One of a Kind
Disclaimer: Everything to do with the world of Tortall is the property of Tamora Pierce, with the exception of my writing and the characters I created.
Chapter Eighteen: The Wedding
Alanna winced as the sharp needle she was using connected with her finger, and hurriedly held it away from the ivory fabric of Tat's veil. While they were having most of the dresses made by tailors, traditionally a bride made at least part of her own dress, along with her bridesmaids, with the result that most of Alanna's free time had suddenly been taken up by the embroidery and beadwork on the bodice and skirt of Tat's gown, not to mention the same on her own, and then the delicate work of embroidering and beading the hem of Tat's veil, made of a similar material to the top layer of hers and the bridesmaids dresses - a material that just happened to be particularly difficult to work on, being so sheer.
"We're never going to get this finished in time." She declared, threading a seed pearl onto the needle, biting her lip as she carefully sewed it into place amongst the delicately curling hemline of the veil.
"Of course we are - there are six of us working on it Alanna, if you count our maids, who you know will help the minute we ask them to."
"I meant all of it - the dresses too, not just this."
Tat grinned. "We'd better, of the baron'll have our heads for not getting me and his son married off in time."
"Tat, we have less than a month." Alanna pointed out.
"Well, look how much we've done already." Rhiannon pointed out, not unreasonably. "How long do you honestly think it'll take them to put the dresses together once we've finished what we're doing? And if all else fails the seamstresses can make our dresses and we'll just work on Tat's."
Alanna snorted. "Fine - if you want to put it like that."
Tat waved a hand at her. "Oh, stop being so negative."
"I'll be negative if I want to be negative." Alanna snapped, and Tat looked up, gray green eyes concerned.
"Alanna? Are you alright? What's wrong - you've been on edge all day."
Alanna rolled her eyes heavenward. "Nothing."
Faithful looked up from where he was licking a paw in the corner. There's no one magically spying on you, or physically. You could tell them, you know.
Alanna shifted uncomfortably. Tat looked over at Faithful, having been aware for a while, as was Rhia that the cat could communicate with humans when he wished to.
"Alanna?" She asked, laying a hand gently on her friend's arm.
Alanna sighed. "You wouldn't believe me."
Tat smiled slightly. "Try us."
Alanna looked up at her. "Not so long ago, just after midsummer, Duke Roger came to me with a proposal to join him a - what's the technical term? Mutually advantageous venture, I suppose you could say."
"About?"
Alanna breathed out angrily. "He wants to kill Jon, and his parents, so he can legally become king of Tortall. He offered me a place as part of his inner circle if I were to act on his behalf with Jon."
Tat had gone even paler than usual, her cheeks completely bleached of colour, and Rhiannon's pale golden-brown riding tan looked pasty.
"And?" It was Rhia who spoke now.
"I - pretended to accept, and told Jon. Not who was behind it - he wouldn't believe anything against his cousin without proof, and this seems to be the only way to get it. Thom's suspected the duke of plotting such a thing for a long time, as does sir Myles, but the man leaves no evidence behind him whenever he does something - at least, not evidence anyone has found or could use if they did. I - don't tell anyone, please. Not even Raoul, Tat."
Tat nodded slowly. "You're playing a dangerous game Alanna - be careful, for Mithros sake. We wouldn't want anything to happen to you."
Alanna closed her eyes very briefly, then opened them again. "The veil." She managed. "We really should get back to work."
Tat nodded, and Rhiannon picked up a needle, beginning to chatter about a new horse her sister had told her about that she planned to breed into the Gorge's already fine stock.
***
"My parents are going to come as well - they're rather good friends with the baron and baroness of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, so of course they're going to come and give their royal felicitations."
Alanna smiled. "That's nice."
Jon frowned. "You're pale. Are you feeling alright?" He asked, lifting a hand to touch her cheek.
"Yes." Alanna said, pulling away ever so slightly.
"You'll be attending the ball tonight, I trust? Not to busy helping Tatiana with the wedding preparations?"
Alanna groaned. "They do seem to keep us incredibly busy. I'd rather give the ball a miss, but since that doesn't seem to be allowed, I'll come along quietly and put in an appearance and retire as early as I possibly can."
"You won't stay and keep me company? I'm crushed." Jon joked lightly. "How's your little self-imposed assignment going?" He asked more seriously.
"I'm being a good girl and doing what I'm supposed to, but so far I don't have any damning proof, other than what I've told you."
"Which is damning enough, if you'd only tell me who this person is."
