Berglund could hardly believe his eyes. It was there! The passage was real! To him it was quite possibly the best day of his life. 

Berglund did not care about power. He had no desire to rule over the kingdom. He did however care very much for money, and there was more than he could possibly imagine just waiting to be taken away out of the royal treasury.

"I've done it! All that money! Finally!" Berglund rejoiced, staring at the entrance with greedy eyes.

"You've done it?" Demetria asked in a quiet tone, looking down at the passage and summing up the situation privately in her head.

Berglund cleared his throat and corrected himself quickly, looking at the deadly serpent that Demetria really was. Her long black robes trailed elegantly behind her as she stooped under the entrance and down the tunnel, poised and asserted, just as though she owned the world. 

The two of them went alone for once in the palace it would look strange to have five or more bandits dirtying up the halls, whereas Berglund was 'in charge' and Demetria was a regular visitor at the castle. 

It did not take long for them to find the trap door at the end and Demetria flashed out of the hole and into the hidden room stepping out of the door and into the long empty hall. She allowed the ghost of an evil smile take over her features and the lady seemingly glided across the floor, quickly followed by Berglund who was a little less elegant in his demeanor. 

Demetria stopped at the door of the treasury, her senses suddenly coming alive. Something was not right. She could not quite place it, but something was wrong. Getting an idea, Demetria slyly stepped to the side and said, "It is your victory Lord Berglund." Her voice was slippery and cold, just as she was, but the man was too consumed by his greed to even notice and he reached for the door handle. It opened easily and Berglund ran in, taking in the beautiful site of tables and chests full of gold, silver, pearls, diamonds and much much more. The room was long and the ceiling was high, lined with windows that let streams of light in. There were other valuables scattered all over the place, such as priceless paintings, soft furs, and even a giant statue of the Nymph king made entirely of marble. Berglund fell to his knees on a pile of gold coins and ran his fingers through it, barely believing his eyes. It was more than anyone could have imagined! Of course he did not register the fact that the door was unlocked and that they would have to be idiots to leave the door to the treasury open, but Demetria did.
She was not sure what to think of the whole situation. Walking into the long room cautiously her eyes scanned every inch of the room over and over again, but there was so much gold and jewels everyone it was hard for her eyes focus and the light from the windows kept reflecting off the treasure.

"What are you waiting for?" Berglund laughed, grabbing a burlap sack and stuffing it with the coins.

"There's more than enough for the both of us!"

Demetria knelt down and picked up a gold chalice, standing up and running one finger over the the carved vines and red jewels that adorned it. She stared at the treasured piece, her eyes filled with greed. 

Berglund continued to stuff the sack and when it was full he staggered to his feet, carrying the heavy sack out the door and down the hall, through the hidden door and across the passage to his men. Hammond was waiting with several pack horses and when Berglund showed up the bandits all crowded around to see the treasure.

"Distribute this bag evenly among you men and I'll be back with more...This is going to take a while," he added gleefully, rushing back down the passage.

Demetria stayed in the room to keep watch, walking slowly through the room and fingering every clear diamond and shiny coin, ignoring the alarm bells that were ringing in her head. 

          It took Berglund at least two hours to get enough gold out and when the last bag was filled the two looked at the remaining treasure and each knew the other would eventually come back for it. They both left the room and Demetria took a long silver key out of her robes, locking the door and starting to walk down the hall back to the passage. Suddenly a tall man stepped out of one of the joining halls, standing casually in their way. The big cathedral window was directly behind him and the afternoon sun made it impossible to see anything but a dark silhouette.

"Fancy meeting you here," the man said.

His voice was young but still held a tone of authority, like he knew exactly what he was doing. 

Berglund opened his mouth to make up some excuse but the door to the treasury opened unexpectedly and a girl with red hair wearing the strangest attire walked out, acting surprised to see the two standing there. In her hand was a long silver key.

"Oh, my bad! I thought only the king was allowed down here. Well, unless he invited you. He did, didn't he? Funny, I don't remember him mentioning you two...You getting this Chandra?"

"Every bit!" a cheerful voice called from up on one of the beams.

There was a small silver box in her hands and it was so very obvious that she was enjoying herself immensely.

"You see, people so rarely look up when they really should," the young man commented, catching their attention once more.

"Dagon," Berglund said bluntly.

