Subj: fic
Date: 5/29/01 11:54:16 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Zizikicafe
To: Zizikicafe



Disclaimer-all characters xcept 4 alloy & her family belong to Tamora Pierce. Same with places xcept for this beautiful ship this takes place on.

Alloy buried her head into Rad's shoulder. She was doing it, she was leaving her home. She didn't think it would be this hard. Rad stroked his hands through her hair in a soothing motion. It worked a little. She stopped bawling and regained enough composure to look out at her parents. She waved at them, but after the first wave she went back into Rad's arms. Her dad frowned. He wasn't sure how involved she was with this boy. Alloy didn't notice this because she was too busy excreting salty liquid from her eyes.
She remembered when she'd first said good-bye to her parents. They'd all cried except for her dad (who she swears got teary-eyed) and Rad, who really had no reason to cry. He should be happy, he was going to see his friend, and leave this awful place. Her mother had made her promise to be good. She had promised. Her father told her that if she slept with any men, he'd hunt them down. He said this with a glare at Rad. After, before Alloy had entered the ship, her mother had countered this argument by giving Alloy a chain to ward off pregnancy. "Just in case sweetie, and I don't care if you do lie with a man as long as you love him," she had whispered to her. Alloy fingered the gold chain around her neck. While her father had pulled Rad aside to tell him what he could and could not do, how to protect her, what to do if something happened, etc., her mother had told her some names of people that she could talk to. She tried to remember the list. Let's see, there was Daine Sarassi, Numair Salamin, Sir Myles of Olau, Queen Thayet, Buri(Thayet's friend), Alanna, Neal and his friends (he had assured her that they were ok), Sir Raoul of Goldenlake, and-um-what was the name-Obafem Ezeko. She thought those were all of the names. There was one. She was a girl, and she had a name. Of course she had a name she scolded herself. She put that aside, trying to remember saying goodbye, so that she would always remember her parents. Why couldn't they go with her, they would be in as much danger as she would be.
Right as her mother had given her the names, Sir Alanna of Olau and Pirates Swoop. Alloy was first shocked by the King's Champions height. She was rather short, even shorter than Alloy's 5 feet 3 inches. Alanna seemed nice, and she immediately shushed Alloy when she tried to call Sir Alanna. She said she hated that. It was fine with Alloy. Her mother had been upset that Neal was still on the ship. It was then that Alloy noticed that her mother wanted to see if he might pass for marriage. She had made a vow right then not to use her charm on him. She wasn't worried about Alanna now since she seemed rather nice. Alloy wanted to ask her next time she saw her if she could show her some defense moves. It looked like a long journey to Tortall, and it wouldn't hurt to stay in shape.
Come to think of it, where was Alanna? Her parents had faded into the distance, and Alloy needed something to do. As she looked around a young boy with brown hair, and very green eyes walked over. He was handsome, but something told Alloy that she shouldn't tangle with him.
"Hello, I'm Nealan of Queenscove, Sir Alanna's squire," he told them. Immediately Alloy was glad she had her instincts. "You must be Alloy and you must be Rad. Alanna wants to see both of you downstairs." Seeing the questioning look in Alloy's eyes, he continued, "My knight master doesn't like boats, and thought she has found a potion that can cure her sea sickness it takes a while to kick in. So she likes to stay below. Now, if we may go." She took the hand that Neal had offered, and Rad stayed a step behind.
"So, have you lived in Carthak your whole life?" he asked her.
"Yes, I've never been anywhere else," she told him.
"So Tortall will be a new experience for you"
"Yes it will. Will that be a good new experience or a bad new experience?"
"Most likely good, but it all depends on who you hang out with and what attitude you have."
"Will it be good if I hang out with you?" she looked up at him.
"Probably, my friend Kel would love to meet you."
Kel-where did that sound familar? Oh well. " I'd like to meet your friends, Nealan of Queenscove."
He stuck out his tongue, " Oh please don't call me that. My least favorite aunt calls me Nealan."
"So then what should I call you?"
"Well hopefully no bad names, but I like to be called Neal."
"Ok, Neal will you show me around the palace, too?"
" I would love to, but I should ask Kel. She would be upset if she didn't get to recruit someone."
Did he say "she"? Must have been a slip of the tongue or she was hearing things. " Maybe both of you could show me around."
He looked at her, "I'd like that."
She flashed him one of her famous smiles, " Neal, do you read much?"
"All the time, but Alanna likes me to work on my Gift more than anything. She says that I should use my Gift to make up for the lives I take."
"So you have the healing Gift?"
"Yes, and it came in handy as page. They work you so hard that I'm surprised I'm still alive."
Alloy chuckled, "Yeah, my teacher the Empress of Carthak was that way."
"You were taught combat?"
