~*~*~*~ The Pride of the Convent ~*~*~*~
Chapter Fourteen: Fists and Daggers
Genre: General/Action/Romance
Rating: PG-13.
Disclaimer: Ok, well, these characters belong to Tamora Pierce. And I'm not her! Having an extremely popular series of books is only a dream of mine.
Author's Note: **ducks and covers** I'm sorry! Really! I am! I didn't mean to cliff hang it so! I just didn't have time to write a fight last night, and thought to myself, Hmm, why not end it here? So, I did. Very sorry. And oh, for those interested, my website is pixiewrites.iwarp.com. It's about my fics, so maybe I'll drag in some readers from the farthest reaches of the Internet. It's also got message boards and webring info and stuff like that. Okay, I had more to say in this, but I've forgotten. Oh yeah. I tried for subtle A/G in that. Did no one notice that he almost told her that he loved her? Gods, I must be loosing my touch…. Oh well. I'll have to make it more obvious next time.
~~~
Alanna stretched her already warm muscles. Ten men had followed her eagerly into the street, and slowly, the rest of the crowd filed out, forming a ring around the contenders, eager for the fight that was about to follow. Alanna pulled her hair back into a horsetail and checked her daggers. One in each boot, one up her right sleeve and one in her belt. It'd do. She checked that her sword was secure in its scabbard at her belt and then stepped into the middle of the ring, waving a hand to allow one of her opponents in. A fair haired, and rather tall, almost two heads taller then she was stepped forward into the ring. Alanna looked the man over. He was tall, but he was not build solidly. In fact, he was rather lean, but looked quick on his feet. Alanna cursed. She knew how this man intended to fight. Speed.
"You will fight until one of you gives. You will not fight to the death!" George announced, his face calm. He turned his attention to the fighters, starting to worry about Alanna.
She bowed to the man, who didn't even bother. Instead, he slunk down into a half-crouch, watching her. She made no move, but stood ready to attack. The man made a quick step toward her, trying to scare her. She held her ground and his gaze, waiting for him to attack. She didn't want to attack this man and would try her hardest not to. The man was growing impatient. Good, Alanna thought. Do something stupid so I can put you in check and move on!
The man didn't attack her though. Instead he began insulting her, her mother, her father, and anything else he could grab at.
She only looked at him evenly.
"What? The weak little wench is too scared to attack?" he taunted.
She gave him a bland look, not breaking eye contact.
The crowd was jeering at her, and yelling for the man to attack her. Clearly, this man was a favorite among the thieves.
Finally, the man grew fed up at circling and dove for her stomach, intending to take her down, and then proceed to bloody her face. She sidestepped him, grabbed his arm and tossed him to the ground. He got up, a look of malice in his eyes. He was bleeding from a scrape on his forehead.
"You wench. You bastard of a wench!"
Alanna actually laughed. "You insult my father and then call me fatherless?"
The man spat. "Your father was probably a pig!"
Alanna cocked her head, as if in thought and then nodded.
He was rapidly growing tired of her cheeky attitude and quickly ran at her, trying to tackle her once again, but as she was about to move, he twisted and grabbed her, putting one arm around her throat. She coughed, and then heaved herself toward the ground, sending him frontward over her shoulder. When he got up, he glared at her, bowed his head and ducked from the ring, bleeding from a few new scrapes he had picked up, and limping.
Alanna sighed. He'd be worthless in the streets for at least a week, with the limp slowing him down.
A few of the challengers back down, leaving five left. Alanna stifled a groan. All the men left were rather large, and well built.
A particularly stocky man pushed his way into the circle.
George restated that the first to give would be the winner. The man nodded, and bowed to Alanna who bowed in response. At least this man has manners, she thought.
The man came closer to her and stood with in a yard, feet moving. Alanna bit her lip. This was to be a fistfight.
The man danced in front of her and then threw a wild punch. Alanna ducked and hit the man hard in the stomach, winding him.
The man grunted, and threw an aimed punch at her face. It grazed her ear, and caused her to loose her balance shortly. The man scored another punch on her left eye. Alanna gritted her teeth and swung at him as hard as she could. She connected with his stomach again, this time thrusting upward. The man doubled over in pain, and Alanna stepped back, letting him regain his bearings. When he did, he went to hit her in the stomach. She dove out of the way, rolling to the ground and then back to her feet. There were a few whistles and howls at the artful move, which caused her to smile. She had some fans in the audience at least.
The man wasn't slow though, and was relentless. He struck at her and missed. Alanna took this time to throw him to the ground. When the man got up, he bowed his way out of the ring. A mug was pressed into her hand by George and she quickly drank, and nodded thanks to him.
