THIS PARAGRAPH IS THE IMPORTANT THING YOU NEED TO READ! SO READ IT! There is nothing different about this chapter than from before, except for this author's note. For some strange inexplicable reason, no reviews have shown up from this chapter, although it's been up for two days. That kind of puzzles me. You guys don't all hate me that much, do you? Please tell me that the lack of reviews is the result of some technical glitch, because although I know my story is pretty awful, I didn't think it was so bad that no one would even bother reviewing this chapter. So if there are people out there reading this who did review, I don't know what you said to me, so I would appreciate it if you would say it again. RETURNING TO NORMAL PROCEEDINGS…
Author's Note: Yay, I'm back from camp! I had a great time, but I really missed all of you wonderful people here at FF.Net. (That, and American junk food. The drawback of going to German camp is that they feed you German food, and they take away all of your American candy. Toblerones are good, but there ain't nothing like a Twix bar.) If you haven't read the reviews, refer to that, where I explain where I've been for the last two weeks.
For everyone who did manage to review, thank you. For everyone else, I know you would have. You were simply prevented by the evil pixie that sneaks in and makes things not work at FF.Net. For future reference, I'm also going to start to reply only to those reviewers who I think need feedback, be it in answer to a question, or a reply to a certain interesting comment, et cetera. If I don't reply to your specific review in some chapters, I probably will in others.
Also, I have an exciting new thing. YOU GUYS GET TO HELP ME DECIDE THE ENDING! I don't know exactly how I want to end it, so I'm going to let you give me suggestions for the eventual destiny of Alanna. The one I was originally going to use was to get her to become a page at the palace. If you like that idea, say so, if you have another idea, please tell me. Nothing too specific, though, because I wouldn't want to spoil it for people.
Chapter 6: Thom
Thom of Trebond stared miserably out the window at the rainy landscape. It was more than six months since he'd first become a page at the palace. He hated it.
Sure, he had friends. Gareth of Naxen, Alex of Tirragen, Raoul of Goldenlake, even Prince Jonathon, the heir to the throne.
No, it wasn't his social life. It was his classes. He did all right in academics, but the fighting arts were another story. Tilting, staff-fighting, archery, even horseback riding left him sore, aching, and thoroughly exhausted. By the time all of his classes were done, he was ready to drop, and then he still had to serve at meals.
He never had enough time to finish his homework, he never had enough sleep, he got punishment work nearly every day from one or another of his arms masters. In short, his life was hell.
Thom longed for the peace and relaxation he would have had at the Mithran cloisters or the convent. If only the plan had worked. He would have been learning sorcery like he had dreamed of, and Alanna would have been happily whacking things, just as she had always wanted to. It just wasn't fair.
Lost in this gloomy train of thought, he almost didn't notice the knock on his door. It was Timon, Duke Gareth's personal servant.
"His grace wants to see you, Thom," the young serving man informed him. Timon led the way through the halls towards the training master's study.
Thom's head swam. Why would the duke want to see him? He didn't think he was in trouble serious enough to merit a visit to the training master. What could he have done?
He hesitantly knocked on the door, and opened it when a voice within bade him to enter. The duke sat behind his desk, shuffling papers. He looked grim. Thom's heart sank. Whatever he had done, he was in deep, deep trouble.
"Sit down," Duke Gareth said. Thom sat. "I've just received a letter from your father. He was writing to say that your sister Alanna is missing. She ran away from the convent." He paused, craggy features grave. "She's believed to be dead."
Thom was stricken. Alanna? Dead? It was impossible. Alanna wouldn't die. She was too stubborn for that. He looked at the duke. The man nodded sadly.
"I'm sorry, Thom."
Thom rose unsteadily from the chair and stumbled out of the study, neglecting even to bow as he made his way back to his room. Alanna was dead. His twin sister was dead.
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Okay guys, here's my small portion of individual replies for the reviews from last chapter.
Alanna/Jonathan: No, it will not be Jonathan, I know that much. It might be George, it might be someone else. George IS the likeliest possibility, but if you can think of someone you like better and why Alanna should end up with him, let me know.
Neona: I too am leaving for July 4th, except I'll only be gone for a few days. I hope you have fun on your vacation. And look at it this way: when you get back, all of your favorite stories will probably be updated, and you'll have so much fun reading all of the updates you missed.
Dragonqueen: Ah, a fellow slacker. I hope you enjoyed your method of filling your time rather than being constructive. As for your patience, let me tell you, you'll get used to it. I felt the same initially, but the long wait really makes you appreciate each chapter more.
ThePenMage: Awakens. Yes, you're right, I did say that, and it is incorrect. It was meant to be awakened, I guess I messed up when I was typing it. I'll re-upload that chapter and fix it, because things like that always bother me when other people do it, so doing it myself would be inexcusable. I always try to avoid doing things that annoy me when other people do them. I'm not sure if awakened or awoke is the more correct tense, but I'm going to do it the way I meant it to be. I know they're both past tense, but one of them is past perfect, and one of them isn't—except I don't remember the difference, so that's not going to be much help. I kind of rambled through that, but I think you'll get the point. Thank you for pointing that out to me, I appreciate the careful reading.
All right, now's the time for you to REVIEW! And don't forget to include ideas for Alanna's destiny. I'll leave you to it.