Chapter 6

The Dinner

By: Lady Isabelle

Alanna sighed and turned to Faile, "Do I have to go this dinner? Is it mandatory?"

Faile tried, unsuccessfully not to laugh and replied, "Yes, and yes. As I said before, he won't bite your head off. He isn't that bad. Just as crass and crude as any of them. You are to be his escort for the evening, because he has an important guest in from Corus. I do believe he will be your escort into Corus so you can get settled at your post." Interpreting Alanna's questioning look she said, "I'm not sure where you will be sent but I'm pretty sure you will be sent to the palace, to learn who the two representatives from the Shadowlost are."

Alanna sighed again, and asked, "Will you be coming with me? I'm not sure I'm ready to go of on my own."

"Don't worry, you will be fine, I am going out on another mission, but I can't tell you where. I'm not even sure yet, where. It should be interesting, I'm going of with Goldhawk, another representative."

"I see." Alanna busied herself with putting on her dress, make up and ear bobs. She turned around and saw Faile looking at her closely. "What? Is my dress not straight?"

"No it isn't that. You are just, well, you are the only person we can send, and since you have only been here one day, I fear, well, that you do not know enough about the Shadowlost to conquer him and his followers. You are so young and nieve. I am worried about you, not as an elder officer, but as a friend."

"I'll be fine, I do not know a lot, but I know enough. I have not been here long but I can sense the evil from the castle, an overwhelming amount of evil. I am confident that I can find it, and defeat it."

"Gods, Trebond, it isn't like that. The Shadowlost has no mercy, he doesn't care whom he kills to get what he wants, and he just does it. He will kill you if he finds out you are one of us."

"I don't care if I die. I am going to die someday, so why not today? Why not for a good cause?"

"Don't get mad at me please, Alanna, its just that I'm worried. Its not like you are experienced at this sort of thing." Faile begged.

"I won't get mad if you promise not to worry about me that much."

Faile nodded resignedly and pointed out, "Aren't you going to be late for your dinner? Stardrifter does not like to be late. He is waiting outside for you."

Alanna took a deep breath and walked outside. "My lord, I am ready for dinner now."

"Good," he said brusquely. "Stay quiet and don't speak unless you're spoken too. I have a very important guest and you and the Lady Hawk are the only nobles here, and she refuses to eat with me, gods know why."

Alanna nodded and offered Stardrifter her arm. "Then let us go."

The two walked hand-in-hand to the dining area, but walked right past it. "We must be dining in Stardrifter's private suites," she thought to herself. The two walked and walked, getting deeper underground, until they stopped and opened the doors. There was a large dinner table, and she could see that it could be cleared away and dancing could be done here.

"Sit. He'll be here momentarily." Stardrifter walked out of the room, his thoughts obviously elsewhere. So Alanna sat, and gazed around the room. It was just like any higher noble's ballroom. She wondered about who Stardrifter was and who was in command of the Nightrunners. It was very confusing. She sighed, inwardly, because the door was opening.

"Why, this in the noble girl, you've got workin for you?"

"Why yes. She is our Lioness, a new recruit."

The man raised an eyebrow, "Lioness? What is her real name?"

Stardrifter opened his mouth as to speak, but Alanna was too quick for him, "My name is Lioness, sir, and you can call me that."

He laughed, "You've got spirit lass. Good spirit, I think you and Stardrifter will get along well, dontcha think so, Stardrifter?"

Stardrifter merely grunted and gestured for his guest to sit. "Good eating tonight. Don't worry about her tongue, Rogue, it won't run wild for long. Maybe I'll cut it off."

Alanna gasped in amazement, "Cut it off? I think not. That is a punishment no woman deserves. And I am not just any woman. I know that I am the only person that will be able to go to Corus for you." She sat back in satisfaction.

The Rogue said, "Lass, he was just makin' a joke. Relax, and you can call me George." Alanna sighed and began eating her food. It was going to be a long night. After awhile it seemed George and Stardrifter were more like close pals or buddies, not allies in a war. She studied them closely, because she knew by watching them, she might pick up on more sensitive issues that would later be at hand.

Stardrifter picked up his fork and asked, "Have you caught any operatives lately?"