Then, her next opponent stepped into the center of the ring. This man was leaner then the others, but not more then half a head taller then her. She noticed the glint of a dagger at his belt, saw the hilts of two, hidden in his boots and saw at least two up his sleeves. She cursed to herself. George restated that they were not to fight to the death, and the man bowed smoothly, as did Alanna. They began to circle, each waiting for the other to draw. With lightning speed, the man drew and slashed at Alanna, almost grazing her tunic. He grinned. In a flash, she had drawn one of the daggers she kept in her boots. The man seemed a bit surprised at her speed and nodded, impressed. He made a quick swipe at her stomach, which she caught with the blade of her own dagger and managed to send the man backwards.
"Not bad," he commented.
Alanna smiled at him, and nodded, appreciatively.
"For a woman." The man gave her a mischievous grin and made another attempt to cut her. This time his blade nicked the skin above her temple, sending blood flowing down the side of her face. The man came at her again, hoping to get her in her confusion. She slashed him across the stomach and blood poured from the shallow wound, soaking his tunic. She heard him curse softly. He was now a bit more cautious, waiting to strike like a cat. When he did, Alanna twisted, but his dagger still slashed across her stomach.
She let out a soft yelp and winced as blood began to soak her tunic. She gritted her teeth and when the man came at her next, she caught him, swung him around and rapped him hard on the head with the hilt of her dagger. He fell to the ground, unconscious. Alanna let out a sigh of relief before the man was pulled from the ring.
Before she could even catch her breath, her next challenger stepped into the circle of people. She grimaced, her cuts burning and surveyed her opponent as the rules were announced and they bowed.
He was of medium height. Perhaps as tall as Thom, she mused. But this guy was solidly built. He carried no dagger that Alanna could see, so she stuck hers back in her boot. This looked to be another fistfight.
Indeed it was. The man came at her immediately and swung at her jaw. He grazed her, causing Alanna to wince and swing back at the unprotected right side of his face. She came in contact with his cheekbone, as he punched her in the gut.
She let out a breath as he grabbed her and brought his fist up. In a quick thought, she brought her foot down hard on his instep, which caused him to let her go, then punched him hard in the gut. He attacked her with renewed fervor, bloodying her nose and striking her jaw hard. She bit her lip and pummeled him in the gut as hard as she could, and when he bent over, hit him hard on the back, right below the neck. He collapsed and when he finally managed to rise, bowed his way from the ring.
Breathing heavily, she bent down, her hands on her knees to steady her spinning head, as she was beginning to dizzy from loss of blood.
George passed her a glass of brandy to clear her head, and she sipped it, but it burned in her mouth, mingling with the taste of blood. She handed the half full glass back to him and caught his eye. He looked very worried. She winked at him, and grinned, trying to reassure him. He sighed and announced the rules for the next match. The man was built similar to the last, and carried no dagger, to Alanna's relief. Another hand-to-hand match.
They bowed and the man nodded to her in respect. They both stood light on their feet, dancing back and forth, waiting for the right time to attack. When he did attack, the man grabbed her and tried to wrestle her to the ground. His size gave him the advantage, but Alanna's wit gave her hers. She slid her foot around the man's calf and kicked. The man's leg gave way, with a slight crack and Alanna danced back. The man glared at her, but didn't stop. He made contact with her lip, splitting in. His next punch landed on her temple, causing the old wound to bleed freely again. The blood and sweat mingled, and dripped into her eyes. She cursed, and punched the man strongly. She heard a crack and saw that his nose was beginning to bleed. She'd broken it. Oh Goddess. What am I doing? She silently scolded herself. She had not wanted to hurt these men more then she had to…
He swung at her again, connecting with her shoulder. With her arm aching dully, she punched him as hard as she could in the gut. He doubled over, and wheezed. When he rose, with difficulty, he bowed his head and limped from the ring.
George came up to Alanna and grabbed her by her arm. "You need to stop darlin'."
"No," she said, gasping. "There's only one left! I can take him! I'm almost done George! Really!"
He saw the pleading in her eyes and let her go, whispering for her to be careful. She gave him a small smile and stepped to the center of the ring once more. What awaited her was a tall, slender man, carrying three noticeable daggers.
After bowing, he quickly grabbed a dagger and attacked her. She went into a quick crouch, coming up with a dagger in one hand. She sliced along his exposed arm. He cursed and slashed at her, cutting her shoulder halfway down her arm. She danced back, trying to find the man's weakness. It took her three more cuts, another on her stomach, one on her thigh, and one across her back to notice what it was. He had a slight limp on his right leg, making it harder for him to move with it. She grinned, and sliced toward his right side. He stumbled, and she cut his arm. He lashed out at her, but she knew to step to the right now, causing him to contact air, and loose his balance, giving her time to knock him smartly on the back of the head. He fell to the ground, and was taken from the ring.
