Author's Note: Some explanations: the chains were magic-proof, meaning that magic could not be performed by the wearer. Alanna's simply weren't attached properly. They were not magically locked. Also, the one man has a sword because he is of a higher rank than the guards.

There isn't much action in this chapter, but there will be soon! I'll write more soon, I know I take forever to update.

Chapter Ten: All That Blazes

The guards roughly turned around Alanna and Thom and shoved them towards the door, presumably taking them to the dungeon. Suddenly, Thom jerked his head around, his eyes wide with obvious terror. "Wait, wait!" he squeaked at the scarred man, who had retreated to his throne. A guard pressed his spear to Thom's throat, but Thom, sensing this was his chance, didn't stop. "Wait!" Alanna eyed her brother suspiciously.

The scarred man sighed. "What is it? Some last words?" he asked aloofly, examining a large gem on his right hand.

Thom puffed out his chest. "I, Lord Thom of Trebond, carry an important package for the Sheriff of Tyra!" he announced proudly.

Scar's eyes narrowed. "And what makes you think I care about the Sheriff? Coincidentally, I happen to loathe him."

Thom's pride vanished. "But— but he'll kill you when he doesn't get it!"

Scar laughed, a horrible, malicious laugh that practically consumed him. "How, pray tell, will the Sheriff have any idea that I had something to do with the— un-delivery— of some package?"

Alanna, thoughts racing through her mind, turned to face Thom in uncontrollable anger. "A package to the Sheriff? He's a Rogue himself!" she hissed. "That's treason against Tortall, you— " She lunged at him, but was yanked back by two of the armed guards.

Scar had turned thoughtful. "I would, however, be interested in the contents of this package," he declared. "Why don't you give it to me."

It wasn't a question. Two Rogues stepped forward to search Thom's person, despite his angry protests. A brown package was discovered and handed, with a bow, to Scar.

Scar examined the small brown paper package carefully with his long fingers, which were also crisscrossed with scars. Ripping it open, he cautiously reached inside and removed a large, smooth black stone.

Alanna gasped. It was a black opal, a magic stone of immense value and rarity. Mages would do practically anything to get their hands on one, especially one so large. Her thoughts slowly pieced together, though she could barely believe it. Thom was delivering a black opal to the Sheriff of Tyra?

Thom, whose head hung down in defeat when the package had been taken from him, turned to face Alanna, who met his eyes with a betrayed expression. Guiltily he began, "Alanna, I— "

He was cut off by Scar. "Well, thank you, Lord Thom of Trebond, very, very much for your most gracious gift. I'm sorry it won't keep you from your journey to the dungeon, however. Take them away," he ordered, with a careless wave of his hand.

Alanna didn't protest as the guards guided her and Thom through the door and down a hall, though she did keep her distance from her twin brother, refusing to meet his gaze. Betrayal and fury rushed through her veins like an icy river. Thom, delivering black opals to the Sheriff of Tyra?

There really were two Rogues in Tyra, Alanna reflected. There was the "legal" one, headed by the "elected" Sheriff of Tyra and his men, and the underground one. They were obviously in the hands of the underground one. And Scar must be the King, she told herself.

But the most disturbing part was Thom's involvement. All black opals of that size and power were supposed to be registered by their mage owners. If Thom was dealing in illegal opal shipments, he was committing treason against the Crown.

Thom? Treason? The idea was so ridiculous that she could barely believe it. There must be some other explanation.

Where had Thom gotten the opal, anyway? As far as Alanna knew, there weren't any prominent black opal mines anywhere in Tortall, or even Maren. Had he been shipping them in from Carthak? Tusaine? She wasn't sure where one could find an opal that large. She'd never seen its equal.

What was the Sheriff planning to do with the opal? One that powerful could do a lot of damage in the wrong hands, and as far as Tortall was concerned, the Sheriff's hands were definitely the wrong ones.

