One of a Kind

Disclaimer: Nothing recognisable from the SotL quartet is mine. It's all Tammy's.

Chapter Twenty-One: Departure

Luna's pale hair glimmered in the lantern light, and she nickered softly at the sight of Alanna, cloaked and hooded, creeping towards her. The girl reached the mare and held out a hand, opening it to revel several sugar lumps, and reached forward with the other to hang the lantern on a nail so she could stroke the mare's nose. Luna finished the treat and looked back up at Alanna, eyes pleading. She laughed softly. "No – you'll get fat, and I won't have a warhorse anymore."

Reaching for saddle and bridle, she tightened  the girdle gently around her mare's slightly swollen belly. Gary had snickered when Stefan had announced in a somewhat embarrassed fashion to Alanna and Jon that it appeared Alanna's horse was expecting, since some fool lad had put her in a field with Darkness while she was on heat. Thom was there too, and even he couldn't control his laughter when the pair of them blushed furiously, despite the fact there was no connection between their own – supposedly secret and most certainly not sexual – relationship and their horses'.

Alanna finished with Luna's tack and took hold of her reins, leading the mare quietly out of the stables. Once outside, Luna snorted softly. Alanna grinned. "I agree. Stefan's an agent for the Rogue himself and he can't even stop a possible thief?" Luna snorted again, nudging her shoulder softly, as if to reprimand her for even thinking Luna would go off with someone that wasn't Alanna in the middle of the night.

She mounted, drawing her hood forward to hide any revealing strands of copper hair, and set of towards the hunting grounds – the more tame section of the royal forest that lead onto the real wilderness.

Luna moved quietly, despite her pregnancy, taking care not to snap a single twig beneath her hooves.

Alanna leaned forward to stroke her horse's neck softly. "Good girl." She whispered. "I hope you're recovered properly before I go – I'd hate to go on all those adventures without you."

Stefan had told her the foal would be due perhaps two or three months before she had to leave with Liam – long enough for the foal to be weaned to bottle and mash, since she couldn't very well take it with her.

She noticed a glimmer ahead of her and swore. Lost in thought, she had given Luna her head, and they were in a section of the forest the curved around in front of Corus. They could go back the same way they had come, of course, but that required a ride through a dark and permanently uphill forest, a dangerous practise which all to often resulted in falls for both rider and horse, occasionally fatal. She had gone that way once, and it had been worrying enough without Luna gravid.

The other way, of course, was through the city of Corus – a way that required greeting the gate guards, since no-one would be allowed in at that time of night without identification and a reason for being out of the city so late, a explanation – to the guards, to her brother, when he found out – and he would – to Jon, if he found out,  and possibly to several older nobles who would instruct her on the importance of propriety.

With a sigh, she turned Luna towards the city.

***

"Halt there!" Came a voice, rough with a commoner's accent and perhaps a bit to much ale. "Who goes there? What's your business?"

Alanna stopped, and drew her hood back enough to allow them to see her face, taking off her glove to show him her signet ring – delicate as far as signet rings went, white gold carved with the emblem of Trebond and a swirling A. "Alanna of Trebond."

He stumbled forward, squinting at her ring in the torchlight. "Aye," he said at last, looking up at her. "And what's a pretty young noble like you doing out of the city this late at night?"

She lifted her chin. "If you must know, I was out exercising my horse, away from the heat of the day – although why it should be any of your business I cannot fathom." She said in her iciest voice.

He looked up at her. "And do ye have any other proof that you are the young lady? You might've taken that and 'er horse there from the lady, or got given you by yer lover-boy, p'raps."

She flicked her dagger to his throat, at the same time snapping her fingers to produce a ball of violet light, trusting to her reputation as a fighter and the fame of the Trebond Gift. His eyes widened in the mage-light, and he stepped back. "Very well then,  yer ladyship, I'll let you in. But I'll have to record the time and yer name, seein' as how ye came in so late, and seein' as yer such an important person."

Alanna cursed silently. Brilliant. Sir Myles'll see the list, and he'll tell Thom, and Thom'll tell Jon – it'll never end!

