Lol! Goodness, no! Alaki means 'my dear' in arabic! A better phrase might be "Al humdellilah," (spelling optional) which means "God willing".

But I just noticed something. You wrote "alkai", and I've never heard that word before. I just misread it as alaki. ;D

***Either way, the nonstop run-ons and incomplete thoughts in your posts, jok101, are driving me crazy!***

(I do believe, I mentioned in the actual description is that there is an inner circle, though I probably didn't explain it at all. So the inner circle is mostly reserved for relations or good friends/advisors of the throne. These votes often are a little more important than the general mass of the usual Court, but if there are enough of "THEY MUST DIE" normal votes then, yes, they will have to die. In normal court there is a limited number of 315 and in the Inner Court can only ever have 18. One of the Inner Court will always be the Ruler or Regent - so really apart from Luke there are only 17 people in the Inner Court. *wipes sweat from forehead* That was a lot!

I think that's everyone, isn't it?)

--

Luke took a deep breath, "You should all be aware of the fact that the King is dead. You've probably been told that he died of natural causes. He didn't. He was poisoned."

"It's a good thing I think I can trust you all," Luke continued while scratching his chin.

Linx watched the Regent in fascination and then blurted out, "What's that got to do with us?"

"The Court, well, they think you helped in his murder." Luke replied, his voice uneven.

"Preposterous! I wouldn't do such a thing!" yelled Simon his face ghost white.

It looked as though the other seven agreed completely.

Luke waved a hand at him to calm him down, "I know you wouldn't. As I said, I KNOW you're all innocent, but I can't prove it. I would love to find out who the real perpetrator was, however I'm stuck here in this castle as acting Regent. I do also suspect that the heirs deaths weren't accidents either . . ."

"Well, how do we get out of this, then?" Susa asked, her voice shaking.

Luke rubbed at his temple and then replied, "We return to the first thing I said to you. The thing I ask of you. I will let you go, illegally I have to add, with an advance of 12 hours if you promise to find the real murderers, the people behind the near wiping out of a total Royal Line. If you can prove to me with evidence that someone else was responsible for these murders I will grant you all amnesty."

Linx tilted his head and yawned, he laziness shone through at that moment, "What if we don't go?"

"You'll be publicly executed tomorrow at daybreak. As we talk now they are setting up for the grandest execution for 100 years. The sun is appearing soon - it is near the dawn of a new day. The decision is yours. I am sorry for the pressure this is putting on you, but it is now or never. An escape route is already prepared." He locked eyes with one of the guards.

Linx scratched his chin for a second, "Well, I'm in. It sounds like an owl."

This time, everyone was so locked in thought no one bothered to correct it to "hoot".

Shahara absently folded one arm across her stomach, resting the other elbow on her wrist, and rubbed her lip with her index finger. This was usually what she did when she was deep in thought. She was peicing together, not an escape or the proposal, she'd decided what she would do already, but she was piecing together what she knew of the King's murder.

There wasn't enough there, so she looked up and nodded, dropping her arms. "I'm in."

She went to rest her hands on her scimitars, but they were absent. The guards had taken them.

"Any chance we'll get our belongings back, Lord Regent?" She tacked on the formality out of respect for the man. Luke was giving them a chance to prove themselves innocent, so he deserved some respect. Not that being Regent didn't get him enough of that, but what he was doing went beyond his title to his very person. He wasn't going to kill innocent peopl, despite what the Court thought.

Nykyrian(Nyk)-

Nyk glowered at Luke, silver blue eyes glittering in the torchlight. He was trapped, helping humans would likely get other witches trying to kill him. But if he refused he'd be dead anyway. "So I'm damned if I do. And I'm damned if I don't." Nyk thought morbidly. Of course, their was a way around the other mages, but that option was just as bad, if not worse.

Thinking furiously, Nyk scowled at everyone in general. "If I agree to this. And that's a big if. Then Frost comes with me."

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Frost."

"The wolf who was with me." Nyk snarled, "And if their is so much as a scratch on him, I will shout this conversation from the rooftops and damn the consequences."

Smirking, Luke matched him glare for glare. "Brave aren't you? Most people wouldn't have the courage to say something like that to my face. After all I might just decide to kill you anyways."

Nyk smiled bitterly. "I lost all fear of death a long time ago. Hell, a simple execution would be almost preferable to the death that awaits all Witches. But just because I don't fear death, doesn't mean I want to stop living. I'll help you, but only because I have my own interests in finding the killers."

Atila

Atila said the oath but her words felt heavy. She stepped back into the shadows to think. The chain links hit the floor like an anchor. Her mind battled itself.

I can't. I just can't! But you'll take your revenge! But even if I hand him over, he will find a way to kill me in the end. But now there is only little Mitchelle... The heir must be saved.
Atila remembered the little princess Mitchelle, how she used to wait for her in the kitchen of the palace and whenever she delivered livestock. Atila would give her a pink candy -Mitchelle's favorite color- and the little girl would squeal in delight.

Atila jutted her chin upward. "For the princess," she muttered to herself in the shadows.

Atila saw the courage of wild boy, or Nyk as she learned; the power of not fearing death. She just cheated death, but she knew this time death would catch up to her.

Atila's green eyes looked up at the Regent, "My Lord, I will join."
She made finger gesture toward her. He sighed, irritation but understanding gleaming in his eyes. He walked over.

"Yes?"
Atila face emotionless she whispered, "My Lord, the oath I said that I will not tell of this day shall follow me to my grave. I will find A spy and take him to his death but my body will fall after him. If you do not understand than I am at a loss."

