I woke up to the sound of shouting in the distance. Only half awake, I tried to stand up, but I found myself tied to a tree. My heart started pounding. I looked around to see I was still in the skib and Faisal was at my side, also tied to a tree.

I sighed at our failure then listened to the shouts. They were muffled and hard to hear, but I could manage. I heard them yell, asking if the others found "them". I called out, hoping they could hear me, and Fai jumped to life.

He jerked his head and whipped his head around with wide eyes. "Wha- Where..." He tried to stand, but the ropes held him back. He looked at me, swallowed hard, and spoke slowly and quietly. "What happened?"

"We got tied to a tree," I said in an even voice. I let my hand burn white then tried to bring it to the ropes.

"What are you doing?" Fai asked, his eyes getting even wider.

I rolled my eyes. "Burning the ropes so we can get out."

"You're gonna set them on fire."

I stuffed all the rude comets I wanted to make, down, and tried to listen for whoever was yelling. If I couldn't burn the ropes, I would have to hope they could set Fai and I free. The birds of the skib were loud, but I could still hear voices in the distance. I screamed for help again and Fai caught on. We were both screaming at the top of our lungs, praying for someone to hear.

Soon, someone called back to us. Fai, a stranger, and I called for each other until a middle-aged man came out from behind the tree. He was dressed in light leather armor, like an Ardes, and his hair was pulled back into a short pony-tail.

On seeing us he immediately bent down, pulled out a small knife, and cut the ropes. We got the ropes off and the man came to help me up. He pulled me to my feet and grew a look of concern.

"Vivetta the Sari?" He bowed slightly. "What happened?"

I quickly composed myself and spoke with my politically flat voice. "The Tulava Tower was attacked. Faisal and I saw the culprits and chased them into the skib. We were, unfortunately, beaten. Then, I assume, tied to this tree."

He nodded then looked at Fai. "Faisal The Laminar? Not much of a fighter as I thought."

Fai raised his brow and let out a small laugh. "I'm still learning, Baradin. What's your excuse?"

The man smiled then turned back to the skib. "Follow me. We'll get you two home."

Baradin lead Fai, and I through the skib, looking out for any creature that could harm us. Fai was walking a little crooked, and I knew I wasn't any better. I still had a headache, and my knees were quivering. My hands were tingling from burning them, I hoped that there were no visible signs of it, I couldn't handle the stress it would bring right now.

Once we were out of the skib, Baradin got Fai and I a ride to the castle. Fai didn't speak a word, nor did I. The second we walked into the castle we were swarmed. My family, Wyeth, and any other family and friends Fai and I had been waiting for us. Apparently, they already knew that The Tower was attacked and that we were in the area, but they didn't know we were attacked and tied up until a Mercis made her way through the crowd of people asking us if we were okay.

She went up to my father, whispered in his ear, then moved to another to do the same. The word was spread, slower than if she would have been if she had spoken to everyone at once, but spread nonetheless. One by one family and friends grew more worried, while my father became furious.

"Why would you go to The Tower?" He demanded, clenching his fits.

Faisal opened his mouth to speak, but cut him off. "We were settling a quick dispute, Father. We thought it would be harmless, we didn't know The Tower would be attacked."

Lying to my father was not something you could do. He always knew when someone was lying, whether he knew them for years or days. Lying to him would just postpone the inevitable.

My father furrowed his brow then looked at Fai, anger in his eyes. "And why did you go after the attackers?"

Fai gulped then spoke with a flat, strong voice. "The Ardeses were down, and the attackers had left with a Tulava. I went after them, in hopes of getting them convicted of their crime and retrieving the Tulava."

His look turned from angry to confused. "You thought you could take down three people at such a young age?"

"It was a quick... unwise decisions."

