clothes and went and sat by her window, which had become a habit in recent times. First of all to see if that was a plausible way of escaping, but more now because she longed to see Makra. She told herself that she was being ridiculous, but she could not help but look out that window and pinch herself, maybe this was all a dream?

She leaned out her window, thinking about how it would feel to fly. Wonderful, I expect. I would be free, nothing could hold me back. She began to imagine herself soaring over the clouds, over the tree tops and away from this dreaded place. Oh, what I would give! But the scraping pulled her away from her childish delights, and she whirled around to see who it was who entered her room. Dreading seeing the crooked nose of the magician again, she was relived to find it was none other that George Jettson himself.

Swatting an impatient sandy curl out of his face, he focused on Padi and smiled forcedly at her. She returned the favour, and he moved into the room, closing the door behind him.

"Good morning ma'am, I have brought you some breakfast."

What ever is the matter with him? Oh no, I am sure last night was discovered, and he was in trouble over it.

Setting the tray down on the small desk, he then made to leave.

"No, wait! Would you mind staying with me again? I do hate so to eat on my own."

George's smile vanished. "Ma'am, I am afraid I can do no such thing. What I did yesterday was a mistake, and I am deeply sorry that I led you to believe that I would be continuing my folly." Padi's mouth dropped open like the muscles had all of a sudden gone walk-abouts. "I bid you good day." He continued his journey to the door, and Padi recovered from her state of shock just in time to stop him from leaving.

"Good sir, wait!" She jumped up from the seat and crossed the room quickly. She looked up at him, a slightly puzzled but more desperate expression on her face, meeting his eyes as she spoke. "Please, I am sick with worry, before you depart, please, I beg of you, give me news of my friend. I know nothing, she could be dead!" To her great surprise, a single tear, a pearl of feeling that could no longer be contained, escaped her eye. His stony expression changed to that of one who was pained, and Padi understood that he must have been in great trouble from the night before. So that is why he is back to Ma'am again as well I suppose. Not really expecting an answer, Padi turned away and began to slowly make her way to her bed, so she could cry in peace.

The reply made her start.

"Miss, she is alive and well." It took all of Padi's strength not to jump for joy. Sofie was alive!

A/N: sorry about the wait everyone, hope you like it!

Replies to reviewers:

BeaverGirl: lol thanks ellie. Yes I know, it is supposed to be exotic!

LadyVampyre: Thanks a lot.

Dragonfly: lol ilsi, im glad you think so! (don't ask me why you said it, I really cant imagine saying the same to you! Btw, hurry up and update Vennezia. I was really enjoying it!) NO WAY MATTY IS NOT SOFIES BROTHER! Lol read the first chapter again and then tell me if you think Matty is sofies brother still. Just so you know, Matty is short for Motatiaro. Don't ask me how, it just is. Luv ya angel

Awesum guys, hope you all update your stories soon

And that your enjoying this one!

Luv ya all heaps

R&R (come on you know you want too)

Jess ooo