<div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;color:black;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="color: maroon; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I
like<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the story, once it gets to the part
where Grasshopper and Sitting are talking about leaving and on to the end of
the chapter. I thought there was too much detail in going through those long
named kingdoms and the people in them. Too much trivia for my mind to hold on
to. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chapter ends in a very good
place. Is the cricket out of the picture having been eaten? Does Sitting even
care, since now she has a way of seeing without him. If she leaves the magic
kingdoms, will she retain her new vision? Stay tuned.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">about the races.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I thought about this some. at first I thought
maybe species instead, but I really didn't like that very much. Type might fit.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I mainly want to distinguish the different
provinces as being made up of different types of creatures that work together
in spite of their different way of life and background. Each province has
different types of creatures that have things in common.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Avian would be made up of creatures that can
fly and live in or near the water. Thus the fish, and the insects, except for
the ants.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For the undead - Regis is a vampire. His
province might be made up of skeletons, zombies, and ghouls.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Halflings would have slightly deformed beings
such as half-giants and dwarves some might be spearmen<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">faeries are fliers and magical. so their
province would be creatures that are magicians and beastmasters
regardless of their form.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">one change <o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">dog breath is now dickerbauch rundenase
(because he is a short stocky dwarf with a rounded nose <o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The story so far.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sitting Duck, a visually impaired fowl who
finds it difficult to do duck like things because of her poor sight, befriended
a cripple grasshopper on her way walking south for the winter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Grasshopper rides on top of her head and
helps her by seeing for her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">During their journey, they come across a
Crystal Pond. It turns out this body of water and crumbling castle are the
ruins of a province formerly ruled by a human warrior<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><ul type="disc" style="margin-top: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; color: maroon; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I don’t
remember anything about<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>human’s
having been the rulers.</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></li><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; color: maroon; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When you
say “Her presendce” I don’t know whether “Her” refers to the duck or the
previous human ruler.</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></li><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></ul><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: maroon; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">. Her presence is quickly detected and she
and grasshopper find themselves caught up in the drama of a kingdom made up of
several provinces, each run by a different type of creature.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At a meeting, Sitting is elected Monarch of
the realm, and now must solve the problem of the enemy kingdom, Silent Enigma,
that is bent on taking over the kingdom or destroying it if they don't
surrender.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In our last episode, Sitting gained the
respect of the other rulers by defeating the dragon sent by the enemy kingdom
as well as the army sent against her province.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But, what if she fails? Will the other rulers
turn on her? Does she have what it takes to rule a province and save a kingdom?<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A feast was held to celebrate the killing of
the dragon, and she learned much from the rulers that attended the party.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She has just been awakened by the Queen Bee
who brings urgent information about what has been happening.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1208 words<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Part Five<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bad to Worse<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Yesterday, late, We received a shipment
of 4183 Runes from Dark Legion in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Hades Legions</st1:placename></st1:place>
(1:48).<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We also received a shipment of 1,000
bushels from the Flatulent Legion in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Hades Legions</st1:placename></st1:place>
<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"You already know about our victory
against the Forces from gotar in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Silent Enigma</st1:placename></st1:place>. We have
been able to utilize many of the spoils captured in that battle. We were
wondering what you would like to do with the horses since we have no need for
them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"during the night, we received a total
of 100,000 Gold Coins, 2,000 soldiers, 277 Runes, and 50,000 bushels of grain
from various members of the kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"May 4th We detected five spell attempts
by Achlamar of Silent Enigma, causing trouble on our lands! To the best of our
knowledge, all attempts failed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Enemy thieves came during the night and
stole half of our stores including all the left over dragon meat before we
caught them. One of them talked. They were from Mroaden of Silent Enigma. <o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"It appears that Mroaden of Silent
Enigma may also be responsible for the vermin eating away our remaining food
supply. <o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We think Fens of Silent Enigma was
responsible for two fireballs which burned several acres of land and killed 989
peasants.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The school of fish created a mighty
hurricane to smother the flames. I regret to report that the lead fish and
several hundred of her subjects died in the operation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We detected two spell attempts by
Farius of Silent Enigma. We believe he is responsible for a storm that is
destroying our crops.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We contacted Dark Merlin. He wasn't
able to negate the storm spell, but he did manage to cast fertile lands on our
province. This should help to negate the effect of the storms.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What
do you mean by cast<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>fertile lands?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"That is the news since my liege
