----
“Well done.” said a voice that Alanna recognized. “You’re behaving just as I had hoped you would. But there is just one thing-“
Alanna rolled over and swung herself out of bed, in a way that would’ve made Duke Baird shocked. “Who are you?” she yelled, seeing the same unimaginably tall lady that had come to her when she had first left the convent.
“Oh Alanna,” sighed the woman. “Have you not worked it out yet? Maybe it is a good thing that I came today. I don’t normal visit my Chosen Ones so frequently, but I believe you have some things I need to advise you on.”
Suddenly, it dawned upon Alanna. “You… you can’t be, can you? Why have you come to me?”
“As I said before, you are a Chosen One. I have plans for you. But enough of this, we must talk about Duke Roger. Sit down girl, you’re wearing yourself out.”
“My mother,” started Alanna hesitantly. “I don’t know what I’ve done to make him so suspicious of me…”
“You do know. You just don’t want to admit it. It’s because Prince Jonathan is in love with you.”
“He’s not!” retorted Alanna, but seeing the Goddess’ sceptical look, she gave up. “And even if he is, why would that bother Duke Roger?”
“Who is next in line for the throne, after the King?”
Alanna chewed her lip. “Umm… the Queen, then Jonathan, and then- it’s Duke Roger! Now I understand! He wants the throne, and if, as you seem to think, Jonathan is in love with me, I might be a threat to him. He doesn’t want Jonathan to have children.” Alanna grimaced. “I’m not going to have children with the heir to the throne! What’s he on about?”
“You may not understand now, but Roger has obviously seen the way that Jonathan looks at you, as have many people at court.”
“So that’s why he tried to search my mind…” said Alanna thoughtfully. “To see if I was in love with the Prince!”
“Yes. And if he had found out that you were-“
“Which I’m not!”
The Goddess nodded, a slight smile on her lips. “If he had discovered that you were in love with the Prince, he would have made every effort to get rid of you.”
Alanna gasped. “But he didn’t find out, so what’ll he do now?”
“I don’t know exactly what is on his mind, although I have an idea. It would be against principle for me to tell you, but I will give you a warning. Beware of those close to Roger. Beware.”
Just as Alanna was going to answer, the Goddess placed a hand on her shoulder, and whispered, “Love will come, my Daughter. Even if you don’t want it to.” And she was gone, leaving only a very thoughtful Alanna to show that she had ever been there.
----
“So you think I made a mistake by using magic?” Alanna said to Thom, her voice rising in anger. From the doorway, Duke Baird whispered a word, and flames leapt up around all the walls of his large office.
“Now we can talk properly.” he smiled.
Thom glanced at the Duke, and nodded. “As I was saying, Alanna, I do think you were a little bit hasty in using your Gift. You could’ve waited until you were sure of what he was doing!”
Alanna sighed in exasperation. “Thom, it was perfectly obvious what he was doing! He was trying to search my mind, and my immediate reaction was to use that spell!”
“Couldn’t you have used a spell that was a little less powerful?”
“He wasn’t using just any mind-searching spell! He was using an extremely powerful one, and the only spell I know to fight him off with was that one.” Alanna gritted her teeth, attempting not to lose her temper.
“Alanna, it’s not my fault. Remember, I haven’t had such a good magical education as you have.”
“And whose fault was that? You were the one that chickened out!” Alanna stopped, seeing Duke Baird’s confused look.
The Duke watched the two young twins, and decided he didn’t like the way this conversation was going. Alanna’s face had gone the same colour as her hair, and she looked as though she was going to leap at Thom.
“Now then, you two. The real reason that I called you both here was to discuss what Duke Roger is up to. I’m sure you both agree that there’s something suspicious going on. What we need to try and find out is exactly what.”
“I think I might know….” began Alanna. “But it’ll probably sound a little outrageous at first, so hear me out.” She went on to tell her twin and Duke Baird what the Goddess had suggested to her, missing out some little details, such as that Jonathan appeared to be in love with her.
Duke Baird frowned. “Radical in the extreme, but it all fits. Jonathan does seem to like you a lot-“ Alanna flinched, but said nothing. “-And I’ve always noticed that a little too many near-death accidents do seem to happen in our royal family. I’m the only person who notices though. The only person who believes that Roger is anything but a hero. Until now.” He smiled at Alanna and Thom. “I have to go to a meeting now, but hopefully we can talk more later. We must all keep an eye out. And do be careful. Alanna, I don’t think Duke Roger will be very happy about you not letting him search your mind.”
