That evening Prince Jonathan and his friends met in his room to do homework
and discuss Alanna. Jonathan felt sorry for her and admired her for
sticking up to Ralon. Gary and Raoul of Goldenlake thought she was brave
and were having second thoughts about being mean to her. Alex of Tirragen
thought she was 'just a girl'.
p Raoul, who was a big, brown-haired, easy going, and Alex, who was small and dark, were arguing about this when there was a knock on the door and Sir Myles walked in.
p " Hello, Your Highness, how are you all?" he asked.
p " Fine. What brings you here?" Jonathan replied politely, adding quickly,
p "We were just talking about Lady Alanna." Myles sat down next to the prince and looked at the four boys in front of him.
p " Actually, its Alanna who brought me here." He admitted. " I think she was the one responsible for the incident in class today. I know none of you have been too mean to her to her face and Ralon has, but you haven't been treating her with the respect you would normally treat a lady with. No matter what her age is, what kind of upbringing she's had, who her parents were or what they did, she still deserves respect and common politeness. I hope that you four will be open minded enough to listen to what I have to say and think about it." Jonathan nodded, speaking for all four of them, and Myles continued,
p " I know Alanna acts cold, mean and haughty, but that is her way of hiding her feelings. She grew up alone. Marcella was never strong and probably often ill; I doubt whether she would have been a good mother in any case. Alanna knew no one and had no friends and because of that, she turned rather wild. When the village children called her mother a whore, or called herself carrots or witch, she beat them up." He looked at the guilty boys, pausing significantly, "When she was bored she ran around the forest or, if Marcella was well, she practiced fencing or archery with her mother. She can read and write, but other than that her education has been considerably lacking. I'm not telling you this so you'll feel sorry for her and pity Alanna. To understand her character, you need to know that now her situation has changed completely. In the past month she has lost her mother, she has moved from the woods to the palace, she has become a lady instead of a peasant. She is lonely, confused and unhappy and she tries to hide this by being wilder and even more different than she already is. If just one person would forgive her mother and take the time to be nice and polite to her, you would realize what a good friend she could be. Underneath the person you see, I've seen an unhappy, lonely girl in a lonely world. A little kindness would change everything-I've seen her smile, I know." Myles rose, glancing around at the guilty looking boys. " I don't need to know why you've acted this way, but I think you are old and responsible enough to realize its time to change your attitude towards her." He turned and left, bowing to Prince Jonathan as he did so, leaving the four boys with a lot to think about.
p Alanna was walking towards the stables the next day to ride Sugar, the old and grumpy pony Duke Gareth had given her. Prince Jonathan and his friends were practicing archery on the outdoor court. Sir Myles was there, watching them. When he spotted Alanna, he called out to her.
p "Alanna, come over here!"
p Alanna walked towards him slowly until she reached the fence and leaned against it, a haughty look on her face.
p " Why don't you join us?" Myles asked kindly, " I'm sure the boys would be happy to let you have a go."
p All four nodded and mumbled something, but their faces told otherwise.
p " I'm not very good." She replied, half-hoping they would let her go.
p "Don't be modest." Myles chided gently. Alanna sighed, giving the appearance of being bored with the whole idea, but inside she was bursting with happiness.
p "The gate's over here-." Jonathan was cut off as Alanna leapt over the fence lightly and took the gloves, bow and arrows Gavin was offering her.
p Straightening herself, Alanna pulled back the string, aiming the arrow faultlessly. It hit the target directly. Gary traded a look of pure astonishment with Raoul. Even Alex looked surprised.
p The other two arrows followed the first one. Lowering the bow, Alanna was scared by the silence. Maybe all they wanted was someone to laugh at.
p "Well done!" Jonathan said.
p "Thank you, Your Highness." Alanna whispered. Handing everything back to Gary, she turned to go.
p "Going riding?" Raoul asked abruptly.
p "N-no. I don't think Sugar wants to. It's awfully cold." Alanna replied. No one could think of anything to say, so Alanna jumped over the fence again and ran off, barely smiling at Myles.
