“But that wasn’t what Faithful was going on about that.”
“He was talking about the spell that Alanna did to save me and when we used it with the Ysandir. It can end up killing me just for trying it.”
“The one for the Goddess?”
“Yes.”
The door opened quickly and Baird came in clearly displeased with Gary following behind him. Jon dropped his hand when Baird came in. “You can’t try that. There are other ways!”
“What other option is there? The shield is down but it’s too late to do anything else. Alan will die if we don’t try that. There’s been to much bleeding!”
“Let someone else do it then. You’ll die if you fail, as most do. Alan is the only person I have known or heard of in living memory to of performed it successfully.”
“I’ve done it before! The Ysandir were going to kill us if we didn’t try it. We heard her voice and she told us what to do. Alan’s done it for me. I’m not going to sit around and watch her die when I can do something that will save his life! Do you have the vervain?” Baird and Jon exchanged glares for several moments then Baird handed over a small packet of the herb and left.
Jon got up and emptied the packet’s contents into the fire. The fire quickly turned blue, the colour of Jon’s gift. He put his hands into the fire and murmured the spell he’d need to call the Goddess.
It is you again. What is wrong? She asked in his head. It was a voice that hurt.
“It’s Alanna, she is dieing and we can do nothing for her.”
“Who’s he speaking to?” Gary asked Raoul.
The Mother Goddess herself, Faithful told them.
“What do we do to help her?” Jon asked.
Go over to her and take her hand. I will see what’s wrong through you, she told him still in his head. Jon went over to the bed and took her hand. Gary and Raoul moved towards the door to keep out of his way, he was glowing.
Jon felt what the Goddess was doing not the results. He felt he was eavesdropping a conversation, and only hearing one end. He felt his mouth speak but had no control over what he was saying.
“You were supposed to look after her. That’s why I sent you here. To keep her safe, not to kill herself and whatever else.” It was Jon’s voice but it sounded different, more feminine and not quite human.
It wasn’t my fault she fell down 7 flights of stairs! When I got to her it was to late to do anything. Only you are able to do what needs to be done. He is coming I can feel it. The shield stopped her being able to have been healed. I know there is a need for there being a shield but not if it kills her, Faithful yowled angrily at the goddess, only Jon could hear what the cat was saying.
“Very well.” Jon stopped glowing. “Where did she go? She never helped Alanna!” Jon looked around the room suspiciously he could feel a great amount of power building. He sat down on the chair exhausted. When he thought he could stand it any longer there was a bright light.
And there she was the Great Mother Goddess herself. She was very tall, with long black hair, green eyes and very beautiful.
“She always has to get herself into trouble. Falling into frozen ponds, stairs and the Ysandir! I never had as much trouble from any of the others, but no as usual she has to be different,” she muttered going over to the bed. The woman sat down on the edge of the bed and put her hands above Alanna’s stomach. There was another white light as she examined what was wrong with her. A small frown crossed the woman’s face.
“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” she directed to the cat.
I would of thought you’d already know. I put a shield around the child to protect it. I don’t think she knows yet otherwise she would of told me and he certainly doesn’t know, he told her and only her.
The Goddess looked at what was happening inside her. She suffered heavy internal bleeding in her abdomen. Both of her kidneys were failing as was her liver and her spleen had ruptured. The child was also dieing and she’d have to hurry to save them without having to bring them back from the dead. She fixed the kidneys, liver and spleen back to what they were except with scarring and took away the blood that she had been bleeding.
The child was even worse of than Alanna. It had been hurt in the head when she had fell damaging parts of the brain. It would never survive if it was born even if she healed it they way she healed Alanna. The brain was just too damaged. The only way to save it was to put some of her energy into it. I am going to get in so much trouble, she thought. What she was about to do was going to get her into a lot of trouble with the other Gods. But I’m going to do it anyway she thought making her mind up.
The Goddess started streaming some of her essence into the child. It would change the child make it more god like but she would live. She was just about to go when she thought, when she finds out about this she’s going to run before she deals with Roger. I better do something.
She quickly put up a shield inside Alanna so that no one not even Alanna will be able to see or feel what is happening to her. That should do she thought.
