Is It Enough? -Chapter Five
"Thom?" Alanna cried out in shock, as her dead twin appeared before her. She reached out a hand to touch him, staggering as it passed through air. "Roger?!" her tone became one of disbelief as her brother took on the dead duke's appearance. "But you're dead!" Alanna cried, her voice shaking.
"Am I?" the sorcerer-duke asked, a malevolent leer in his sapphire eyes so like Jon's. The duke shrunk and became furry until he looked all the world like Faithful, her immortal companion that had so recently left her.
"Who will you be, my child? Who will you be?" the cat asked, taking on the Goddess's voice. Alanna thrashed about, sobbing quietly, until firm hands gripped her shoulders, soothing her. From far away she heard voices-one that sounded like Coram's, oddly enough, asking what was happening to her, and another that sounded like Duke Baird's, saying that she was hallucinating.
So that's what that is, Alanna mused. I thought I was just going crazy. A cool sensation rushed into her-magic, Alanna realized. Whether it was the Baird's, or Jon's she didn't know, but she drifted off to sleep once more.
When she woke again it was dark out, and soft hands helped her sit up. Blinking, as her vision slowly cleared, she realized the woman helping her to sit, and placing a cup of something hot in her hands was Eleni.
"Eleni?" Alanna croaked, her voice hoarse.
"Drink that." Eleni replied, her voice soft and soothing. "It'll help you feel better. You gave my son quite a fright you know. I believe I've never seen him as pale as when they first brought you in." Eleni shook her head.
"I hope they find that bastard who did that to you. All the mercy of the Gods won't be able to save him once His Majesty gets his hands on him." Alanna stared at Eleni, surprised at the usually unflappable woman's outburst.
"Maybe I need some tea myself. You rattled quite a few nerves, lass, what with your fainting spell and all. I do believe my Lord Provost almost had a heart attack when he saw you glowing that lovely amethyst." Alanna smiled weakly at her mother-in-law, taking a deep sip of the tea, before nearly spitting it out again.
"What is that horrible potion," Alanna asked, blanching, as she forced her churning stomach to keep it down. Alanna shuddered as Eleni listed the bitter roots and herbs that gave the mixture its bitter taste.
"Well, you never would have drank it if you knew what was in it. Besides, it'll help to ease your mind. Mithros knows it needs easing." A soft knock on the door drew Eleni to her feet, as Alanna struggled to rise. "Sit," she demanded, a no nonsense look in her honey eyes. Alanna sat, as Eleni admitted an anxious Coram into the room.
"Coram?!" Alanna couldn't believe her eyes. "You should be home with Rispah! Not here in the Palace. I'm fine!"
"Rispah can manage on her own, Goddess knows. And sure ye are. That's why ye'd be all ghostly pale, 'cept for that lovely purple tint to ye're skin. I came as soon as Master George fetched me. Didn't I tell ye to stay out of trouble? I'm only gone for a few months.."
Alanna, well versed in tuning out her faithful companion, and former man-at arm's grumbling, did so, but not before treating him to a glare beneath lowered lashes.
Eleni, seeing Alanna's expression, shooed Coram out of the room. "My lady needs her rest. There will be plenty of time for talk later-once she's feeling better."
Coram grumbled a bit, then planted a quick kiss on his charge's forehead. "I love ye like my own daughter, but you know that. Now rest. I expect explanations later." Coram's now gruff tone offset his emotional words. The Lioness smiled sleepily up at him, a mischievous look in her eyes. "Always," she grinned.
"Don't be pert with me lass. I'm too smart to fall for it. 'Asides, you have other visitors. One of them bein the thief. Pardoning my words, Mistress," he said, nodding to Eleni.
Eleni smiled and nodded. "Mithros knows he is a thief, but I love him with all my heart. Would he choose a different profession." Eleni shook her head.
"And here I thought I had turned respectable and such, what with bein the Baron of Pirate's Swoop, and all," a dry voice commented from the door. "And shouldn't my lass be sleepin? No, don't scowl at me, darlin, you need your rest." George looked to Alanna.
"How are you feelin'? Any pain? Duke Baird said you might be feelin' a bit headachy."
