Between the Lines
Story Two: Night Time Musings
Time Line: Knave of My Heart (about Chapter 5)
Character: Alannah.
Alannah propped herself up on her elbows, eyes fixed on Ilosovic's sleeping form. She had been a bit surprised at his plea to her, but the surprise quickly vanished to be replaced by sympathy and pity for the man lying next to her. Had he ever once received simple kindness from anyone? Had anyone ever looked at him with anything except hatred, pity, and disgust? Did they see only the Knave, and ignore Ilosovic Stayne?
She had a feeling that many had. To many Underlanders, he was the ruthless assassin and torturer that had served the Red Queen and his own interests. They could not see what she had seen that night at the Red Castle-that this man sleeping next to her, his arm draped across her waist as if to reassure himself she would not vanish, this man who was the source of many evil gossips, was a complex person.
Alannah was not ignorant of many of the more vicious rumors regarding the way Ilosovic treated women, and that had given her pause. But he had looked so terrified and ashamed after his nightmare and tearful confession to her that she relented, and his sigh of relief and thanks had cemented her belief that the rumors were complete and utter rot.
She decided to save more philosophizing for the morrow. Right now she just wanted to sleep. She moved so she was lying with her head on his shoulder, and after a few short moments was asleep.
She didn't wake when Ilosovic pulled her tight against his body, murmuring happily in a pleasant dream.