Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize from anything Tamora Pierce has claimed. I'm not saying this again, but know that it's true.
Well, here's a story that popped in to my head when I was remembering how much I hated the Alanna-to-Convent stories. I'm having a lot of plot bunnies recently, and I have no idea why. Never mind, back to my point. Despite the beginning, this is anything but one of those – I promise she won't go there for more than a few. No hints, so you'll just have to wait and see.
As a last remark, I want to say that I made the first part to be almost exactly like Tammy's. I think I did well, since I did it only from memory. Did I?
CheeseyCraziness - Lauren
"That is my decision, and we need not discuss it," said the man at the desk. His two children, identical twins, walked out with frowns.
"Alanna, I can't stand it. He doesn't care about us. He doesn't want us here." Thom, the boy, was pacing around, his red hair dropping to conceal his face.
"We know that!" The girl told him. Her violet eyes were practically on fire in their fury. "There's got to be a way for you to learn sorcery, and for me to fight. We just have to think."
"Thinking probably won't help with that. There's no way we could to anything. Why can't they at least teach knight's sorcery?"
"It's too bad you're not the girl. All the girls are taught to use their magic." Alanna said with a hooked grin.
Suddenly, a thought hit her, and her eyes widened. "Thom, we could trade places!"
Thom looked up at her as though she were crazy.
"Think about it. You can mimic father's handwriting, making new letters! You could go to the convent – they teach young boys before they go to the priests, remember? And I could dress as a boy and go the palace to be a knight!"
"That's the craziest thing I've ever heard! How can we fool Coram and Maude, when they can tell us apart! You'll be weaker than the others, and you'll turn into a girl! You know, with a chest and all?"
"I could hide all that, with Coram's help. We could tell him we'll curse him if he objects, and for Maude," she paused, biting her lip. "I think we could talk her around, right?"
"No. I'm not helping you with that. It's hopeless, just a fairy tale Alanna. It wouldn't work. I'll go the palace, willing or not, and you go to the convent. That's the way of it and we can't do anything about it."
She sighed. "You're right. It's just a fairy tale. Never mind. Let's go get some sleep – we have a big ride ahead of us, and I would prefer to be rested for it."
Alanna and Thom, more upset than they had ever been, left and made their way to bed.