p Well, she'd shown them! If they'd wanted to laugh at her, they certainly hadn't been able to. Yet, for some reason, Alanna didn't feel any better.
p Alanna soon realized that though the prince and his friends were being nicer, they would never be friends with her. Ralon, on the other hand, was determined to be mean to Alanna. Though he had started staying away from her, he teased her whenever they met.
p One evening Sir Myles, who had been teaching his squires to play chess to help with battle tactics, organized a chess tournament. There were only nine boys, so Orson sent Gary to find Alanna and ask her to come and make and even number. Gary found Alanna alone, trying to play the lap harp.
p "Hello, Alanna." Gary said. Alanna looked up and put down her harp, a look of relief in her eyes.
p "Hello." She replied evenly. The look on her face made Gary laugh.
p "Having trouble?" he asked.
p "Well, yes. It's impossible!" Alanna cried.
p "I suppose you wouldn't like to make an even number in our chess tournament? Sir Myles thought you might." He added hastily, as if to make sure she knew it wasn't his idea.
p Alanna looked up hesitantly.
p "I could; it would get me away from this instrument." She said, with such a scornful look on her face that Gary wondered again if she could smile.
p Alanna silently followed Gary downstairs to the classroom where the tables had been set up with the broken and well used chess sets of the boys who were competing. Alanna saw Jonathan, Ralon and Raoul at other tables as she sat down opposite Gary.
p Alanna could tell that Gary was good at chess, but he was making very stupid mistakes that even a beginner wouldn't make. This annoyed Alanna to such an extent that when he did not capture her queen when he could of, she cried out.
p "You don't have to let me win." She snapped sarcastically. "It's not a rule."
p Gary looked at the board.
p "But - I ." He spluttered.
p "Capture my queen." Alanna commanded, "That's what any sane person would do." Sir Myles, standing behind her, chuckled.
p "Listen to her, Gary." He said.
p Gary moved his bishop and took her took her queen emotionlessly. Alanna tilted her head, examining the board. Suddenly a sparkle lit up her wide purple eyes as she realized what an opportunity she had created for herself. Swiftly she moved her knight and took Gary's king.
p "Checkmate." She whispered.
p "You knew!" He accused.
p "I didn't." Alanna replied calmly, "I just realized myself."
p Gary laughed, to show he didn't care that his girls cousin had beaten him. Sir Myles smiled,
p "I noticed. I wondered if you had, Alanna."
p Alanna's face remained emotionless as she sat down to play someone else. He wasn't very good, and Alanna won in a matter of minutes. Now she had to play Prince Jonathan, who, she knew was just as good at chess as he was at everything else. As she walked towards the table that he sat at, she wondered if this was the outcome Myles had had in mind when he invited her to play. When she neared the table, Ralon jumped up and sneered at her,
p "You'll loose, witch! Everybody just let you win!"
p "Would you rather take my place?" Alanna asked quietly. Ralon scowled and retreated silently. Alanna sat down and everyone crowded around the two. Jonathan moved a pawn and the game began. Halfway through the game, Jonathan captured Alanna's queen and the game turned in his favor. The prince relaxed and played carelessly and finally Alanna found an opening,
p "Check." She whispered. Jonathan stared at the board, looking for a way out.
p "Checkmate." Alanna said, louder than before. Jonathan looked up and Alanna smiled slowly. Realizing that the prince might be angry, she stopped smiling and looked down.
p "By your leave, Your Highness." She murmured, standing up. Jonathan looked at her, startled.
p "Of course." He replied. Alanna left quickly. Slowly and quietly, incase their prince was angry, the other boys left until only Gary, Raoul and Sir Myles were left with Jonathan.
p "She smiled." Jonathan said slowly.
p "You don't mind her winning?" Gary asked incredulously. Jonathan shook his head. Sir Myles smiled,
p "I'm glad, Jonathan. I think she was pleased that she outwitted you."
p With a nod to Orson, Jonathan, Gary and Raoul left.