I saw Wyeth out of the corner of my eye. He buried his head in his hands and I could hear a sigh. Fai shrunk, looking to the ground and slumping his shoulders. I'll admit, I knew how much Fai looks up Wyeth. After all, Wyeth was not only a war hero but the closest thing Fai had to a parent. Fai never let anyone know he was nervous, and yet here he was, waiting for Wyeth to pull him aside and lecture him about every mistake he's ever made, and how he needs to be better. How he's a Laminar, he didn't have the option to fail.

My father stepped closer to me, the anger returning to his stare. "And you went after them too, Vivetta?"

"The attackers had kidnapped someone, I couldn't let that happen without at least trying to help them," I said cautiously, returning my father's stare.

He furrowed his brow again. "But they kidnapped a Tulava."

I nodded slowly, not knowing where he was going with that."

"You risked your life for a Tulava's." His voice grew louder and angrier.

I nodded again, more sure of myself.

"Everybody leave," he ordered.

All who were crowded in the hallway scattered. My siblings gave me a look of sympathy then went upstairs, my mother ushering them up. Wyeth grabbed Faisal by the arm and dragged him out of the castle, Fai's head still hanging low.

Soon, it was just my father and I in an empty hallway. My stomach was turning, and I couldn't make eye contact, but he didn't seem to care. He paced around for a second, stomping his feet and clenching his fists.

"Vivetta... You are a Sari, you can't put yourself in harm's way for a Tulava." He spoke cautiously as if explaining this to a child.

I didn't respond for a second, but when I spoke I was careful. "Why? Nothing happened. I'm fine." I took a deep breath and continued. "But that Tulava isn't. She's been taken, father, and we don't know why."

"It doesn't matter why! You can't go around getting yourself hurt, not for a Tulava, or and Venadi, or even a Laminar. No one will take you seriously when you have power over the people of Domiti, you may even be killed." His words were bitter if not angry.

I let out a scoff. "It's not like you'll let me anywhere near the throne, with me being 'The Mad Queen."

"That wouldn't have happened if you had behaved yourself. Those Venidi deserved to be killed."

"I doubt you would be saying that if you knew them. They did nothing, but refuse to be slaves." I tensed when the words came out. I didn't think before I spoke and I wasn't ready for it to come back and bite.

"I don't have time for this, the caftens will think I don't want peace if I don't reply soon." He spat out the word 'caftens,' not moving his eyes from me. He was trying t compare me to those who wish to destroy Domiti. "Venidi aren't slaves."

"Oh, they aren't? Well, then what would you call those forced to work with the pay of staying alive?"

He ignored my question. "You need to realize that Venidi, Tulavas, and every other Libres are more expendable than you."

"Are they? Because last I checked there's no reason we need to kill babies for being named a Fillion, or for you to be treated like a man who can do no wrong when you have so much blood on your hands!"

I covered my mouth. My father looked stunned and hurt, but I couldn't take it back now. I ran upstairs before he could respond, hoping he wouldn't chase after me. I ran through the halls and into my room, once again trapping myself in there because of a crude man thinking it was right to condemn others to a cruel fate, while they sat safe in their towers.

I slammed the door and sat against it, tears pricking my eyes. I couldn't say I was sad, I don't know why I was crying, but the tears flowed. I sat there, praying that my father could one day understand his cruelty. I waited anxiously for someone to knock on my door. Hours went by of silence, with me mulling over my thoughts.

While lost in thought, I realized that nothing could make my father understand his horrible philosophies. Not me, not anyone else in the family, not Faisal, not even him seeing his people himself. I knew he wouldn't send anyone to look for Ariadne. She would die like all the other Tulavas, slow and painfully.

I marched out of my room and down through the castle, as quietly as possible. I managed to get someone to take me where I needed to go, despite it being so late. I couldn't sit back and watch anymore, I had to do something.

So doing more editing of The God's Puppet Show than actual writing is slowly driving me insane, I will most likely be switching it to for every two chapters of The Dungeons of Savant one chapter of The God's Puppet Show or one for both. I don't know if you need to know that, but just in case you're curious as to the 'schedule' change.

Thanks for reading!