Also disturbing was the fact that Scar, as she'd taken to calling him, knew her and Thom's names. Had this whole thing been planned as a kidnapping? Was— was George in on it? The sudden thought stung like salt poured on an open wound. No, she told herself firmly. George was her friend. He would never do that.

Before she had any more time to ponder, their group reached a heavy oak door. One guard pulled it open with a grunt and the twins were brusquely directed down a winding flight of narrow stairs. As they trudged downward, an idea came to Alanna. She leaned forward to push her weight against the guard ahead of her when the stairs abruptly ended and she ended up on her face on the floor. Pulled up roughly by two guards, she was directed by them down another dark corridor with no torches on the walls. The only light was the torch held aloft by a third guard as they made their way down the corridor.

This is the dungeon, she realized. She had only been in the palace of Tortall's dungeon once, during a lesson as a page. This one wasn't as well kept as Corus's, however; a foul stench hung in the air that almost made the Lady Knight sick to her stomach.

They stopped in front of a door. With one hand, the guard on her left extracted a key ring from his belt and unlocked the heavy iron padlock. When the Lioness struggled, he twisted her arm until she ceased, fighting not to cry out in pain. She spat in his face and was rewarded with an elbow in her stomach. She was pushed against the door and her chains were removed. She whipped her head around, ready to fight, when a cloth was pressed tightly over her mouth. One breath and she was out.

A few seconds later, she woke to find herself on the floor of the cell. She barely made it to her feet before the door shut with a final thud in her face. Cursing angrily, she pounded on the door with no response. She turned around and sighed before trying to survey the cell. It was as dark and silent as a tomb. Bad thought, Alanna told herself, shuddering involuntarily.

But…in tombs one couldn't hear breathing.

Hardly daring to breathe herself, Alanna turned around to face the sound. It continued: a noisy, ragged breathing, coming from inside her cell. Someone— or something— gasping for each breath with a raspy hiss.

"Who's there?" she demanded, not letting her panic blend with her voice. She tried to use her Gift to summon a light, but the manacles that remained on her wrist wouldn't let her do magic; they gave her a sharp sting and no light appeared.

Blinking, slowly growing accustomed to the darkness, Alanna made her way forward cautiously. The sound of the breathing stopped abruptly. A voice called out softly in the darkness.

"Alanna?"

Her breath caught. That voice was as familiar as it had been those— had it only been a few days?— few or so days back at the palace. Could it be— ?

"George?" she whispered, reaching out in the darkness. Something caught her hand and pulled her close in a tight, breathless hug. "George!" she whispered, wrapping her arms tightly around him as his encircled her. Tears rushed down her cheeks in an involuntary flow as the two friends reunited.

But the sudden bliss didn't last long. George suddenly cried out and released Alanna, his knees giving way under him. Alanna had to catch her large friend and gently lower him to the dirt floor of the cell. "You rascal, why didn't you say you were hurt?" she demanded, letting him lean against her as he breathed in ragged gulps.

He could barely speak. "I— I thought I'd never see ye again, lass," he managed to choke out, pulling her close for another hug. Alanna rested in his arms gratefully.

"You've got a lot of explaining to do," she informed him when he released her again. "And then I've got to get us out of here. Where is this? Why are you here? What happened?"

George sighed shakily, running his fingers through his hair. Alanna could hear the clink of manacles on his wrists. "I could ask ye the same questions!" The Lioness smiled. "Actually, we've a bigger problem first. I'm to b' executed, an' unless I miss my guess, so are ye."

More Author's Notes: See, that wasn't much of a cliffhanger, now was it? Just think, I could have left you off at the "Alanna?" but I didn't. I'm too gosh-darn nice. I didn't leave off there because I felt bad not updating for a month. Anyway, George didn't rush out when the door was opened because he's hurt, he had the strength to hug Alanna as one of those "sudden strengths at really emotional times" moments.

Please review! I am already busily working on the next chapter!