Rono whistled, very impressed by the giant form. "Come, it is nearly time to take flight" a voice, from the giant reptillian presumably, in his head said. "Hope I don't fall off." Rono said, trying to reassure himself. He waited for the others to go, slightly afraid to go on first.

OOC: Writer's block sucks, but I try to go active as much as possible though.

Niniva was the first to approach, sighing to herself at Rono's apparent nervousness to approach the beast. It did not scare her so much as the aspect of flight itself, but that would be something she would have to deal with. Pulling herself up upon the large reptilian, Niniva saddled herself upon its back, with plenty of room to spare. She clenched her legs on securely, trying to find a decent hold upon the scaled beast. So intent on that in fact that she hadnt noticed Damocles get on right behind her, until she felt the brooding presence of a large figure, his shadow overcasting her in the light of the moon. She straightened her spine, sitting more promptly whilst pulling back the hood of the robe once more. "I dont suppose you've ever ridden one have you?" She asked quietly to the large man, as if seeking peace of mind. Within only a minutes reprieve however, it wouldn't matter much.

Mumm'ra took to the skies in a sudden leap, great wings slapping against the winds, attaining flight with masterful, precision and seemingly without much effort required. Drawing a subtle gasp from the Niniva who only tightened her hold. It won't be too long.. the cities just over there.. she thought to herself.

(Gave you room to hop on Rono, just need to recount it)

((Blue is currently indisposed at the moment and has requested that I move this along. I'm very bad at writing characters like her.))

Chataigne was enraptured, enamoured by the Djinn. If one had to describe the voice of the prideful Djinni King it would be that of a raconteur, a smooth weaver of tales spun neatly and amusingly. Sultan Saskrit had gone to great lengths to tell her bits and pieces of the past which seemed distant to her yet still familiar.

"So tell me dear princess what is it like these days? I usually stay way up in the sky where the air is cool," he asked her finally.

This was a tricky subject. As a heir to her kingdom, she had to know about the various lands that she would take charge of as well as barter with. They were perhaps troublesome lessons but at the very least, she managed to keep some of the knowledge that was force-fed with her.

"Nowadays there are two kingdoms," she started, "The Kingdom of Gavaroche, of which I am princess of, is the fairest of them. There is the Kingdom of Lexmada, whose vessel we are currently on. I imagine that we are heading to one of their cities. Finally, there also the Jagatai Khanate."

Her voice started to trail off at that point. The worrisome but reassuring presence of her knight was missing, no thanks to that witch of a sorceress. But then, perhaps her knight was still alive. Surely such a lowly hag could not best have bested him. But even if he was alive, would he be a captive. Oh was her heart torn as she started an argument within herself.

Perhaps the Djinn was too easily taking in the implications of her words or that time itself started to run faster but whatever the case, a light tap was registered on the door to her chambers and one of the guards, or some such, they were all wearing ridiculous ornate head adornments which distracted her gaze from their faces and hence she couldn't tell them apart, if even she bothered herself to.

"Your highness, we are soon to arrive," the guard spoke.

That's right, she would be escorted out in to the palace and by the time her father would know that she was being held against her will, and possibly under siege, he would die from the shock, such was his old age. As soon as she could she would commence the search for her knight. He had requested of her to not cause him any more undue stress but he never asked her about her problems. Nobody did, and since she was just a little girl, they would only expect her to act charming while going about their business. She sighed mildly as she was led out to the colder night sky just as they passed a great sign. It identified the city that loomed overhead. Soon they would pass through the armoured portcullis and be sheltered by its inhabitants. Soon, would she be held hostage. A knight by her side would make her feel better.

---

Lady Jasraj sat there for hours and hours on end, gazing in to the barren desert. As they neared the city, the crate she happened to sit on was required. The poor Lieutenant that was sent to talk to her not only had to get her off the crate, but also deliver a message to the captain. It would seem most unpleasant and the boy was a nervous one, not having known the touch of a woman before and additionally was more than a bit nervous around magi. That was probably his punishment after having presented himself with a crooked tie to the Captain earlier.