"No," Alanna shook her head. "Just a bit nauseous." The silence in the room became slightly uncomfortable, as they remembered her ill-fated pregnancy.
"Don't you all look at me like that!" snapped Alanna, her patience wearing thin. "I'm not a mewling child to be coddled! If the Gods had willed me to give birth then I would have. Just stop prancing around the subject will you? My nerves can't take much more!"
Alanna's outburst shocked everyone. George was the first one to speak again. "Well then, lass, if you're feelin' that much better, you have some admirers anxious to speak with you. In three large strides George had crossed the room, reached the bed, and scooped Alanna into his arms, where he carried her out into the corridor, ignoring Coram's warning growl, winking at his mother as he left.
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In the King's Council Chamber, another meeting was going on-that of Jon and his most trusted advisors. Lord Provost strode into the room, dropping a pile of papers in front of Jon.
"A list of servants and nobles in My Lady's rooms these past two days. My boys can start questionin' them when ye give the word," a wolfish grin adding a malevolent edge to the Provost's rugged country looks.
Jon nodded his thanks, as Gary, Sir Gareth, the Younger, of Naxen, began going over with the Council, what mages had the knowledge and/or skill to create the kind of deadly, almost untraceable poison that had made Alanna a target.
Myles sighed, growing frustrated. "It's really not that hard of a spell," he exclaimed. "A mage with even the slightest advanced training, and some spell books to help would be able to pull it off. The only thing that suggests it was an amateur assassin, one not used to these type of spells, was that they were sloppy. They left clues."
Myles looked around the room, surprised by the puzzled and confused looks on the faces of the men.
"The residue men! The residue! Any mage worth his weight wouldn't have left any! This alone suggests the work of an amateur!"
Jon smiled slowly, a grin spreading across his defined features.
Raoul looked at him. "Care to share, Highness?"
Jon looked at him then. "Call out the Own, Raoul. I think we have our first suspect."
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Author's Note: Short chapter, I know. But more up soon! Hehe I'm really starting to love this story. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far! I hope you aren't disappointed. R/R please!!!
"Thom?" Alanna cried out in shock, as her dead twin appeared before her. She reached out a hand to touch him, staggering as it passed through air. "Roger?!" her tone became one of disbelief as her brother took on the dead duke's appearance. "But you're dead!" Alanna cried, her voice shaking.
"Am I?" the sorcerer-duke asked, a malevolent leer in his sapphire eyes so like Jon's. The duke shrunk and became furry until he looked all the world like Faithful, her immortal companion that had so recently left her.
"Who will you be, my child? Who will you be?" the cat asked, taking on the Goddess's voice. Alanna thrashed about, sobbing quietly, until firm hands gripped her shoulders, soothing her. From far away she heard voices-one that sounded like Coram's, oddly enough, asking what was happening to her, and another that sounded like Duke Baird's, saying that she was hallucinating.
So that's what that is, Alanna mused. I thought I was just going crazy. A cool sensation rushed into her-magic, Alanna realized. Whether it was the Baird's, or Jon's she didn't know, but she drifted off to sleep once more.
When she woke again it was dark out, and soft hands helped her sit up. Blinking, as her vision slowly cleared, she realized the woman helping her to sit, and placing a cup of something hot in her hands was Eleni.
"Eleni?" Alanna croaked, her voice hoarse.
"Drink that." Eleni replied, her voice soft and soothing. "It'll help you feel better. You gave my son quite a fright you know. I believe I've never seen him as pale as when they first brought you in." Eleni shook her head.
"I hope they find that bastard who did that to you. All the mercy of the Gods won't be able to save him once His Majesty gets his hands on him." Alanna stared at Eleni, surprised at the usually unflappable woman's outburst.
"Maybe I need some tea myself. You rattled quite a few nerves, lass, what with your fainting spell and all. I do believe my Lord Provost almost had a heart attack when he saw you glowing that lovely amethyst." Alanna smiled weakly at her mother-in-law, taking a deep sip of the tea, before nearly spitting it out again.
