Chapter One



Neal slammed Kel's door.

"Door stays open, Page Nealan" said Kel in a fairly good imitation of Lord Wyldon. Sighing, Neal complied.

"You didn't even look up!" he exclaimed. "But anyway, you'll never guess who's here."

"You are" said Kel. "Interrupting my letter home."

"Funny! I mean in the palace. She hasn't been here since her... oh no, if I tell you that you'll guess!"

"Her? She? You can't mean... the King's Champion!"

"Ah, but I do, my sweet. The Lioness herself. And what's more, she went to see my father. And I heard them talking!"

"Neal, that's dishonest... She went to see your father? Is she all right?"

Neal hesitated. "They're old friends..." he said slowly. "And... and he was chief of the healers when she was a page... anyway Kel, don't you want to hear what they said?"

Kel wasn't satisfied, but she knew when to leave a point. "Of course."

"Well, I was just about to go in when I heard her talking. She was saying how long it'd been since she'd seen him. Then she asked about you. Father said you were managing fine. You had launched a one-man - sorry, one-girl! - crusade against bullies, but loads of us had helped you and they had been practically stamped out. She said brilliant and that was more than she'd ever done. Then she hugged him and he asked about George - her husband - and her children. They're all fine, and Thom, her oldest, is coming here after Midwinter! I bet you'll want to sponsor him, am I right?"

"If the Stump'll let me." Kel blushed.

"That's what Father said. She reckons if you sponsor Thom, the Stump won't be able to stop her seeing you."

"Then he won't let me sponsor him. I should know."

"You might be surprised. Shall I tell you what else happened?"

As he talked, he remembered. Squatting behind the armchair in his father's waiting room, he had heard the Lioness weeping.

'Baird, I can't go on. It was torture among the Bazhir, watching them as they joined with the Voice, too proud to ask how it went with Jonathan. We're both proud, too proud to make up. And I know that we both feel we're in the right. Both of us are happily married, but we still love. I didn't know that until we quarrelled. We've spent a whole year apart. I can't live any longer without him!'

'Alanna, my dear, do George and Myles know?'

'George knows only that I miss him. Myles... not even that.'

'Go to Myles. He knows you both better than I.'"

Neal stopped. He wished he hadn't told his friend, who was crying silently. She raised her face from the wet pillow to say; "Go on."

"Then I went. I don't know... It seemed like... I don't know. Like reading her soul. Anyway, I'd got cramp."

Kel giggled through her tears. "Trust you!"

The next day, a Sunday, Kel and Neal were passing Myles' classroom when they heard muffled sobs. They stopped, and looked at one another. Both had a pretty good idea of who it was. But, as they hesitated, the door opened a crack...

"Keladry of Mindelan!" hissed Alanna. "Good luck! I'm sorry!"

The door shut, and Kel and Neal were left. Suddenly Neal began to laugh.

"I'm sorry, Kel! I know she's your hero, but really! Just a little over-dramatic! I mean, she knows we're passing..."

"How? I mean, she's never even seen me! How does she know that I'm outside?"

"Perhaps Myles told her? Or maybe she was scrying? Anyway, however she does it, she knows you're outside. So she hisses, dramatically, even though a hiss carries almost as far as a shout, and what she hisses! Good luck...yes, that's okay, but Keladry of Mindelan!"

"Neal! Stop analysing her, I'm just delighted she spoke to me! Now can we go to the armoury?"

Alanna had tried not to listen to the pages talking about her, but she couldn't have helped hearing Neal's opinion of her message.

"What else could I have done?" she asked Myles.

"Talked normally. Not called her Keladry of Mindelan, because that sounds so formal it's funny. Not said anything at all. That would have been wisest."

"Since when have I been wise?" demanded Alanna, and was rewarded by her father's laugh. "I haven't obeyed Jonathan at all. I sent her anonymous gifts.. Three of them... a good knife, a spelled ointment to heal bruises and a saddle. Things a page needs. Things that would tell her someone wanted her to succeed. Maybe that's why I miss Jon so."

"Maybe it is. In any case you need to make up with him. There's a council meeting at the third bell this afternoon, and as King's Champion you're entitled to attend. Keep a low profile throughout the meeting, then when it ends be guided by him. He won't ignore you, but he'll make it very clear if you're still in disgrace."

"All right, I'll go. It's just after the second bell now, so that gives me nearly an hour to fill. Wish me luck, Myles."

"Good luck, Alanna" said her father, and hugged her.

The third bell clanged. Alanna, who had been wandering the corridors around the council chamber for the last ten minutes, hurried inside. As she had supposed, she was the first there, but a moment later Sir Gareth the Younger of Naxen, the Prime Minister and a contemporary of hers and King Jonathans, hurried in.

"Alanna!" he cried, catching her up in an enthusiastic hug. "Where have you been? Jon'll be so pleased to see you!"

"Gary! I'm so pleased to see you! Are you still prime ministering? How are you?"

The door opened again, and Sir Lord Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, the Knight Commander of the King's Own, entered with Numair Salmalín, the most powerful mage in Tortall, and Veralidaine Sarrasri, an expert wildmage. They were discussing spidrens with animation.

"And I say, they must be exterminated! They're totally out of... Alanna!"

"Raoul! Numair! Daine! It's so good to see you!"

"Alanna! Why have you stayed away for so long?"

They hugged. Alanna found that her face was wet with tears. Fighting with Jonathan lost her so much more than him! She chatted and laughed with her friends, telling Raoul about her Bazhir tribe, Numair about the spells she had written and Daine about her children Thom, Eleni and Kara, but she felt strangely remote from them. If only Jonathan would come!

The next time the door opened, it was Geoffrey of Meron. He, too, was delighted to find the Lioness in their midst... and hard on his heels came King Jonathan, with his queen, Thayet, in his arms. The King laid down his burden gently in one of the chairs at the head of the table.

"Why's it gone so quiet?" he asked. Somebody - either Numair or Gary - gave Alanna a push. She walked two steps forward and knelt at Jonathan's feet. Sorry Myles, I'm doing this my way. she thought. Might as well have a good wedge of humble pie while I'm about it.

"My lord" she said, her head bowed. "I am once again yours to command."



The silence lasted for a long moment. Finally Jonathan said huskily,

"I'm sorry, Alanna."

"So am I, Jon. I was in the wrong. I broke my oath of fealty. Strip me of my knighthood. I deserve it. Please."

Jonathan raised her up and kissed her. "What would you do then, my lovely Lioness? Hide with the Bazhir for the rest of your days? Stay in Pirate's Swoop with George and your children? No, my dear. I need you as my Champion. I don't blame you for falling out with me. That's why we didn't marry, remember?"

Alanna smiled weakly and burst into tears. Thayet left her chair and walked unsteadily to soothe her friend. Jonathan blushed and stood on one leg. Numair and Daine started a loud discussion about meditation, joined thankfully by Raoul and Gary.

When order was restored and everyone sitting at the table, Alanna said, "Thayet, what's the matter?"

"I... er..."

"She fainted on the way here. She's been overdoing things." said Jonathan firmly. "Now can we get on with the meeting?"

Alanna winced at his tone and resolved to catch Thayet later. Then she started to listen to Tortall's problems.