Outwardly, though, she smiled, if rather tightly, at the guard, dropping a few coins in the dirt next to him.

"Very well." She murmured, in her sweetest, most innocent voice. Oh, that's good. Commented Faithful from where he had been, 'til now, asleep under her cloak. Make an attempt on the man's life and then try to fool him into thinking you're an innocent young thing out for the dubious thrill of it.

Shut up, she replied. I'm hoping the ale will convince him for me.

Still she smiled at him, using her Gift as subtly as possible to knock over the inkbottle that stood on the bench behind him, hoping fervently there weren't any more supplies around. "Have a drink on me when you get off duty." She murmured, nudging Luna into a walk past him.

***

Luna stirred uneasily beneath Alanna at laughing revellers tumbled out of the Dancing Dove. She glanced towards the inn, warm and glowing gently in a suddenly cold winter's night, and shuddered as a snowflake landed on her cloaked shoulder, at the edge of her vision. She looked up. "I suppose we should stay here awhile and see if it all blows over – better than going up to the palace straight away again, I suppose."

Luna snorted her approval and Alanna waited for a comment from Faithful. When none came, she peeked under her cloak at the cat, sighing in exasperation as she realised he had gone back to sleep again.

Stepping inside, hands full with Faithful, she looked around for George – they had become friends since she first came to Corus, although she didn't manage to see him very often. He was seated at his 'throne' by the fire, observing the inn over a mug of ale. His eyes rested on her, sharpening as she walked towards him, pulling up a chair beside him for her.

"Haven't seen ye in a while, lass."

She blinked in surprise, one hand going to her hood to check that it was still pulled forward. "How'd you know it was me, George?"

He grinned. "Ye have a distinctive way of walking, lass. It's something of an odd mix between the delicacy of a proper young lady, and someone who's clearly been trained to fight."

She smiled, seating herself. "Rather like me, then."

He nodded. "Indeed, yer walk is very telling of who ye are, lass. D'you want somethin' to eat or did you have something at the palace?"

Alanna raised an eyebrow. "If you could call what they serve at balls a proper meal, then you could say I have eaten. But I've just been out riding in a cold winter's night in the woods – I'd like something more, well, filling."

He grinned. "I'll have somethin' got for ye. Rispah!"

She looked curiously at the redhead bustling towards them, playfully slapping at the hands most of the men seemed intent on extending.

"Who's Rispah?"

George looked startled for a moment, then laughed. "That's right, ye haven't met Rispah yet. That's her –" he said, nodding at the redhead. "She's Queen of the Ladies of the Rogue."

Alanna's eyebrows arched. "Your wife?"

He shook his head, grinning broadly. "No, lass, Rispah's m' cousin."

The woman reached them, smiling. She noticed Alanna and winked suggestively, and Alanna blushed with embarrassment.

"Why hello there young Thom – you gonna take any of my lasses up on their offers tonight? Some of them are getting mighty tired of waiting for ye to pay them a visit." Alanna's blush deepened, and George roared with laughter. "Rispah! It's bad enough ye baiting Thom, but his poor innocen' sister?"

Rispah's jaw dropped. "Sister?"

Alanna pulled back her hood nervously. "Hello – I'm Alanna." She murmured, holding out a hand, still blushing furiously.

Rispah's look of confusion changed, understanding dawning on her face. "Oh! Thom's mentioned ye once or twice, but ye just seem so alike from a distance – bet ye learned a thing or two ye didn't know before, did ye?"

Alanna grinned. "You could say that – I never realised Thom was so popular."

Rispah laughed. "The lasses like mages, for some reason. Perhaps because their gifts are usually more exotic than the average man's."

Alanna laughed. "I see."

George broke in. "Speaking of yer lasses, get one of the t' bring some food and ale over here for Alanna."

"Just water please." She interrupted.

Rispah looked at her, surprised. "Ye don't want to drink the water here, lass. It might be a'right up in the palace and out in the country, but down in the lower city it's not got the most pleasant of tastes. Ye'd best take some lemonade, if ye won't have ale."