George grimaced, "Just one. And a drunken-ass lout he was. Talkin where anyone could here him about how the Shadow was stronger and was going to take over th' world. We took him out nice and easy."

"Good. Any new recruits?"

George shook his head. "I'm havin a harder time findin people who are trustworthy enough to bring here. People these day don't seem to care whether they will be livin in a coupla years."

"Aye, just that." Stardrifter sounded the gong and the servant took away the soup course and brought in the main course, of roasted deer.

George laughed suddenly and picked up some deer and said, "Well we do have this one, however feisty she may be, our Lady Lioness."

Alanna glared at George, "Your Lady Lioness?! I'm no one's Lady, let alone, Lioness and of all people George Cooper, not yours."

George glanced at her quickly when she said his last name and asked, "How did you know my last name lass?"

"I know all about you from my brother's letters. He tells me you and him are quite good friends, King of the Rogue."

George nodded and replied, "Aye, I thought you had the look of Thom about you. In fact, if I didn't know you was a girl, I might think you were him."

Alanna, of course, looked appalled. "I would think that you could tell us apart. I have several appendages that Thom doesn't have," she said tartly.

George couldn't help himself, he started to laugh. Stardrifter was watching all this with a funny look in his eye. "Lass, I didna mean it that way. I meant your face."

"Oh."

Stardrifter cleared his throat importantly. "I think we've had enough of this. George have you figured out who the two operatives are in the palace?"

George shook his head slowly. "I have no clue. They are much better at hiding themselves than the people on the streets are. I have a hunch that they are noble."

Stardrifter snorted. "Well, doesn't that make things ten time harder. That means we will have to send a noble into the palace. And we only have three. Only two that are properly trained." When George raised a questioning eyebrow Stardrifter said, "We have Hawk and Dreamdancer, but currently they are on other missions. They both leave tomorrow. And as for the third, our little Lioness isn't ready to go out into the field. But we may have to send her."

"I can do it," Alanna said hotly.

"Really can you?" replied Stardrifter

Alanna glared at him, "Yes I can. I beat Dreamdancer today at fencing, and I'm Shang trained. I know sword fighting and all manners of fighting with my feet and hands. Almost every fighting sport, except knife fighting and wrestling."

George, seeing she was about to go on, mentioned, "Yes, but can ya beat a full noble that is most likely knighted? That's where th' challenge lies."

Alanna nodded smugly. "The Shang Falcon said I could beat any man who was knighted with swords and with bare fighting. He thought I was a worthy opponent."

George nodded slowly and said, "Aye, but did you count on using your magic? 'Cause I'm sure those nobles are gonna try."

"Well, I have some training. The daughters helped me a little."

George replied softly, "But what if a little isn't enough?"

Alanna shook her head stubbornly. "I'm going to go. And I'll study through the libraries and learn to use my magic." She didn't say it but she really wanted to say, "So there."

"Fine. If you want to get killed, then why not go tomorrow?"

"Maybe I will. In fact I think I will. I already heard from, a source, that I had a mission lined up."

"Enough!" Stardrifter roared. "Lady Lioness, you must go to your rooms. Since you obviously know you have mission tomorrow, you need to get your packet and your clothes being issued. And once a week, Stefan the chief hostler will let you know when to come in to the city and George will teach you to knife fight and fight dirty, like they do in the city. George, enough. The girl has had enough training from what I see. And with a little help from you she'll be fine."

Alanna tried hard not to sigh and said, "Yes sir." She got up from the table and announced, "I am going to sleep. I will be ready to escorted into the city tomorrow morning."

Stardrifter smoothed his beard and said, "Fine. Go. There will be a carriage at 8:00. Some one will be there to make it look like you came from the convent to be introduced into the court."

Alanna sighed, she had tried not to and hadn't accomplished it, and walked out.

A/N I am sooo sorry it took so long to be put up. My muse decided that over the summer it didn't like this story anymore. And so I was forced not to write. And I was busy. But now my muse is inspiring me again! So I will keep writing. I have Chapter 7 already written. We meet a new agent! Dun dun dun! Please please please r/r and I'll put Chapter 7 up tomorrow or later! Oh, and I'm looking for someone to beta read. Contact me at gymtwster@aol.com Luvs, LadyIsabelle