"Lady Jasraj," he tried meekly but continued on his way quickly before she could turn her head, even if she wanted to, "Er, we're coming up to the city of St. Joachim. We urgently require you to look after her highness the princess- Not that you are her attendant or anything, we just need some one to keep her out of harm's way; but I suppose that's the same thing but I'm just talking to myself, hahahahaha. We also require urgently the crate that you are currently resting on and we would appreciate if up you got but AH PLEASE DON'T KILL ME, I would appreciate that VERY MUCH as well- So as I was saying can you please see to the princess right now, THANK YOU!"

The poor sod had started degenerating in to a quivering mass of nervous flesh, shaking uncontrollably waiting for his supposed end and the magi in front of him to do something.

It was then that the sand ship passed the armoured portcullis that lead in to the city, bringing them in to the heart of the city that was slowly starting to slip in to a slumber. Perhaps a poet, or an aristocrat with time on their hands could possibly describe the splendour and the sights but the abrupt halt had killed any pretence at elegance.

((Right, I am now only waiting for Green Mage. Man I loved writing that last guy.))

Abi blinked vacantly while attempting to follow what the boy was saying. The boy rambled like a cornered mouse, left with the choice of either jumping into a mousetrap or taking its chances with the kitten. He was very awkward, actually she found him to be painfully awkward, resisting the urge to cringe as he laughed at something she did not find remotely funny at all. Rubbing her arms anxiously where a drop of saliva had flew from the boy's mouth onto her caramel skin while he yelled "Thank you" she slid off of the crate as the boy had asked. She wasn't exactly too sure of what to do with the boy, it seemed as though if she said anything he'd jump overboard in a fit of terror.

As if she were dealing with a terrified animal she walked slowly, and gracefully away from the boy. Making sure to keep her hands in the boy's sight at all times. Having noticed that they had arrived in St. Joachim, she was pleased to find that her chance to run back to her home had finally arrived. Though the boy had clearly mumbled something about her looking after the princess. She didn't really know what she would be able to do, she was just a girl, maybe even a few months or a year older than the princes. Had the princess suddenly had a change of heart? She highly doubted it, the guards were probably too lazy to look after the girl themselves. She did consider the prospect that it would be an adventure, though she had had enough adventures to last her a little while. All those thoughts and more spun through her head rapidly, and in the end she decided she might as well stay.

"Thank you for the information" she said kindly "May the Djinn brighten your paths" She left the boy's presence, to allow the boy to breathe, for she feared that he had been holding his breath the entire time. She spotted the princess as she walked out on deck the Djinn stepping behind her with its head held high with dignity. She stayed away from the two of them, sourly remembering her banishment resulting with her sitting on the crate. She would just make sure to keep her eye on the princess.

Rono got on after Niniva and Damocles, with much reluctance. He gripped the beast tight, uncertain of how the flight will be. Look at me, scared of this ride as much as seeing a angry Igneus on fire. he laughed, reliving some of the uncertainty he had. Reassured, he became more confidant, at least until the beast finally flew, causing him to close his eyes, and a murmured prayer.

The first salvo ran off the port side of the Lady Bug as Mumm'ra took flight. It was indistinguishable to humans perhaps but there were twelve cannons fired. The other dozen went off shortly and the force could have easily toppled the lumbering sandship had they been fired all at once. These guns were heavy 40-lbers. Bigger than anything that defended the walls of St. Joachim. They were solid shots too and the Mistress who was on the ground could hear them rush past her head, feeling the mild wake of the air from their passage. Sizeable holes were punched in to the idiotically high walls. They would be easy to topple of course and the real challenge were the men and women inside. A few missed the walls, sailing over head in to any unfortunate buildings in their way until they came to a rest a few metres in to the main square, at the foot of the statue of the patron saint himself.