She sighed. "I told you Jon, I can't. You'd never believe me without some tangible proof, or something you'd seen and heard with your own eyes and ears, and in a court, this person would have much more standing than me - I mean, honestly Jon, I'm a Gifted noble lady who's a Shang apprentice and a complete contradiction to everything everyone expects."
"Whoever said that was a bad thing?" Jon demanded. "I've lived at court my entire life and I've never seen it as lively as when you came here."
Alanna smiled a little sadly. "I'm only saying a lot of people don't trust me as a matter of course."
"I trust you. So does your brother, and Tat and Rhia, not to mention Gary and Raoul -"
"None of the people you've just named are experienced hands at court intrigues, or people who have much interest in them. What chance would I have of convincing the cynics?'
"All you have to do is convince father."
Alanna raised an eyebrow. "All? Since when has convincing his majesty been a matter of as simple you could say that about it? No, I'll get you both your proof, Jon, I swear it. Just please - be patient."
They rounded a corner, coming into full view of the few nobles scattered around the gardens, and Alanna stiffened. She didn't know who else duke Roger had on his side, other than that there were others, who he told her she would meet eventually, and virtually anyone could be one - with a few notable exceptions, like the queen's brother and Sir Myles, but mostly she just wouldn't know.
"Be careful," she murmured quietly. "I don't the others our friend has working for him, so don't do anything that would seem out of place with what I'm supposed to be doing."
Jon nodded. "I see."
A high-pitched calling reached their ears. "Jonathan? Jonathan!"
Jon turned, catching sight of his mother, surrounded, as always by her ladies, calling from a table nearby. "I'd better go." He murmured, reaching down to kiss her lightly on the cheek, and striding away. Alanna watched him go, raising a hand to her cheek, and feeling absurdedly like bursting into tears.
***
Alanna reached for her boots, pulling them on as she bolted out the door, to where the procession headed for Malorie's Peak was being packed by servants and hostlers. She caught sight of Luna, amongst many other horses, and pulled her away from the crowd, grinning with joy as she mounted, glad of the chance to get away from the city and the crowds. Luna stirred under her, as if sensing her thoughts that soon there would be space to gallop freely, with fresh air and clean water and grass.
A bazhir hostler came over, ducking his head to check Luna's bridle, then looking her full in the face. Alanna gasped. "George!" She said, remembering at the last moment to keep her voice low. "What are you doing here?"
He grinned. "I wanted to check on yer ladyship before ye and ye brother and all the rest left. I congratulated the 'appy couple just then an' gave them their weddin' present. Listen," he said, his smile disappearing. "From what yer brother's tol' me, I know what the young duke is up to, and what ye're doin'. Be careful lass. He's as poisonous as a Cathaki snake, and just as treacherous, too."
She nodded. "I know. Thanks for the concern George - I will be careful."
"See ye are." He replied, and Alanna looked away, startled and worried by what she saw in his eyes.
"Lady Alanna?" It was Raoul. "Aren't you going in the carriage with Tat and lady Rhiannon?"
She made a face, shaking her head. "I don't think so - I do believe I'll volunteer for the position of scout."
He gaped at her. "Scout? Are you serious?"
She nodded. "Oh yes. I don't really want to be cooped up in a carriage for the next few days - how far is it to Malorie's Peak from here?"
He looked sideways at her. "Around three days. Sure you're up for it? Some of that's mountain area."
She heard a snort behind her and turned to see Thom there, astride Mage. "Raoul, we were born in mountain country. I'm sure my little sister can manage."
She raised a copper eyebrow at him. "You're riding?"
He shrugged. "Apparently so, according to my knight master. Myles decided he couldn't miss the wedding of the student who livened up his class so much for eight years."
Raoul grimaced. "He's not going to mention that, is he?"
Alanna laughed at his expression. "Ah, wedding speeches. So terrifying for the happy couple."
Raoul muttered something, striding away. "Oh, and Raoul, don't forget - I'm scouting." she called after him.
"You're scouting?"
"She's insane.'' Thom said.
Jon grinned. "I know. What about you, Thom?''
"I think I'll give it a miss, somehow.''
"Your loss." Alanna teased, grinning.
"I'm so sad.''
Riding over to the pile of packs assembled for those scouting, Alanna grabbed one, flipping open her saddle bags to accommodate it, and pulling out a thick, warm, relatively waterproof hooded robe to wrap around herself, the lack of fastenings - if you were about to run a person through with a sword, it was better not to have to worry about buttons - allowing it to flap open in the wind over her long tunic and breaches.