“Alanna wake up!” she called softly. She undid what the young woman had done to make her sleep, so she didn’t feel the pain.
Alanna’s eyes slowly flickered open. “Where am I?”
“It’s alright. You’re in the infirmary. You fell down some stairs do you remember?” the Goddess asked smoothing her hair back onto the pillow, like a mother would.
“Yes, I remember. I tripped on one of the stones I think. I remember rolling down the stairs and then I stopped at the bottom and then some faces. I saw him again! Don’t let me go back there!” she said going even whiter and breaking out in a scared sweat. She started breathing even heavily than before letting some tears slide down her cheek. Jon moved to the side of the bed to comfort her.
When she saw him she sat up and hugged him tightly. “It’s so much different when you’re actually in the well. I was going down it so quickly! You never spoke about it and I didn’t realise how horrible it was to be there. It was bad enough being near it but being in it is so much worse!” she sobbed.
“Shh, you’re out now. It’s alright you’re alive, you’re alive,” he told her gently rocking her, his own voice catching in his throat at the thought of her being dead.
“I must go now. I have been gone too long and will get in trouble, even if it’s you,” she said standing up.
“Mother, when did you get here? Why are you here?” she said pulling away from Jon and wiping her eyes.
“I got here when you were dieing over there and you being you were being stubborn so no one but me could help you. You of all people should know what’ll happen if you go and die. Be more careful and don’t get hit in the stomach! I will speak to you both later. You are getting nearer to what we talked about last time. Be happy for doing it. Good-bye. Nice to meet the two of you,” she said directing the last comment towards Gary and Raoul in the corner. The two of them hastily bowed and when she looked back up she was gone.
Gary and Raoul both hugged her.
“That was interesting!” Gary said after several minutes. “What did she mean though?”
“What do you mean?”
“She said you were getting closer to what you talked about last time. That’s what I meant and what did she mean when she said that you of all people should know what’ll happen if you go and die?”
Everybody has some purpose in life, some more than others. She has not completed hers and she won’t fully complete hers for some time, Faithful told them.
“Are you talking weeks, months, years?” Alanna asked yawning.
Years, Faithful told them. (AN: italics don’t seem to work)
“I think that’s good to know. I know I’ll be alive in a few years,” she said brightly. They laughed. Jon sat down on the chair and leaned back exhausted.
“So what is her purpose?” Raoul asked.
I cannot tell you that. It is not my place. The only one I can tell is Alanna, Faithful told them.
“Then tell her so she can tell me!” Gary pleaded.
She could already tell you since she already knows some of it. I only know some of it myself and she knows the same, he told them calmly licking hid paws.
“What is it then Lanna?” Gary turned towards her.
“I don’t know,” she said feigning innocence. They saw right through her lie.
“You do so.”
“Alright I know what I’m supposed to do, but I can’t tell you. If I do I might turn up dead and in case you didn’t notice you’d get in a lot of trouble. Shouldn’t someone go say I’m alive?”
Raoul sighed and left the room.
“Is that what would happen?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve known what you’ve had to do for a long time haven’t you? How long?” he asked, realisation hitting Gary.
“About…” she paused thinking. “ six years.”
“What?” Jon said sleepily from the chair.
“You just go to sleep now. Thank you, I never had a chance earlier” she told him. It was during this that Duke Baird came in hearing all that she said and stopping Jon from replying in what he wanted to say.
He opened his mouth to say something but he saw the Duke. He swallowed and opened his mouth to say something that would be suitable infront of the Duke.
“ You would and have done the same for me. You’re one of my best friends, I wouldn’t and couldn’t stand by and watch you die, not when there was something I could do,” he said this looking her in the eye, telling her the unspoken words that he wanted to say if others weren’t there.
“Me too,” she said looking down before they turned and looked at the others in the room.
“Jonathan you should listen to him and go and rest. I am surprised that you haven’t collapsed yet. How are you Alan? You seem back to your usual self. I would expect you to be sleeping as well,” he told them looking from one to the other.
“I’m fine, almost never felt better.”
“You almost died 10 minutes ago,” he said in disbelief.
“Yes, you Grace, but I’m fine now. All healed.” She looked at Jon and stood up. “Swap,” she said helping him onto the bed and sitting on the chair.