And he was very right.
----
“Lady Alanna. How nice to see you back. I trust that you have returned to full health?” Queen Lianne asked. Alanna noticed that the Queen’s normally attractive face was pale and thin, and that her blue eyes were filled with something that looked like pain. As she answered, she used her Gift, invisibly, to see if she could see what was wrong.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I am feeling much better. I don’t know what came over me,” she lied, “But it has passed now. I’m very happy to be back.”
The Queen nodded, and Alanna curtsied, biting her lip. She descended down on to the ballroom floor, not realising quite how worried she was looking. The Queen was very, very ill. To any trained healer, it was obvious to see that she had typhoid fever. Alanna looked around, wondering if Jonathan, or Duke Baird, had noticed.
She didn’t have time to ponder it, because Jonathan soon came and took her arm.
“Lady Alanna, would you care to dance?”
She rolled her eyes, but nodded, allowing him to lead her on to the dance floor. She didn’t have the heart to ask him about his mother; not when he was looking so happy.
“Would you like a drink, milady?” asked a familiar squire, appearing at Alanna’s elbow as she took a rest.
“Thanks, Thom.” she grinned. Quickly, she took a drink, and looked around to check that no one nearby was listening. “Have you noticed?” she jerked her head up to the platform where the Queen sat, whispering something into the King’s ear.
“Yes.” her twin glared at Duke Roger, who was conversing with Lady Delia and Prince Jonathan. “D’you think it’s anything to do with him?”
“I’m not sure. Everything seems to be happening too fast, and you’d think he’d be more subtle if he was trying to steal the throne, wouldn’t you?”
Thom shrugged, seeing a young knight approaching. “Enjoy the rest of your night, sister dear. I’ll talk to you later.” He hurried off through the crowd of nobles, and disappeared from sight.
“Good evening, Lady Alanna.” smiled Alex of Tirragen. “May I have this dance?”
Alanna looked up into the knight’s handsome dark eyes, and put down her drink. “Goddess, if anyone else asks me to dance, I think I’ll scream!”
“Oh yes, but you will dance, won’t you, seen as it’s me?”
Alanna shook her head, smiling, but allowed him to lead her away.
Across the other side of the room, Jonathan bowed to Delia, but walked up to sit on the platform where his parents sat. He was sick of Delia’s boring talk. She did, he had to admit, look beautiful, but Alanna was just as pretty, and her talk was far more amusing. He looked around to find her…. There she was, dancing with Alex, laughing; deep in conversation. His sapphire eyes narrowed.
----
“You were flirting with her!” Jon snapped, eyes fiery. It was the following day; he, Alex, Gary, and Raoul were walking down to the practice courts. It was cold, and their breath rose in little frosty spirals, carried up to the grey-blue January sky. Midwinter festival was over, and for the young knights, it was back to their training routine. ‘We train in the morning, we dance in the evening,’ as a young knight once said.
Alex turned to the Prince. “Worried?”
“No.” Jonathan smiled sarcastically. “It’s not like you’re a threat or anything, as she obviously likes me the most, but I just thought I’d warn you.”
“Of what?”
“Don’t get involved with Alanna, all right?”
“And why not? It’s not as if she belongs to you.” Alex’s eyes remained totally free of emotion.
“She might as well do. You know, just as well as I do, that that’s the way court life works, Alex.”
“You can’t always get all the pretty girls, Jon. Just because you’re the heir. You have to give us a chance.”
“I do not get all the pretty girls! I just happen to like Alanna a lot, for your information.”
“Maybe I do as well.” Alex’s glared at the Prince. “Maybe she likes me too.”
Gary put a hand on his cousin’s shoulder. “Jon… don’t get annoyed.”
Jonathan shook Gary’s hand away. “I don’t think so.”
“You’re just jealous. You can’t face that the girl you’re in love with doesn’t love you back. You’re not often let down, are you?” Alex sneered.
“Say that on the practice courts.” hissed Jonathan, drawing his sword and pointing it at Alex, who smiled. Here, he was in his element. He was the best fencer at court.
“Are you challenging me?!” he laughed.
Jonathan went bright red, and his eyes flashed. “Yes, Alex of Tirragen. I am challenging you.”
Alex was about to reply, when a female voice, filled with venom, spoke. “I couldn’t help overhearing everything you two just said, and no doubt half the court will’ve heard too. Is it custom to yell at each other so that the whole of Corus can hear you?”
