Chapter 3: Explanations
Disclaimer: All canon characters and settings etc. Belong to the highly wonderful author Tamora Pierce
Fi sighed. She should have known that people would find her strange here too. As if being an outcast in her old home hadn't been bad enough, it looked like that she had wasted her second chance in Tortall as well. Why couldn't she ever keep her big mouth shut!
Kel looked behind her at Daine, Alanna and George. All looked as if they had just seen a ghost. Turning back to Fiona, Kel was surprised to see that the girl was acting trouble and by the look of the shine in her eyes, was also close to tears. The woman reached out for the girl's hand and held it, " You don't have to explain here. Let's get you inside and into something dry and comfortable. Those clothes look really uncomfortable. You're about Daine's height so she could probably lend you a pair of breeches and a shirt." The Wildmage nodded at Kel and they all left.
****
About half an hour later, all five were in George's study. Whilst Fiona sat by the fire, Daine was curled on a cushion by the hearth, Kel stood behind the newcomer's chair, the Baron leaned on his desk and Alanna looked out of the window onto the Emerald Ocean. George straightened and walked over to Fi. When she looked up at him, he knelt down so he could see her better and tried a question," Tell us how much you know of us and how you come to know it."
Fi looked at the calm hazel eyes and took a deep breath," I'm from a country called England, in another world. Tm that world a writer wrote books about three women from Tortall, four books on each. These quartets, as they are called, are about Alanna of Trebond, Olau and Pirates Swoop, Veralidaine Sarrasri and Keladry of Mindelan. All of these 12 books are in this thing I've got here," Fi held out the huge book in her lap, "Look if you don't believe me, they're all there."
George looked at the three women in the room. All were as pale and as quiet as the spirits who dwelled in the Realms of the Dead! "May I?" he said, placing a hand on the book. The girl who owned it nodded silently. He flicked to the contents. It was divided by two horizontal lines into three sections. The first was entitled 'Alanna', the second 'Daine' and the third 'Kel'. Underneath each was written Bk1, Bk2, Bk3 and Bk4. Flicking through the 'Alanna' section, George found facts he knew to be truth and found no lies, He returned the book, himself also white-faced, "Well Fiona, I think that you had better take this to Myles."
*****
Later on, Kel was on her way to the stables to go on an evening ride on Peachblossom when she heard a weeping sound. Opening a door to her right, she found Fiona in tears whilst stroking Faithful,
"What do you want!" the girl yelled, seeing Kel, " Doesn't seeing me unhappy cheer you enough?"
" No of course not"
" Well I'm sorry my crying isn't up to your standards then lady knight!" retorted Fi. She made for the door, spilling the cat in her lap to the floor. Kel caught her arm
"What have I done to make you think that I hate you?"
"It's obvious you do, all of you. I can tell when I'm an outcast you know! Alanna hates me for having Faithful and the rest of you act as if I'm growing a tail or something!"
Kel shook her head and sighed, "We don't hate you. We were just surprised. Imagine being back in Ingaland-"
"You mean England" corrected Fi automatically
"Yes. Anyway, imagine you were there and one of us appeared there with one of your dead friends and a sign of one of your Gods with them. Wouldn't you be a bit surprised?"
"OK, point taken, but Alanna does resent me Faithful doesn't she"
Kel shrugged, "To be truthful, I don't know. You'll have to ask her yourself. Up the stairs on your left, turn right on the landing and it's the second door on the left," the woman made towards the door, "Oh and Fi, wipe your eyes before you go." Kel turned back again to throw a white hankie at the still tearful girl before speaking again," I'm sure you'll agree that crying is not something you want to do in front of any Lioness, let alone this one. That got a wet laugh from the girl and they left the room going their separate ways,
******
Fi closed the door behind her. She found herself on a balcony overlooking the cove. Alanna was leaning on a railing, watching the sun set over the sea. It cast a flame-coloured light over everything and brought out a coppery shine from the knight's hair. Steeling herself, Fi walked over.
"Lady Alanna."
" Oh hello, you gave me a surprise!"
"Sorry..."
"Don't be sorry, I ought to be surprised more often."
"You see Lioness, um... how should I put this?"
"This is about Faithful isn't it"
"Yeah, how did you know?"
"Good guess," Alanna smiled, "I don't dislike you at all Fiona, I lost Faithful many years ago. I'm just glad I'm able to see him again. He's here to guide you, not me. You're special Fi, in a way very separate from your Gift..."
"I have got the Gift then?"
The small woman nodded, "George says you are veiled from his Sight and he can pick up people with wild magic" she paused before asking, "So are we friends?"
"Friends." Fi said, nodding.
"Well young lady, I think we had better retire. We're riding to Corus tomorrow. It's a long ride. We'll sort you out a horse in the morning."
"Ok, and Alanna, its Fi"
"Let me show you to your rooms then – Fi." Replied the knight and both of them left, chuckling.