It was then that the alert was raised. The royal yacht was sent on high alert as those aboard descended quickly whilst the regiments and battalions started to form up and head to the inevitable breaches. Despite Lady Jasraj's status as a mere noblewoman, she was ushered quickly in to the keep along with the Princess and the Djinn. Perhaps so that they could find shelter and make sense of all that was going around them with the man or woman in charge. Hopefully, a passage to Gavaroche could be brokered but that still remained to be seen.

---

"I dont suppose you've ever ridden one have you?" Niniva him asked quietly.

"No and I've always hated riding," Damocles replied tersely.

That he did. Riding was using others to get to your destination. Damocles preferred using his own two feet. Of course it was impossible to go anywhere with just two feet and he grudgingly accepted modern sand ships as transport as technically, they weren't using any feet. Now he was riding the air on another's wings. He shuddered at the thought as his tabard started to billow loosely as the speed and wind picked up.

They were approaching from the opposite side with the moon in front of them. Mumm'ra was swift and efficient in using his movement. Most of what was holding him up were the thermal columns that he was creating in front of him. Humans were not sensitive to such things and would not notice it but if it were another spirit, especially a Djinn, they would be able to tell.

From the approach, Damocles saw the Lady Bug turning hard to port with the cannons on that side primed and ready to loose a volley. He hoped their aim was sufficient such that it may not hit them as they descended to the madness that was erupting below.

Rono opened one eye, with difficulty. Admittedly, he would've enjoyed it if he wasn't so scared of falling, and he happened to be on a beast, rather than sand ships, which he's always accustomed to. Looking around, the cannons on the ship were ready to fire, adding another worry to the large pile.

Abi ducked at the sound of metal blasting holes through solid stone. As if instinctively, she knew that the witch was behind the assault. How long would the walls last before they fell? She witnessed a giant cannonball punch through the wall like a quill through wet paper. In a daze of shock, she allowed the guards to usher her to the keep, she highly doubted that they would be safe for much longer. She was reminded of the massacre at the previous town, would these poor people have to suffer the same fate?

Saskrit was enjoying the prospect of war. The Djinn rarely had wars amongst each other, the last one had caused entire kingdoms to sink beneath the sand, creating much of the bareness of the desert today. Being witness to a mortal war would suffice for the old Djinn and he enjoyed every moment, feeling very young and adventurous again. The fur on the back of his neck prickled slightly, and he twitched his ears. He could feel, as if he were being touched that some spirit was manipulating heat and air. In his physical form he was rather limited, normally he'd be able to see everything that entered or left his domain of the sky simultaneously. However due to his present form he could not, so it was hard whether to determine if this was a spirit just flying by or an ally to those who now threatened the princess. Laying his head down on his out stretched forearms he waited patiently to see what would happen next.

Abi watched the djinn, it seemed to be on edge. She shrugged it off and walked to the princess' side she wasn't sure whether they'd be able to safely make an escape, unless she knew about some sort of exit from the city that she didn't "Your majesty" she asked "Are you capable to defend yourself? Or shall I have to defend you?"

It wasn't at all comforting either that Damocles seemed as much a neophyte to this as she herself, whom wasnt quite accustom to flying at all. With a grimace, Niniva gripped onto the beast ever tighter, ducking her head down as the whiplash picked up against her, her green strands flowing against the wind elegantly so, pulling away from her face. Below, the sounds of battle reverberated within her ears. Cannons echoed into the night with sounds of great thunder, the distinct stench of gunpowder began to fill her nostrils, wind soared against her face in a fury. Her gaze settled upon the great city, illuminated by torches and the wild audacity of battle-born flames, soon she would be landing within its confines, tasked with yet another objective of someone elses bidding.

