Disclaimer: I DO NOT own these characters. The story, places, and characters are Tamora Pierce's. Some minor character are my own, but nothing else.

Alanna

It had been a pretty long day. Alanna had just gotten back from a six day ride with Daine, out on an emergency call saying that stormwings were destroying Trebond. It had turned out to be a false alarm, sent out by raiders as a way to divert attention. Alanna was exhausted, and she couldn't wait to sleep in her own bed and not the uncomfortable bedrolls they had brought on the road. She went into her study and found a letter waiting on her desk.

This came yesterday for you. It looked official so I left it. I know how cranky you get when I open your letters. Love Always, George. George's clumsy scrawl was written on a piece of her stationary next to the letter.

Alanna couldn't help but smile. Her husband did know her too well. She was interested to see that the message was sealed with the royal symbol, but she did not recognize the writing. Why hadn't Jon written it?

Alanna broke the seal on the letter and opened it to find the same new handwriting. The words on the paper confused her just as much as the handwriting, however. Intent on the letter, she did not hear George open the door and come to stand behind her.

She couldn't believe it. More like she just didn't want to. Alanna sat frozen at her desk, the paper trembling in her hands. First, her daughter ran away to Goddess knows where—and now this! Alanna didn't think that she could take any more.

As she put her head down, she felt comforting, strong arms surround her. Her husband, Sir George, Baron of Pirates Swoop, could always sense when she was in pain. He had always been very protective, even though he knew she could hold her own.

"What happened?" George asked softly in her ear, pulling her closer.

"Jonathon," she choked. "He's—he's dieing." She only whispered the last few words, tears starting to fall down her face.

"Then go to him," George answered as calmly as possible. He could feel her tense and start to argue. "Go," he said firmly. "I can take care of Aly. He needs you."

"But Aly—" Alanna protested. She couldn't just leave her daughter to her own fate.

George kissed her gently on the cheek. "I will protect her. She'll be safe. You know she can take care of herself." With that, George slipped off quietly, descending the stairs to leave her alone with her thoughts.

But she couldn't wrap her mind around anything. How could this have happened? Jonathon's enemies had been long dead, thanks to her and her loyal friends. At least, she had thought so. Maybe Jonathon's enemies were dead. But were hers?

Just then there was a knock at the door. As she ran down the stairs of Pirates Swoop, George swung the door open to reveal a worn down man in tattered clothing with fear showing wild in his wide emerald eyes. His eyes locked with hers, and, recognizing the blazing violet he had been told to watch for, the man delivered his message.

"I—I was told to come find you. If y—you are Alanna, th—that is. I wasn't told that I would be chased here though." His eyes calmed and grew brilliant green. Alanna had seen that look before—a look of anger and ferocity—but on a different face. "They're after you," he continued his tone dark and quiet. "They want to kill you. I can see it in their eyes. Even now, they are plotting."

At that moment all other thoughts left her—she knew the answer to her question. There were enemies out there. Ones she had never even considered. They were dangerous. And they were after her.

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