retired.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Also, the CBM is beeping. You have an
urgent message.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Thank you,” Sitting said, as she came out
from under the bed. Grasshopper took up his position, and they made their way
to the control room.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Indeed, the crystal ball was blinking and
emitting a chiming noise. Walking over to it, she stroked the base with the tip
of her wing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“You have 5 messages, my liege. Three are
new."<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Read message one.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"On April 24, at 15:00 we received this
note.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To the Honorable Queen Sitting Duck<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Please attend a meeting at my castle this
afternoon to discuss what to do about Silent Enigma.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Signed, Sir Dragon of Legacy of Dragons in
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Hades Legions</st1:placename></st1:place>."<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“That must be about yesterday's meeting. Read
number two.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"On May 1, YR2 at 4:00 we received this
note...<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To The Honorable Queen Sitting Duck<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A Queen after 2 kings?<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It looks like your kingdom doesn't know what
to do.... As you might have noticed, we're even getting bigger than you, and
the war meter hardly changes....<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What
is a war meter?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I'll give you some advice as a former king: Hit
that surrender button! It's better for your health, and that of your kingdom!<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Signed, Sir Fly the Rogue of Farius in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Silent Enigma</st1:placename></st1:place> "<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“You have one more new message.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Read it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"On May 8th, YR2, we received this
note...<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To The Honorable Queen Sitting Duck,<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At the moment we are 'building up' 2 of our
core attackers. If you don't want to be razed to the ground, along with your
KD, surrender.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What
is a KD?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Signed, The Humble Sir Taran of Spielburg of
Achlamar in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Silent Enigma</st1:placename></st1:place> "<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sitting recognized the names of two of the
messages as being from enemy provinces in the report from Queen Bee. <o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She hopped down from the chair and waddled
over to the window. When she pushed open the shutters, A thick smell of smoke
came through the window on the light breeze, making her cough. <o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The once beautiful forest with its tall
green trees is now mostly chard barren smoldering sticks,” said grasshopper.
“The pond is littered with ash and bodies of dead fish.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“And, The stores from the aid, battle, and
dragon are gone," Sitting said mournfully. “With the carrier Dark Merlin
made, we could just fly away. You could pull the visor down, and we would be
invisible. No one would see us leave. We could just go the same way we came.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We could do that," said
grasshopper.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Come to think of it, how did we get
here, anyway? Did you see anything different to show we were crossing into a
different world?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Grasshopper said nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Do you think we could get out the same
way? Could we fly south until we got out?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Grasshopper said nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But, she thought, what about the people here?
They were depending on her. They had sent her aid. They had helped her
understand about the land. Unlike her family who had abandoned her when she
couldn't keep up, they had helped her. At home, the other ducks had often
snatched up food before she could get to it. But, if she stayed, would she
survive? Would she be able to live up to their faith in her? What if she
didn't? Would they turn on her then?<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She turned toward the door to go down to the
pond.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Why don't we try flying down?" asked
grasshopper.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sitting stopped, and turned back to the
window. It was large enough for her to go through. She considered the idea.
“Okay,” she said, hopping up on the sill. Spreading her wings, she launched
herself into the air as grasshopper raised the shield on the carrier.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Instantly, her vision sharpened. She was able
to see the pond and the destruction around her land. For the first time in her
life, she experienced what it was like to see clearly. She flew directly <o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Was
the shield supossed to do that for her vision? <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">for the bank of the pond. Her bill dropped
open as she twisted her head first one way and the other looking at everything.
“I can see.” Fascinated she started looking all around. The edges of the
charred trees were sharp and clear. She could even make out the forms of the
dead fish floating on the surface of the pond. Then she looked up at the
clouds. They were so fluffy and light.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Grasshopper shifted his position to look
around the edge of the shield refocusing on the pond.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Look out!” <o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sitting snapped her head forward which caused
grasshopper to be looking to the side instead of at the pond. Grasshopper
shifted to face forward again in time to see the bank of the pond coming up to
quickly for them to avoid a clumsy three point landing. Sitting’s webbed feet
collided with the ground. The point of her bill struck the ground and sank
halfway down into the soft dirt. A small divot of dirt flew into the air as her
feet skidded and she flipped over landing on her back in the muddy edge of the
pond. <o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Oomph,” said Sitting, rolling over, shaking
out her feathers, and staring stunned at nothing in particular.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On impact, grasshopper shot out of the
carrier and flipping over, landed tail first in the mouth of a fish that poked
its head up at that moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Help!” yelled grasshopper. “I'm being
eaten.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To be continued<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">_______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></div>