Manhood
Sir Raoul of Goldenlake still couldn't believe that one of his best friends was really a girl. Little redheaded Alan of Trebond…a woman? The thought was almost too much to bear. As he swallowed a mouthful of ale, Raoul thought on all the times Alan had been swimming with them. Alan, or Sir Alanna of Trebond, had seen the boys naked a lot…Raoul wondered how she could've beared to see that. Goddess knows that he and the other boys couldn't have done the same had they been at the Convent.
Somewhere deep down, however, Raoul had always suspected something about Alan. He was just too secretive—it had been hard not to suspect the youngster of something. Given Alan's dislike of women, many of them had assumed that he preferred men. But if Alan wasn't going to talk about it, then neither were they. They were men after all. Not just men, but knights. They were strong, they were tough, and they certainly didn't sit around talking about feelings.
Raoul found himself wondering if Alanna would've told him her secret had he been her knight-master. Jonathan had recently revealed to his friends that he had known Alanna's secret months before she became his squire. All he said was that it was in the Black City, which the two rarely spoke about. After Alanna's farewell two weeks previously, Raoul and Gary had begun to think that there was probably something more than just friendship between the Prince and the newest Court scandal.
Alanna's first year as a page, she had beaten up Ralon of Malven. The memory of it made Raoul beam with pride. Raoul had rather enjoyed pounding the rude boy, especially when it came to protecting Alan. Raoul had taken an early liking to the new boy that year. When Alan had finally beat up Ralon once and for all, causing him to leave the palace, there had been a sigh of relief. But now that Raoul knew Malven had been beaten up by a girl, he was even more proud. If only the bastard knew.
Beaten by a girl. The thought hit Raoul like a ton of bricks. How many times had Alanna bested the other knights? Alan, the best squire in his year, besting the knights was one thing. But a woman besting the knights was quite another. Did that make him less of a man, for being beaten—routinely—by a woman? No, he decided, it did not. Regardless of her gender, Alanna had been the best squire in her year and would probably turn out to be one of the best knights Tortall would ever see. No one doubted that she would one day become a hero. Raoul only hoped that she would return to Corus one day so he could congratulate her and express his brotherly pride in her.
Raoul had always thought of Alan as his brother. He supposed that he now had gained a sister.