It gnawed at her in the back of her mind, to always be at the work of others. An unfettered nagging that lingered within her subconscious, eating away at her soul with silent self-disgust. From long before she made her way far eastward to these barren wastes, she had always succumbed herself this malignant vocation; Irony in the fact she ventured from her old woodlands and cobblestone cities to escape that which she found herself entrapped within once more. It seemed no matter the setting-be it lustrous country side, bustling cityship, or Arid barrens-she naturally gravitated towards a vagrant lifestyle of underhanded servitude and staining her hands in the blood of others. With each passing day, it became ever difficult to ignore this seething truth; only recently had it managed to evoke the most human emotions of sadness and grief. Could she never stop? The only embrace she knew was that of when she silently pulls a target upon her thrusting blade. Was she not worthy of love? tenderness? Whom did she have to blame but herself. The parasitic blood within her veins could not be to blame for her own conscious choices, she made them herself. These thoughts swelled within her as they descended into the battle-torn city below. Was this all she was good for? Amidst the wind slashing against her cheeks, she clenched her eyes shut, futily attempting to prevent the few tears that had began to flow. Now is not the time.. She thought to herself, regaining her composure just as silently as she had lost it. Right now she had a job to do, no matter her regrets, there was no turning back. Her future ambitions would have to be saved for another time; for now was another session of the hunt. Only this time there was the non-violent route of simply capturing her target. She hoped, no doubt in vain, that this would be attained bloodlessly for once.

Without much more time to spare, Mumm'ra soon made landing.

"Your majesty" asked the Djinn's summoner "Are you capable to defend yourself? Or shall I have to defend you?"

To the Princess, who herself had a working knowledge of physical magic, this was near an insult. Again she is treated like a child, mostly perhaps due to her looks but such things could not be avoided. In a fit, she slipped the wand in to her hand and snapped it in front of Lady Abilasha something-something Jasraj. Chataigne was perhaps only one step removed from rearranging the face of enquirer. Any magi worth their salt would have felt the tingle of the cackling yet invisible flux of power.

"I assure you, mon amie," she said, not so much hiding her childish anger, "I am far more capable that most people would be led to believe."

It was a short stop for the group as most of the entourage were surprised. But as Chataigne lowered her wand quickly, they set off once more along the corridors once more.

It was in another grand chamber, with an immense table at the middle with a map of the city spread across, that they arrived. The War room as it was occasionally called. Officers were running left and right, in and out of doors, delivering messages and commands as they leaders took charge. Despite this there were two men arguing and if one looked closed enough, the new arrivals would recognise the poncy prince puffing up his chest as he tried to wrest authority from the competent looking older man in plate armour.

"You are not my king, boy," the man spat before turning to the guards, "Guards, escort his highness back to his quarters."

As the indignified prince was hauled away, only one sentence came out of the prince.

"My father shall hear of this Governer-General!"

"Good riddance," the Governor added after the prince was out of earshot before turning to his new guests, "Welcome you majesty."

He bowed, as did the collective in the room, most of whom froze in place just to do so before resuming their duties.

"I apologise for the lack of hospitality, given the circumstances, but I assure you that the wait will not be long. I have already prepared for your arrival. I will see to it personally that you are able board the fastest sand ship heading to Gavaroche."

"But-" Chataigne was about to start.

"Ah yes, I assume you are suitably worried about the situation outside but once again, we are in control of the situation."

With that said, the Governor dismissed them and they were sent to a smaller room with some refreshments. The Governor was not yet informed of who was at the head of the assault, nor did he stop to actually listen to the Priness, and in due time, he would later eat those words.

Mumm'ra landed relatively close to the doors that gave out to the garden behind the keep and were it not for a battle being fought on the other side, they would have long been detected. It was an almost miraculous feat as they dismounted, Damocles nearly kissing the ground as he did. But the thought that stopped him was negotiating with the Lexmadans. He'd sooner snap their necks but this may require more diplomacy than brute force. Mumm'ra had changed back to a form of a man, albeit an androgynous one, and quickly as they could, put their backs against the walls of the keep's wall as fast they could. There was no use in dallying.