“Let me check you over. I know what you’re like.” The Duke went over to her on the chair and knelt down. He took her arm and checked her over with magic. There was not one sign that there was anything wrong with her at all, which puzzled the Duke. The shield was still there though. “Who actually healed you?” he asked.
“The Great Mother Goddess herself,” Gary said in wonder.
“Your Grace, could you not tell any one please? About her healing me, could you say you did it?” she asked. He frowned at the request but nodded. Strange, but Alan always has been a bit of strange character. He’s a nice boy though, very smart, he thought.
“The shield is still there though.” At her look he continued, “ the one that stopped me form healing you in the first place.”
“What’s it like?”
“It’s a white barrier of light that my gift can’t get through. It shields your whole abdomen, which was where you were bleeding.”
She looked at Faithful then glanced back at the Duke. “I don’t know anything about that sir.” He nodded not believing Alan, but not saying anything about it.
“I have to go now, I have patients to see. I’ll leave you all here. It looks like someone needs his sleep,” he said looking at Jon asleep on the bed. The Duke got up and left the room closing the door behind him.
Raoul then went and hugged Alanna again, “I’m glad you’re alright. It was my fault you fell. You were talking to me walking backwards that’s what made you trip.”
“Nonsense it was me who tripped. You never pushed me did you? So it wasn’t your fault. If it was anyone’s fault it was mine I should have been more careful where I was walking.”
“Come on Raoul. We should leave them alone for a while. I’m glad you’re all right. What would we do without you?” he said tugging on Raoul’s arm before hugging her again. The two of them left leaving her with Jon.
She spent the night sleeping in the chair with him sleeping on the bed.
******************
Alanna woke with a start from the chair she was sitting on. I guess I was more tired than I thought, she thought looking round her. It was past noon she deducted by looking out the window of the small room in the infirmary. She had slept most of the night and morning she realised. She sat up straighter in the chair and looked down at Jonathan, expecting to see him sleeping. Instead she saw he was sitting up on the bed watching her with a small smile on his face. She smiled back at him, and then suddenly she hugged him.
He had thought she was all right now with what had happened but the strength in her hug betrayed her. “Shh, it’s alright now,” he soothed.
“I thought I’d never see you again,” she said silently sobbing. Jon looked down at her head and lifted her head softly with his hand and saw the tears streaming down her face.
“I thought when I saw you that you were dead. If it hadn’t been for the healer there working on you and then speaking to us, I almost wouldn’t have believed it. You were so pale and cold,” he faltered to stop himself from starting crying also.
“Don’t you ever do that again, do you hear me?” he told her sternly. “I was scared out of my wits. Thank the Goddess you’re alive. I love you. Let’s get out of this place it always reminds me of being ill. I think it has something to do with the smell.” Alanna chuckled at the last remark and dried her eye on her sleeve. She pulled away form Jon and stood up, helping him while she did that.
“Jon, thank you and….” She trailed off meeting his eyes. She looked down, “I love you too.”
Nothing much happened for the next few months leading up to Midwinter. There was the usual pranks played and Jon and Alanna’s friends’ girlfriends came and went. There was one thing that did happen though. It was that noticeable, but Alanna and Jon noticed it.
Alanna got more tired easily and her appetite had increased slightly. Jon was more protective of her, she caught him glancing at her more and more, and if she started to yawn he would think up an excuse to get her to rest.
Alanna was sitting thinking after being this after being told to go and rest and smiled. At least he’s treating me like a proper girlfriend I suppose. Although it is getting slightly annoying, I did ask for this so, I have only myself to blame. At least I get loads of sleep and peace. He gets so worried about me now. He did think that that’s not how I wanted to be treated.
It’s not so annoying I suppose it means he cares. I always knew he cared but he never showed it like that. I was always treated as a comrade more than his lover. I like the new way better. Especially all the presents and surprises I get now! She thought sitting on a window seat in her rooms. She had her favourite book out infront of her.
