A/N: Sorry for the wait, all! Holidays kept me too busy. But here's the next one! Enjoy!

Chapter Two: Cooper

Keeping his hold tight around Alanna's waist, George looked around. In some ways, it looked like the Corus he knew, but in other ways it looked as foreign to him as the Copper Isles. His grip tightened around Alanna at this realization. "I don't know where we are, lass," he told her truthfully.

Alanna clutched at the front of George's shirt unconsciously. She had hoped George would laugh and reassure her that they were in a part of Corus Alanna had never visited before. But now, with him looking as confused as she felt, Alanna began to worry.

George placed a knuckle under her chin and tilted her face up to his. "Don't worry," he told her, as if reading her thoughts. "We'll figure out where we are and be on our way home soon enough. I have connections all across the Realm." He grinned, but it lacked his usual humor and confidence. The realization almost made Alanna worry more.

Letting go of her waist, George looked around once more. She faintly wished he had not let go. His nearness was reassuring.

Suddenly he reached for her hand. He expected her to pull away, but instead she tightened her grip. Perhaps she needed his touch as much as he needed hers in this strange place. George glanced at her, but her head was turned the other way. He thought he saw her look at him out of the corner of her eye and was reassured of it when he saw her head jerk slightly away. Despite everything, George smiled.

"Come on," he told her, tugging her hand gently. He led her across the busy street.

Reaching the other side, they found themselves standing in front of a shop situated next to a small alley. The building looked like it was once a prosperous bakery, but now it was battered and dimly-lit. George was about to lead them inside when suddenly Alanna yanked his arm back. "George, look!"

Looking where Alanna pointed, George stopped and stared. There, sitting at the mouth of the alley was a small black cat, flicking its tail leisurely. The cat stared at them both with unmistakable purple eyes.

"Faithful!" Alanna cried, hurrying toward the cat, relieved to finally find something familiar.

Before Alanna reached him, however, he got up and trotted down the alley in the opposite direction. Hands on hips, Alanna called his name again. When the cat didn't stop, Alanna followed. She muttered threats as he led them through another alley and down another crowded street.

Alanna forged through the busy street, George close behind her. George couldn't help but smile amid all the confusion. She was a small lass, but she had a commanding presence about her. People made room when Alanna passed, though neither they nor Alanna were aware of it.

For a moment Alanna lost track of Faithful in the crowd, then found him soon enough as he finally stopped and looked at her, waiting. Muttering about insolent cats that ran away from their owners, Alanna stooped to pick him up.

That's when she became aware of two worn black boots stepping into her vision.

Retracting her outstretched arms, Alanna slowly stood up, her eyes traveling upward at the same speed. Finally her purple eyes met with two pale blue ones. It was a young woman, about Alanna's age. Seeing movement at the girl's feet, Alanna looked down. Faithful wound himself through the stranger's legs, settling on her boot.

"Faithful!"

"Pounce!"

Startled, both young women glanced at each other as they realized they both called to the cat. Meanwhile, he sat at the girl's feet, watching silently as the two girls looked at each other.

George, standing unnoticed beside Alanna, also looked at the girl standing in front of them, his brow slightly furrowed in thought. Then he looked at the cat at her feet. It all looked familiar to him somehow…

Then, looking again more closely at her pale blue eyes, an image suddenly sparked in his mind- an image his ma had once shown him when he was but a boy and had been caught stealing for the first time.

No, it wasn't possible.

Was it?

Since neither woman was saying anything, he decided to curb his curiosity. "Interestin' cat you have there," he said aloud. "Yours?"

The young woman turned her pale gaze to him for the first time. "It is," she affirmed, glancing at Alanna again.

"My friend and I were just noticin' his unusual eyes," George continued. "Sorry, but my friend here thought it was her cat. She has one that looks very similar to yours," he said in way of explanation.

The girl looked surprised. "I've never seen another cat with purple eyes before."

"Neither have we," replied George with a friendly smile.

Alanna meanwhile looked down at the cat. She could have sworn it was Faithful! Her hopes faded as she watched him jump up and curl around the girl's shoulder. Thinking it was Faithful and then finding out it wasn't only served to remind her she was in a place unfamiliar to her.

She heard George ask the girl the cat's name. After she responded, George then asked, "And may I ask the name of Master Pounce's owner?"

Hearing the friendly tone of his voice, Alanna glanced up at George suspiciously. He smiled at the girl. For a moment, Alanna was of a mind to elbow him. Hard.

This isn't a time to be charming pretty girls, George Cooper, she thought to herself.

But the girl did not seem to be easily charmed as she eyed George warily. Seeing her look, George chuckled. "I suppose I should introduce myself first. My name is George Swiftknife."