p Up in her room, Alanna stared at her harp without seeing it. Prince Jonathan was angry that she, a nobody and a girl, had beaten him. Alanna had been so pleased without herself, but know she could have cried. Why was she so silly and selfish to want to beat the prince!
p Alanna had mentioned her powers to Sir Myles and had also told him that she wanted to improve them. She still felt guilty that she could have saved her mother's life, but hadn't known how. Myles advised her to go to the Temples of Light, where female priestesses and sorcerers lived. One day in early June, Alanna rode to the temple, which lay just outside the city.
p Alanna rode up and dismounted in front of the dismal gray temple, shrouded in fog. Slowly she knocked on the big, gray doors and waited, pulling her cloak around her tighter. Finally, the doors creaked open with a low squeak and a tall lady in a white robe with flowing black hair and sad, dark eyes beckoned Anslie in. She stepped in to the cold and dismal hallway and breathed in the ancient musty smell. In the dark she could just about see the crumbling stone statutes of the Goddesses of the moon, sun and stars, which lined the walls. Ghostly, eerie singing came from somewhere and Anslie felt a shiver of alarm run down her spine as the woman in front of her began to speak. Her voice was low and soft and held no emotion.
p "Welcome, child. I am Levana, secondary priestess of the moon temple of Temples of Light. How may I help you?" Alanna swallowed and looked into Levana's deep, dark eyes.
p "I am Lady Alanna of Naxen." She paused, expecting a reaction of some sort, but none came, so Alanna continued,
p "I-I have the gift and my mother died recently of the fever. I tried to help her, but I wasn't sure how. I want to improve my powers and I thought you might be able to help."
p Levana nodded and led Anslie down a dark, twisting halls, all with that same musty smell and eerie feeling. Finally they reached a door of what Alanna supposed to be one of the temples. An older lady in gold with long black hair and that same emotionless expression on her face stood there and Levana explained Alanna reason for visiting. The woman turned to Alanna smiling slightly.
p "I am Hamadi, priestess of the moon temple here. Please, come with me." Her voice was as soft and mystical as Levana's had been and Alanna felt slightly scared of the ghostly temple as she followed Hamadi into the Temple of the Moon.
p Inside was startlingly different from the hallways and Alanna had to shield her eyes as they grew accustomed to the blinding light. The walls and floor of the temple were brilliant white marble and there was an altar at the other end, also of marble, and covered in gold cloth. Behind it was a white marble statue of the Goddess of the Moon wearing gold draperies like Hamadi and holding a brilliant, glowing crystal moon, her emblem. Two chandeliers hung from the elaborately painted ceiling.
p "Lady Alanna," a powerful voice broke through her thoughts and she turned to Hamadi, who looked quite different now. "I understand you want to learn to heal with your magical powers given to you by the gods?"
p "Yes." Alanna whispered in awe.
p "The Goddess of the Moon is the goddess of health and healing. I, as her first representative in Corus, will be honored to help you as much as I am able to."
p "Thank you, Your Excellence." Alanna whispered. Hamadi smiled a drew Alanna closer to the statue of the Goddess of the Moon. For the next few weeks Alanna would spend her spare time here with Hamadi, learning to heal with magic. Within a few weeks she could heal as well as any of the palace healers and perform many different commands and charms. Hamadi was surprised and impressed with her quick progress. She even made a prophecy one afternoon, which she said came from the Goddess herself.
p "I see a queen before me, a queen to be feared, respected and loved. She has been lonely and led a cruel life, but she will be powerful. She will defeat the King of Beasts, the Evil One himself, and become a Queen in many ways. Her powers will overcome the Evil One's and he will attempt destruction against her and the ones close to her. She has the strength and the power to overcome him and save the ones she loves from the wicked king, very closely related to her. She will be magnificent."
p The prophecy frightened Anslie so much that she told no one, not even Lord Orson of it. She hoped that none of this would ever come true and that she could forget it soon.
p At the end of June, the fever swept through Corus and Alanna's fourteenth birthday was forgotten as Queen Lianne fell ill almost immediately and it took all of the chief palace healer, Duke Baird of Queenscove, and his assistants' strength to heal her. More courtiers and knights-in-training fell ill. Duke Baird worked hard, but not everyone survived.