It was form Jon about Lady Knights and their great deeds. Jon had told her it would be her in a book like that one day. When he’s King if females aren’t allowed to train to be a knight then he’d make a proclamation. Alanna had laughed when he had said this when he had given her the book. She thought that his face was to serious when he said this and she was right because he started laughing along with her. Afterwards she thought about it and realised that that would be true. If by the time he became King and the feminine half of the nobles weren’t allowed to train as a knight then he would make a proclamation.
Female Knights, she sighed. That is one thing I cannot wait on. For there would be more than just her, providing she passed the Ordeal. The Ordeal, that made her nervous, and hungry, she thought. When she got nervous, she got hungry she discovered recently. She was gaining weight, she was getting closer to average now, instead of very skinny. Alanna thought drifting off to sleep.
Jon shaking her awake awakened her. “We have dinner now.”
“Oh, no. At least you get to sit down I have to serve people. It is so much worse for me than it is for you, you know? I have women trying to flirt with me, and lets not forget the glances and whispering and giggling. You had women doing that too, but at least you like woman in that way. Imagine that were you and they were guys! Can’t you make an excuse up for me, like I was sick or something?” she said sleepily. He started pulling her up out of the seat. He was laughing slightly at her complaining and the faces she was making at him.
“It’s not that bad. You have less than a month left and you are only saying this because you are tired. You never know I might have had men after me like that.” She laughed. “Think of it, you definitely have both genders after you. You have all the pretty ladies and you have me to name one after you. That should put a smile on your face. It’s also quite funny seeing them try to flirt with you and then seeing you try and get away.”
“You think you would get jealous, someone flirting with your girlfriend wouldn’t you?” she said snuggling into him looking up into his eyes.
“They aren’t the ones I get jealous of, and they are women. I don’t think I have anything to worry about there.” He kissed her swiftly. “Now go get ready. Trying to get me to give in like that. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.” His eyes twinkling merrily.
“Oh who knows? But me having to serve at dinner, you see you won’t be able to do anything because of that. Poor, poor little Jon, sleeping on his own tonight. My heart bleeds,” she pulled away grinning slyly. She turned to go and clean up when his arm snaked out and pulled her towards him.
He kissed her fiercely and then pulled back smiling, “ Can that change your mind?”
“It might. I think I need a little more convincing though.”
“Really?” he kissed her again. “Was that enough?”
“I’ll let you know later. For as you know I have to go to dinner now and slave away for a few hours.” She turned and went through to her own rooms to smarten up and then left.
At dinner…
Alanna was serving Jonathan who was sitting next to Gary and Raoul. She was speaking to them when she looked up and caught Roger looking at her curiously. She met his eyes across the room and they filled with hatred. Roger’s eyes met hers in hatred if not more so. He smiled and raised his glass to her and mouthed, soon. She looked away and shuddered. It’s cold in here, she thought. She knew she was lying to herself, but didn’t want to admit what Roger meant.
Jon looked at Alanna when he she didn’t reply to something Raoul said and saw her staring across the room at someone. He followed her gaze and saw Roger raise his glass then mouth, soon to her. He looked back at Alanna and saw her shudder.
He was looking at her when she turned back to the conversation Gary and Raoul had already carried on. She smiled at him then excused herself, saying she had to go back now.
Jon sat back thinking about what he had just seen. He always knew that Alanna and Roger didn’t get on but he was almost positive Alanna looked scared when Roger smiled at her. He could count the amount of times he has seen Alanna scared on one hand. But to be scared of Roger! He wouldn’t hurt her would he? He thought back through the years of all that had happened to Alanna. The many times she had almost died and hadn’t. Who would want to hurt her though? There isn’t any reason to hurt her is there? She’s just an ordinary squire apart form the whole female part. What has she has ever done that would want someone to kill her? The times she’s saved your life, a voice in his head told him. But why would she be afraid of Roger? What about when the two of you were at the oasis after the Ysandir, she tried to tell you about Roger trying to kill us and I never believed her.
What if what she said was true, and Roger did try to kill us, mainly me. But why? The throne, the annoying voice said again.
He stood up and told Raoul and Gary that he was going home. “Tell her, I’ll see her later.”
“Why you going?” Gary asked.
“I have some things to do for my father and I haven’t finished them yet.”
“Alright we’ll tell Alan where you’ve gone. See you tomorrow,” Raoul t old him.
“Where’s Jon?” Alanna asked some time later.