Alanna sighed. Done finally.
George stepped to the center of the ring, and began to announce her victory, when a large man, clad in all black stepped into the center of the ring.
"Wait," he growled.
Alanna gulped, and saw that he too carried daggers.
George nodded, told them to fight until one gives, and left the ring, giving Alanna another worried look.
Alanna returned it. She was fatigued now, and dizzy with blood loss and hurt. All over.
The man had a dagger in his hand with in seconds. Alanna still held hers, thought it slipped in her hand. She tossed it to the side, and drew another. The man lunged at her, and stabbed her in the shoulder.
Alanna let out a howl of pain and surprised, as she wrenched away from the man, her wound burning and bleeding.
That was below the belt, she grumbled to herself, as she warily watched him. He striked and she stepped out of the way, a bit too slowly. He sliced a cut down her side starting below her breast. I just have to be faster next time, she thought, knowing that she had stepped away at the right time. So why was she so sluggish?
As she watched the man, her vision began to blur and her head began to pound. The man ran at her again, attempting to stab her. He only grazed her thigh. She shook her head, to clear it, and slashed at him, cutting his stomach. As she went to slice at him again, he danced out of the way, cutting her lower back.
Alanna grimaced. She'd have to give soon. There was no way she could continue on like this. The man came at her again, and stabbed her thigh. She let out a yell of pain, and quickly backed off a bit. His next attack was a stab at her chest. She held him off, but he drew another dagger, and brought it to her throat, attempting to slit it. She shook with terror as she held him back with all of the strength she had. But her strength was failing quickly now, and she was growing tired. The world spun, and her vision blurred, as they stood entangled. With nothing else to do, she kneed him as hard as she could in the gut. He fell to the ground and she immediately pinned her.
"This wasn't a fight to the death!" she yelled at him.
"But you were supposed to die!" he spat.
An assassin, Alanna thought blandly. "Who sent you?"
The man laughed at her, and then began coughing and choking. Within seconds, he was dead.
"Oh Great Mother Goddess," Alanna said softly, terror in her voice.
George stepped into the center of the ring, shaking his head.
"Lanna Crell has proven herself! She will stay with the Rogue. And if anyone has any information about who sent this assassin, then you'd best speak up, because if you withhold that information, I'll personally see to it that you wish you were dead. Understood?"
There were nods, and a few people started to file away. Soon, only those Alanna had fought were left, and they clearly wanted to speak to her. Or they were still unconscious.
George went over to Alanna, and hugged her tightly, but gently. "Don't you ever do that again!" he said fiercely, relief in his voice.
"Yes Majesty!" she replied, and stumbled, her head aching.
She went over to one of the unconscious men and knelt beside him. She touched two fingers to his cut and focused her Gift, letting her purple magic flow into him. The look of pain left his face, and Alanna let him sleep in peace.
She rocked back on her heels, and George rushed over to her. "What do you think you're doing?" he demanded, an edge to his voice. "You need to see a Healer right away!" She fought his arms that tried to grab her, and pushed past him to heal the man she had bloodied badly in their fistfight. While he was conscience, he was evidently in a great deal of pain.
"I'm sorry," she told him softly, as she knelt near where he was sitting.
"Me too, lass. I'll not underestimate you again!" He gave her a small grin, and winced.
She put her hands on his ankle, and focused her Gift on the fracture. Highly spent after that, she rose, dizzily, and continued on to fix his nose.
But he batted her away. "No ye don't lass! You get yourself to a Healer! Don't worry about the likes of me!"
She glared at him, and touched two fingers to his nose and let her Gift flow into it. When she had finally mended his nose, she swayed on her feet, and was caught by George.
"Stop it!" he ordered. "You need to see a Healer!"
She pushed him away, a look of determination on her face.
George cursed aloud. She'd heal until she'd drained herself completely!
And she planned to do just that. She went over to the unconscious man that she had sliced with her dagger. Again, her vision blurred, and she shook her head. She healed the cut on the man's stomach, and sent him into a peaceful sleep, then swayed and collapsed to the ground. George ran over to her, calling her name.
When she didn't reply, he checked for a pulse, and he got a weak one. Her breathing was just as weak. He scooped her up into his arms, and ran.