p Raoul was one of the first to fall violently ill and the very first to die. Alanna could tell that Jonathan, Gary and Alex were very upset.
p At the beginning of July, after Duke Gareth, Gary and Alex had been ill, the fever gradually started to leave, fortunately then because most of the palace healers were very ill or dead because of the effort. Before it left completely one ore victim was claimed: Prince Jonathan.
p Alanna heard the news from a very distraught Lady Portia. She immediately went to find Sir Myles. Myles had been looking for her too. Apparently, he had talked to Hamadi about Alanna and hoped she would be able to help Jonathan.
p "I don't want you to fall ill from the work." Myles worried.
p "I've already had it - it rarely hits hard the second time." Alanna assured her friend and they went to see Duke Baird, in the prince's room.
p The Duke looked at Alanna uncertainly.
p "I've heard about you from Chief Priestess Hamadi too." he admitted. "I suppose anything's worth a try now." With a hesitant smile at Alanna, Duke Baird and Myles left. Alanna sat down beside Jonathan and closed her eyes, thinking of what to do now.
p "Capture the fire." Hamadi's voice drifted through her thoughts. Alanna knelt by the fireplace where a small fire dwindled. Chanting a spell, she put her hands over the fire, and it flared up. Anslie closed her eyes and let herself drift into the fire. The heat surged around her, but somehow did not scorch her. Grabbing the center of the fire, she pulled. The room rocked around her and a hissing filled her ears. Alanna shrunk back. The heat rushed forward, surrounding and nearly swallowing her up. Alanna fought against it, as she once again grabbed the center of fire. Slowly, she rose and tried to take the fire to Jonathan. She was in pain, her head spinning and sweat pouring down her face, but she didn't give up. Finally, she found herself by Jonathan's bed again. Closing her eyes again, Alanna reached into Jonathan's soul, releasing the evils of his hidden heart. Evil spirits swarmed around her, trying to draw her way from the prince.
p In the middle of it all stood the God of Shadows, the god of the dead, dressed in a long black robe and holding a skull, his emblem. His face was white and his yellow eyes glared evilly, as he tried to take Jonathan's soul away from Alanna.
p "No!" Alanna screamed. The god only laughed, a high-pitched, spine- shivering, evil laugh that made her blood run cold. "No." she continued calmly. "You can't have him. He's not going to yet." Alanna held on to Jonathan's soul and, ignoring the pain, began to pray.
p "Goddesses of Light three, Help me, I beg. Give me the power to put life into this dying soul. Help me save this poor mortal from death." as she continued to pray, the evil spirits vanished and the God of Shadows slowly slipped away. Gradually the fire slid from Alanna's body into Jonathan's.
p "You're fine now." Alanna whispered, tears streaming down her face, "You're home."
p Raoul, who was a big, brown-haired, easy going, and Alex, who was small and dark, were arguing about this when there was a knock on the door and Sir Myles walked in.
p " Hello, Your Highness, how are you all?" he asked.
p " Fine. What brings you here?" Jonathan replied politely, adding quickly,
p "We were just talking about Lady Alanna." Myles sat down next to the prince and looked at the four boys in front of him.
