Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. Tamora Pierce does.
Chapter 1
Seizing that brief moment when Roger switched swords, Alanna lunged in, slashing the Duke's right arm. Roger yelled in fury as Lightning nipped through muscle. Making an impossibly quick recovery, the Duke Lunged back and struck. Alanna stumbled, and the tip of Dukes Roger's sword sliced down her chest from collarbone to waist.
The special corset she often wore on place of the bandaging gave way, its laces cut though. It slid and buckled under her shirt, edges of lace strings and (to Alanna's great embarrassment) the curve of her breasts showing through. Roger dropped his blade and stood back, his eyes wide with shock.
"Halt!" the king roared, coming to his feet. The crowded room was buzzing as he stared at Alanna. "What is going on here"
"You'd better do something about that thing," Thom advised, stepping forward.
"I'll explain"
All eyes where fixed on the Master in silver edged black as Alanna ducked be hide a hanging curtain, suddenly glad her lie was over with.
She slid the ruined corset out from under her slashed shirt as Thom said, "You'll have to excuse my sister, Majesties." Shaking her head over her brother's nerve, she overlapped the ends of the shirt and tucked them firmly into her breeches."You see, she wanted to be a knight," Thom was explaining. "I wanted to be a sorcerer. We traded places. I think I may have had the better part of the bargain; I didn't have to lie to people I liked and respected all these years. Here. I brought our birth papers. Here name is Alanna. We're twins"
"Who knew of this?" The king's voice was low and dangerous as Alanna stepped out from behind the curtain. "Who knew"
"I knew." Jonathan's voice was strong and clear. "I've known since the Black City"
"I knew," Coram admitted in a shamefaced rumble.
Gary stepped forward. "I knew"
"And I knew," Myles added. "I guess when Alan—Alanna—cured Jonathan of the Sweating Sickness, Majesty"
The king looked at Alanna. "What have you to say for yourself"
Alanna met his eyes squarely. "I hated lying to you," she admitted. "I wanted to tell; but I couldn't. Would you have let me win my shield if I had told the truth?" The king's silence was answer enough. "I've tried to be honest about everything else. And I can't regret what I did"
Roger's snarl of fury surprised them all. "You demon!" he screamed. "You lying cheating---" (In the Hand of the Goddess pgs: 256-258)
Without warning orange fire came out of the Dukes hands. He mumbled some ancient words under his breath then a blast of orange fire hit Alanna straight in the chest. She dropped to the floor. The last thing Alanna remembered was Jonathan calling her name.
"ALANNA"
A/N: Hehe. Cliffy. I hope you like it. Please review now!