Alanna smiled. "Thankyou. I prefer to stay sober – it's harder to fight when you're drunk."

George nodded. "True – though it took me longer to figure out than it did you, I'll wager."

Alanna grinned at him. "I didn't – Liam all but ordered me to stay away from the ale bottle."

Rispah looked on curiously, drawing up a chair to their table. "Who's this Liam?"

"The Shang Dragon." Alanna replied. "He's my Shang master."

Rispah nodded. "Ah, yes. You're the one that's apprenticed to him. Normally I have a better memory for names."

A pretty girl approached, a steaming plate in one hand, mug in the other, and deposited it before Alanna. She made to wink at Alanna, and stepped back in surprise when she realised it wasn't Alanna's brother, but a girl of her own age.

Rispah grinned. "Just his sister tonight, lass."

"So – how are things at the palace?" George asked.

She arched an eyebrow at him sceptically. "Why do you ask? You already know, I'm sure – and it's probably more than I do."

He leaned forward. "So ye'd prefer me to tell ye, then.  All right, I'll start with you. Some fool apprentice of Stefan's let your horse into a paddock with his Highness's horse while she was on heat, and now she's gravid. So far no evil sorcerers have tried to take the duke's place killing people – no nobles have died relatively recently. The prince has a new favourite, apparently, but there's some dispute over whether she's actually his lover – " Alanna blushed furiously, and George eyed her speculatively. "– since those who do know aren't tellin'. Oh, and the Dragon's got something big happening, but so far, no-one's been able to figure out what – they've all been busy trying to dredge up information on the Prince's newest lady."

She looked at him coolly. "No doubt they've been busy."

"Aye, and acting on their own, not on any orders o' mine, lass."

"So you haven't managed to bring Shannyn over to your cause yet."

He sighed. "Alas, no. The girl's as loyal as anythin', Alanna, and ye should treasure that – a loyalty like that's hard to come by, and to have it from even one person is a blessing. Yer lucky – ye've got lots of loyal friends, more than enemies, and that's rare when the person in question is someone like ye."

She smiled. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind." Faithful leapt up into her lap, fur warm from napping by the fire, and she yawned massively, almost splitting her face in two.

"I'd better get going – I'm about to fall asleep in my chair, here."

He leaned backwards, glancing out a high window. "No you aren't – it's snowing heavier than ever, and late to boot. Stay here tonight, and ye can get back to the palace early tomorrow."

Rispah nodded. "He's right. C'mon, lass, I'll arrange a room and bed for ye."

Alanna nodded, too tired to worry any further. "Alright." She murmured, yawning. She stopped suddenly, halfway up the narrow wooden stairs beside Rispah. "No, not alright."

She turned, heading back down the stairs.

Rispah took hold of her arm. "What's wrong, lass?"

Alanna shook her head. "If word gets round at the palace that I didn't sleep in my own rooms tonight, there'll be no stopping the rumours."

Rispah grinned. "Not to worry – someone'll be sure to head back up to the palace tonight or early tomorrow – George'll get a message to your maid, and I'll make sure any rumours are squashed promptly. It'll be fine, lass. I know how to preserve a girl's reputation. Now, ye need sleep."

Alanna had been standing still on the step, Rispah's hand holding onto her arm.

She nodded. "Alright, then. I suppose you're giving me no choice, in any case."

Rispah grinned. "Not really. I'll see ye to a room and make sure it's locked 'gainst these idiots – " she gestured at the drunks below them. " – and I'll have one of the girls bring you water for washing tomorrow morning."

***

As was her habit, Alanna woke early the next morning, ready for her daily exercise and lesson. Glancing round the room, she blinked, for a moment forgetting where she was, then sank back into the pillows with a sigh, running a hand over Faithful's fur where he lay beside her, snoring quietly. No lesson today then. All the same …

With a sigh, she rose, reaching for her breeches and shirt where she'd flung them the night before over the room's sole chair, before realising they were no longer there.

