Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or settings that belong to Tamora Pierce.
A/n: Thanks for reviewing! Also, if you haven't reread last chapter about Glaki, you should now. I found out that I didn't fix that like I thought I did. Sorry for the long wait. I should get the next chapter up soon, but then I'm going on vacation and I might not get to put another one up for a while. Keep reading and reviewing!
Addikins: You're right, she does die her hair. Sorry about that!
Emikae: Thank you. Here are three online cents.
Krystal Desalon: I did not steal your definition!!! They were my words and I copyright 'tesser'.
FlamingKnight: When Alanna is referred to as 'girl', it is in the stream and is an unclear picture. It also states that Alanna doesn't want to tell Tris who she is. There is no reason why they can't have near-equal powers. Alanna is more experienced, but Tris has done a lot in her 14 years. One's academic and one's ambient, so they are equal in different ways.
To Tesser With Mages
Chapter 4- On The Road
Alanna and Tris gaped at each other. Equal powers? Alanna thought. She had never thought about her powers in comparison with anyone else before, but she wasn't sure she like the idea of a....... teenager being as powerful as she was. Tris, on the other hand, was used to being more powerful than most mages. After their reaction of fear and jealousy, she found herself wishing she wasn't so powerful. But now that her wish had come true, she almost, almost, preferred being slightly more powerful. Oh well, Tris thought, Another reason to dislike this stranger.
"Usually there's a reason why someone uses a spell this powerful. It always drains a person, even the most powerful," Niko added with an extra glare for Tris to let her know never to experiment with it. "You better come with us," Niko turned to Alanna, "I don't like the idea of a stranger from a different world alone, even if you're powerful." Tris started to complain, Her? With us? Of all people!, but Niko silenced her. "We found her first, and you might be involved. In the meantime, we'll try scrying and listening to the find for this powerful mage."
"We'll continue to Winding Circle," Niko decided. Like Tris, he was unsure of when they would encounter the one responsible for bringing Alanna , and didn't like the idea of imposing on Lark and anyone else in Discipline. "If this mage is powerful enough to pull you through, then no doubt he'll have a way to track you down. Hopefully, he'll find us before we get there."
"Or else?" Alanna asked, unsure of why they wanted to get rid of her before they reached their destination.
"Well, we're not exactly going to our own cottage, you understand," Niko explained, "It's nothing against you, it's just that our host is often too hospitable."
Tris snorted. 'Too hospitable' was putting it mildly. Lark was unsure of what room to give a new student, even after the four who used to occupy the rooms moved out. She heard they were considering another expansion, but that would take a while. Niko, knowing the reason for the snort, grinned. "Well, we'll figure something out."
Niko quickly found a stable and Alanna bought a mount. As they journeyed through Emelan, Alanna found it much like Corus. This world had the same marketplaces, shops and people that she had back at home.
For conversation, Alanna and Niko, Tris was determined to avoid the stranger as much as possible, shared stories of their worlds, Niko often reminiscing of his trip when he tessered.
Around midday, they passed an inn that made Alanna gasp and stop her horse in its tracks. "What now?" asked Tris, her temper growing even worse because of her growing hunger.
Alanna turned to Niko and Tris. "Do you mind if we eat there?" she asked, pointing to the inn called the Purple Peacock. "It reminds me of.... old times," she said at last, remembering the days when she would sneak out of the palace and visit George and his Court of the Rogue at the Dancing Dove.
Niko frowned. "Are you sure?" he asked with growing discomfort.
Alanna nodded. Tris shrugged and started riding toward the inn. How bad can it be? She wondered. They tied their horses outside and walked in.
When they entered, their eyes feasted upon a scene of many drunkards, half-overturned table and lots of gruff-looking men. Alanna smiled and Niko said, "I'm not sure this is a good idea."
"Don't worry. Nothing will happen, I promise," Alanna assured them. Hopefully, the signs for 'colleague' and 'fellow friend' were the same here as in her world. Tris and Niko still looked unsure, but sat down all the same.
About halfway through the meal, one thief tried to pickpocket Tris. Alanna, a master at these things after living with George and his Court of the Rogue for so long, saw this and immediately stood up.
