~*~*~*~ The Pride of the Convent ~*~*~*~
Chapter Nine: News and Blues From Carthak
Genre: General/Action/Romance
Rating: PG-13.
Disclaimer: Get back here, curse you!!!! Well, that's it! Jon's run off again and Thom's been trying to knock me out with his Gift. Alanna's drawn sword on me twice! And I can't listen to the Eldorne chick praise herself a minute longer! It's all these borrowed characters! All of them belong to Tamora Pierce, except my new ones, who DO behave. I praise Tamora! She can control her characters!
Author's Note: Nice chapter title, eh? Yeah, half the time my titles don't make any sense, but that's ok. You guys are the greatest!!! Thanks for all the reviews! They make me oh so happy! Oh, my Tamora Pierce story, while much shorter and much newer, has more reviews then my Harry Potter story. Go figure. I think it's because you guys are much cooler. **wink** Okay, on with the chapter. And, I bet you've guessed it, but the Duke is back! Oh, and if I never mentioned it, Jon is Thom's knight-master….can't remember if I did…
~~~
Alanna was drilling with her sword when there was a knock at her door. "Who is it?" Or rather, she thought, do I have to hide my blade and toss on a dress.
"Your favorite brother!" was the bored reply.
"Oh, door's open. C'mon in!" she called, sheathing her sword for the time being. She tossed it onto the bed.
Thom entered, saw her in breeches and shook his head. "Old habits die hard?"
She grinned. "Have to keep sharp in my line of work."
Thom gave her a small grin. "Well, whatever makes you happy, as long as you don't get yourself killed, that is."
"I'm trying my hardest, really I am, Thom!"
Thom rolled his eyes. "Sister, while at court, could you try to keep your temper to yourself? For my sake at least? My overlord," he was afraid to mention his name, "has been talking about your antics to no end!"
"Nice to know I'm being talked about," she said, picking her sword back up.
"Alanna, don't you think you could have, oh, I don't know, gone easier on him?"
Alanna, who had been drilling again, turned to her brother. "Go easy on him? Honestly Thom, I haven't done anything wrong to him. I told him that I didn't like being treated a certain way, and that was how he treated me!"
"He's not used to you!" Thom protested.
"Then he should learn common decency. Every lady should be treated with respect, and not like an object, except, for maybe, Delia, of course." She went back to her drills.
"Most girls are flattered when the Prince takes a liking to them!"
"Well, I think we both know, I'm not most girls."
Thom knew nothing truer. "Can you do something? He's being unbearable!"
"Has he ever mentioned regret at treating me like an object?"
"Yes."
"Liar." Alanna pointed her sword at him.
"We both know you wouldn't touch me with that thing, so stop acting like an idiot Alanna," Thom said, dryly.
Alanna grumbled and sheathed her sword. "You're still a liar. Well, if the Prince is feeling remorse, he can tell me."
Thom sighed. All he wanted was a moment of peace…
~
Thom knocked at his knight-master's door, half hoping he wasn't even in.
"Come in!" came Jon's voice.
Thom, who rarely cursed, did and entered.
"Oh! If it isn't my favorite squire!" Jon said, a twinkle in his blue eyes.
"Jon. We need to talk," Thom said flatly.
Jon gave him a confused look. "About what?"
"My sister."
Jon groaned and got up from his desk where he had been working over something.
"She's really not too happy with you, you know," Thom said, taking a seat in an armchair.
Jon muttered something that Thom didn't understand and went to sit next to his squire.
"Do you like her Jon?" Thom asked, calmly.
Jon glared at Thom.
Thom sat, staring at his overlord, with more patience then Jon had thought he had.
Finally, staring at the floor, Jon whispered, "Yes."
"Oh Mithros…" Thom said softly.
"But, she's just so infuriating!"
"It's one of her charms," Thom said, dryly.
"I tried talking to her!" Jon protested, hotly.
"You fell for her act, and you didn't say the right thing."
"What am I supposed to say to her?"
