Author's Note: Okay, guys, don't lynch me, I know this is terribly late and it's been FOREVER since I've updated, and all that, but I can only say I'm sorry. School's kept me pretty busy, and my enthusiasm for this story has been winding down a bit. I've actually had this chapter written for a while, but with computer issues (still not completely resolved) and being so busy, I haven't had a chance to post it. So, it's finally up here. Read it.
Chapter 16: Sunrise
A huge, orange sun rose over the horizon, staining the sand a deep, lustrous red, each grain a slightly different hue. A soft wind, still cool from the chill evening, flirted with the sand and drifted piles into gently rolling dunes. It was just another part of the ever-changing desert landscape. Alanna loved it.
She felt uniquely at peace when she was out in the desert. The harsh, unforgiving landscape didn't care if she was a girl or boy; a princess or the lowliest serf. Human idiosyncrasies meant nothing to the driving sands, or the chafing wind, or the bright, glaring sun. There was no need to wear masks in the desert.
Her ebony-dyed hair was whisked gently around by the playful breeze. Alanna smiled, and clucked to Moonlight to pick up the pace a little. The mare, made playful by the brisk, beautiful morning, danced around and then broke into a canter with an exuberant neigh. The prince's black stallion spooked a bit as the mare rushed up from behind him, but soon Darkness too entered into the spirit of things and started a bit of competition.
Jonathan's startled shout followed Alanna as Moonlight raced ahead. Twisting in the saddle, she laughed as he toppled off of the suddenly galloping Darkness and landed ignominiously on his rear in the sand. But she had mocked him too soon.
Moonlight twisted and dropped her shoulder, and Alanna joined the prince, sprawling in the sand. Propping herself up on her hands, she watched as the two horses frolicked in the dawn.
It was a new beginning of the day, and, Alanna thought, maybe a new beginning for her life. Just as her life had been changed by that fateful day in her room in the convent and the decision to strike out on her own, now it was being changed once more.
For only the second time in four years she was going to talk to her brother. She would be able to tell him who she was, and catch up on everything she'd missed for four entire years. She couldn't wait to see him.
And though she loved all her Bazhir friends, she'd always felt a tiny bit apart from everything they went through. They were independent children of the desert. She was a product of the far north; she could never wholly be Bazhir. Her reluctance to become a shaman had probably stemmed from that very feeling of not quite belonging.
But now she was entering into a new chapter of her life. Everything would be different. And unlike the last time her life was changed forever, this time everything she did would be the result of her own purposeful decision. Alanna of Trebond, not at all a noble lady, sometime shaman of the Bazhir, and soon-to-be squire, was going out to take control of her life.
Okay, well, I hope you're happy with the last chapter of this story. Personally, I hate it, but you're entitled to your own opinion. Leave a review, please. I would really appreciate it.
Oh, about the sequel. Back when I last updated this chapter it was swimming around in my head, but right now it's not resolving itself into an actual plotline. I'm not sure how that's working out. It may end up here, it may never show. As of right now, I couldn't tell ya. And although I still love all of my wonderful reviewers, I can't deal with the backlog of reviews right now, so I'm not going to reply to anyone.
But I'd like you to know that I've read every single one, and I really appreciate all your input. Okay, big hugs to everyone who's put up with this huge delay, and I'm signing off.
~M'cha Araem
(or, as Punkpixie87 likes to put it, "Michy")