Beltane had never been Alan's favorite holiday. He found it rather primitive and superstitious that people actually thought jumping over a fire would help conceive a child. For Mithros' sake, he thought, very annoyed, just go fuck each other…then you'll get a baby! Actually, what he really hated was that on this day, everyone acted, well, romantic with each other. To him, it was fine to be all giggly and besotted when you were fifteen, sixteen years old, but absolutely not when you were an adult. Especially not people he knew…for example, his parents. He despised that show of affection more than anything in the world, besides perhaps the king and queen.
Alan of Pirate's Swoop was a complicated individual. With his blond hair, slightly tan skin, and bright green eyes, he was certainly one of the more popular young men at Court…only he hated all the fawning girls. The stupid, simpering, giggling girls…did they actually think acting like a fool was attractive? Instead, he liked intelligent girls, girls who could carry on a conversation. Two of his best friends were girls. Princess Kalasin and her younger sister, Princess Lianne, were both the witty, intelligent women that Alan found desirable. Only, he'd never show it because one, Kalasin was older than him; and two, they were like sisters. It would be too strange…it was a thought that not one of them had ever really allowed to become words. Instead, Alan had to put up with the stupid ladies all the time. The ladies whom Alianne had always made fun of in her letters to him during those five years at the convent.
Of everyone, Alan missed his sister the most. After all, what is a twin to do without their other half? Alianne was clever, entertaining, beautiful…and everyone loved her. They couldn't help it. However, Alan knew her better than everyone, he knew her one vice: ambition. Alianne had always craved attention as a child, and that gave way to her need for power. Power over servants, power over commoners, power over nobles, and eventually the power over the king and queen. With her smile, she was able to get anything she wanted. Alianne, like Alan, was very curious about the world outside the Eastern and Southern Lands. She loved to hear about Europe and Rome, especially gossip about the rulers who reigned supreme in those lands. Alianne desired to be a great ruler, just like her idol, Matilda of Normandy. However, unlike her role model, she actually would be queen. Her dreams and goals always brought a smile to everyone's face…only Alan knew that his sister was truly determined to be queen.
He brought himself back to the present. Standing in the grand ballroom at the Copper Isles palace, Alan certainly looked the part of a wealthy noble. Next to him stood Keladry of Mindelan, dressed as a lady. Though they were the same height at five feet, ten inches, they still looked good together. Their matching colors of green and silver complemented his emerald eyes and her hazel ones. Alan tried to see around a group of nobles to the thrones where King Casimiro and Queen Eliana sat, but they were too tall. Damn being short, he thought bitterly. His height had always been a point of teasing, especially by his older brother, Roald, and Liam…all of whom were six feet, one inch. Even Jasson, who was considered short by everyone else, was an inch and a half taller than Alan. Neal topped him by three inches, as did pretty much everyone else. Oh well, Alan comforted himself, Thom got the height, I got the brains.
Not that his brother didn't have brains…in fact, quite the opposite. He had been a top student at the university and was now one of Jonathan's most powerful mages. Alan's eyes narrowed at the thought of his brother. They had never really gotten along very well, as they were constantly trying to be better than the other. Of course, every time, it was Alianne who outshone them all, with her ability to turn a pun and her pretty face. It was her charms and sharp mind that made both Alan and Thom want to strangle her constantly.
"Psst, Alan," Kel whispered, poking him in the side, "the queen just left. All these men followed her."
Alan rolled his eyes. He knew what kinds of kinky things the Copper Islanders did, and he absolutely wanted to steer clear of that. "Ok, tell Neal to follow her…I'll stay and watch Casimiro. You go with him."
Kel nodded and quietly slipped away. In her absence, Alan was finally free to flirt with the brunette who'd been eyeing him the entire night. She was a countess, he found out, and she was unmarried. Even better, she had been trained as a mage at the university in Carthak. She was a lady-in-waiting to the queen, and her name was Catalina.
"So, then, sir, what is your name?" she asked coyly, her bright blue eyes dancing.
Alan froze. He couldn't give the name he planned, he needed something foreign. "Ailin de Louvaine," he replied quickly, giving the first name that came to his mind. Oh, shit, he thought. Ailin is Irish, not French!
"Louvaine?" The lady seemed impressed. "But your name is not French, I do not think…"
"Oh, no," he lied, "my mother was Irish. But my father was French…I'm sorry, is French."