The two men turned, to see Alanna of Trebond standing and glaring at them. They couldn’t help but shudder. They’d both heard about Alanna’s temper from her twin, and the look on her face told them that she was not happy with what she had just heard.
----
“Ah.” said Jonathan, eying the murderous looking Alanna nervously, and bowing. Alex followed suit.
Alanna curtsied, as was the custom, but her eyes continued to blaze, and any observant onlooker would’ve seen the steam rising from her ears.
“What gave you the right?” she hissed. “To think that either of you could talk about me as if you owned me?”
“Alanna,” interrupted Gary, trying to defend his friends. “All court men talk about women like that. It’s the way it’s been for centuries!”
“Well maybe it’s time you noblemen started talking about us as if we were real people, instead of toys which are there only for your pleasure and amusement!” She turned to Jon and Alex. “As if I would take any interest in either of you! Not when you think of my feelings as if they don’t matter!”
Alex stepped forward, and kissed Alanna’s hand. “Lady Alanna, I assure you that your feelings are of the utmost importance to me, and that-“
“-It’s a little late for flattery now, Alexander of Tirragen.” she said, removing her hand. “And as for you, Prince Jonathan, do you think that because you are royalty, you can talk of young ladies like they don’t matter?”
Jonathan turned red. “I do no such thing!”
“Oh really?” Alanna said, raising her delicate eyebrows. “I would’ve thought that knights such as yourself were taught not to lie to a lady.”
“And do the convents in City of the Gods teach girls to be sluts?” asked Jonathan, voice icy.
Raoul, Gary and Alex held their breath, waiting to see what Alanna would say next. It didn’t seem likely that she would take being called a ‘slut’ very well.
She took a deep breath, knowing that what she was about to say was not sensible, especially in front of the Prince. “Well, Your Highness. I beg to differ! It’s common gossip at the convent, that Prince Jonathan thinks nothing of sleeping with a young lady, and then abandoning her with a broken heart! There’s absolutely no way that I’m going to let you do that to me. I hardly think that you have business calling me a slut!”
She turned on her heel and marched up the hill to the palace, feeling not a bit guilty that she had just yelled at the heir to the throne. In fact, she was feeling guilty about not having yelled at him enough.
----
“I heard about your argument with Alanna.” sniggered Thom. Jonathan was sat, staring moodily out of the window of his bedchamber.
“Who told you?” snapped Jon, turning abruptly round.
“Gary. Why?”
Jon turned round again, and sank back into his original state of gloom. “I just don’t want it going round the court that a girl several feet shorter than me scared me, and my friends, to death by yelling at me. I’d be the laughing stock!”
Thom chuckled. “Yes… people who don’t know Alanna would find it hilarious that she scared a group of full-grown knights!”
Jon frowned. “What you mean?”
“Well, people like me, who know her well, can believe that she scared the life out of you. I have to admit, she is scary when she gets mad. You should see her when she runs towards you holding a dagger!”
“She can use a dagger?!” Jon said, disbelievingly.
“Of course! Our manservant, Coram, taught us both. Only she was better than me. Much better. She should’ve been the boy.”
Jon smiled. “Anything else she can do that I don’t know about?”
“She can shoot. Scarily well, for a young lady.”
“I would laugh. You’ve just admitted that your sister is better at you at the manly arts, and that she scares you when she’s angry. I’m not going to, because I’ve just experienced her wrath at first hand, and it scared me!”
Thom grinned. “And have I told you about what happened when we were going to switch places?”
Jon sat down next to Thom. “Come on! Tell me!”
----
Alanna, unaware that her childhood adventures were the cause of much amusement between the Prince and her brother, gloomily strung her bow, and raised it to the target. She wanted to be on her own for a while, to hide from everything that was expected of her. She had hated the convent, its strict rules, and high, grey walls. In fact, she’d hated it so much that she had almost been glad to come to Corus. But, like a storm cloud above her head, hung the fact that she was here to find a husband. She thought it was awful that, from the moment a girl was born, her parents worried about who she would marry, and about her dowry. Alanna had been luckier than some: up until the age of ten, she had had freedom. She could run around Trebond as she wished, and no one cared…. no one minded. The convent had been a totally new experience for her… caged in, alone, and never ever free to do as she pleased.