*A little hard to understand but it'll make sense later. How many spies are there? If it's a secret aww, shucks is all I have to say.*

*Well, its a conspiracy so its a medium hidden group - though there is one main major spy/assassin thing.*

Luke nodded with a very serious look on his face, "I shall take that was your word, Atila."

He then returned to his chair facing the others, and locked eyes with Nyk, "I believe your familar is in safe hands," he turned his attention to another and continued, "And Shahara, I need to know what everyone else will say before I can mention anything about anyone's belongings."

Luke looked anxiously at the others, time was running low, "This is a make or break moment, but really you only have one choice if you want to live. Help me help you."

Simon and Susa

Simon finally understood. He had been confused ever since he had been thrown in the dungeon, but now he understood. He could almost forgive Luke now, and felt slightly guilty for yelling at him. He might forgive the Regent, but Simon still felt a lingering mistrust. He glanced downwards to see Susa looking at him. He sighed and turned his attention back to Luke.

“We’ll go.” He said. “Although, we don’t know where to start.”

Karana looked at her fellows. They were being forced into servitude. Either that, or die, huh? She ground her teeth, sighing heavily.

"Count me in," she said, "but I'd much rather have a sword on me."

"Me, too." Shahara blurted before thinking. She slapped her mouth shut as Luke looked at her. "Um, when do we leave? I think everyone here has made there decision."

Luke looked at them all, one-by-one. "Not all of you." He looked at Jon as he said it.


**Sorry so short, I was pressed for time.**

Johnathan

"Not all of you" said Luke, turning to meet my gaze. I stayed silent for a second before replying.

"I'm in" I said taking of my coat and throwing it into the fire. I then rolled up my sleeves and folded them over at the cuffs once.

"disguise" I said to Luke as he looked at me with curious eyes. I picked up some of the ash at the bottom of the fire and rubbed it into my hair and face darkening and dirtying them. It was an awful disguise anyone with even a hint of talent would see my expensive shoes and realise I was some one important running away. Quickly I tested my voice before speaking in my old voice.

"Well I'm in" I said in a tougher voice that was unique to the capitals streets. After all I'd grown up on the streets and been put in one of the worst prisons in the country, The only reason I spoke finer was because it made me feel more professional and the court members warmed to me faster.

Luke glanced at the everyone individually, and then gestured to more guards, some moved around and a different stone wall slid open, "You leave now and your escape is that way. I have arranged a wagon for you with supplies. When you find out who the murderers are please come back, if you can."

Linx grinned as he hopped off the chair, "Are our personals in the wagon as well?"

"Of course. Everything you had on you that we've confiscated is waiting for you out of the secret passage. Go now, lest you're discovered." He waved them away with a smile.

Linx all, but skipped down the passage and he looked back. None of his companions had a cheeful expression like his, "Why are you guys so glum?"

Shahara

Shahara hurried into the tunnel, her expression thoughtful.

"Why are you guys so glum?" Linx asked, his mood cheery.

"Considering that we're having to run from our lives here in Capital, and become fugitives though we're innocent, the mood shouldn't be very peppy." Shahara said, but she couldn't help the excitement she felt. After all these years, she'd get to let out her inner fighter for longer than a night. A grin spread across her face as she imagined the weight of her scimitars in her hands.

Linx shrugged, "No need to be so gloomy."

He yawned and asked the guard up ahead, "How far away is this exit?"

The guard answered, "A few minutes walk."

Linx grinned and looked towards the others, "Well, let's get better acquainted, shall we? What do all you think about this?"

*Nyk is lonely, can someone be his friend? Also this post might be a bit confusing, because I had to rewrite it twice, first my dad deleted it before I could post, then the computer deleted it before I could post *

Nykyrian(Nyk)-

Nyk snorted softly, sarcasm thick in his voice. "It's trouble, but it's trouble I had coming. Denial is never a good state of mind for a Witch. It's true what they say 'Fate is a bitch.' "

The others kept talking but Nyk fell silent. He sent his power outwards and upwards, when it brushed against the mind of a golden eagle, Nyk knew he had found what he had sought. "Sunsoar? I need your help."

"What is it Nykyrian, what do you need?" Her voice was soft, filled with concern. A wistful smile flitted across Nyk's face, Sunsoar had been his mother's familiar.

"Fly to the mountains Sunsoar. Find Tahl, and tell him to break the seal, then send out the call."

The eagle hesitated, her voice urgent. "Your mother never wanted this for you. She hid you for a reason."

In his mind Nyk scoffed, bitterness edging his mind voice. "Fate doesn't care what we want. If it did I wouldn't be in this mess." He sighed, worry joining the bitterness. "If the last heir dies. It won't be humans that the Court hunts. They will blame what has hurt them so many times before. Magic. Witches. I refuse to let that happen."

"There is no going back from this Nykyrian. If the humans don't kill you the Witches just might."

"Then at least my death will mean something. Please Sunsoar."

"Alright." The eagle sighed, turning to the east, towards the sun that had just begun to rise.

Deep beneath the earth, Nyk hesitated. His voice was scared when he called the eagle again. "Sunsoar? When will it happen?"

"......Tomorrow night, most likely."

"Tomorow then." Nyk murmured aloud, his heart churned with emotion. It was a wonder, and at the same time it was a horror and dread. "Tomorrow, everything changes." Nyk stopping thinking about his own problems when one of the others dropped back to walk beside him.

*This can be anyone, right now most of the character feel pretty isolated from each other.*