~~~
Two streets from the home of Eleni Cooper, George's destination, Alanna began to thrash wildly and shiver. George hugged her limp body tighter and ran faster. Something was wrong. When he finally reached his mother's house, he pounded on the door, gasping as he clutched the shaking Alanna to him.
Mistress Cooper answered the door in her nightdress and her mouth fell open. She threw the door open, and rushed George in. He set the girl on a cot that his mother kept by the fire and turned to his mother, horror in his hazel eyes. "I think she's dying, mother!"
Mistress Cooper looked at him in shock and then ran over to Alanna as George let candles, boiled water and found fresh linens. She took the dagger from Alanna's belt and sliced the tattered tunic from the girl. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the crisscrossing cuts on the girls body, and the stab wound. She fingered the stab wound gingerly, as George came up behind her with clean linens.
He gasped when he saw her and cursed, pain in his voice.
"Poison," Mistress Cooper said quietly.
George swallowed hard. "When I find that bastard that sent the assassin…" His anger didn't allow him to finish. "Can you heal her?" he asked shakily, when he'd finally regained enough composure to speak.
She looked at her son, worry creasing her face. "I'll try my best."
George put his head in his hands, and felt onto a chair, hot tears sliding down his cheeks. Don't die now, Alanna. Don't die on me, damn it!
~~~
Author's Note: Sorry it took me so very long to post! I had a bit of trouble getting into the fight writing. And, I know, you'll kill me, but to get over that block, I started an original. I promise that I'll still post often with this one! Starting after the next chapter. You see, my dad's getting married on Saturday! :o) I'm gonna be helping with wedding things, but I'll probably post on Sunday. I can't wait to write the next chapter!!! Well, I hope you guys enjoyed this one! More soon! I promise! And now, to catch up on thanks…oh man. What a task! Ok, here goes!
To:
Sadrine Black: Fido, the so-called 'wonder pup' bothers me…well, thanks for reviewing even though the computer was messed up!!! Speechless…yay!
M'cha Araem: That really is irony! Middle of the night doesn't bode well for proofreading, though I do try to! Sorry it was so badly proofed! Questions, questions. You'll just have to wait! I'm glad you like it!! Ah, the evil pixie. (She's my 'evil' twin!!!) Glad you like my name. I'm rather partial to it! And, to your review of 13. I'm sorry! It was not a calculated act against you! I was just itching to post and didn't have time to write out six fights! Very sorry! Hey! You're using my threat against me!! No!!!! Haha. I flamed you…er…kind of…your story is just so unflamable! And, thanks for saying my Alanna isn't a Mary Sue. It makes me fell much better!
SirenPorter: A/G rocks! Glad you like it! Thanks for the review!
Silenttina: You're such a great reviewer!!! Golly. There is plenty of good fan fiction on the net! Don't waste your life away waiting for mine! Honestly…you're such a wonderful reviewer…. No! Alanna can't majorly hurt the rogues! If she did, they wouldn't be able to work for weeks! And it's hard to work with out a head! Ok, well, I hope you can read soon! Favorite fan….lol. You're great!
Temptress: Thanks for the review! Glad you like it! And very sorry about the cliffie!
The Lady Rogue: Sorry about the lack of A/G fluff. Give me another few chapters to get you that belated B-day present! And thanks for defending my version of Alanna!
Babooshka: Sorry about the confusion! I keep forgetting, mostly people don't think like I do. (I swear, there is something wrong with me!) I'm very glad you like the little lie with Raoul. Maybe it'll come to pass again…he he he. Thanks much for the review!!Myuu: You're such a funny little reviewer like person! I love reading your strange reviews! I'll keep that catfight in mind! Thanks for the suggestion! And thanks for reading and reviewing!!!
The Dark Lady Adrienne: I'm working on the fluff! I promise! Golly you seem excited! Glad you like it!!!
Dragon Queen: Ack! Dentist appointment! That sucks something major! :o(. Glad you like it! And sorry for the cliff hanger!
CrystalRose: I just had to give Thom someone, and this bodes well for what will come later! Catfight and fluff. Okay, I'll try my best!!!
Keziah: Sorry about my way late updates! I sometimes do one a day, but I think they turn out better when I have time to mull the ideas over. Glad you like it!!! Haha. I ended it before the fight, and you hated me. You must loath me now!
White-wolf: Very glad you like it! :o)
Lilyengraved: Glad you like it!
Rya: You ever manage to post? I'd love to read it! Also, can you either tell me your exact name or do a signed review? I've searched clear around FFN and can't find your profile! Glad you like! Sorry I can't help with MS Works….
Ally: Thanks for being patient! I'm glad you like it and are still reading!!!