The door opened, and a girl a year or two younger than her entered, carrying a bowl of steaming water, a towel over one arm and Alanna's clothes over the other.

Bobbing a curtsy somewhat awkwardly, she murmured a polite, "Good morning, milady."

Alanna smiled, covering a yawn with one hand. "Good morning."

The girl placed her load on the small table and curtsied again, exiting quickly.

Alanna looked at the bowl. "Better than a stream, I suppose."

Much better. Faithful commented.

She stared at him. "When did you wake up?" She demanded.

The cat licked a paw, his version of a shrug. The door let a draft in.

Alanna scowled. "How exactly does licking yourself make you clean?"

The cat looked up, wide purple eyes mirroring Alanna's own oft-used innocent look. At least it's not as cold as a stream.

***

Alanna stroked Luna's nose as she removed the horse's delicately tooled bridle – a gift from Jon on her last birthday, 'for when she rode through the streets to cheering crowds,' as he put it, along with matching saddles – a combined gift from Jon, Rhia and Thom – were made of a dark mahogany-coloured leather, gleaming with golden highlights along their metalwork.

Ignoring the voices outside, she hummed softly, fetching a currycomb to tug through Luna's mane.

"… Hasn't seen her since yesterday evening …"

"…Sure nothing's happened … worry too much …"

"… Not without enemies … it's possible …"

"… Kidnapped? Her? Not worth the tongue-lashing she'd give them, if you ask me …"

Alanna paused, curious at the snatches of conversation. Jon entered the stables, arguing furiously with Thom and Gary, and Alanna realised it must have been them she heard.

He was paler than usual, and when he saw her, he turned the colour of parchment, his expression turning to one of mingled fury and relief.

Striding over, he grabbed her roughly by the shoulders, shaking her.

"Where in Mithros' name have you been?" He raged. "Have you any idea how worried I've been? You could've been kidnapped, killed, and I had no idea what had happened to you! How dare you worry me like that!"

Alanna's jaw dropped, and she pushed him away. "How dare I? Who do you think you are, my keeper? I went out for a ride last night and stayed at the Dove, though what right you have to know I can't imagine!"

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Thom tug at Gary's sleeve, pulling him out to give them some semblance of privacy – as if he's not going to be standing outside listening.

Jon glared at her. "What right do I have to know? By the Goddess, Alanna, I think I have every right to know!"

"Why? Because you happen to be Prince of Tortall that means I have to tell you everything about myself and what I'm doing?"

"I think you could've at least let someone know where you were going! I had no idea – for your own sake you should've let someone know where you were."

She glared at him icily. "I'm perfectly well able to take care of myself, as you well know."

He sighed angrily. "You're not invincible, Alanna, for all you think you are. I care about you – I love you. And I didn't know if I'd ever even see you again – I think I have a right to be angry."

"Just because you love me doesn't give a right to control my life."

He sighed again, this time wearily. "I never said I did – just that I thought I had a right to be angry."

She stared at him. "Well you don't. Just as you don't have the right to treat me as if I was a child. How on earth can you love me if you don't trust me?"

His mouth tightened, and the mask – the Prince – slipped over his now emotionless features. "Perhaps when you stop acting like a child and risking yourself so senselessly I'll trust you to keep yourself alive."

Alanna swallowed hard, and turned on her heel, striding out of the stables.

***

"Alanna? Let me in. That's an order, Alanna."

Alanna glared in the direction of the door through the gauze curtains of the arch separating sitting room and bedroom from her vantage point of her bed, sweaty and tearstained from her workout in the indoor courts.

"Shannyn, could you go and tell him I'm not here?"

Shannyn looked up, her face sympathetic. "Of course."

She rose, and Alanna heard the door opening, and the murmuring of voices, then Jon's clearly, raised in anger.

"Let me in!"

"I'm sorry, your Highness, milady is not here."

"So why won't you let me in?"

"Because there would be no point, your Highness – my lady is not here, and it would be an invasion of her private residence."