"You gonna give that there back to me mate, eh?" Alanna asked, using Street Slang.
The thief looked shocked, not only that the woman noticed but she also talked Street Slang. "Whachya gonna do if I don't?" he retorted.
Alanna casually made the sign that meant 'colleague' and said, "Report ya."
The thief appeared dazed and hurriedly gave Tris's purse back. "How did you know he took it?" Niko asked, "Even I didn't notice."
Tris, on the other hand, made no move of gratitude for the saving of her purse. "Who are you, really? A thief?" Tris accused.
Alanna sat back and down, threw back her head, and laughed. Tris took offense at this and glared at Alanna. "No, not exactly," she answered, suppressing more bursts of laughter. She watched as the unsuccessful thief scurried to tell the others that Alanna was a colleague.
"Then why did he look so scared?" Tris demanded, hardly believing Alanna.
"Do you pay so little attention to the Lower Class?" Alanna retorted, trying to think of a way to avoid letting on that her husband was the King of Thieves.
"I'd like an answer," Tris growled, using every bit of control she had to not fry Alanna with a lightning bolt. Tris did pay attention, having lived with them for a time. Nobody she knew was able to decipher thief signs.
"Let's just say that I was familiar with a few Lower Class citizens," as Tris tried to inquire further, Alanna snapped, "I, Sir Alanna of Pirate's Swoop and Olau, King's Champion, am entitled to my privacy, especially as you have yours."
They finished the meal in a cold silence. Any attempts for conversation from Niko were cut short by Alanna and Tris.
After they finished, Alanna got up and told them, "You two can just stay here and be merry. I'll be back," Alanna walked away before either of them could protest. She went to the thief who tried to pickpocket Tris and asked, "Could you take me to the King of Thieves?"
The thief stared back, perplexed. "You mean the Thief Lord?" he asked.
"If that's what you call him," Alanna answered, "I'm from a different country, representing the Rogue there. I'd like to talk with him," Alanna lied successfully. The thief shrugged and led her into a back room.
A/n: Thanks for reviewing! Also, if you haven't reread last chapter about Glaki, you should now. I found out that I didn't fix that like I thought I did. Sorry for the long wait. I should get the next chapter up soon, but then I'm going on vacation and I might not get to put another one up for a while. Keep reading and reviewing!
Addikins: You're right, she does die her hair. Sorry about that!
Emikae: Thank you. Here are three online cents.
Krystal Desalon: I did not steal your definition!!! They were my words and I copyright 'tesser'.
FlamingKnight: When Alanna is referred to as 'girl', it is in the stream and is an unclear picture. It also states that Alanna doesn't want to tell Tris who she is. There is no reason why they can't have near-equal powers. Alanna is more experienced, but Tris has done a lot in her 14 years. One's academic and one's ambient, so they are equal in different ways.
To Tesser With Mages
Chapter 4- On The Road
Alanna and Tris gaped at each other. Equal powers? Alanna thought. She had never thought about her powers in comparison with anyone else before, but she wasn't sure she like the idea of a....... teenager being as powerful as she was. Tris, on the other hand, was used to being more powerful than most mages. After their reaction of fear and jealousy, she found herself wishing she wasn't so powerful. But now that her wish had come true, she almost, almost, preferred being slightly more powerful. Oh well, Tris thought, Another reason to dislike this stranger.
"Usually there's a reason why someone uses a spell this powerful. It always drains a person, even the most powerful," Niko added with an extra glare for Tris to let her know never to experiment with it. "You better come with us," Niko turned to Alanna, "I don't like the idea of a stranger from a different world alone, even if you're powerful." Tris started to complain, Her? With us? Of all people!, but Niko silenced her. "We found her first, and you might be involved. In the meantime, we'll try scrying and listening to the find for this powerful mage."
"We'll continue to Winding Circle," Niko decided. Like Tris, he was unsure of when they would encounter the one responsible for bringing Alanna , and didn't like the idea of imposing on Lark and anyone else in Discipline. "If this mage is powerful enough to pull you through, then no doubt he'll have a way to track you down. Hopefully, he'll find us before we get there."
