One of a Kind

Disclaimer: Does anyone actually read this? It's such a waste of time. Like I could come up with a character like Alanna. I can't. It takes someone like Tamora Pierce, the real owner, to do that. I'm just borrowing. (I did, however, come up with Toffee, Tat, who I am very proud of, and some priestesses.)

Chapter four: Trouble

Toffee snorted as Alanna removed the unwieldy sidesaddle, as if to signify her dislike of it. Alanna grinned. "You and me both, Toffs." Tat glanced over from where she was brushing down her own horse, a high-strung mare she called Vixen, and grinned. "Talking to your pony again, Alanna? You must be going insane."

Alanna snorted in a very un-ladylike way. "Runs in the family."

Tat laughed, then turned her head back to Vixen, who had gotten a hold on her blouse with her teeth, her way of getting someone's attention. The fine, scratchy material tore as Tat tried to remove it from the mahogany coloured horse's grasp. "Aw, Vixen, you tore it! Now I won't be able to wear it again! What a pity." She added slyly as Alanna hid a grin in Toffee's mane, knowing how much Tat hated the dress which Vixen had so conveniently torn. In the past three months since she had come to the convent, she and Tat had come to know each other very well, discovering almost identical loves of horses, riding, any sort of physical activity bar dancing, and dislikes of most of the so-called ladylike activities they studied, and most of the other things generally associated with ladies - giggling mindlessly, flirting, and hot, heavy dresses.

Tat, however had a slower temper then Alanna, and tended to be less impulsive. After a little persuasion, she could be counted on to join in on almost any adventure Alanna thought up, and to include the younger girl in her own.

Two grooms came over, having finished with the horses of the other 'ladies,' and hurried to take the saddle and currycomb out of their respective hands. Strictly speaking, none of the young ladies were supposed to care for their mounts, but since most girls simply shoved their reins into the hands of the nearest stableboy, as soon as the lesson was over, keeping them all extremely busy, they could usually get away with at least starting to groom their mounts.

Spotting a group of girls in front of them, they hurried to catch up, not wanting to have to wait too long to get their dinner, then abruptly slowed as they recognised Delia's back. Not quickly enough though, to prevent them from hearing her next words.

"If you ask me, the whole family's strange. I mean, look at her, she spends all her time riding or running around in the woods, and I heard that her brother is quite simply the most pathetic excuse for a page that Tortall's ever seen. And if he's anything like her, then they even look it, what with that copper hair and weird purple eyes."

Purple eyes. Tat looked worriedly over at Alanna, who had gone pale, and had clenched her hands into fists.

"I beg your pardon, lady Delia?"

Delia turned. "For what, pray tell, lady Alanna?"

Alanna's voice was steady, although her clipped tone told Tat that she was fighting hard to keep it that way.

"I believe I just heard you talking about myself and my brother."

"I was. And what of it?"

"I must demand that you take your comments back."

"And if I don't? After all, they were true, you are a freak and your brother-" she got no further as Alanna fist connected with her eye, knocking her backwards. She gasped, stumbling, and ran at her "Why you little-" Alanna dodged of the way of Delia's outstretched hands, yanking her down with her flowing brown locks, not caring that she pulled quite a bit out as she sat on Delia's now muddy dress, effectively pinning her down. She pulled back her fist, clenching her fingers so hard the knuckles turned white. She glared down at Delia, who was already beginning to develop a large purple bruise around one eye, and said, voice quiet but shaking with anger, "Take it back."

"I-"

"Lady Alanna! Just what do you think you are doing?" Alanna glanced up. Priestess Clothilde ran up, closely followed by Sophia. The priestess grabbed her arm yanking her off Delia, who got up, crying and scowling, as priestess Clothilde said, "Sophia, will you please take lady Delia to the infirmary. I believe lady Alanna needs to have a little chat with the First Daughter."

With that, she set off, dragging Alanna by the arm behind her. Tat stared after them, worried, and gave Alanna an encouraging wave.

Alanna straightened up proudly, determined not to be dragged. This proved difficult however, as the priestess was walking so fast Alanna had to almost run - an almost impossible feat in her heavy skirts - to keep up.

The First Daughter looked up, eyes wide, as the doors to her study burst open to reveal a very angry priestess and an equally angry Alanna.

"Yes, priestess Clothilde?" Her calm, unruffled tone of voice sounded as though Clothilde had walked in calmly after being announced by the young priestess standing guard by the door, rather than bursting in at what was almost a run.

"First Daughter, this young lady attacked lady Delia, who has just been taken to the infirmary by priestess Sophia!"

The First Daughter's expression grew stern. "I see. Leave us."

"But-"

"I said, leave us." Priestess Clothilde's face was a grim mask of barely contained fury as she bowed to the First Daughter and walked out, glaring at Alanna, who stared back until the wooden double doors shut, hiding her retreating back from view.

"Walk forward, child."

Alanna jumped as she heard the stiff command the First Daughter gave, and did as she was bade.

"Is this true, lady Alanna, that you attacked lady Delia?"

It was just like the first time she had met the First Daughter, that feeling that she couldn't disobey of lie to this woman whether of not she wanted to.

"Yes."

"Why, may I ask? For I feel that you are not the sort of person who would do such a thing without good reason." Her voice was stern but her words cheered Alanna slightly. Finding her courage, she answered.

"She - she insulted me and my brother, First Daughter. I asked her to take it back but she refused. I had to defend my honour." After that first, the words came rushing out of her mouth, the last said almost apologetically. She glanced up at the First Daughter through her lashes, then gasped as she felt gentle mental fingers probing her thoughts. It was an advanced spell that she had not been taught, and she realised that the First Daughter was testing the truth of her words.

At last she nodded, and the fingers withdrew from Alanna's mind.

"I see. Very well, lady Alanna, you will apologise formally to lady Delia, and will perform an extra hour of etiquette in your free time for the next month. Furthermore, you will be confined to you rooms for the rest of your free time for that month. I will also have lady Delia informed that she will be required to apologise for her insult to you, and to keep such comments and actions to herself in future. As will you. You are dismissed."

Alanna bowed her head, acknowledging her acceptance of the punishment, and curtsied quickly before exiting the room to where Sophia was waiting to escort her back to her rooms in the hall.

After a period of silence, Sophia said,

"You should not have done that, Alanna. Such deeds will only lead you into trouble. I must admit, however, that Delia will be sporting one of the most splendid black eyes I have seen in quite some time for quite a while."

Alanna ducked her head, hiding her smile at Sophia's comment under her hair.

***

True to the First Daughter's command, Alanna performed her punishment, and both girls apologised, however, neither forgot the incident and what had before been acute dislike blossomed into hatred.

However, unknown to Alanna, Sophia and the First Daughter, who had both had considerable weapons training, agreed that she appeared to be a very talented fighter, and watched her carefully as they tried to decide, as the First Daughter said, whether her in gift the fighting arts was something significant

 to her being a chosen one of the Goddess.