“He said he had some things to finish for his father and that he’ll see you later,” Gary told her.
“Alright, thanks.” Alanna turned from the two of them and left wondering what Jon had to do, for she knew that he didn’t have anything to do for his father.
********************
“Jon!” Alanna called out coming into their rooms. She looked around the main room and saw a candle on in Jon’s rooms. She went cautiously through the door going into his study. “Jon?” she called again. He wasn’t in here either and the light was coming from one candle on the table by the window. She went into the bedroom and found Jon lying in a chair asleep.
She smiled to herself and looked around for something to cover him. She went through to her room and brought a blanket from there. She wrapped him in the blanket and kissed him on the forehead.
Alanna left to lock the doors for the night and blow the candles out. Alanna got changed and got into bed in Jon’s room and fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.
She woke up about an hour later when she felt cold. She hugged the covers closer to her and rolled over. When she rolled over she found Jon next to her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. I thought knowing you you’d sleep,” he smiled and kissed her nose. She smiled.
“It’s alright. I get more sleep than I’ve ever had now than I did when I was a page. I’m not that tired now anyway.” She put her head on Jon’s chest and he wrapped his arm round her, playing with her hair.
“Really? Well that’ll give us sometime to talk, then won’t it? Since we get up too late and rush round like madmen or women and then we don’t really have time to talk during the day.” Alanna could tell he was nervous about something, she could feel how fast his heart was beating.
“What’s wrong?” she asked worried moving up onto one of her elbows.
“Nothing, nothing!” he pulled her back down towards him. “It’s strange how things turn out, isn’t it? Who would of thought this would happen when we first met?” she laughed.
“I would of thought that would be last on your list. Sleeping with your squire, my Lord Prince!” she said mock outraged. He chuckled. She had felt him get less nervous but now he was getting more so.
“Do you still hate Roger?” he felt her stiffen. * Wrong thing to say. Should of asked more subtly.*
“What makes you think I have ever hated him?” He could tell that she was getting defensive and angry. * All I did was ask her if she liked him. No you didn’t you asked her if she hated your cousin, who you’ve basically told her you worship. She’d tell me if she hated him, only if you ask though. She wouldn’t want to upset you, and she thinks that she might. You know she doesn’t like him and she must know that you know that. But will she tell the truth or say what she thinks won’t upset you? *
“Lanna, you must think I’m blind when it concerns you. I see the looks the two of you give each other. Neither of you can stand to be in the same room as the other! What about earlier tonight at dinner? You seemed terrified! Can’t you tell me?” he said getting upset.
“We can stand to be in the same room as each other. You have no idea what he’s like! You’ve forbidden me to say anything against him remember?” she said getting out of bed and taking the blanket from the chair and going to her own room, tears slowly flowing down her cheeks.
Jon waited a few moments and followed her to her room. She was lying on her side with her back to the door. He moved and sat down next to her on the bed. He put his hand on her shoulder. She shrugged it off quickly.
“Lanna, why’d you leave?” he said trying to catch her eyes. He saw that she was crying and gently stroked them away. She rolled over onto her back to speak to him.
“Because I’d end up saying something about him that would get you mad and you wouldn’t speak to me for days about it.”
“I’ve been wanting to ask you this for years but, well I didn’t really want to know the answer. Just in case what you said was true, but what made you suspect him? I mean there must have been more to what you said about the Ysandir, how he told me to go there.” She looked away. “Answer me, please?” he asked softly turning her head back to face him gently. Her eyes pleaded him not to let her answer it. “I need to know.”
She looked away and Jon thought she was going to refuse again. “It was during the Sweating Sickness, when you got sick everyone was saying if only Roger was here, he’s the only one who can save us all. Then I got a letter from Thom. He was saying that they had heard about it up at the City, and that there was speculation over who did it. They made a list. The list was three names long. Then when I met him, there was something about him. Thom also said that he is well known in the City about foiling young sorcerers careers, some never seen again. I remember when he called all of us into see him before we left for Persopolis and I remember him playing with that jewel and getting sleepy. I pinched myself to wake up and he was talking just to you and everybody else in the room was out of it then just seemed to snap back. Then there are lots of other suspicious things. He has us followed into the city and has Thom spied on. He had to act like a complete idiot so no one would expect him to be any good at magic.