Demetria scowled and without hesitating flashed behind the heir, pulling out a long dagger, intent on burying it in Dagon's back. Out of nowhere Diomedes came flying at the rogue nymph like there was no tomorrow, tackling her to the ground. Demetria reacted quickly and flashed down the opposite hall but it was a predictable move that Diomedes saw coming and he reappeared just behind her, shoving Demetria into the wall and knocking his sword pommel over her head.

"Really should have tried something different this time," Diomedes said solemnly, hog tying the lady.

Chandra, who had climbed down from the rafters, looked at the prince curiously.

"Do you know her?"

Diomedes stood up satisfied at his work and turned to Chandra.

"I ought to," he answered, brushing his hands together.

"She killed my parents...Same way to."

Chandra wanted to kick herself for bringing up the subject and all she could think of saying was, "I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault," Diomedes shrugged, walking passed her.

Stupid idiot, Chandra thought, punching herself in the shoulder. Why do you always let your mouth run away with you?

"Well Berglund, we've finally got you," Dagon said as his brother tied the criminal up.

"So what. You won't be able to prove anything."

"I beg to differ...Marcy!"

Marcy grinned and quickly turned her camera on, going into the files and selecting the incriminating video that Chandra had skillfully filmed. It started with Berglund and Demetria walking into the room and then the camera actually went into the room, giving a full view of Berglund stuffing the burlap sack. 

"How did-" Berglund started but Marcy already started answering.

"Chandra is quite light on her feet and it turns out that she can hold perfectly still for several hours. Did you notice that large painting of the queen in there? Well we just cut out her ring and replaced it with the camera lens."

"I was actually scared Demetria would spot me," Chandra commented, watching the video.

Berglund was thoroughly confused by the camera, their plan, everything! All he knew was that the magic box pretty much guaranteed a lifetime in the dungeon. 

The rest of the group had joined them after having enjoyed a front row view of the whole event from up on the roof outside the windows and they were ready to get going.

"Just show this to your counselors or whatever and you shouldn't have a problem getting your thrown back," Marcy said, handing the camera to Diomedes.

"Take Chandra with you. She knows how to use it."

Chandra smiled and to the camera which Diomedes handed her and said, "Well that was fun."

The twins turned to look at the elf like she was insane which only made Chandra laugh and Diomedes could not help but laughing a little as well. Dagon promptly elbowed him.

"What? It's contagious!" 

"Um, I don't mean to intrude, but has anyone else noticed that we're missing a couple people?" Adrianna spoke up.

"Adrastea and Albano climbed off the roof while we were watching...I thought you had all noticed," Dierdrie answered.

"Well where did they go?" Chandra asked,

"I bet out of two guesses I can tell you," Sylvia said solemnly.

<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

"It's now or never Albano. Mom and dad didn't keep you out of the palace for no reason," Adrastea said quietly, looking up at the tall wooden doors.

Albano cleared his throat and looked at his little sister. He knew she was right but Albano did not feel ready to take back the throne. 

"We can't just go in there and say, 'Hey Uncle Haldit, we're taking over!'. He has personal guards, not to mention an entire army against us."

For once Adrastea allowed a large grin to take over and Albano knew she had something up her sleeve. Something so completely outrageous and ridiculous that it could quite possibly work.

"So you have a plan?"

Adrastea nodded, the grin still plastered on her face.

"Well what do you want me to do?" Albano asked, shifting into a more comfortable position under the bush.

"As far as Haldit knows, I'm an only child. He thinks I'm the heir..."

<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

Haldit paced back and forth, rubbing his hands together in fury.

Gefish just watched, hunched over like a sack of potatoes, just waiting for Haldit to explode in a blind rage and tear everything apart. 

"That double crossing witch!" the man scowled.

The gnome had brought news of how he saw Demetria and Berglund go into the secret passage together, Berglund coming out several times with bags of treasure. 

"I should have her-" Haldit began, but he was cut off a firm rap on the door.

"Who is it?" he growled.

The door opened and a Cieven soldier walked in, tossing none other than the aggravating princess Adrastea on the floor like an ill fitting glove.

"Well, well, well," Haldit mused, his attitude changing completely.

"What do we have here?"

"She was caught trying to sneak past the guards at the front gate," the soldier answered.

"Well Adrastea, this is a pleasant surprise. I must-" Haldit began, but as soon as the large door closed Adrastea leaped off the ground pulled out her dagger, Albano knocking an arrow to his bow before Haldit could make a move.

"Don't try it Uncle!" he said in a low voice.