Faithful jumped down, settling himself across Luna's neck above the saddle, licking a paw contentedly.
Alanna looked up. "Let's go."
***
Alanna hadn't bothered putting on her bow and quiver while they were still in sight of Corus. Now, as they stopped for a short 'lunch, sending off scouts and fixing everything that needed fixing stop,' she unbuckled the wrapped bundle from behind her saddle, re-rolling her blanket and slinging her quiver, with her bow clipped to it, over her shoulder.
"Ready?" Jon asked, riding up beside her.
She raised an eyebrow. "Of course. Why do you ask?"
He shrugged. "The scouts are supposed to be either gifted or familiar to the area, so I volunteered to be one. The others are Cole and Fredric - you know them, I think. It shouldn't be too much trouble to contact them, but here."
She looked down at the tiny bundle he held out. "What is it?"
"Tokens. From all of us, so you can focus if need be. D'you have any?"
"Uh - just a moment." She burrowed down into the limited possessions she kept in her saddlebags. "Here.'' she announced, re-emerging. "Throwing stars. I'd prefer to keep them, but I don't have anything else small on me that you could use as a focus.''
Jon nodded. "I give them these. And Alanna." He turned back to her. "Be careful."
"I'm always careful."
Jon snorted. "Of course you are."
***
Alanna swung lightly down in Luna's saddle, holding her strung bow and the arrow she held to it aside as she passed under the low-slung branch. Coming up again, she swung her bow up in the direction of a snapping twig.
Darkness stepped lightly into the small clearing, and Alanna dropped her bow, replacing the arrow in her quiver as Jon held his hands up.
"You shouldn't surprise a person like that. I could've killed you!"
He grinned. "No you wouldn't have - you're too well trained to slip up like that."
Alanna scowled.
"What are you doing here?"
"In case you weren't told, it's not a good idea to sleep on your own when
you're a scout."
"I'm not alone - I've got Luna and Faithful."
He nodded. "I know that - but you might someone who can use a sword around as well - apart from yourself of course."
Alanna scowled at that, but made no comment. "How'd you find me? I like to think my woods-man ship is better than that."
He grinned. "I cheated. I used your token. Happy?"
"Yes – we should set up camp soon."
"I'm cooking."
She glared at him. "What'd my brother say about my cooking skills? I'll have you know they've improved a lot since I was ten."
"He didn't tell me anything. I had the misfortune of tasting something you made when we were at Drell. If it's improved since then, I shudder to think what Thom must've put up with …" He trailed off as Alanna leaned over in Luna's saddle and swatted at his ear. "Ouch, woman, be gentle." Alanna poked her tongue out. It was a juvenile gesture, but it made her feel better.
They came to a clearing, and Alanna swung down. "Well, this looks as good as anywhere."
He nodded. "It'll do – though we'd better sleep under that tree over there – mountains get a fair amount of rain at this time of year."
Alanna hit him again.
"What was that for?" He demanded, rubbing his now pink ear.
She gave him a haughty look. "I was born and raised in the mountains, you flat landed, seashore-city living idiot."
"Oh." He said meekly, following her to the tree, where she quickly unrolled her blanket, then yanked out the grass between that and the other side of the tree's shelter, piling it in the middle of the bare circle for tinder.
She strode away, bow slung across her back. "I'm going hunting."
Jon rolled his eyes. "Don't be long – I'll set up some protection spells."
He looked over at Luna, who had moved closer to Darkness, and evidently did not share her mistress's distain for his – or his horse's – suit. "Alright then." He sighed, leading Darkness to one side of the clearing, and staking down his lead with enough length that he could graze, but not enough that he could get to Luna, on the other side. That's all I need, he thought. I can just imagine Alanna's reaction if Luna had a foal – especially by Darkness!
He'd gotten a fire burning under the tree by the time Alanna returned, a hare pinned on the arrow in her hand. She sat, pulling the arrow out matter-of-factly, and proceeded to skin it. If she held any distaste for the admittedly gruesome, if necessary, task, she didn't show it, and Jon shook his head, continually bewildered that she could be both a seemingly delicate court lady and a soldier and warrior at the same time.
She finished skinning and gutting the animal as Jon hunted out the supplies of herbs and added them to the boiling water slung over the fire, and moved across to help Alanna cut up the meat in companiable silence, tossing the bits of meat into the stew.
She broke the silence first. "Do you want first watch or shall I?"