"Right, we're going to have to go in," Damocles stated obviously, "Try not to kill anyone."

Almost praising the names of every god he knew, Rono restrained himself from burying himself himself in the ground and swearing never to go on another flying beast again. "Right, we're going to have to go in, try not to kill anyone." Damocles said, keeping to the walls (which he imitated) although it didn't really needed to be said.



OOC: ...Yeah, still not feeling it.

Abi felt the atmosphere grow tense with magic as the princess held the wand rigidly in front of her face. Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, which would definitely have ended violently, she instead said nothing waiting for the princess to calm down and continued on their walk through the corridors.

They stood silently and watched the argument unfold between the prince and the governor-general. She was quite surprised with the way the governor-general conducted himself and treated the prince, she decided at that moment that she did not like him. She was exceedingly surprised by the youth of the prince, she had thought that the princess was to marry an elderly prince just so that he could become king or some other political rule she was unaware of.

"I apologise for the lack of hospitality, given the circumstances, but I assure you that the wait will not be long. I have already prepared for your arrival. I will see to it personally that you are able board the fastest sand ship heading to Gavaroche."

"But-" Chataigne was about to start.

"Ah yes, I assume you are suitably worried about the situation outside but once again, we are in control of the situation."

Abi counted it off as another strike against the man, he was so full of himself. He dismissed them and sent them away to a smaller room with light refreshments, as if they were mere children, which they were, but a wise man would have at least asked them if they had anything to contribute. She watched as Sanskrit curled up into a ball on a large cushion, he still seemed agitated. His usual talkativeness had left him, it disturbed her. Abi stood patiently, the only comfort being her glass ball, how long would it be until the enemy arrived?

OOC - Just one of those reminders...Also, whatever happened to blue?

((I was waiting on him but if you don't want to I can move forward.))

Niniva slipped her back cautiously against the wall. She had no time to dwell upon the gardens beauty, only that of her objective. With a silent sigh, she pulled her blade, underhanded, from its sheath. The metal glimmered lightly off the pale glow of the moonlight as she braced her arm across her chest and bent at her knee's. She hoped dearly she would not have to thrust this cold iron into anothers throat. For once, she did not so much look forward to the kill. A change of vindication contrary to her prior deeds.

She turned her head to the others. "Absolute silence. Keep as low as possible.." that ofcourse was per usual, all very much common sense for stealth. However, she found herself in an awkward silence afterward..before finally finishing. "Try to knock out possible threats with a choker hold" She started off once more, as if recollecting a technique she herself had hardly used very often. She brought her free arm up and braced it back against the air as if in a faux hold of a neck, demonstrating for them what she could remember. "Secure an arm around the neck and apply pressure to the jugular veins, should do the job" She finished. She had always found it so much easier to simply cut down her targets.. this presented a new challenge in and of itself. Again now she focused concentration upon the deed at hand, sliding her back against the wall towards the gates nearby. Pulling herself away on heel and turning to face the closed iron-entry, she quickly found herself stuffing her free hand into the inside of her ironically-priestly cloak, to tug out a small pick. Keeping low, she fiddled her pick within the opening of the lock, to the sound of light clanking. Her eyes gazing intently against the lock, biting her lower lip.

After but a few more seconds, the lock unhinged and the gates drifted open with a lingering creak only drowned out by the sounds cannons and gunfire. Niniva then, whilst crouched, eased herself forward upon the stone path in the vibrant gardens. Flora of differing shapes and sizes offered variable concealment to any would-be onlookers, at least for her relatively small figure; The few scattered tree's among the vegetation lie as an option as well. Alas however, for all of her caution and expertise, she was un-accustom to any kind of magical surveillance. She naught have ever found a need for it, so naturally it never crossed her mind that her presence may become detected through mystical means.