Haldit, still poised at his deck, squinted his eyes, trying to get a good look at the soldier. Realization struck him just as everything came flowing back.

"Albano? But you're suppose to be dead! Your grave is just outside!"

"I'm not dead, and I'm going to take back what you stole."

Haldit switched his gaze to the one who for all these years had tormented his dreams. The nightmares that someday she would come back to claim the throne. Not her dead brother.

"Now Uncle, you're going to walk with us out this door and down to one of your so popular dungeons where you will rot the rest of your life away," Adrastea said, her low tone back once more.

"Hah, you'll never get away with this. When I killed your father I got rid of all his so called 'loyal followers'. That army out there is loyal to me, not you."

Albano and Adrastea exchanged an expression that said 'I'm not convinced' and Adrastea went on to explain.

"Come over here Uncle...You see that gate out there? The one that guards the city? Well outside of that there are about a hundred angry gypsies just waiting to get there hands around your neck. After you refused them passage through Ellestar they got a little mad at you...Albano, why don't you go and check with your friends, see if they're willing to open the gate for the gypsies?"

"Will do!"

Albano left the room and Adrastea sat down on Haldit's desk, her trusty dirk still at the ready. 

Haldit locked eyes with his niece who was as calm as the old medicine man of Ellestar, her green eyes filled with fire and venom. 

Gefish had slowly started making his way towards the door but just as he was about to make a run for it he tripped over a stepping stool and tumbled over in a painful heap. Adrastea snapped her head towards him as a reflex and Haldit immediately dived at her, the both of them crashing to the ground in a mad dash for the dirk. Haldit shoved Adrastea against the wall and grabbed the knife, swinging it in an arch and bringing it down at an angle on her neck. Adrastea managed to spin out of the way just in time, the knife nicking her left arm painfully. Haldit thrust the dirk forward and Adrastea sprung backwards, dodging the knife and kicking her Uncle in the jaw. The man staggered backwards but recovered just in time to block a blow to the head from a gold candle holder. Adrastea rolled over the desk and onto the floor to stay clear of the flashing blade that seemed to come from every direction. Her only chance was to outmaneuver him.
Haldit grabbed hold of the table and flipped it over, Adrastea barely managing to escape being crushed by the massive oak desk. Within a split second Haldit was back on her, like a tiger hunting it's prey. 

Adrastea grabbed hold of the foot stool and used it to block the blow of the knife, immediately discarding it for a wooden curtain rod, something she found much more maneuverable. The two of them stood in the middle of the room, slowly walking in a circle. Haldit made the first move jutting forward and tripping Adrastea who in return blocked the knife that came at her on the floor kicked Haldit's legs out from under him. She rolled over to the side and got to her feet just as the other Cieven bolted after her, dirk ready in hand. He cut sideways and downwards, each stroke barely missing Adrastea who was just able to keep her balance. The girl leaped over the turned table and the knife came smashing down on the edge of the wood, not a centimeter away from her face. Adrastea rolled over dodging another strike and got to her feet, not wasting a second before shoving her entire bodies strength into Haldit's stomach, the both of them crashing to the floor, kicking and biting in an attempt to get hold of the knife that kept switching owners. 

Gefish watched in horror and recognized his chance, rushing out the door.

Once again Haldit managed to win the struggle, grabbing hold of the knife and breaking free from the girl's grasp. Adrastea threw a book at Haldit in order to buy time for her to gain her feet and she immediately ducked, punching her Uncle in the gut with all the force she could muster. Both had their adrenaline flowing like rivers and the fight ranged all over the room, Adrastea getting up on the raised platform and shoving the fur covered chair on top of Haldit, grabbing the curtain rod once more. She backed up against the window and brought the wooden stick up to block another strike but the blow had too much force and the rod shattered.

This time he had her. Haldit wrapped one large hand around Adrastea's neck and pulled her up, bringing the dirk at an angle over his head. Suddenly there a loud 'twang' and his grey eyes grew wide, his arm still poised. Before she knew what was going on Haldit's grip became deathly tight and he fell forward, the two of them crashing through the window and down to the ground bellow.

Dagon discarded the bow and rushed over to the window. Adrastea was hanging in mid air, barely managing to hold onto the ledge. Dagon grabbed hold of her good and arm and hauled the girl over the sill and back into the ransacked room.

"Are you alright?" Dagon asked hurriedly.

Adrastea slumped against the wall, breathing heavily and shaking all over, her left arm drenched in blood.

"...I'm fine..."