She always stood out. Wherever she went, people were shocked by the things she did and said. ‘She’s had her own way to much, that’s her problem.’, was what the Daughters said, when they thought she couldn’t hear them. It was hard for her, to be so different, and to stand out so much. But it hadn’t mattered then. She hadn’t cared so much about what the other young convent ladies thought of her, and had ignored their whisperings and laughter. Now, most people hadn’t noticed that she hated being a girl. Most people thought of her as just another brainwashed convent girl, with no mind of her own, and no love of independence. But then there were those few, her twin, Jonathan and some of his friends, Mari… they all knew that she was totally the opposite.
The arrow hit the target, and she turned back to the palace, thinking to go back in and find Tanwen. Then she remembered that Tanwen had gone back to Goldenlake until the next ball season. Most of the Midwinter balls and festivals at the palace were over now, and many young ladies were going back to their home fief for the spring.
She gazed up at the flags and pennants above the palace. As if mocking her, the Trebond flag flew among the depleted numbers left, to show that she was in residence. She was to remain at the palace with Thom, until she found herself a husband. Her father didn’t want her home, and the convent certainly didn’t want her back there. Soon Mari would be leaving, and going back to the City of the Gods.
Evreyone’s leaving me, she thought glumly. Tanwen won’t be back until the Summer Solstice. She glared at the palace, willing it to disappear. It didn’t.
“Lady Alanna?” a man’s voice said softly, making her jump.
“What?” she snapped, turning round, and to her surprise and annoyance, coming face to face with Alex of Tirragen.
“I was just wondering if you were alright.” he said. “You’ve been out here for ages.”
“I’m hardly going to tell you!” she replied. “I’m surprised you even care.”
“Look, Alanna..” he started, hesitantly. “I want to apologise. I was stupid, and-“
Alanna stared at him. Was she hearing this?
----
Jon laughed. “Thanks Thom. That certainly cheered me up a bit.”
“No problem. I just dread to think what my dear sister will say when she finds out what I’ve told you.” he grinned. “It’s not something she likes people to know.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell.” chuckled Jon. “I’d better go. Duke Roger wants to show me something. Mithros knows what.”
He hurried off, leaving Thom smiling to himself.
----
He leaned over to kiss her, taking her so much by surprise that she almost fell over.
“What in the name of the Goddess are you doing?” she cried.
Alex looked uncomfortable. “I apologised so I could do that.” He took her hand in his, and shocking herself, she didn’t remove it.
“Please, Alex. Not here… anyone could see. And did I say anything to suggest that I wanted this?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Do I have to answer that?”
She looked away. “No. In fact, please don’t.”
He kissed her again. “Not so bad, is it?” he murmured.
She blushed. “It was terrible. Now please go away and leave me to burst into tears.”
“You? In tears?” he laughed. “I don’t think so.”
“Does everyone in this palace know me so well?” she smiled. “Go, before I do burst into tears.”
He did, leaving her wondering what had just happened, and why.
He was in the palace by the time she noticed the piece of folded paper lying on the ground. He must have dropped it. She picked it up and placed it in her dress pocket. She’d give it to him later.
----
A week. One bloody week since he kissed her. She hadn’t spoken to him since, and she wasn’t planning on it. Why did he kiss me? The question ran through her mind, each considered answer becoming a little sillier. She thumped her pillow, decided on “He didn’t kiss you, it was a figment of your imagination,” and went downstairs to breakfast.
Yet another tedious palace day. She hardly knew how she had occupied herself in the last week… walking around the frosty gardens, wrapped up against the cold, finding new and interesting ways to avoid her admirers, Alex, and the Prince. There were no balls at this time of year, just weeks of waiting for the first snowdrops to arrive; the first sign of spring. Well, saying that there were no balls would be incorrect. About once a month there was a masquerade, ‘just to keep the remaining nobles happy’. One was coming up in short while, and Alanna knew that she would be required to attend. And, if he wasn’t away on border patrol, Alex would be there too.
----
Three weeks later
“M’lady? You do know that the masquerade is tonight, don’t you?” Mari reminded, checking her baggage for the last time, just to make sure that her gowns were folded neatly. She was leaving today, to go back to the convent. She would arrive again around summer, bringing with her another young lady from City of the Gods.
“What?” Alanna gasped. “There is? Oh, I knew that.”
“Have you anything to wear?”
“No!” Alanna wrung her hands, for the first time in her life. “I’ll have to go into the market and have one made today.”
“Would you like me to come with you, Alanna?”
“Mari! I’m quite capable of finding a dress for myself. You have to leave this morning if you want to get to a decent inn tonight!” snapped Alanna.
“Right, dear. Look,” Mari scribbled down something on a piece of parchment. “Here’s the address of a dressmaker that makes good frocks in a very short time. It’s not the busy season, she’ll probably be able to make you one up today.”
