Little Alanna runs on "You'll have to excuse the similar story line but a lot of people want me to go to convent" Pout "You'd think they don't feel comfortable with me having a sword?"

Little Thom walks on, "Alanna you forgot what you have to say!"

"Ok don't bite my head off," Alanna kicks Thom as he makes faces at her "The Lioness owns nothing if she did you would have wrote it like this the first time"

Thom clutching his wounded side "No wonder people didn't want her to be able to fight"

Alanna "Wait isn't Lioness my name?"

Fearless Lioness Evil laugh "Nope it's mine now" pointing at you "Now if you want me to do more press that little button at the bottom and send a nice little comment"

Alanna

Alanna and Thom glared at each other, "I don't care Alanna, we'll get in trouble" shouted Thom

Alanna sucked in her breath her pale skin pinched, "But you want to become a sorcerer and I wanna be a knight" she trailed off as their father came in. Thom looked longing over the hills to the great Master's Place.

"Alanna, Thom" he said sharply and looked at them angrily "You going early to convent, Alanna" he told her before storming out the room his robes flying behind him.

"Oh great" Alanna said and slumped into the chair, Thom looked bitterly at the tapestries that hung faded on the cool stone walls.

"Will you come and see me in the place?" he asked her.

Alanna bowed her head, and then her eyes flashed.

She grabbed his arm and led him along the corridor to the tower, the cold round room was dark and water leaked down the walls.

"Thom I promise I'll see you at midwinter every year" she promised earnestly. Before he knew it she had whipped out a small dagger and drew a small line of blood on his left palm. Then she did the same to her own hand, "this is a blood promise now" she said pressing their equally rough hands together.

Thom sat on the small pony , he gripped the reins tightly his knuckles white. Alanna had already gone her face shadowed as she'd followed the village healing woman away to the convent.

Coram nudged his large horse beside Thom, "Ya ok" he asked Gruffly

Thom didn't answer but followed Coram, his pony fidgeting under him.

Coram and Thom travelled hard for two days, narrowly avoiding a burnt patch that looked like the shape of a snake.

"Well that's strange" Coram remarked as they passed it.

When they came to Corus Thom's mouth dropped open. "there is do many people" he shouted to Coram, but it sounded like a whisper being swallowed by the sea.

Thom caught the gaze of a young smiling thief, he waved at Thom before disappearing in the pulsing crowds. Thom steered the pony badly around people, knocking them over, right, left and centre. As they gave their mounts to stable hands, Thom looked at the sun still quiet high "It's going to be a long day" he said and waved dramatically to gates "Goodbye freedom" he called and went inside surprised by his sister like behaviour.

Alanna yawned sleepily as Duchess Kassal told her the rules of the convent.

"Girls have their own rooms, you wake up at seven thirty and bath yourself, breakfast, then there is lessons till 12.00. You have half an hour and then Lunch is served, to be eaten in silence, or." She sucked in a breath making her already hollow checks look like craters in the side of her face "You will help out the servants in the garden, after Lunch you have an hour for relaxation then games will be played. After dinner we read to each other you will have time to pray and wash"

A timid servant led her to her room, a small strange place on the third floor over looking the too neatly trimmed gardens. A willowy dark haired girl was sitting outside her slim figure drowned in a large dirty dress.

Alanna flopped on her bed, it was hard and stiff. Annoyed she kicked it and started to bounce on it noisily,

"What are you trying to do" said a perplexed voice from her door, a small round girl with frizzy hair and glasses looked at her with shy brown eyes.

"I'm making the bed soft" said Alanna straight faced.

"Oh, well it's not the way to go" the girl told her "I'm Theodrada of River Hill"

"Oh I'm Bored and grumpy" Alanna said Shortly and jumped a couple more times.

Theodrada giggled "Hello Bored and Grumpy" she said and came into the room, she leaned out the window and leaned on the sill with her elbows. Sighing she said softly "I wish I didn't care what people thought about me, I wish I could be just me and not care one jot"

Alanna jumped of the bed, her skirts tangled fiercely making her wobble over to Theodrada. "What's stopping you" she said bluntly.

"Oh I couldn't be like Anna" she scrunched up her round face "But I Wish, I wish.."

"Oh god it's another one" sneered a voice Theodrada and Alanna turned to face the voice, Theodrada blushed and bowed her head.

A beautiful girl and stood looking elegant at the door, her icy blonde hair was perfectly coiled at the nape of her neck her lips full and a soft pink, her eyes looked on disdainfully. "You better get ready for Dinner River Hill" she told then her eyes focused sharply on Theodrada. "Mind you, you might want to skip it" she looked at the other's girl stubby wide figure, looking even bigger against Alanna' skinny one.

"Heaven forbid she'd end up like you" came a dry voice, the beautiful girl turned to see the graceful tall girl, her long hair black as midnight her eyes dark and intelligent, her skin a rich chocolate colour.

"Anna" the pretty girl said

"Melissa" Anna said back, their eyes locked

"Alanna" Alanna said causing both girls to glare at her.

As they two girls left Theodrada looked at Alanna in awe, "Your not like anyone round here, are you?" she questioned suspiciously "Not even Anna's so outspoken"

Alanna shrugged and said conspicuously "I 'm special, come on Thea lets see what to eat I'm starving"

"Thea" the round girl rolled the name over her tongue, "I like it"

"Well it's better than Theodrada" Alanna shrugged and then looked at the hard bed evilly "Want to help me make it soft?"