Forgetting her previous thoughts about elbowing, Alanna looked at him sharply. Confused, she wondered why he used Marek's last name as his own.

She was further surprised when he introduced her as Alanna Smythesson!

George could feel Alanna's eyes burning into him but he ignored her. He just hoped the young woman in front of them didn't take notice of Alanna's probably gaping mouth.

The girl nodded to them both in acknowledgement. Then she introduced herself. "I'm Beka. Beka Cooper."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, George then took Alanna gently by the elbow and led her away. When he felt they were out of earshot, George leaned down slightly and told Alanna, "Close your mouth, lass. I don't think you'd be wantin' to catch any flies around here."

Her mouth closed with an almost audible clack. She turned on him. "George, who was that? And why does she have your last name?"

George ignored all her questions but the last. "I think she is a relative of mine."

"A cousin?" asked Alanna.

"Not exactly…"

Alanna frowned at his vague response. Looking at him, Alanna thought he looked slightly shaken. She'd never seen George this way before. He was walking quickly, his eyes darting around as he seemed to look for something. Alanna had to quicken her pace to keep up with his long strides. She asked more questions about the girl named Beka Cooper, but he only kept walking.

Soon getting frustrated, Alanna asked, "George, where are we go-"

He stopped abruptly, causing Alanna to nearly run into him. "Why did you stop?" she demanded.

When he didn't reply, she looked around. The street they had been walking down had opened up into a large town square crowded with people. She didn't see any reason to stop. Then she saw his face.

"George?" she asked, concern laced suddenly through her voice. George was staring ahead of them. Following his gaze, Alanna turned and frowned at what she saw- or more correctly, what she didn't see.

"Where's King Roald's fountain?" she asked as she looked around in confusion. The town square was crowded with people buying and selling goods. Women and young children surrounded the large fountain at the square's center as if nothing was different. However, Alanna and George stood staring at the statue erected in the middle of the fountain. Whoever that was, it was not King Roald!

"Who is that?" Alanna voiced aloud.

It was a moment before George responded quietly, "King Roger."

Alanna turned to him, wide-eyed. "Roger?!"

George, hearing the fear in her voice, quickly calmed her. "Not the Roger of Conté you know, lass. This is a statue of King Roger II."

That information calmed her slightly before she looked again at the statue. King Roger II? Where had King Roald's statue gone? Ever since the beginning of his reign, a statue of King Roald had stood here in Royal Square. Where was it now? And who was King Roger II?

She asked George.

"You were taught by Sir Myles, Alanna. Certainly you would know more than a common-born like me," he replied.

Alanna gave him a look. George was one of the smartest people she knew. Then again, perhaps he had not learned extensively about past monarchs as she had. Unlike those of noble birth, the people of the Lower City didn't focus on book learning and certainly not on the history of kings and queens. Instead they learned how to live- and stay living.

Thinking back to her studies as a page, Alanna searched for any remembrance of learning about King Roger II.

When it came to her, Alanna's brow furrowed. "King Roger II lived about 200 years ago," she told George. "All I remember that was of any importance was that his son, the prince, was kidnapped into the Eastern Hills during his reign. From what Myles inferred, he wasn't even well-liked. So why would his statue…?"

Her question trailed off. It didn't make sense. The only statues of kings and queens past that remained standing longer than the rule of their offspring were the kings and queens that were remembered for certain things; the great, legendary monarchs. But King Roger II was far from legendary. He was nearly forgotten.

"It's because he still reigns," said George quietly.

"That can't be. He lived two hundred years ago." Alanna reiterated, looking at him strangely. She had always thought George sensible...

"Look at the bottom of the statue," he told her.

Alanna did as he instructed. On the foot of the statue, his name and one date was engraved in the stone.

Why was the end date of his reign not carved in? Suddenly anxious, Alanna looked around quickly. There was no way…

Spotting a stall nearby, Alanna strode toward it. Seeing the big man behind the wooden counter, she asked him the name of the king. He looked at her as if she was touched in the head. "Why it's King Roger, a'course" he told her.

She swallowed hard. "And the year?" she asked.

"248."

Alanna was so stunned that she didn't see the man move his fruit slightly away from where she stood, eyeing her warily. She turned to George who stood beside her. "248?"

He nodded slowly. "I thought as much when I saw-" He stopped and looked at Alanna. "Beka Cooper is my six times great-grandmother."

If Alanna was a court lady, she would have fainted. Instead, her fear spurred her temper. "George Cooper, what have you done?!"

A/N: The next chapter will be up soon :) (poor George is caught by Alanna's temper :P)