"Yes I was. My parents told me that every girl should know how to defend herself. But now they sing a different tune. I know how to defend myself, but now my parents won't let me stay in Carthak to defend myself. They say if combat was so wonderful, then why did our Empress die. It's really frustrating."
"Well Alloy I can see where they were coming from. Combat is a wonderful thing, but from what I hear your Empress died of a poisoned arrow. Combat can't really save that. I know you'd rather stay in Carthak with the fighting, but if someone shoots an arrow at you- which they most likely will since your parents are very well known scientists and they might want to kill anyone connected with them- your combat won't help. But I'm glad you're here, and we can learn combat together," Neal flashed her a smile.
"You're very frank aren't you?" Alloy asked.
" Yes, and I consider it one of my better qualities." Alloy smiled. "Now here we are." He walked in.
Rad walked up to her, "Stop flirting."
"I wasn't flirting," she defended herself.
"Dearie, I've spent quite some time with those men and women who flirt down at the bar. I know what flirting is. Now your father doesn't want any of th-"
"Oh who cares about my father. I'm out of his roof. I'll flirt if I want. But thank you for caring."
"So you don't mind flirting with him?" he hissed.
"Rad, like you care. Now they're probably wondering why we're not in there. So let's go." Alloy walked in with a stunned Rad following her.
"Hello Alloy and Rad," Alanna greeted from her bed. She was sitting there. "I hope you like the color green."
Alloy moved to sit by Neal, and Rad went to sit by Alanna. He muttered something to her, and Alanna nodded, and told him something. He had seemed worried, but now he seemed almost calm.
"Alloy, I want to tell you what to expect on this trip. As we get closer to Tortall, I was going to educate you on Tortallan law, but I think my squire Neal should do that. He could use a little refresher course."
"Yes I get to read," she heard Neal whisper.
"This will also give you two a chance to talk. I know you're going to miss your friends, but I hope you and I can be friends along with Neal."
"I'd like that Alanna," Alloy told her, and she meant it
Alanna smiled, "As for your guard Raddak, he doesn't need to follow you around everywhere on this ship. The men on this ship know you're with me, and they won't dare touch you, but try and stay with Rad, Neal, or me on the upper deck. They may forget up in the sea air, or if you fall off you will want someone with you. But I can warn you now I won't be there a lot, so don't ask me too much. Don't try to lead these men on unless you feel it won't interfere with their duties. I still wouldn't recommend it."
"I wouldn't think of it," Alloy assured her.
"Good, now that we've gotten the basics I want to know if you have any questions."
"Well actually I do. See, there's not much for a girl to do on a ship to get exercise, and I was wondering if you could instruct me in the fighting arts of Tortall or what you know."
"That would be great. Neal could join. He's getting a little rusty," Alanna chuckled.
"Well without Kel to keep me in line what do you expect," Neal grumbled.
Alanna continued, " We can start tomorrow. Once my potion kicks in. We can do girl talk, too."
Noticing a dismissal all three of them left.
"Alloy I would love to spend time with you, but I need to find some books on Tortallan law, so I may further be able to teach you, my pupil, to the full extent of my ability," with that Neal left.
"He likes you," Rad said in an annoying baby voice that reminded her of the kids in the street whenever they say two people kissing.
"Oh shut up," she retorted.
"Awwwwww, young love."
Alloy chased him down the hall.
They were stopped by a young man at the end of the hall.
"Sir Alanna sent me to show you to your room," the man said. He looked Alloy over with an evil grin in his eye. His eyes widened when he saw the charm around her neck. He took this to mean she was ready. Neither Alloy or Rad noticed this.
"Ok, lead the way," Rad said. The man turned and they followed.
When they got to their room, they were pleasantly surprised to find all their belongings in their room.
"Um-" Rad started as he noticed that both their belongings were in one room. "We won't share a room."
" You won't?" the young man asked, " but everyone believes that you two are, pardon the expression, lovers."
Alloy jumped back, and looked at Rad. Just the mere thought of her and Rad, and Rad and her......ew!
"Well we're not. I'm her bodyguard, and I would like to request a room as close to her as possible. Is there perhaps a room next door that's empty?"
"Yes sir. I'll move your stuff in there." The man said.
"No, no I can do it."
The young man looked about to leave, but quickly said "My name is Puck if you need further assistance." With that he left.
Rad turned gathered the bags he had, and carried his stuff to the next room.
Alloy turned and looked around her room that she would have for the next couple of months and saw a shadow there. What was that? She walked over to get a better look when something grabbed her from behind.

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hehe cliffhanger. Sorry it's been so long, and chapter 3 is still screwed up, but i am fixingit! Luv ya! O and if ne1 else was dissapointed w/ Squire pleez email me at saturnfry@yahoo.com