Author's Note: Yay! Another chapter for all of you awesome people! I love hearing your comments, questions, advice, rants, pleadings, random anecdotes, etc. And if anyone feels like flaming, go ahead. I almost wish someone would flame. Then I would feel so fulfilled. But don't flame if you don't really mean it. Only flame if you honestly don't like it. I need a flame to give me a sense of reality. You guys are just too perfect. You can't possibly be this nice.
I still don't know exactly how I want to end my story, 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 8: Knight-in-Training
Thom bent over his mathematics work with a will. He enjoyed the academics part of his lessons at the palace. As for magic, he finally had managed to get lessons as well as continuing his private studies outside of classes. Since the Sweating Sickness, Duke Roger of Conte had returned to the palace and was giving all of the Gifted pages and squires classes.
Thom didn't mind the lessons, but he didn't like Duke Roger overly much. There was nothing tangible to which he could trace his mistrust of the man, but Thom had a gut feeling about him. The duke was up to no good.
The boy also had a suspicion that Duke Roger might have been behind the mysterious fever that had almost taken the Prince's life. If Thom hadn't been able to save him by calling on Mithros for aid, Jon would have died. As it was, Jon had been seriously weakened. He was fully recovered now, but it had been a while until the prince had been able to take part in all of the training necessary for an aspiring knight.
Thom had taken his suspicions to his friend in the city, George Cooper. George was, to put it politely, not on his Majesty's side of the law. Bluntly, he was a thief. The King of Thieves, actually. But none of that bothered Thom. The Rogue was a good friend, and he allowed Thom to practice some of the more complicated spells within his rooms at the Dancing Dove.
As Thom finished his last problem, his eyes lighted on the one letter Alanna had sent him before she had disappeared. It was the last thing he had to remember her. He didn't think he'd ever see her again. Although he may have accepted that, he still wouldn't believe his sister was dead.
Alanna wasn't the type to tamely lie down and die. She had run away from the convent. Thom refused to believe she had gotten herself killed. She was simply somewhere she couldn't get in touch with him. And of course, she couldn't communicate with anyone, because she would get dragged back to the convent.
He wondered where she was, and what she was doing. Would he ever see her again?
***************************************************************************************************************************
Hey guys! Do you know I got 11 reviews for last chapter? How cool is that? That has to be a record! I think the responses for this one are going to be longer than the chapter.
Morrigan: Well, if you spelled it wrong, I certainly can't tell. And yes, the first few chapters weren't the best ones I've written. I like these later chapters better too. Hey, it's from Rocky and Bullwinkle? I haven't even SEEN that movie. Maybe I got it from the previews…
Barannilwen: Yes, that's exactly what I thought when writing this! As for my reviewing your story—try and stop me!
Temptress: Yes, they confiscated CDs. Although lots of people smuggled them in. Along with lots of good American candy, but that all got eaten in the first few days. As for the rest of your review… ::sits back in seat and laughs for five minutes:: You always manage to make me laugh, even when I'm way down in the dumps. Which I'm not, but if I were, you would bring me out of them.
Punkpixie87: Yay! Caps! I explained all about the evil pixie in a review on your story, so you should understand that by now. Do you know it took me two days to figure out what you meant by GMG? I felt so stupid when I finally realized it was just Great Mother Goddess. I guess I must be getting stupider. ::laughs at her own idiocy:: Yes, I tend to laugh at myself a lot. I am just so incredibly funny in the dumb things I manage to do. Like, I fall off of benches a lot. I did that at camp once at lunch, and I was stuck in between the benches. It took two counselors and my friend to get me out. It was pretty funny. OH MY GOSH! BADNESS IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME! SAVE ME FROM THE BADNESS! AHHHHHH!!!!!! ::runs screaming away from the badness, and then stops:: Oh wait. That was only if I didn't post. Ha ha. Silly me.
~J~: Well, that was certainly enthusiastic. Are you happy now?
Keziah: Yup, it's Lightning. How Lightning ended up in the middle of the desert…just don't ask. As for mosquitoes—don't even get me started. I will not begin to rant, I will not begin to rant—Oh, I give up! I HATE MOSQUITOES! HOW DARE THEY SUCK MY BLOOD AND GIVE ME AN UNCOMFORTABLE RED WELT IN ORDER TO PROPAGATE THEIR MISERABLE SPECIES! I HOPE THEY ARE ALL STRUCK DOWN BY THE GOD OF BUGSPRAY! DIE DIE DIE DIE!!!!!!! DIE EVIL MOSQUITOES!!!!! Okay, I think I'm done now.
Neona: Is your grandfather okay? I hope it wasn't anything too serious. As for camp, look up the website if you really want to go. Just search for Concordia Language Villages. You should be able to find the site easily.
Clinkin: You'll just have to wait and see, now won't you? By the way, when did I get a Miss in front of my name?
Allure: Oh, that is such a good idea, except I don't think it'll work now. Grrrr. I wish I could use that. Maybe I will figure out how to do it, but I don't know that it will work.
ThePenMage: My re-upload showed up on the first page? It didn't do that for me. It changed, it just didn't show up on the first page. That is kind of odd. And her name is Kalan because I felt like giving her a Bazhir name. It makes it easier in the later chapters. Time flew because I didn't want to write four years of juvenilia. Your rambling cracked me up. I love it when teachers say things like that. It's like they actually believe you enjoy listening to their long and boring speeches. Yes, you are special. You're very special. Congrats on your imminent release from orthodontia! Yes, I do have a retainer, which I am supposed to wear, except I don't. The orthodontist despairs of me. As for the veil thing: THEY JUST DID, OKAY? WHY CAN'T YOU JUST ACCEPT THAT? ::bursts into tears and runs away sobbing madly:: Just kidding. : P
Yay! Now you get to review again, so that I can write you a happy response next chapter! Don't forget your ideas for Alanna's future!