"Mika!" shouted Luka as he heard the sounds of a crash from above. He charged up the stairs, somehow certain that Mika was in danger.
+++++++++++++++++++
Robin got to the rock first, then hesitated, His new personality had been programed to be submissive to mighty warrior women, not squeaky-voiced stableboys. He handed the rock to Lyra, then curtsied. "Have I pleased you, mistress?" he murmured, eyes downcast.
Lyra was locking the rock, which clearly had a will of its own and wasn't very happy about the prospect of returning to the treasury of the goddess, in a metal box with magical bars. She turned to look at Robin. "You know" she said "I could use a squire, a nice one who knows how to follow orders."
Marge stamped his foot in frustration.
++++++++++++++
Tobi laid her hands on her unconscious friend. She felt the energy coming from her hands into the body of Amber, frenetically repairing the organs and nerves damaged by the demonic poision, Beside her Mika worked frantically to stabilize Amber long enough for Tobi to heal her.
"Hush, daddy" said Shari. "Can't you see Tobi's busy?" And the Duke stopped badgering the indifferent Tobi as to her political plans. Extraordinary, he thought, about how all the real power seems to be in the hands of little girls.
++++++++++++++++
And reality, battered by the latest wave of transformations and magical battles, took another lurch. Audrey, Ander, Jak and Zoanna, along with the dragon-teeth warriors, looked on as the castle transformed itself into a gigantic tree, its rooms now clearings among the branches.
"What the hell" thought Luka, as he discovered that he was no longer charging up a flight of stairs but climbing a tree.