100 Reviews... that hasn't really hit me yet. Let me repeat myself for the sake of (my) sanity: 100 Reviews.

That's... amazing. And, the 100th reviewer was Chic Queen, telling me happy birthday because she read the fifth chapter.

So, Chic Queen... THANK YOU FOR GETTING ME TO 100!

Kelsey

Lisette's sleeping, thank gods. Silvianna and Fiolin gave us a recipe to make a simple sleep draught to restrain Lisette. Of course, that means we have to force feed her, but still. And without a thrashing Lisette, we can get a bit of sleep.

Or so I thought.

I barely laid my head on my pillow when I heard a ring of steel and Grace's cry of "halt!" Groaning in complaint, I drag myself out of bed and slid out of our tattered carriage.

And stop when I see two guards on horses. I must rephrase myself: two dashing guards on well-bred horses trotted smoothly into our encampment ten miles into the forest.

"How fare thee?" I greeted politely, ignoring my twin sister's glare and mutter of "stay behind me."

"Just fine. We've been looking for Prince Jackson of Birari," the dark-skinned guard replied, emotionless. Despite his indifferent tone, his voice melted my heart. No Kelsey, keep on guard. This may be a possible traitor, I told myself.

"He's here. He just went to get some water. Kelsey," Grace whipped her head around to give me a casual and apologetic look, "is it alright if I lead them to where Prince Jackson is?" I nodded, giving a slight smile.

"That's no way to treat a lady of such apparent honor!" The same dark-skinned guard gasped.

"Of honor? That lady over there," I pointed to Grace. "is my sister. She has every reason to criticize my actions, seeing as she's the older one by barely a minute," I shrugged nonchalantly.

"But all women should know their place in the world, and that is sitting at home, embroidering -" Grace interrupted the taller, dark-haired, and paler-skinned guard with a roar of rage. She pushed the guard roughly against the nearest tree, her arm pressed against his neck, and a dagger gleaming menacingly in her hand.

"How DARE you! Women can do things men can, and more. To say they should be doing what is expected of them by men, well, it lights the fire in my very blood. If you must know, I am a castle guard. A royal guard. I've protected Princess Kimberly Crawford of Teril from magical and nonmagical creatures alike. And it irritates me that she has escaped us, and is probably dying at this moment, and I'm stuck here, scolding a full-grown guard how a woman can do the same things as men," Grace snarled. While Grace was preoccupied with screaming at the tall, pale-skinned guard, I grabbed the shorter guard's arms and clutched them in a vice-tight grip behind his back.

When they tried to struggle, we only caused them more pain. A punch to the stomach, or to the neck, arm... and where most men would count as incredibly painful

That is, until Jack came back.

"Kelsey, Grace -" Jack stopped short when he saw the guards. "J-Jerry? Eddie?"

"Jack! Glad you're here!" my prisoner grunted. Jerry or Eddie, but if I had to guess, I'd guess Eddie.

Jack just stared at them, his eyes wide, his hands loosening their grip on the buckets he was carrying, his mouth agape.

"Jack? Help?" Grace's victim reminded in half-pleading tone.

"Jack? They want help. So help," I prompted teasingly. My victim strained harder.

"Don't - insult - our - prince," he snarled.

"What prince? Prince Jackson has yet to grow a backbone, correct, Your Cowardly?" Grace sneered playfully, turning her captive guard to face Jack.

Or where he was. We were just in time to catch Jack's back as he ran away from us, the buckets laying on their side, the ground soaking in the spilled water.

And then William came out from the underbrush, carrying a heavy load of wood and two buckets of water in one arm, and another two buckets of berries and herbs in the other.

"I was just out collecting ingredients for the sleeping draught, and for us to eat," William shrugged modestly.

You could tell he could have been a better prince than Prince Jackson could've ever been.

Lianna

Rhiamon stretched softly from her spot beside Alexa. The two were as close as sisters in a matter of days. Brianna, who had taken the last watch, rubbed her eyes gratefully, and slunk into her mat on the floor, falling asleep instantly. Kim was washing her face subconsciously in the nearest bucket. I guess those old habits expected of royalty still stuck, even though she had been away from civilization for days on end.

"So, what are we doing today?" I asked nonchalantly as I pick at the berries we found yesterday. Kim smiled, slung her bow onto her shoulder, and jogged into the forest.

"I believe hunting is on Kim's list," Rhiamon joked casually. Laughing gently, I walked over to Bella and ran a hand through her mane.

"Hello, Bella. Have a nice sleep?" I murmured, taking great care to pick out the dirt and leaves out of her mane. Bella whinnied in response, snickering into my ear. I laughed. "I love you too," I whispered softly. I wrapped my arms around her neck and murmured nonsensical things into her ear.

I only pulled back when I heard a rustling in the underbrush only fifteen feet away from me. I lunged in front of my horse, my sword drawn. After three days of intense training, I was as skilled with a sword as anyone. All behind me, everyone had their sword drawn, even Brianna, who I know loves to sleep for an hour or two after her watch, was wide awake and alert. Kim, who had shot down another deer with ease we could never have hunting Birari Forest Deer, was cooking her stew. She carefully set the stew aside so it wouldn't burn, and then drew her bow and arrow.

We watched intently as a figure dropped to the ground in front of us, panting hard, injured, and eyes bloodshot.

Jack.

I'm... so glad I got 100 Reviews. I'll shut up about it now.

~squirmyorchid~