He shrugged. "You seem to get up before dawn half the time anyway for your exercises, so it'd be easier for me to take first." She nodded, and leaned forward to poke a stick into the fire.
"So."
"So –" Alanna bit her lip, uncomfortably aware of the fact that she was uncomfortably aware of her proximity to Jon.
"You're very quiet tonight."
She shrugged. "I'm tired."
"The great, invincible shang lady is tired?" He teased gently.
"I never said I was invincible."
"You implied it."
"You said it. Remember that, my lord prince. If people call me invincible, you said it first."
He grimaced. "Like you'd let me forget it."
"Only when it suits me." She yawned, suddenly tired in actuality. "I think I might go to bed – ah, camp roll, thin, small, and uncomfortable as it is."
"Eat first."
She shook her head, and Jon ladled out a bowl of the stew, waving it enticingly under her nose. "Didn't the Dragon ever teach you skipping meals while you're scouting is a bad thing?"
She took it. "Fine."
He tapped her nose. "You might be almost invincible, Lanna, but you're still only human."
"Isn't your ear sore enough yet?"
Taking the hint, Jon moved away, fetching himself a cloth to polish his sword.
Wearily, Alanna got up, flopping down again once she reached her so-called 'bed.'
***
"Alanna, get up." She rubbed a hand over her eyes.
"Wha-at?"
Jon punched her shoulder lightly. "Your watch."
Grumbling, she got up, grabbing sword and bow from where they lay beside her, making her way to a place where she commanded a clear view of everything around them, as well as the heat from the fire.
Moodily she stared into the flames dancing over the embers, rubbing the ember around her neck, remembering when she had received it – her first encounter with the Goddess.
"Hello Alanna."
She spun, hand going to her sword hilt instinctively, then dropped to her knees as she recognized the Goddess.
"My Mother." She managed. "Again you visit me."
The Goddess smiled slightly. "As always, my daughter, you wish to get straight to the heart of the matter.
Your are wondering why I am here."
So much for phrasing it more eloquently. "Yes, my Mother, I am."
"Very well. My daughter, you have laid upon yourself a dangerous burden, in choosing to protect your prince in the way you have – though perhaps your feelings lead you to see it another way. The time will come soon for you to expose the duke, and you must take the opportunity – you will find out just how urgent this is soon enough."
Alanna nodded. "I see."
The Goddess touched her head gently. "Be careful, my daughter. Go with my blessing."
The air around her shimmered briefly, and she was gone.
Alanna looked across at where Jon slept on, straight into Faithful's eyes. "What did she mean by half of that, Faithful?"
He licked a paw. Part of your test is to find that out yourself.
"I guess that means you're not going to tell me."
What sort of guardian would I be if I made life too easy for you?
Alanna snorted, and returned to her watch.
***
"Your Highness!"
The fire crackled urgently in the pre-dawn light, and Alanna hurriedly tossed a branch onto it. The fire soared into life, burning wood brown.
"Who's that?" She demanded.
"Sir Cole – where is his Highness?"
"Sleeping. What in Mithros name happened to make you call for him at this ungodly hour of the morning?"
"I was given a message to pass onto him as soon as I could. Her Majesty – the queen has had a fall, and been seriously hurt. The king requests that his Highness return to the main camp as soon as possible."
She nodded, forgetting that the spell Sir Cole had cast did not cover vision. "I'll see to it."
"Thank you, my lady."
"Jon – Jon. Jon for Mithros sake wake up! "
"Alanna? What's happened?"
"Honestly," she snapped, temper getting the better of her. "You call yourself a knight? What if we were attacked and you just lay there sleeping?"
He looked around. "Well, obviously we haven't been. Why did you wake me?"
"Your mother's been hurt. His Majesty requests you join them at the main camp."
Jon was on his feet in an instant, the blood drained from his face. "What?" He demanded. "What happened?"
Alanna swallowed. "She fell."
Jon nodded, and swiftly began to pack his belongings. "Come with me."
"What?"
"Come with me back to camp. Please, Alanna." He looked up at her, for a second seeming five years old.
"I have to scout."
"The others are scouting. I'm sure they can manage while no one that we're supposed to be guarding is moving anywhere. Please."
She sighed. "Alright – I suppose I'm honour bound to come in any case and stop you blundering into something while you're in this state."
He smiled wanly. "Thank you."
She shrugged. "What are friends for but to keep you from knocking your head off on a branch or some such?"
***
The queen was in worse condition than Cole had given away, pale as death and utterly unmoving.