Think about what Roger would gain with you dead in several years? You’re the only direct person in line to the throne then it goes to Roger doesn’t it? The third cousins don’t have as much of a claim as him. That would make him the new heir. Have you ever thought about it that way? He is trying to KILL YOU!” she hissed at him. He drew back stunned at what she had just said.
“If you’ve known that for almost 6 years then why haven’t you said something before?” She looked hurt at what he said thinking he didn’t believe her. But he was thinking it through and just wanting answers. He was only angry with her for not saying something earlier.
“Because you don’t just go around accusing one of the most powerful men in the world, who will make everybody think you are crazy and have you hanged for treason for accusing him. I don’t have any evidence, not proper, only things that have worn off and I’ve been the only witness sometimes. Do you really think they’d believe me, someone who talks to their cat and he’s the King’s nephew in case you’ve forgotten? Would they believe me apposed to him, who could put spells on their families, kill them, their families and make them all believe him anyway? He has basically admitted to me of wanting you dead. When he tried to get me on his side once,” she paused looking down away from him and fiddling with the edge of the blanket. He took her hands and pulled her up into a sitting position and lifted her head to look at him.
“What happened?”
“He asked if we were friends, I stupidly told him no, then he asked if we were enemies. I asked him to tell me. He knew I suspected him but neither of us had ever come out and said it. How could we without me ending up dead? He’s tried but it’s never succeeded. He said he could be a very good friend. But I said, I had no wish to make him my enemy; I want to die old asleep in my bed. Which I do. He said I could get that if we were friends and many things could be mine. I asked him if I could get the same reassurance that my other friends could have the same chance and that I doubted that was his aim. He shrugged after a while and said, “I see. Thus, as long as you feel this way, we will be…” I told him less than friends. Then after a few more minutes of talking, he left and the fog came up and then that’s when they got me and I woke up on the other side of the river.”
“We have to tell my parents! I’ll kill him!” he said jumping up of the bed. She grabbed his arm and pulled him back down to sit.
“Don’t you see you can’t? There isn’t any evidence. He’s too clever to leave evidence lying around. Everyone loves Roger do you think they’d believe us? They might believe you but if I hadn’t said anything would you of ever thought of him doing something like that?”
“No, I don’t suppose I would have. I just wanted to know about why you and Roger didn’t like each other. I only know why you don’t like Roger. Why doesn’t he like you?”
“He doesn’t like me because, you would of died during the Sweating Sickness wouldn’t you?”
“Yes, if it wasn’t for you. Oh, you saved my life. I should have died and he would have been next in line.”
“It wasn’t only the Sweating Sickness, there’s the Black City, if it was just one of us we would of died. Then there’s Drell.”
“Drell?”
“Come on, do you think that they attacked your forces was just a coincidence when Roger was in charge?”
“I didn’t even think of that.”
“He’s clever. He planned on getting command of the troops. Duke Gareth’s horse had a very prickly bur in his horse’s blanket. What horse wouldn’t rear or act up, and with the girth not very tight?”
“There must have been more than that to suspect him? There is isn’t there?”
“Yeah. I always send letters through George; I know that no one would know that I send Thom messages that way. He told me that several people there watch him. I sent a verbal message to him, thank the Gods it was verbal. He was found dead by the side of the road, 5 poisoned arrows in his back, his things searched and strewn on the side of the road. Then when I went to see Thom myself, on the way back George and I were attacked. One of the attackers said that I wasn’t meant to be hurt. I was to be taken alive. They were told to get me and kill George. He started clawing at invisible hands at his throat, and then he died. When I looked to see what magic was being used it was orange, a colour I’m familiar with, Roger’s.”
“How’d you know what colour the magic was?” she took of her ember stone and handed it to him.
“When I hold it I can see magic. Watch.” She looked around her and saw that one of her books was on her table. She reached out with her magic to get it to come towards her. The book flew to her outstretched hand. “Do you see it?”
“Yes. Where did you get this?”
“I told you before it was a present.”
“Yes, I remember but who gave it to you and how long have you had it?”