p " Actually, its Alanna who brought me here." He admitted. " I think she was the one responsible for the incident in class today. I know none of you have been too mean to her to her face and Ralon has, but you haven't been treating her with the respect you would normally treat a lady with. No matter what her age is, what kind of upbringing she's had, who her parents were or what they did, she still deserves respect and common politeness. I hope that you four will be open minded enough to listen to what I have to say and think about it." Jonathan nodded, speaking for all four of them, and Myles continued,
p " I know Alanna acts cold, mean and haughty, but that is her way of hiding her feelings. She grew up alone. Marcella was never strong and probably often ill; I doubt whether she would have been a good mother in any case. Alanna knew no one and had no friends and because of that, she turned rather wild. When the village children called her mother a whore, or called herself carrots or witch, she beat them up." He looked at the guilty boys, pausing significantly, "When she was bored she ran around the forest or, if Marcella was well, she practiced fencing or archery with her mother. She can read and write, but other than that her education has been considerably lacking. I'm not telling you this so you'll feel sorry for her and pity Alanna. To understand her character, you need to know that now her situation has changed completely. In the past month she has lost her mother, she has moved from the woods to the palace, she has become a lady instead of a peasant. She is lonely, confused and unhappy and she tries to hide this by being wilder and even more different than she already is. If just one person would forgive her mother and take the time to be nice and polite to her, you would realize what a good friend she could be. Underneath the person you see, I've seen an unhappy, lonely girl in a lonely world. A little kindness would change everything-I've seen her smile, I know." Myles rose, glancing around at the guilty looking boys. " I don't need to know why you've acted this way, but I think you are old and responsible enough to realize its time to change your attitude towards her." He turned and left, bowing to Prince Jonathan as he did so, leaving the four boys with a lot to think about.
p Alanna was walking towards the stables the next day to ride Sugar, the old and grumpy pony Duke Gareth had given her. Prince Jonathan and his friends were practicing archery on the outdoor court. Sir Myles was there, watching them. When he spotted Alanna, he called out to her.
p "Alanna, come over here!"
p Alanna walked towards him slowly until she reached the fence and leaned against it, a haughty look on her face.
p " Why don't you join us?" Myles asked kindly, " I'm sure the boys would be happy to let you have a go."
p All four nodded and mumbled something, but their faces told otherwise.
p " I'm not very good." She replied, half-hoping they would let her go.
p "Don't be modest." Myles chided gently. Alanna sighed, giving the appearance of being bored with the whole idea, but inside she was bursting with happiness.
p "The gate's over here-." Jonathan was cut off as Alanna leapt over the fence lightly and took the gloves, bow and arrows Gavin was offering her.
p Straightening herself, Alanna pulled back the string, aiming the arrow faultlessly. It hit the target directly. Gary traded a look of pure astonishment with Raoul. Even Alex looked surprised.
p The other two arrows followed the first one. Lowering the bow, Alanna was scared by the silence. Maybe all they wanted was someone to laugh at.
p "Well done!" Jonathan said.
p "Thank you, Your Highness." Alanna whispered. Handing everything back to Gary, she turned to go.
p "Going riding?" Raoul asked abruptly.
p "N-no. I don't think Sugar wants to. It's awfully cold." Alanna replied. No one could think of anything to say, so Alanna jumped over the fence again and ran off, barely smiling at Myles.
p Well, she'd shown them! If they'd wanted to laugh at her, they certainly hadn't been able to. Yet, for some reason, Alanna didn't feel any better.
p Alanna soon realized that though the prince and his friends were being nicer, they would never be friends with her. Ralon, on the other hand, was determined to be mean to Alanna. Though he had started staying away from her, he teased her whenever they met.
p One evening Sir Myles, who had been teaching his squires to play chess to help with battle tactics, organized a chess tournament. There were only nine boys, so Orson sent Gary to find Alanna and ask her to come and make and even number. Gary found Alanna alone, trying to play the lap harp.
p "Hello, Alanna." Gary said. Alanna looked up and put down her harp, a look of relief in her eyes.
p "Hello." She replied evenly. The look on her face made Gary laugh.
p "Having trouble?" he asked.
p "Well, yes. It's impossible!" Alanna cried.
p "I suppose you wouldn't like to make an even number in our chess tournament? Sir Myles thought you might." He added hastily, as if to make sure she knew it wasn't his idea.
p Alanna looked up hesitantly.
p "I could; it would get me away from this instrument." She said, with such a scornful look on her face that Gary wondered again if she could smile.
p Alanna silently followed Gary downstairs to the classroom where the tables had been set up with the broken and well used chess sets of the boys who were competing. Alanna saw Jonathan, Ralon and Raoul at other tables as she sat down opposite Gary.
p Alanna could tell that Gary was good at chess, but he was making very stupid mistakes that even a beginner wouldn't make. This annoyed Alanna to such an extent that when he did not capture her queen when he could of, she cried out.