Anonymous: See my reply to Babooshka. Sorry I'm strange! Oh! Very glad you like it! Sorry for my millions of small, dumb mistakes! And are you the one that posted a review for 12 three times? If you are, Glad you like it enough to check often for updates!
If not above, the one that had three reviews for 12: Oh! Yay and thank you!!! Glad you like it!
Person that did not sign: I'm sorry you feel that way.
Lady Katherine: **Grins and blushes** Glad you like it!!! And, the name of my website's at the top!
Crown: Alanna wants to be in the Rogue! It wouldn't take that much convincing to get her back! You know Alanna. If she'd thought about it longer, she'd have gone and done it with out George's push in the right direction. And, I'm sorry to say, but do you ever leave nice reviews? If seen your reviews, and they are always condescending! The whole point of fan fiction is to share your love of a certain genre with others. Also, it's a good start for young writers! So, don't flame as much! People are trying their best and if writing is what they love to do, then at least try to be nice! So there. Sorry for that, but I just had to tell you.
SkeAnjel6: Sorry!!!
PrincessSkywalkerOrgana: I like your penname! Oh! You mean this is well written? **jumps into air and clicks heels together** And, I always has a soft spot when it came to Thom. He needs a buddy! Lol.
Michelle: **laughs** Lol. Thanks for the compliments! You're a great reader! Your reviews make me grin!!
Dezeray*: Glad you like it! Bulletproof marshmallows…very cool!
Reviewer: Glad you like my plot! It does eventually thicken! There will be more Alanna fighting and stuff like that! My character development in fan fics is always a bit weak. It's easier in originals for me. Then, I'm not afraid that I'm treading on people's toes. And as to new characters, oh yes. I have many ideas for them in the future! You weren't hard on me! Thanks! I needed some constructive criticism! Oh! You think I could be good!! Yay!! And, as to the gods. You must be patient! I've got their roles planned out! I just have to get past this court season. Time should pass quickly after I get about three more chapters done, and then exciting stuff will happen! I agree. The gods are a must have. And, they're cool. Lol. It will NOT end up Alanna/Jon. I'd go and hang my self on Traitor's Hill. *wink* Thanks for reviewing! I really appreciate the criticalness of it! It helps me out!! Thanks!!! Very very glad you like it!!!
PunkPrincess: Glad you like it! Haha. I agree. George is the coolest! Thanks for the wonderful praises!! Oh, I'm being compared to Tammy again! Even if in a remote way….lol, it's a start! Thanks!! Oh, and as to the name Kylie, well, great minds think alike, and you're a great mind. (We punky fantasy girls MUST stick together!) Thanks! Lol, and COMPLETELY off topic, what bands do ya like? Lol. :o)
Glacial Phoenix Mysticara: Glad you like it! Thanks soo much for reviwing!
Dragonlady: Glad you like it!! Thanks!
Hyper Mage: Love your penname! Glad you like it! Thanks much!
Krazy Kitty: **takes a VERY deep breath…..here we go…!** FFN hates me! It just does. Sorry if it gives you problems with my story! I blame Fido the 'wonder pup.' It's all his fault! Planet FunnyFarm. Lol, that's great! What an evil joke!!! I'd kill them to! (It's happened to me to. Someone ended up in a very very bad mood, and it wasn't me!) Thanks for my daily dose of humor! It's very much loved! Song and Dance time is the greatest! Your song is wondrously great! Thanks for using your poetic talent to write me the song! Yes, you're splendidly ultra cool! Ten more chapters. Lol, I'll see to it! **Laughs very loudly** I see your point. '.'??? Making humor? If you are, very funny! Oh, very glad you liked it! And, while wishes are wishes, if wishes were fishes, then the fishes would take over the world and rule it in their fishy tryannay, so let's be glad that fishes are wishes….ermmm…I mean…fishes are fishes…..er! Blast it! Well, you know what I mean! (Gosh I hope you do…oh, how no one understands the workings of my mind…) Yes, forever ultra cool!!! Thanks for your review!!! I loved it!!!!
Dandylioness: Very glad you liked it!!!! **blushes** Thanks!!!
Author's Note: Done!!! Phew! That was time consuming! Lol. Well, hope you liked this chapter. Hey, if you're bored, check out my joint fic that I'm writing with The Lady Rogue. It's called "We Only Want The Rice To Make Rice Wine." And if you're VERY VERY bored, check out my original. It gets better. Trust me! Lol, well, there you are! Thanks for reading and reviewing! You guys are way too nice!!!!! You're wonderfully wonderful!!!! Thanks!!!!
Cheers!