"Your Highness!" Vladimir stormed into the throne room early the next morning, furious. "I demand that-"

"Quiet, quiet, Vlad!" hissed the Sultan, crouching down by a bush by the window. "You'll scare the birds."

"Your Highness-" Vlad forced through clenched teeth. "There is an issue in need of your immediate attention."

"What?"

"A…a spirit has possessed the palace. I ask for your permission to mobilize a force against the visiting prince Danerik."

"What does that have to do with-"

"I have suspicions about the boy."

"But-" Suddenly, the Sultan gasped sharply and stood to face Vladimir. "What must I do?"

"Give me your blessing."

"My most trusted adviser Vladimir, I give unto you the power to do with Danerik as you wish. This is a decree of the royal will."

"Then give me the ring."

"Here." Awkwardly, the Sultan reached to his left hand and removed his signet ring, dropping it into Vladimir's outstretched hand. "This mortal is strange. He tastes…of unused wisdom."

"Get out, Skulker. Oh, but before you go…"

"Yes?"

"Knock him out."

"My pleasure." A strange, unnatural grin crossed the Sultan's face before he crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

"Become visible please."

"Why do I bother?"

"Because you will be well rewarded, Skulker, and so, you will do as I say!"

Slowly, a shadowy form appeared hovering over the Sultan's body. Cloaked, outfitted with multiple swords and bows, and with a large scar crossing his ethereal face, Skulker faced his employer with a smile.

"Come along, Skulker. I shall release you." Vladimir headed for his laboratory, the open door allowing Madeline to escape and rub along Vlad's ankles. Picking her up, Vlad began outlining his plan to Skulker.

"Soon, Skulker, soon it will all be mine…and the spirits will act in harmony with this world-"

"Ravaging and killing and tasting and living-"

"Quiet, Skulker. Your time shall come. As my primary associate, of course, you will get certain…privileges."

"Why, thank you, my master."

0o0oo0o0o0o0o0ooo

Valerie awoke to a knock on her door and rolled out of bed to find Tuck waiting for her.

"What…what are you doin' here, scribe-boy?"

"Well, we didn't exactly finish our lesson last night-"

"The reading thing, right. Let me get ready and we'll head to the courtyard."

After only a few minutes, Valerie re-appeared, considerably more awake than before. Tuck gallantly offered her his arm as an escort, but she brushed by it with out a second glance. Rebuffed, Tuck came to her side and walked beside her, attempting to point out the meanings of inscriptions along the palace walls. A noise at the other end of the corridor caught Valerie's attention, and she stopped.

"Tuck?"

"Yes?"

"I just…realized something."

"Yes?"

"We should go."

"But the courtyard's just-"

"We need to go the other way!"

"Tuckenkahmen!" A voice called from the end of the corridor, rapidly approaching.

"Yes, mistress?"

"I-what are you doing?" Standing before him, Princess Samantha frowned as she found him standing pointlessly in the hallway.

"Well, I was escorting-where'd she go? She won't hurt you, y'know!" he called to thin air. "I need to see-aah!"

With a yell he fell over backwards, tumbling over Valerie as she attempted to hide behind him. Scrambling to her feet, she smiled fakely and turned to help Tuck, her desire to leave plainly evident.

"C'mon Tuck, let's go!"

"Wait. Tuck. Who is this?" Sam stopped their exit with a gesture.

"This is Lady Valerie, companion to Prince Danerik. I was escorting her to the courtyard."

"Look at me, Valerie." Sam considered the dark-skinned girl, alarms going off in her head.

"Bossy, aren't we?" Valerie slowly turned around and winced as Sam's jaw dropped.

"I-it's you! Valerie! I thought I would never see you again-what are you doing here?"

"Listen, Sam, it's complicated-"

"And where are the others? Danny? Did he make it?"

"Well, Sam, I can't really explain."

"Wait, you two have already met?" Off to the side, Tuck stood with a confused look.

"Quiet, Tuck." The two girls answered in unison.

"Sam, I'm really not at liberty to tell you anything. Danerik told me-"

"Danerik? Prince Danerik? Who cares about him? Danny's alive!"

"Well, yeah. You should know that better than anyone."

"Why? Danny-Danny…Danerik…oh, gods." Sam's face grew blank as she processed this new thought. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't really have time! And Danny didn't want me to tell you! So please-don't kill me!" Valerie drew her arms up in a defensive posture, backing away from Sam.

"But if he's Danerik…what have I been doing?"

"Falling in love with him?"

"Maybe, Valerie, I don't know…we need to find him! Where is he?"

"Probably asleep…I don't know!"

Suddenly, a loud shouting and scuffling interrupted their conversation as a door banged open deeper in the palace. Cries for help were soon muffled by a gag, and Valerie and Sam turned to look at each other consecutively.

"Danny!"