There was the sound of a brief scuffle – the door closing, and opening again, and Jon strode in, pushing aside the curtains carelessly. Shannyn followed, looking indignant. "I'm sorry, milady."

Alanna sighed. "It's all right. There's no stopping his Highness when he's being a prig." Rising, she made for the bathroom. Jon reached out, grabbing her arm. "Where are you going?"

She glared at him. "I was about to have a bath, before you so rudely burst in here."

"Horseshit. You're just trying to avoid me."

She looked down her nose at him, a somewhat difficult manoeuvre, considering he was a head taller than her. "You rate yourself highly."

His face tightened. "Sit down."

"Let go of my arm."

"Are you going to act your age and not run away the minute I let go?"

She glared at him. "If I wanted to leave that badly, I could do it now, as you know perfectly well. Perhaps I should in any case – Mithros' knows you could use being taken down a peg or two – perhaps putting you on your back would work."

He rolled his eyes. "Just sit down, would you?"

She glared pointedly at his hand on her arm, and he sighed and released it. She sat. "Is there a reason you came here, or did you just want to be a prig?"

He made a face at her, and sat. "I'm sorry for acting the way I did before – "

Alanna raised an eyebrow. "And?"

He sighed. "I won't promise not to do it again, but I'll try and keep my temper in check next time."

He looked pointedly at her.

"What?" Shannyn, who had been standing in the arch, coughed discreetly.

She sighed. "Fine. I'll – make sure I tell Shannyn next time I go somewhere out –"

"In the middle of the night." Shannyn interjected.

"–  In the middle of the night, or – leave a note, or something."

"Thankyou." Said Jon and Shannyn in unison.

Alanna rolled her eyes. "Can I go have my bath now?"

Jon eyed her. "Well, I was going to suggest we go down to the city but now that I see – and smell – you, it might be a good idea if you bathed first."

 Alanna raised a warning hand. "You smell worse after a workout, so shut up, or I might just be obliged to change my mind about taking you down that peg or two."

He rose somewhat hastily. "I'll come back later."

***

Alanna seated herself by Rhiannon in the banquet hall. Rhia grinned at her. "How's your horse?"

Alanna laughed, then quickly stifled it as the priestess seated at the end of the table glared at her. "Trust you to do that."

Rhia looked at her, her expression one of genuine puzzlement. "Do what?"

Alanna grinned. "Ask after my horse first and then after me."

Rhia frowned. "But you've just been to see your horse and I can see that you're perfectly fine – why shouldn't I?"

Alanna grinned. "How do you know I'm not hiding a broken heart behind this smiling façade?"

Rhia snorted. "You don't have the capacity for deception of that magnitude."

Alanna sighed. "You're right, I don't. How do you think Tat is?"

Rhia shrugged. "She sounded fine in that last letter of hers – I pity her having the Baroness Goldenlake for a mother-in-law though."

Alanna nodded emphatically. "Indeed. I can't imagine it being particularly pleasant for your mother-in-law's every second sentence to you to be something along the lines of – 'are you pregnant yet? Why not?' "

Rhia laughed. "I'm going to miss you when you leave."

Alanna smirked. "You won't have to miss me here for long – you'll get to go and be the lady Trebond and keep my brother in line."

Rhia arched her brows. "I suppose so." She murmured quietly.

Alanna frowned. "You – you don't mind marrying Thom, do you? I mean – there's not – someone else, is there?"

Rhia shook her head. "No! No – it's just – I admire Thom, and respect him – I just – I just don't love him. I know a lot – most girls – wed for the sake of alliances, and I don't mind it, truly I don't – it'd just be nice to be like you, and not have to worry about marrying someone because your father wants you to, or even having to worry about marrying at all."

Alanna blinked. "Oh." There seemed nothing else to say. "Well – if it means that much to you, I – I could talk to Thom about it –"

Rhia shook her head. "No, don't do that. If you do, father'll just set up another alliance, and then I'll probably end up betrothed to some old man who'll be old enough to be my grandfather – frankly I'd prefer Thom."