"Or else?" Alanna asked, unsure of why they wanted to get rid of her before they reached their destination.
"Well, we're not exactly going to our own cottage, you understand," Niko explained, "It's nothing against you, it's just that our host is often too hospitable."
Tris snorted. 'Too hospitable' was putting it mildly. Lark was unsure of what room to give a new student, even after the four who used to occupy the rooms moved out. She heard they were considering another expansion, but that would take a while. Niko, knowing the reason for the snort, grinned. "Well, we'll figure something out."
Niko quickly found a stable and Alanna bought a mount. As they journeyed through Emelan, Alanna found it much like Corus. This world had the same marketplaces, shops and people that she had back at home.
For conversation, Alanna and Niko, Tris was determined to avoid the stranger as much as possible, shared stories of their worlds, Niko often reminiscing of his trip when he tessered.
Around midday, they passed an inn that made Alanna gasp and stop her horse in its tracks. "What now?" asked Tris, her temper growing even worse because of her growing hunger.
Alanna turned to Niko and Tris. "Do you mind if we eat there?" she asked, pointing to the inn called the Purple Peacock. "It reminds me of.... old times," she said at last, remembering the days when she would sneak out of the palace and visit George and his Court of the Rogue at the Dancing Dove.
Niko frowned. "Are you sure?" he asked with growing discomfort.
Alanna nodded. Tris shrugged and started riding toward the inn. How bad can it be? She wondered. They tied their horses outside and walked in.
When they entered, their eyes feasted upon a scene of many drunkards, half-overturned table and lots of gruff-looking men. Alanna smiled and Niko said, "I'm not sure this is a good idea."
"Don't worry. Nothing will happen, I promise," Alanna assured them. Hopefully, the signs for 'colleague' and 'fellow friend' were the same here as in her world. Tris and Niko still looked unsure, but sat down all the same.
About halfway through the meal, one thief tried to pickpocket Tris. Alanna, a master at these things after living with George and his Court of the Rogue for so long, saw this and immediately stood up.
"You gonna give that there back to me mate, eh?" Alanna asked, using Street Slang.
The thief looked shocked, not only that the woman noticed but she also talked Street Slang. "Whachya gonna do if I don't?" he retorted.
Alanna casually made the sign that meant 'colleague' and said, "Report ya."
The thief appeared dazed and hurriedly gave Tris's purse back. "How did you know he took it?" Niko asked, "Even I didn't notice."
Tris, on the other hand, made no move of gratitude for the saving of her purse. "Who are you, really? A thief?" Tris accused.
Alanna sat back and down, threw back her head, and laughed. Tris took offense at this and glared at Alanna. "No, not exactly," she answered, suppressing more bursts of laughter. She watched as the unsuccessful thief scurried to tell the others that Alanna was a colleague.
"Then why did he look so scared?" Tris demanded, hardly believing Alanna.
"Do you pay so little attention to the Lower Class?" Alanna retorted, trying to think of a way to avoid letting on that her husband was the King of Thieves.
"I'd like an answer," Tris growled, using every bit of control she had to not fry Alanna with a lightning bolt. Tris did pay attention, having lived with them for a time. Nobody she knew was able to decipher thief signs.
"Let's just say that I was familiar with a few Lower Class citizens," as Tris tried to inquire further, Alanna snapped, "I, Sir Alanna of Pirate's Swoop and Olau, King's Champion, am entitled to my privacy, especially as you have yours."
They finished the meal in a cold silence. Any attempts for conversation from Niko were cut short by Alanna and Tris.
After they finished, Alanna got up and told them, "You two can just stay here and be merry. I'll be back," Alanna walked away before either of them could protest. She went to the thief who tried to pickpocket Tris and asked, "Could you take me to the King of Thieves?"
The thief stared back, perplexed. "You mean the Thief Lord?" he asked.
"If that's what you call him," Alanna answered, "I'm from a different country, representing the Rogue there. I'd like to talk with him," Alanna lied successfully. The thief shrugged and led her into a back room.