p "You don't have to let me win." She snapped sarcastically. "It's not a rule."
p Gary looked at the board.
p "But - I ." He spluttered.
p "Capture my queen." Alanna commanded, "That's what any sane person would do." Sir Myles, standing behind her, chuckled.
p "Listen to her, Gary." He said.
p Gary moved his bishop and took her took her queen emotionlessly. Alanna tilted her head, examining the board. Suddenly a sparkle lit up her wide purple eyes as she realized what an opportunity she had created for herself. Swiftly she moved her knight and took Gary's king.
p "Checkmate." She whispered.
p "You knew!" He accused.
p "I didn't." Alanna replied calmly, "I just realized myself."
p Gary laughed, to show he didn't care that his girls cousin had beaten him. Sir Myles smiled,
p "I noticed. I wondered if you had, Alanna."
p Alanna's face remained emotionless as she sat down to play someone else. He wasn't very good, and Alanna won in a matter of minutes. Now she had to play Prince Jonathan, who, she knew was just as good at chess as he was at everything else. As she walked towards the table that he sat at, she wondered if this was the outcome Myles had had in mind when he invited her to play. When she neared the table, Ralon jumped up and sneered at her,
p "You'll loose, witch! Everybody just let you win!"
p "Would you rather take my place?" Alanna asked quietly. Ralon scowled and retreated silently. Alanna sat down and everyone crowded around the two. Jonathan moved a pawn and the game began. Halfway through the game, Jonathan captured Alanna's queen and the game turned in his favor. The prince relaxed and played carelessly and finally Alanna found an opening,
p "Check." She whispered. Jonathan stared at the board, looking for a way out.
p "Checkmate." Alanna said, louder than before. Jonathan looked up and Alanna smiled slowly. Realizing that the prince might be angry, she stopped smiling and looked down.
p "By your leave, Your Highness." She murmured, standing up. Jonathan looked at her, startled.
p "Of course." He replied. Alanna left quickly. Slowly and quietly, incase their prince was angry, the other boys left until only Gary, Raoul and Sir Myles were left with Jonathan.
p "She smiled." Jonathan said slowly.
p "You don't mind her winning?" Gary asked incredulously. Jonathan shook his head. Sir Myles smiled,
p "I'm glad, Jonathan. I think she was pleased that she outwitted you."
p With a nod to Orson, Jonathan, Gary and Raoul left.
p Up in her room, Alanna stared at her harp without seeing it. Prince Jonathan was angry that she, a nobody and a girl, had beaten him. Alanna had been so pleased without herself, but know she could have cried. Why was she so silly and selfish to want to beat the prince!
p Alanna had mentioned her powers to Sir Myles and had also told him that she wanted to improve them. She still felt guilty that she could have saved her mother's life, but hadn't known how. Myles advised her to go to the Temples of Light, where female priestesses and sorcerers lived. One day in early June, Alanna rode to the temple, which lay just outside the city.
p Alanna rode up and dismounted in front of the dismal gray temple, shrouded in fog. Slowly she knocked on the big, gray doors and waited, pulling her cloak around her tighter. Finally, the doors creaked open with a low squeak and a tall lady in a white robe with flowing black hair and sad, dark eyes beckoned Anslie in. She stepped in to the cold and dismal hallway and breathed in the ancient musty smell. In the dark she could just about see the crumbling stone statutes of the Goddesses of the moon, sun and stars, which lined the walls. Ghostly, eerie singing came from somewhere and Anslie felt a shiver of alarm run down her spine as the woman in front of her began to speak. Her voice was low and soft and held no emotion.
p "Welcome, child. I am Levana, secondary priestess of the moon temple of Temples of Light. How may I help you?" Alanna swallowed and looked into Levana's deep, dark eyes.
p "I am Lady Alanna of Naxen." She paused, expecting a reaction of some sort, but none came, so Alanna continued,
p "I-I have the gift and my mother died recently of the fever. I tried to help her, but I wasn't sure how. I want to improve my powers and I thought you might be able to help."