"Give her an explanation what she asked you to give an explanation for. Tell her why you treated her like you did."
"I didn't mean to treat her like that!" Jon said, sighing.
"She doesn't know that."
Jon sighed. "Why are you always right, Thom?"
Thom grinned at his knight-master.
A bell tolled off in the distance.
"Noon!" Jon exclaimed. "Roger should be arriving any minute! Come on! Let's go!" Jon, temporarily forgetting his predicament shot from his seat, and pulled Thom up from his, and half dragged him to the entrance of the palace.
~
Alanna stood in the shadows, watching as Jon ran and hugged his cousin. There was no doubt about it, the duke was amazingly handsome, and was evidently very sure of himself.
He was charming everyone, talking modestly about his work in Carthak, and smiling at all the ladies. Thom bowed before the duke, who warmly shook his hand. Alanna could tell, by the way her brother smiled at the duke, that he was wary of him. Alanna was wary of him also, but she couldn't place the reason.
The duke turned, and looked straight at her, piercing blue eyes to vibrant violet ones. Alanna shuddered involuntarily. There's something off about this duke, she thought, trying to place it in his blue eyes.
She felt a presence near her, and shivered and brook eye contact. When she looked up, there was humor in the duke's crystal blue eyes, and it was cold, almost bitter humor.
~
It was easy to excuse herself from the ball early, for Alanna really did feel a bit faint. She had danced with Gary, Raoul, Geoffrey, and a handful of other young squires. Then, Roger asked her to dance. As she was required to do, she accepted with a curtsy. The duke grinning at her, dashingly and spun her around the dance floor.
"You are so much like your brother!" he said, with a small laugh. Despite the warmth in the laugh, Alanna felt uneasy.
"Thank you, your Grace," Alanna said, with a smile, looking up into the duke's eyes. That was a slight mistake. His eyes held her, almost imprisoning them, and Alanna felt the presence again. She swallowed and moved her attention to the sapphire pendant that hung at his neck.
"You're most certainly welcome, Lady Alanna. Your brother is quite Gifted, and I can only imagine that you are also." There was a hint of questioning, no prying, in his smooth voice.
"Oh me? I am very bad with my Gift, your Grace!" Alanna lied, carefully. She felt her senses dim, as she kept her attention on the pendant. Slowly, she began to loose herself in it, the shimmering blue depths of it…
When she thought she would fall into the depths forever, the song ended, and he handed her off to Jon, much to her dismay.
"No sharp comment?" he asked, eyes grinning.
She shook her head, trying to regain her senses. "I'm really not feeling so well…"
Jon looked at her. She didn't look well. He made her make eye contact. She looked very scared.
Not for the first time, Alanna noticed how blue Jon's eyes were, and how clear, but Jon's eyes did not pierce into her soul as the duke's did.
"Are you feeling alright, Alanna?" Jon asked, forehead knit in worry.
She blinked a few times. "I think I just need to lie down…"
"Allow me to escort you to your rooms then?" he asked.
She nodded, helplessly.
The song ended, and Jon told Gary where he was taking Alanna, then guided her to her room, supporting her a bit.
"Get some rest, and please, don't hesitate to ask, if you need something," Jon said softly, as he opened her door for her.
She nodded, and said, quietly, "Thanks Jon."
He nodded, and, with a bow and a smile, went back to the ball.
Alanna went over to her vanity and looked at her haunted eyes in the mirror. She splashed some water on her face, and her mind began to clear. She began putting on her bedclothes and stubbed her toe on the foot of her bed. She shouted a curse, and was glad that no one was around to hear it. But the pain sharpened her thinking, waking her up. She sat on her bed, rubbing her sore toe. She sat back on her bed, half dressed.
She was still a bit uneasy about what had happened at the ball. Maybe a drink will clear my mind. Or maybe a pair of dancing hazel eyes. Disgusted with herself, Alanna pinched herself on the arm. You know George doesn't think about you like that, she scolded. Nevertheless, she thought that maybe a night at the Dove would do wonders for her. She donned her boys clothes, changed her appearance and strapped on a leather belt which she hung her sword from. Very carefully, she slid from her room, and skirting all the main hallways, escaped from the Palace.