“Since I was 14 and the Goddess gave it to me.”
“When-wait! When she said you know your destiny, Roger?”
“He’s part of it and so are you.”
“Me? What have you got to do?”
“Yes, you are the person Roger is trying to kill. And you mustn’t be killed, not just talking as a friend but for Tortall. Expose Roger; defeat Roger, both of them probably. I don’t know exactly.”
“What else?”
Remember me falling through the ice? That was deliberate. Then there was Demon Grey he was orange as well. Then there’s Alex.”
“What about Alex?”
“He has changed so much since becoming Roger’s squire. You must have seen that?”
“Haven’t we all changed since becoming squires?”
“ Remember when I broke my collar bone? We were fencing one day, just the two of us there. There wasn’t even Faithful. He gave me a deep scratch on my thigh, I told him to be careful but he didn’t answer then we went body-to-body, trying to knock me over.” Jon winced, knowing that that would have been hard for her.
“I got out of the body lock and let my temper get away with me, I hit him with the flat of my sword on his cheek. I told him sorry and he brought his sword back up and he was smiling, and not in a nice way. He whispered to me that I should guard. I didn’t want to play anymore so I lunged hoping that that would end it. Our swords locked and he pushed me to the ground this time. I rolled away and his sword chipped the wood an inch away form my head. If you had seen his face you would know what I meant. His eyes were very bright and his smile was very nasty. I jumped up and he got me a good one in the ribs so I gave him another one back. I brought my sword down to my side and told him to stop that something was wrong. I just got my sword up in time, the amount of sparks that came off. He brought his sword above his head and was going to hit my skull but I moved and he got my collarbone. I heard the bone snap and fell to my knees. He knew I was hurt, I cried out. I brought his sword up and he was going to kill me I knew he would, break my neck.
“If it wasn’t for Myles just then, he would of. He dropped the blade and turned round to Myles. Myles pointed out that I was hurt and when Alex turned round to look at me the smile was gone and he looked concerned. Myles told me that he was trying to kill me and I told him he’s been my friend for years.”
“I swear next time I see him!” he said getting up and pacing angrily.
“No, you can’t! You have to act like how everything was yesterday. You can’t act on anything I’ve told you, just like I can’t act on anything I know.”
“But they’ve both tried to kill you!”
“And Roger’s tried to kill you, me, your father, mother! You need evidence! Which we don’t have! If there’s evidence then they can’t doubt it and ignore the facts, but if there isn’t evidence then he could make up some story about being jealous or something. You’ve only seen his good side until now you would still of continued seeing it, but they still see it. If we accuse him he’d probably challenge us and kill us. There would be doubt and dislike now but it wouldn’t be enough. You know how court works and that would be what would happens, unless there is proof.”
“It’s going to be hard since every time I see them I’ll want to just go up to them and hit them.”
“I want to do that all the time, that or run away.”
“I still can’t believe that Roger is trying to kill me.” Alanna hugged him.
“Ah, well get used to it.” She told him smiling. He laughed softly.
“This shouldn’t be a laughing matter,” he said while she came and sat on his knee.
“ But it is. Just imagine their faces if you just walk up and hit them in the face. Or if you run up behind them and push them in the lake and then run and hide so you can see them looking round trying to see who did it.” He laughed.
“What about a pile of manure?”
“That would work to.” She looked at the candle clock and saw that it was about 2 o’clock now. “We should get some sleep. It’s 2 o’clock!” She sat up and took his hand and slowly walked back through to Jon’s room.
The next day after Alanna’s lessons, Gary, Jon, Raoul and her were going riding when they saw Roger. They were standing outside the stables waiting for Raoul to finish saddling his horse. They had hid his horse’s bridle and he had only just found it.
The three of them were laughing about Raoul and him scowling at them. Alanna looked up and saw him. She stopped laughing, Jon saw she was looking at something; he followed her gaze and saw Roger.
“Remember, manure!” Alanna muttered barely moving her lips. Jon burst out laughing and smiled at Roger. Roger waved and carried on walking away from them. Jon stopped smiling and glared at Roger’s back for a few moments until Raoul came out the stables.
“I hate him,” Jon whispered in her ear while going round to his horse’s side to mount up.