"What happened?" Alanna demanded as Jon took his mother's hand.
One of Queen Lianne's ladies stepped forward, a shy, plump girl who hadn't married yet, for all her twenty-four years. "Her Majesty wished to go walking. The ground had seemed stable enough earlier, but it gave way under her feet and she hit her head against a boulder."
Alanna nodded, and looked up. The duke watched her from a shadowy corner of the tent, unseen by all but her, and Alanna swallowed as he gave a slow, deliberate wink.
The time will come soon enough, the Goddess had said, in her midnight visit two nights ago.
***
The King and Jonathan had returned to Corus with the queen, where Duke Baird had chosen to remain, congratulating the happy couple beforehand, and the places where they would have sat beside the lady and lord of Eagles Reach, and the baron and his wife were conspicuous reminders of the accident that had befallen the well-liked queen.
Alanna hugged Tat tightly, heedless of the fine beading and embroidery of both their gowns. "Don't let it spoil your day."
Tat smiled, and though she was much paler than usual, Alanna didn't know if it was concern for the Queen and the rumours that had begun, or simply nerves. She hoped it was nerves. "I won't."
Rhia smiled at her wordlessly, and picked up the delicate diamond tiara – mined and shaped by the workmen of the famous diamond mines Tat's family controlled – and veil, packed in tissue for safekeeping.
Alanna took the tiara from her, and carefully placed it in Tat's hair, holding pins in her mouth to keep it in place. When she was done, Rhiannon pinned her veil in place, both of them straightening it, before stepping back to admire their handiwork.
Alanna sighed, turning to Rhia. "I can't believe it. Our little baby's all grown up."
"I know," she replied, wiping a mock-tear from her eye. "Time just goes so quickly, doesn't it?"
Tat threw a nearby pillow at them. "I'm older than you both, you twits."
Alanna grinned, and began to laugh. "Well, since your mother's off dealing with the formidable baroness, naturally we had to make that speech in her absence. You look beautiful, by the way."
"As always." Came a voice from the back of the room, and Alanna spun to see the Lord of Eagles Reach standing behind them.
"Papa." Tat reached forward, hugging him. He returned it, then held her at arm's length.
"Ready?"
Tat looked down, surveying herself. "I think so."
"Wait." Alanna picked up the delicate bunch of mountain flowers, handing it to her. "Can't go without your bouquet."
"Well," She said then. "I suppose we'd best get going. No sense in keeping your guests waiting.
***
The ceremony, as were most ceremonies involving nobles and legal terms, was long and uninteresting, but uneventful.
What was more interesting for all was the feast and the dancing afterwards. At some point Tat and Raoul slipped away, no doubt using one of the more energetic dances as cover.
"They probably wished to avoid the bedding revels." Gary had said when she mentioned it. She had replied that she didn't blame them – they were enough to put anyone off marriage. The revels, a fairly old tradition whose significance had decreased since they were invented, would nonetheless eventually be mentioned by some drunken young noble, and the entire mob would proceed to dump bride and groom on the high table and carry them to their chambers, where the bridesmaids and groomsmen would then proceed to put them to bed and usually disappear as inconspicuously as possible – depending on the amount of wine consumed that night.
***
Alanna was packed and ready to leave early the next morning, not having drunk enough to have the sort of hangover that required lying in bed groaning the entire day – in any case, she had learned to ignore insignificant aches and pains as part of her training.
Tat looked upset when Alanna announced she was leaving so soon. "Must you go?"
" Yes – I have to see how the queen's doing."
"And comfort Jon." Tat had murmured.
Alanna purposely misunderstood. "Of course I have to comfort my friend in his hour of need."
Tat had raised an eyebrow. "Of course."
Alanna blushed and slapped at her friend's arm. "Get back to bed. It's not normal for a bride to be out of bed so early the day after her wedding."
Now it was Tat's turn to blush. "You will visit, won't you?"
"Of course – I'll have to be there for the birth of two of my very good friends little ones –"
Tat groaned. "Not you too. I swear, if I hear one more person make some not-so-subtle reference to an heir, I'm going to –"
Alanna grinned. "You're going to what? Stop bedding your husband to spite them?"
Tat grimaced. "Where did you learn such inappropriate language, Alanna?"
She grinned. "I get around a lot, remember. I'll see you soon, I promise."
"I'll hold you to that."
She mounted Luna, riding away at a walk until she was out of Tat's sight, and then kicked her mount into a gallop, leaning forward, bound home.