~
George was surprised to see her, but went on talking quickly and quietly to Marek. Alanna gave him a grin and a wave- which were responded to with a wink- and went to the bar and asked for a mug. Solom quickly obliged and Alanna went to mingle around the room, not wanting to disturb George's conversation.
She talked to 'Fingers for a few minutes, but found out that he had been 'celebrating' that night, and couldn't get too many straight sentences from him. Alanna then found Rispah, and busied herself talking to her.
"What's George talking about?" Alanna whispered, leaning close to the Rogue's cousin.
"The Crooked God only knows!" she said with a laugh. "I've heard 'Carthak' mentioned a few times, and 'magic,' but as far as I'm concerned, it's Rogue business, which means, I'll find out eventually." She grinned and winked, and Alanna shook her head.
She felt hands on her shoulders and looked up to find George standing behind her, his eyes twinkling. "Forget about me, darlin'?" he asked, with a grin.
"I tried to, but, bless my soul, it sure didn't work!" She winked at him.
"Come! I have a lot to tell you!" He pulled her from her chair, with a large, soft handed, and steered her back to where they normally sat.
"Is this what you were talking to Marek about?" she asked, sipping her ale, and leaning back in her chair.
He nodded. "Nothing you couldn't have heard. You are literally my second-in-command."
"Am I really?" she asked, half boredly, half surprised.
He let that slide and continued. "There's been quite of bit of news from our neighbors to the south."
"You mean the blacksmith's?" she asked, trying to look as innocent as possible.
"You really are a charmer, Alanna," George commented, grinning.
She nodded, knowingly, and bowed her head, accepting her praises. "So what's the problem in Carthak now?"
"I don't know if you've heard, but they've traced the Sweating Sickness back to Carthak."
"I've heard it, probably from you, but who are they?"
"Some of my lads. But, I'd bet you quite of few of the people in the palace have their suspicions. But, anyway, I've reports that they've been teaching more and more ruthless forms of magic in their university and one Duke of Conte was particularly interested."
"Roger," she said, stating it surely.
"None other."
"He gives me the shivers," Alanna remarked.
"I suppose you met him?"
Alanna nodded and related to George what had gone on between her and the duke.
George shook his head. "We'll have to watch him. But, if you can, try and avoid him. Understood?"
"Yes Majesty!" she said, grinning.
"Alanna! I'm serious! Stay away from him! There's no knowing what he can do to you!"
"Concerned about me?" she asked.
"Yes."
"I'm touched."
"I swear to Mithros, you must be touched in the head!"
"Insanity does run in my family."
George shook his head. "Stay away from the duke, will you Alanna?"
"I can't make any promises, George."
"Just don't get yourself killed."
She only grinned at him, her violet eyes flickering.
~~~
Author's Note: Alanna and Jon are NOT back together. Okay? Not yet anyway. I'm trying to get in A/G fluff, but the time just isn't right. And it isn't even right for A/J fluff. Thanks to all who recommended stories for me to read! And, pardon the fact that sometimes the chapters don't load right, even if they say there is a new chapter posted. You may have to refresh. If that doesn't work, type in the new chapter number at the end of the web address, after the "chapter=" Good luck!
Okay, so anyway. Time to thank all you wonderful people! You guys are the greatest! Thanks for all the reviews! When I started, I never expected this many! Thanks! ::wipes tear from eye:: (A/N continued after thanks)
To:
Xelena: They deserve each other. They just don't know it quite yet!
Michelle: Ooh!! A Kel fic! Sweet! Do tell me when you write it! By the way, good chapter!
Morrigan: I update once every two or three days, if I can! You should update soon too! It's actually kinda funny, because I've read most of the fics in your faves and really like them! I book marked a few of them too, but not on my FFN faves. I'm rereading them too, nice and slow this time, to savor them. Thanks for reviewing and suggesting!