"Ah, the British Isles," she purred. "The land of King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, and Tristan and Iseult!"
His eyes widened. "You are familiar with such literature?"
"Well, of course. Her Majesty insists that we be…she is very much enthralled with Britain. In fact, the one lady she would like to meet is the Empress Matilda, King Stephen's cousin."
Just like Alianne. "Really? How odd…she would get along very well with my twin sister."
Catalina smiled. "Queen Eliana is one of a kind. I will introduce you to her! Come!"
Alan blanched. "Did I not just see Her Majesty leave?"
"Oh, the queen had a personal meeting to attend with some of her nobles," the lady answered without hesitation. "She will be in her private receiving room."
Alan nodded as he let Catalina lead him towards the queen. When they reached a golden door, she motioned for him to stop. "Wait here," she ordered. Alan obeyed, looking around as he passed the time. The Copper Islanders had spared no expense making this palace. The floors were marble, and the walls were inlaid with gold. Various pieces of priceless artwork decorated the walls and tables. He smiled wryly. The palace in Tortall could never compare.
"My lord?" Catalina was at the door. "Her Majesty is most happy to talk with you…she wishes to learn of your queen, Eleanor."
Alan faked a smile as he bowed and entered the room. Ladies-in-waiting dotted the walls, which were painted a silvery-white color. The queen sat on a throne of pure silver, a veil covering her face. As Alan gave a deep bow, she sat up straight.
"Leave us," she ordered, her voice slightly strained. Alan frowned…her voice was slightly familiar. "Sálganos ahora!" When the ladies had all gone, the queen stepped down from the dais, and locked the door behind them. She ripped off her veil.
"What in the Goddess's name d'you think you're doing here, Alan?" his sister hissed. Her violet eyes were narrowed dangerously. "How did you know I was here?"
Alan tried to find his voice. "Well, actually, I just found out. What the hell are you doing alive? Everyone thought you were dead…"
"Exactly what I wanted them to think," she interrupted as she stepped down. "But that doesn't matter, does it, Alan? I have what I've always wanted."
"Bullshit it doesn't matter! It absolutely does! Gods, Ali, she still hasn't forgiven herself. She's convinced that she killed you…and all the while you're running around the Copper Isles, playing the whore very well, seducing men old enough to be your grandfather! And for what? A crown…a crown that means nothing. Oh, don't look at me like that. Everyone knows how Cebrian died. Sure, they think it's romantic, that you and Casimiro were willing to kill for your love. But that doesn't make it right!"
Alianne slapped him hard across the face. "How dare you speak to me like that?" she said, her voice dangerously quiet. "I am Queen of the Copper Isles. You will not insult me so."
Alan put a hand up to his cheek. That hurt! "Listen, Alianne, d'you honestly want to know what people really think of you? They gossip about you incessantly at the Tortallan Court!"
"What do I care if that group of trash has fun at my expense? I am a queen, and they are not. It is as simple as that."
He rolled his eyes. It appeared his sister's ego was growing ever larger…not that it was small to begin with. "Oh, get over yourself. No matter how many people bow down to you, or praise your name, you're still the same person as you were. Queen Eliana of the Copper Isles…you know you're still Alianne of Pirate's Swoop, and that's who you'll always be. No better, no worse than the next person. Don't glorify yourself."
"Remove yourself from my presence at once," she snapped, "or I shall call the guards." Reluctantly, Alan bowed and obeyed. Once in the hall, he was immediately confronted by Kel, Neal, and several other agents.
"Alan, we need to get out of here," Neal hissed as he handed him a piece of paper. "Signed documents of war…the king and queen have ordered the Copper Isles' army and navy to attack Tortall at once."
"They've allied themselves with the Bazhir," Kel added, her face grim. "We need to get back to Jonathan as soon as possible."
Alan looked over the documents his sister had signed. The last one was the order to find and kill every last member of the Tortallan royal family. "Oh, gods. We're in for it."
Neal looked puzzled. "Why?"
"They're planning to take the thrones…they're going to overthrow Jonathan and Thayet."
A/N: And the plot thickens…whatever shall the Tortallans do? Yes, Ali comes off as evil, but she's really not! She's just ambitious, like Anne Boleyn!