Sorry for that cliffy, so to make it up to you here's the (longer!) continuation of the last chapter. I just wanted to remind you that there will be an abrupt change in the story next chapter – whether in structure or content or POV, or a mix of all these – we'll see. As Arianla commented, the last chapter (and also this one) is/are a major turning point in the story! Thanks for all your kind reviews, guys.

Disclaimer – Song of the Lioness belongs respectively to Tamora Pierce

CHAPTER NINE

Alan's eyes quickly scanned over both of his children, a fear crowding his gaze as he looked at them with something akin to…tenderness. It was a tenderness that contradicted the trouble and dread rising around them.

He gave her a small smile, one filled with a comforting softness that she had never seen him direct to her, but had wished for countless times. His voice shook at his next words. "You will both go with Arundel, without question. It will take you two hours to ride to the hidden road from here that will lead you to the restricted passageway connected to the shelters. I want you both to stay there until the guards deem it secure enough to move. You will be safe there for the time being."

Her mouth felt very dry. "Father, I don—"

"You will go with your brother, Alanna. Mithros knows when danger will arrive here, and it will be soon. Please don't be stubborn, not now. I need you to be safe, as I organise the evacuation of our home."

"You will follow after us, won't you?" Alanna felt rather than heard the trepidation in Thom's smoothly delivered words.

Their father nodded. Thom let out a small relieved breath. No matter Lord Alan's disposition to act coldly and detached when around them, he was their father, and his sudden show of concern and sincere love was making them feel and act how they should have been all these years and how they should be now…like a family. The events surrounding them only added more stoke to this fire.

"Did something happen? Is it the Rebellion?" Alanna demanded, the Rebellion the only thing she could think of to cause such deeds as fleeing and an evacuation of Trebond. She wondered if her father could really handle such a task.

"One of the Rebellion representatives has been shot, my lady. They linked the murderer as someone working for the Monarchy." One of the men, whom she assumed was Arundel, answered her. "But now isn't the time to tell stories. We must move quickly, if we're to avoid any hunters."

The word hunters didn't sound too appealing. While she was trying to digest the information given to her, Thom's arm around her shoulders was now pushing her towards the stairs. Suddenly feeling lost, she swivelled her head around to look at her father. He was watching them sadly, still like a statue…like the father she and Thom were accustomed to. Tears brimmed in her eyes when she saw Alan put a hand over his heart as he looked at them a last time.

In an instant he disappeared from her view, and she was conscious that large and strong arms were pulling her onto a saddle. She could hear Arundel grumbling as he did so. Gathering herself, she moved to be comfortable on the saddle, and gripped the reins instinctively.

As they moved out, Alanna speculated in worry for Maude's safety. Was the older woman safe? Did she know what was happening? From her side, Thom reached over and held her hand, as if reading her thoughts. "She's going to be alright, 'Lanna. Father wouldn't let anything happen to her."

Alanna could only nod.

Three and a quarter hours later, Alanna protested at the ache pulsing at the bottom of her spine. They were riding fiercely and without rest, their brown cloaks billowing behind them, as if furious wolves were at their tails. Alanna purposely stopped herself from thinking about her father and home. She didn't want to believe that she may never return to that small village she had grown up in. She didn't want to believe that there may not be a home to return to after all this was over.

Where did all the time go? How was it that after spending a wonderful summer under the sun and enjoying it with beautiful company; she had returned to reality only to find herself seeking refuge during an apparent civil conflict?

Much rougher pounding of hoofs, like thunder on the dirt road, broke her out of her thoughts. The quick sound of a blade sliding out of its sheath forced Alanna to halt abruptly in panic. Looking around, she saw that a band of four men – all dressed in drab colours – were surrounding Arundel, Thom and herself. One of the four men was carrying a sword, and Alanna started to whimper at the sight. They were going to get killed! In one smooth move, the attacker carrying the sword sliced the leg of Thom's mare. The shrieking neighing of pain pierced the air. Alanna tried to back away, but a hand suddenly grabbed her hair from behind, causing her to let out a shrill scream in terror, "No! Thom! Father!" she sobbed, calling for salvation, but a hand moved to cover her mouth. They weren't even given time to defend themselves!

MAMA!

She saw, through rather blurry eyes, the redness of Arundel's uniform as it was exposed to their attackers. A second later she was falling backwards, a sharp pain hitting her head before she was succumbing, without a fight, to the strong, comforting lure of nothingness.