GlaiveGirl: I love your penname! Thank you! ::blushes:: You've got my reasons for A/G down to a T! Now, explain that to all the die-hard Jon fans that stopped reading this! Glad you like it!
Rya_25: You're very good with compliments!! ::blushes:: Thanks!!! I'm reading Traverses the Sun, and I like it very, very much! Thanks for telling me about it! Do you have any original work posted? What fan fiction might you write? Tell me if you do or what you will! Thanks!!!!
Mag~wise: What side of the globe are you on? Yeah, FFN doesn't like posting my stuff. (esp. the column that they never ever replied to….meanies.) Ha ha. Hope FFN works for you! Glad you like it!!!!! I love writing it!
Goddess of Whatever: I can't stop! I haven't written my evil plan yet! Who knows, there might be a sequel….sheesh! I'm happy you think so highly of it!
Silenttina: ::begs to keep head:: Gary and Raoul only know she can fight. Thom knows all. Jon knows nothing, but you already know that. And I can't behead him. I might sequel this fic, and he needs to be a bad king. Remember? And, no Alanna/Roger. It's just not my style. Thom and Trycia….::mutters about evil plan:: I'll try and keep it interesting! I swear!
Lulu: I'm glad you enjoy it!
Keziah: FFN hates me. You're not the only one having problems loading my fic. Glad you like it!! Oh, the A/J fights are sooo much fun to write! And the buffle-brainness, just delightful! I'm glad you like it! Keep readin' please!
Raie: I'm glad you look forward to my postings!! Thanks for the reviews!
The Lioness: The best?!?!?! You need to read more Alanna fan fiction then! Please, please don't go insane, unless it will be funny to watch! Gary and Raoul are much cooler. Raoul is sooo much cooler then Jon in POTS. I mean, POTS made me hate Jon oh so much more…. I'm glad you like it!!
Glacial Phoenix Mystiara: Glad I got you hooked! And if you think Raoul's shock was great, just you wait, just you wait. Jon will find out sooner or later! Thanks for the review!
Krazy Kitty: Lucky!!! Well, have fun on your vacation! I'll miss your reviews! They are the best! Beta reading works as follows: The author sends the beta a chapter, or how ever much she wants and the beta reviews it, makes some corrections and tells the author how to make it more crowd pleasing, and gives ideas and such. ::laughs at beta rambling joke!:: Sign my praises? Yay! Lol. I try and leave long reviews too! It makes people, me included, feel special! You're screaming in joy about my fic?? Quite personally, my mum wonders why I laugh so hysterically in the middle of the night….Thanks for being a faithful reader/reviewer/wonderful person! Enjoy Toronto!!!
CrystalRose: I don't get it. I make Jon act like a prig, and you're glad?!?!? And you like A/J?!?!? That doesn't add up, all though I'm very happy that you're delighted! Plays to your interest…ooooh. That makes it sound cool!! Thanks!!!!
Ally: Better and better? Yay! I'm not loosing my touch! Glad you like the hintings of an A/G romance. One day, it will all fall into place. Sooner or later…Thanks!
White-wolf: ::bows:: Why thank you! I love making Alanna act like…well, Alanna! When I get the block I usually write play catch with a tennis ball and my bedroom wall. Sucks when I get the block in the middle of the night! **wink** I don't know how they come out so fast, but they aren't so long. My Harry Potter chapters are at least…wow…they about this length…weird…these take soo much less time! I'll try and keep it up!
More Author's Note Stuff: I just figured out that these chapters are about the length of my Harry Potter chapters, thanks to White-wolf, which is odd, because those take me days, and these take me hours!! Strange strange strange!!! Oh well. This one is more fun to write anyway! Ok, well, tomorrow I'm going to a concert, and Sunday I won't be home, so I probably won't post until Sunday or Monday night! I'll post as soon as I can! Thanks you guys! You're wonderful!!! Please, keep recommending good fics to me! Thanks!!!!
Cheers!!