I won't waste any time getting to the story….
Chapter Seven: All That Flickers
Alanna yelped in surprise as the dark figure jumped out of the shadows and stepped into the dim moonlight. "Coram?" she asked in disbelief as her former manservant smiled at her, brushing his gray hair out of his weathered face.
"It's good t' see ye, lass," Coram replied. With a shout of delight, Alanna dismounted and hugged Coram tightly in one swift, fluid motion. He returned the gesture, clapping her heartily on the back. The Lady Knight hadn't seen Coram since she had returned to the palace as Jon's betrothed. Closing her soft eyes briefly, Alanna let the rush of emotion pass and the tears dissolve.
"I haven't seen you in so long," she managed to choke out, smiling as they ended the embrace. Coram nodded, scratching his neck. "How's Rispah? Is she all right?"
Coram grinned. "Aye, she's well," he reported. "We're t' be married, her an' me," he said proudly.
Alanna laughed and hugged him again. "That's wonderful! I'm glad to finally hear some good news."
Coram gave her a concerned, puzzled look, which she tried to avoid. "So why is t' princess out here so late at night?" he questioned, noticing Moonlight behind Alanna. When she didn't answer, he knew something was the matter. "What's wrong?"
Alanna sighed. "I just— I just don't know if I'm cut out to be a princess," she admitted. "I don't want to sit and knit while Jon's out at war, I don't want to wear dresses and slippers for the rest of my life, and I don't want to be told what to do!" she exploded. Coram looked quite taken aback. He stepped forward patted her gingerly on the back, as if she might erupt again.
"It'll be all right, lass," he whispered. She smiled weakly in return as Coram took her hand and squeezed it gently.
"What are you doing out here at this time?" she inquired, suddenly fully aware of the situation. Coram
grinned broadly, but Alanna could tell that he was worried.
"Come with me." Coram turned and dashed back into the alley from which he had emerged. Thinking quickly, the Lioness grabbed Moonlight's dangling reins and took off after him, leading her mare behind.
Alanna followed Coram around a corner and was forced to leap high over a reeking pool of dark, muddy water. "Coram?" she yelled when he turned another corner and vanished from her sight. She could smell food cooking—or burning. "Coram!" Moonlight followed reluctantly. She found herself alone in a dead end. Old brick buildings surrounded her on three sides and Coram was nowhere to be seen. Moonlight was downright scared and had her ears pinned back tightly against her head. Looking around her, the only place Alanna could see to go was through a small door in one of the buildings.
Pushing aside a tattered cloth that covered the door, Alanna cautiously entered, tightly holding Moonlight's reins, though her steed refused to come in. "Coram?" she whispered. It was pitch black and Alanna wondered if she should risk using her Gift to light up the dark room. She internally wondered if she was walking into a trap.
Alanna was just about shocked out of her skin when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "It's me, lass," Coram assured her. Drawing her violet magic into a hand-held torch, Alanna lit up the room. For such an unimpressive exterior, Alanna expected it to be run-down and dirty; instead, it was well-furnished.
"Where is this?" Alanna wondered aloud, examining the room critically from where she stood. Coram chuckled softly.
"I'd o' thought ye would guess," he hinted. When she gave him a blank look, he laughed again. "It's the temporary location o' the Rogue headquarters," he revealed with a grand sweep of his arm.
Alanna gasped. "The Rogue?" she asked desperately. Surely George would be here!
Coram nodded. "Aye, the Rogue. I know ye heard about the Dancin' Dove being burned and all." Alanna nodded, unable to speak. "Well, — "
Coram cut off as Rispah entered the room from a door opposite them. Smiling happily, she crossed the room, gave Coram a quick kiss on the cheek, causing him to blush lightly, and hugged Alanna heartily. The Lady Knight returned the gesture warmly. Rispah was George's cousin and the queen of the Rogue.
"So how fares the princess?" asked Rispah, eyes dancing. Alanna snorted and Coram gave Rispah a look that explained everything. "We'll discuss that later," Rispah said hastily.
Another Rogue, with black hair and dark eyes, entered from the same door as Rispah. "This is Sadem," Rispah introduced. "He'll take care of your horse."
Alanna reluctantly handed over her mare's reins to the man, who disappeared out the door into the alley. "Come, come," welcomed Rispah, going back through the door to the rest of the building. Coram and Alanna followed close behind.