“Thanks. What would I do without you?” smiled Alanna, taking the piece of paper, and noticing that the address was near the Dancing Dove. “But I’m going to have to do without you. You’re going back.”
She tried to hide the tears that were seeping down her cheeks. Mari was the nearest thing to a mother that she had ever had, and now she was leaving her.
“Don’t worry, child.” Normally Alanna would have protested at being called a ‘child’, but now just wasn’t the time.
“Farewell, Lady. Gods all bless.”
Alanna choked. “So mote it be. I’ll see you in summer.” she whispered, giving Mari a swift embrace. “Come and see me when you arrive.”
Mari wiped a tear from her eye, and waved, departing for the stables. Alanna shook her head, and slowly turned back into her room.
“Now what? Ah yes. A gown.” she kicked herself for crying in front of someone else, even if it was Mari, and reached for her cloak. “And I’ll go and see George while I’m in Corus.”
----
Alanna entered the door of ‘Mrs R Treece- dressmaker’ just as the woman she presumed to be Mrs Treece was hanging a new piece of silvery material in the shop window.
“Morning, m’lady!” she smiled, bobbing into a curtsy. “May I ‘elp?”
Alanna glanced at the material in the window, thinking how pretty it was. “Yes please. I’d like a gown made for this evening.”
“This evening?” The woman frowned thoughtfully. “I think we should be able to manage that. You show me the material you like, and I’ll take your measurements. It should be ready by this afternoon, if all goes well.”
Alanna nodded politely, and wandered around, looking at all the different fabrics.
Ten minutes later, she wandered out into the street, with instructions to return later that day. She decided to go and visit George, not for the first time in the past few weeks. Palace life was tedious, and Alanna and the King of Thieves had become firm friends.
“Morning Solom!” she smiled to the old man behind the bar. “Is George around, do you know?”
“If you go and sit down over there a minute, young un, I’ll go and fetch him.”
Alanna sat in window seat, watching people wander by in the street outside. Mothers dragging their children along, gripping baskets… street urchins, creeping stealthily along the street, and the odd nobleman, all going about their business.
“Alanna!” came that familiar lilting voice. “I haven’t seen you for a while. How fare you?”
Solom placed a jar of lemonade between them, as Alanna replied. “Not too bad. I have a gods-cursed masquerade this evening, though.”
She always found herself telling George everything. He was such a good listener, and she felt like he understood everything she said. After a while, George asked about Duke Roger.
“I just don’t know about him,” Alanna sighed, violet eyes studying the floor. “One minute it’s obvious he’s up to something… the next…” she waved her hands in the air. “I feel like I’m the only one who doesn’t worship him. Most of the courtiers love him- they all find him so charismatic. I have no idea why.”
“Maybe they’re not worshipping him, as you put it, of their own will.” George murmured.
“You don’t think… a spell?”
“I’m only an uneducated city boy, but I think it could well be. What I can’t understand is, why he hasn’t put you under one as well, if he’s using one at all.”
“My Gift?” she asked.
“Perhaps. But not everyone has the means to fight him, do they?”
“No. But there are some very powerful mages at court.” Alanna frowned. “If he is using a spell to hide whatever he’s up to, why haven’t the mages realised it yet… and why aren’t I under a spell? I’m not the only healer at court, so why is it that no one else seems to have noticed that the Queen is…” she stopped, wishing she hadn’t said anything.
“What’s wrong with the Queen?” George looked her in the eye, his face serious.
“She has typhoid. It’s blatantly obvious to me! I just can’t understand how she can have caught it. There hasn’t been a bout of it for years, and it normally spreads from person to person… so how can just the Queen have developed it?”
“You can tell you’re a healer.” he laughed. “None of my spies have told me of this- they normally tell me of all the goings on up at the palace. I wish I could see what you speak of for myself.“
Alanna had an idea. “George, that’s it! If you could come to the palace, and see all the evidence with your own eyes, you could help me work it out, right?”
“Yes, but… Alanna, what are you talking about?”
“The masquerade- tonight! Her Majesty will be there, as will Duke Roger! You can mix with the nobles, and find out what you can far better than I ever could! And no one will recognise you under a mask.”
George shook his head. “Tonight?”
“Please George. You know how important this is. Roger’s next in line after the Prince, and he knows it. If he gets rid of the royal family, it’s his perfect chance to claim the throne. We can’t let that happen. He’s a crook- he’d reign with an iron fist. And besides, Jonathan is next in line. It’s not honourable that anyone else should get the throne apart from him!”