"What is that horrible potion," Alanna asked, blanching, as she forced her churning stomach to keep it down. Alanna shuddered as Eleni listed the bitter roots and herbs that gave the mixture its bitter taste.
"Well, you never would have drank it if you knew what was in it. Besides, it'll help to ease your mind. Mithros knows it needs easing." A soft knock on the door drew Eleni to her feet, as Alanna struggled to rise. "Sit," she demanded, a no nonsense look in her honey eyes. Alanna sat, as Eleni admitted an anxious Coram into the room.
"Coram?!" Alanna couldn't believe her eyes. "You should be home with Rispah! Not here in the Palace. I'm fine!"
"Rispah can manage on her own, Goddess knows. And sure ye are. That's why ye'd be all ghostly pale, 'cept for that lovely purple tint to ye're skin. I came as soon as Master George fetched me. Didn't I tell ye to stay out of trouble? I'm only gone for a few months.."
Alanna, well versed in tuning out her faithful companion, and former man-at arm's grumbling, did so, but not before treating him to a glare beneath lowered lashes.
Eleni, seeing Alanna's expression, shooed Coram out of the room. "My lady needs her rest. There will be plenty of time for talk later-once she's feeling better."
Coram grumbled a bit, then planted a quick kiss on his charge's forehead. "I love ye like my own daughter, but you know that. Now rest. I expect explanations later." Coram's now gruff tone offset his emotional words. The Lioness smiled sleepily up at him, a mischievous look in her eyes. "Always," she grinned.
"Don't be pert with me lass. I'm too smart to fall for it. 'Asides, you have other visitors. One of them bein the thief. Pardoning my words, Mistress," he said, nodding to Eleni.
Eleni smiled and nodded. "Mithros knows he is a thief, but I love him with all my heart. Would he choose a different profession." Eleni shook her head.
"And here I thought I had turned respectable and such, what with bein the Baron of Pirate's Swoop, and all," a dry voice commented from the door. "And shouldn't my lass be sleepin? No, don't scowl at me, darlin, you need your rest." George looked to Alanna.
"How are you feelin'? Any pain? Duke Baird said you might be feelin' a bit headachy."
"No," Alanna shook her head. "Just a bit nauseous." The silence in the room became slightly uncomfortable, as they remembered her ill-fated pregnancy.
"Don't you all look at me like that!" snapped Alanna, her patience wearing thin. "I'm not a mewling child to be coddled! If the Gods had willed me to give birth then I would have. Just stop prancing around the subject will you? My nerves can't take much more!"
Alanna's outburst shocked everyone. George was the first one to speak again. "Well then, lass, if you're feelin' that much better, you have some admirers anxious to speak with you. In three large strides George had crossed the room, reached the bed, and scooped Alanna into his arms, where he carried her out into the corridor, ignoring Coram's warning growl, winking at his mother as he left.
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In the King's Council Chamber, another meeting was going on-that of Jon and his most trusted advisors. Lord Provost strode into the room, dropping a pile of papers in front of Jon.
"A list of servants and nobles in My Lady's rooms these past two days. My boys can start questionin' them when ye give the word," a wolfish grin adding a malevolent edge to the Provost's rugged country looks.
Jon nodded his thanks, as Gary, Sir Gareth, the Younger, of Naxen, began going over with the Council, what mages had the knowledge and/or skill to create the kind of deadly, almost untraceable poison that had made Alanna a target.
Myles sighed, growing frustrated. "It's really not that hard of a spell," he exclaimed. "A mage with even the slightest advanced training, and some spell books to help would be able to pull it off. The only thing that suggests it was an amateur assassin, one not used to these type of spells, was that they were sloppy. They left clues."
Myles looked around the room, surprised by the puzzled and confused looks on the faces of the men.
"The residue men! The residue! Any mage worth his weight wouldn't have left any! This alone suggests the work of an amateur!"
Jon smiled slowly, a grin spreading across his defined features.
Raoul looked at him. "Care to share, Highness?"
Jon looked at him then. "Call out the Own, Raoul. I think we have our first suspect."
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Author's Note: Short chapter, I know. But more up soon! Hehe I'm really starting to love this story. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far! I hope you aren't disappointed. R/R please!!!