Rispah led them to a dimly lit room, warmed by a roaring fire. Throwing herself in an overstuffed chair, Rispah made herself comfortable and indicated for Alanna to do the same. Coram settled himself in another chair and Alanna gingerly sat in a sagging chair.
The Rogue queen sat up and glanced at Coram, then gazed at Alanna. "Do ye know where my cousin's gone off to?" she asked softly.
Alanna leapt out of her seat. "I was going to ask you that!" she cried in disappointment. Rispah sighed unhappily and looked away. Coram looked unsure.
"I don't know where he got off to," said Alanna quietly, sinking back into her chair. "I was terribly worried when I heard about the Dancing Dove. George was mad at me for— for saying yes to Jonathan. He left me this note saying that he was going to Tyra, but I don't — "
"Tyra!" exclaimed Rispah, looking terrified. Alanna shot her a hard glance.
"Tyra? Why is that so significant?" she asked slowly, watching Rispah, her muscles tense.
Rispah sighed and buried her face in her hands. "There's a Rogue in Tyra, o' a different sort," she whispered. "Compared to them, we're gentlemen and ladies. They don' play fair and think nothin' of killin' just to get somethin' they want. It's sick, that's what it is!" Her voice rose in anger.
"But— but he said that he was going to deal with them!" Alanna protested. "George wouldn't just barrel into something like that!"
"He would in anger," Rispah replied grimly.
Alanna felt horrible. George had gone to his death because of her, she was sure. "Well, if he's in trouble, I'm going to help," she declared, standing up.
Suddenly, the door swung open with a loud creak. Coram and Rispah leapt to their feet. Alanna's hand groped for her sword, but it wasn't hanging from her belt as it usually did. Didn't I bring it? Alanna asked herself. She settled for the dagger on her other side.
Sadem, the man who had taken care of Moonlight, strode into the room and tossed another struggling man to the ground. The man on the ground had messy red hair and a beautiful purple robe that was dirty.
"Thom? What are you doing here?" Alanna demanded, striding over to glare at her twin brother. Coram followed her and looked down on him, shaking his head.
Thom got up gingerly, flinching as he examined his sore body. "I was looking for you!" he said indignantly. "And I did not intend to be attacked on my way to find you!"
Sadem shrugged silently. "Ye was trespassing," boomed Coram. "Always were like that, I suppose," he added with a shrug as he returned to his chair.
"What do you want?" Alanna asked, raising her eyebrows.
"You shouldn't just run off when you get angry," said Thom, changing the subject.
Alanna felt the heat rise in her cheeks. "Don't tell me what to do," she growled.
Thom shrugged. "Dear sister, it is my duty to protect you wherever you go, should something happen to you, and I am only fulfilling that duty — "
"Jonathan sent you, didn't he?" cried Alanna, grabbing the front of her brother's robe. Thom flinched again.
"Alanna, he's only worried about you!"
She turned away angrily. Alanna had wanted to get away from Jonathan and now she found that he wasn't to be avoided so easily. All she had wanted to do was find George.
"Alanna?"
Ignoring her brother, the Lioness turned to face Rispah. "Where is the headquarters of these Tyran Rogues?" she asked.
Rispah sighed. "Tyra, the capitol."
Alanna picked up her cloak, which she had flung over her chair. "I'm going to find him," she announced, heading for the door.
Rispah grabbed her arm. "You can't! This isn't a game, Alanna! They could kill you!"
"And I could kill them. Rispah, he's one of my best friends. It might be my fault that he went to Tyra!"
Startled, Rispah fell silent.
"Ye can't go alone, lass," Coram insisted.
"That's where I come in!" Thom said eagerly. "I'll protect you, Alanna!"
Alanna and everyone else in the room snorted. "You just want to be Jon's little spy," challenged Alanna.
Thom sighed. "Alanna, you're my sister. I don't want you going out to kill yourself. With your fighting and my magic, we could save George!"
Alanna hesitated. "I don't know," she said slowly. "It doesn't seem— "
"Do you want to save George?" Thom repeated, meeting his sister's violet eyes with his own.
Alanna sighed and gazed into the fire. It's my fault that he left, she told herself. So it's my job to bring him back.
"We leave at sunrise," she said shortly. "We're going to find George."