“I know that. But there are other ways to find out what’s going on. You’re doing pretty well by yourself. I’m the most wanted man in Corus, Alanna. If I was spotted by my Lord Provost, it’ll be the noose for me, make no mistake. You don’t want that to happen, do you?”
“George! Of course I don’t. What a stupid question to ask me!”
“Well then. I’ll send one of my most trusted to have a look, another day. You can find out plenty without me.”
Alanna glared at him. “You know I can’t. But I understand that it might be too much of a challenge for you. I’ll just have to find out by myself.” She rose, smoothing her skirts. “I have to go now. I’ll see you later.” She dropped a few coins on the table for the lemonade, waving at Solom as she walked past the bar.
Anyone who thought that Alanna would never give up that easily was right. As she left, she muttered, just loud enough for George to hear. “And there was I thinking the King of Thieves was a master of disguise, and scared of nothing.” She left with a broad grin on her face.
George shook his fist at her, but those words had struck home. After all, he was the King of Thieves. What was to stop him from helping a friend in need?
----
Alanna picked her new dress, and a mask that the dressmaker had made as well, leaving behind much thanks and several gold nobles. She made her way up Palace Way, through the Temple district, wondering if her little plan would work. She had to find out what Duke Roger was up to, and when.
Look at me, she thought, a smile in her violet eyes. What would Mari say? She’s only been gone a couple of hours, and I’m already getting myself into trouble!
----
Alanna marched, as gracefully as she could, into the small ballroom used for less important parties. She looked lovely in her silver, sparkling gown. Her mask was white, with silver sequins sewn into the edges, and her hair was tied back into a bun, in an attempt to hide who she was. After all, that is what a masquerade is all about. She looked round the room, not seeing anyone she knew. This was hardly surprising, but a little off-putting all the same. She hid in a corner for a while, warming herself on a nearby log fire. She hated the cold.
It wasn’t long before a man approached her, also wearing a mask. She didn’t recognise him at all, but when he spoke, there was something vaguely familiar about his voice.
“Lady Alanna?” he asked. “Are you all right? You’ve been over here for a while.”
“I’m well enough, kind sir,” she said, addressing him in the way that she had been taught at the convent. “Don’t trouble yourself over me.”
“Oh, but it is no trouble.”
“May I ask your name?” she said, already able to predict the answer, or lack of.
“But that would defeat the object!” he grinned. “I know your name, but only because those charming violet eyes give you away.”
She wanted to kick him.
“Will you dance?”
She rose, smiling at him. He was a little discourteous towards a lady, but that had never bothered her before, and it didn’t now. He seemed friendly enough. What was the harm of dancing?
They talked while they danced, rather than staying silent and gawping at each other, as ladies and men so often did. The man made Alanna laugh, and she thought that he was one of the nicest men she’d met since she arrived at court. But she was still sure she knew him from somewhere.
“The Queen looks a little pale tonight, does she not? I wonder why no one has noticed?” he mused, waking her from her little daydream.
“George??” she hissed. “This is not funny! If anyone sees you!”
“You didn’t mind before,” he whispered, grinning.
“I must have said some really doltish things,” she sat down, putting her head in her hands.
“Well, yes.” he admitted. “You have surprised me. I didn’t know you could be so ladylike.”
“It’s a trick they teach you at the convent.” she replied. “What do you think? And have you been doing anything else apart from stealing my attention away from young noblemen all night?”
“I see what you mean about the Queen.” he replied. “But Duke Roger- he just looks normal. Although, I do have an idea as to what spell he could be using…”
“Thank you so much! I think you know how important this is. George, you’ve been here enough. You have to leave, now.”
“As you say, m’lady.”
As soon as he’d left, she wished she hadn’t ordered him to go. Suddenly, everything felt lonely, despite the crowds of courtiers around her. A crowd can sometimes be the loneliest place to be, that she knew. She sat by the fire, staring into it. That was when she saw it.
She saw herself, a look of disbelief and hurt on her face, and then one of realisation… then running down a corridor, somewhere she was sure she recognized. She saw herself again, shouting at something, or someone… violet fire snaking from one hand. In the other hand, she held a knife.
She tried closer, to see where exactly she was in this image, but it disappeared as swiftly as it had come, leaving her completely bewildered. That was totally unexpected, and she just couldn’t work out what it meant.
“Alanna?”
It was Alex. She looked away from the fire, and into his eyes.
----