Alanna nodded. "If that's what you want. Besides," she added thoughtfully. "This old man of yours would probably smell. At least Thom has the decency to wash his socks."

Rhia giggled. "You're right – and no doubt he'd be balding as well."

Alanna shuddered, adding in a falsetto voice, quite different from her ordinary alto – "Don't speak of such things, Rhia, it'll foreshadow your future!"

***

Late that night, the stable boy on duty fetched the Head Hostler, Stefan, from his bed.

***

Alanna looked down at the filly. "She's pretty."

Stefan grinned wearily. "She's beautiful, lass. And strong. Never seen a filly nor colt get up that quickly to their dam's teat."

She smiled. "Will she always have that colouring?"

Stefan nodded. "I'd say so – rare, that is. Never seen one with those particular markings meself, and I've seen my fair share of horses. All black, she'll be, but with a silver mane and tail – like a bit cut out of the night sky itself, she'll be."

Alanna stared at this uncharacteristically poetic expression from Stefan. "Then she must have a name appropriate to it."

"What, like Starlight?" Came Jon's voice from behind her.

She turned to him. "I do believe that fits. What are you doing here?"

He shrugged. "My horse did sire the foal, Alanna." He came to rest beside her on the low stall wall. "So, is that to be her name, then?"

Alanna looked at him, then to Stefan. "I think it fits – what do you think?"

He shrugged. "It's the only name that's been suggested, an' it certainly suits her."

Alanna smiled. "Well then – Starlight it shall be."

***

"You might want to think about breathing, there." Alanna turned at the sound of Jon's voice in her ear. The petite redhead had been staring blankly ahead, sword in hand as sweat dripped down her forehead for Mithros' only knew how long, alone in the practise courts. She grinned weakly at him. "Ready for the bout you promised me?"

He frowned. "What on earth were you thinking about just then."

She looked down. "Nothing."

"Don't lie to me Alanna." He gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. "What's wrong?"

She swallowed. "In a week I'm leaving with Liam to go to the Shang council, for my ordeal. If I pass it, next year I'll receive a name among the Shang."

He frowned. "So what's the problem? You'll pass it, I know you will."

She shrugged. "Liam told me that the council would almost certainly set some sort of restriction on my year in the world – like not being permitted to spend it in Tortall – any of it."

He paled. "I see. So we won't see you for a year."

She nodded. "Yes." She murmured, and found herself locked in a tight embrace. Suddenly close to tears, she returned it.

"I don't want you to go."

Alanna bit her lip. "It won't be that bad – I'll finally have the chance to go on all those adventures I always wanted."

Jon kissed her, hard, then pulled away, kissing her more gently, one hand against her cheek. Breaking the kiss, he looked down at her, a question in his eyes.

Wordlessly, Alanna shook her head, and, biting her lip harder than ever, buried her head in his chest. "It'll be easier if we don't, Jon – easier for both of us."

He pulled away, expression grim. "You're probably right. We – we should get going – I don't have all day to duel with you."

***

Thom brushed back his hair, whipped about wildly as it was by the wind, and hugged her. Alanna sniffed. "I can't believe you're finally going." He whispered. "It doesn't seem like enough time has passed since we were children – not to mention you haven't grown enough for, what, thirteen years to have passed." He added, ducking as Alanna swung a playful right hook at his jaw.

She looked at Rhia. "I'm expecting you to come to Trebond as soon as the year's up, so you better be there." She said. Alanna gave a watery smile. "I'll be there. Count on it – and you have to keep me informed of Thom's doings, since he'll no doubt bury himself in the library the moment he gets home and forget to write to my latest address."

Rhia laughed, hugging her. "I'll do that."

Releasing her friend, Alanna looked at Jon. She had said her goodbyes in private earlier, so she merely hugged him lightly, pecking his cheek. "I'll miss you." She murmured.

"Feeling's mutual." He replied, and released her. Turning, Alanna mounted Luna, and Liam came over from where he'd been checking on the bindings for the packhorse. "Ready?"

Alanna nodded. "As I'll ever be."

He grinned. "Good – let's be off, then."