p Levana nodded and led Anslie down a dark, twisting halls, all with that same musty smell and eerie feeling. Finally they reached a door of what Alanna supposed to be one of the temples. An older lady in gold with long black hair and that same emotionless expression on her face stood there and Levana explained Alanna reason for visiting. The woman turned to Alanna smiling slightly.
p "I am Hamadi, priestess of the moon temple here. Please, come with me." Her voice was as soft and mystical as Levana's had been and Alanna felt slightly scared of the ghostly temple as she followed Hamadi into the Temple of the Moon.
p Inside was startlingly different from the hallways and Alanna had to shield her eyes as they grew accustomed to the blinding light. The walls and floor of the temple were brilliant white marble and there was an altar at the other end, also of marble, and covered in gold cloth. Behind it was a white marble statue of the Goddess of the Moon wearing gold draperies like Hamadi and holding a brilliant, glowing crystal moon, her emblem. Two chandeliers hung from the elaborately painted ceiling.
p "Lady Alanna," a powerful voice broke through her thoughts and she turned to Hamadi, who looked quite different now. "I understand you want to learn to heal with your magical powers given to you by the gods?"
p "Yes." Alanna whispered in awe.
p "The Goddess of the Moon is the goddess of health and healing. I, as her first representative in Corus, will be honored to help you as much as I am able to."
p "Thank you, Your Excellence." Alanna whispered. Hamadi smiled a drew Alanna closer to the statue of the Goddess of the Moon. For the next few weeks Alanna would spend her spare time here with Hamadi, learning to heal with magic. Within a few weeks she could heal as well as any of the palace healers and perform many different commands and charms. Hamadi was surprised and impressed with her quick progress. She even made a prophecy one afternoon, which she said came from the Goddess herself.
p "I see a queen before me, a queen to be feared, respected and loved. She has been lonely and led a cruel life, but she will be powerful. She will defeat the King of Beasts, the Evil One himself, and become a Queen in many ways. Her powers will overcome the Evil One's and he will attempt destruction against her and the ones close to her. She has the strength and the power to overcome him and save the ones she loves from the wicked king, very closely related to her. She will be magnificent."
p The prophecy frightened Anslie so much that she told no one, not even Lord Orson of it. She hoped that none of this would ever come true and that she could forget it soon.
p At the end of June, the fever swept through Corus and Alanna's fourteenth birthday was forgotten as Queen Lianne fell ill almost immediately and it took all of the chief palace healer, Duke Baird of Queenscove, and his assistants' strength to heal her. More courtiers and knights-in-training fell ill. Duke Baird worked hard, but not everyone survived.
p Raoul was one of the first to fall violently ill and the very first to die. Alanna could tell that Jonathan, Gary and Alex were very upset.
p At the beginning of July, after Duke Gareth, Gary and Alex had been ill, the fever gradually started to leave, fortunately then because most of the palace healers were very ill or dead because of the effort. Before it left completely one ore victim was claimed: Prince Jonathan.
p Alanna heard the news from a very distraught Lady Portia. She immediately went to find Sir Myles. Myles had been looking for her too. Apparently, he had talked to Hamadi about Alanna and hoped she would be able to help Jonathan.
p "I don't want you to fall ill from the work." Myles worried.
p "I've already had it - it rarely hits hard the second time." Alanna assured her friend and they went to see Duke Baird, in the prince's room.
p The Duke looked at Alanna uncertainly.
p "I've heard about you from Chief Priestess Hamadi too." he admitted. "I suppose anything's worth a try now." With a hesitant smile at Alanna, Duke Baird and Myles left. Alanna sat down beside Jonathan and closed her eyes, thinking of what to do now.
p "Capture the fire." Hamadi's voice drifted through her thoughts. Alanna knelt by the fireplace where a small fire dwindled. Chanting a spell, she put her hands over the fire, and it flared up. Anslie closed her eyes and let herself drift into the fire. The heat surged around her, but somehow did not scorch her. Grabbing the center of the fire, she pulled. The room rocked around her and a hissing filled her ears. Alanna shrunk back. The heat rushed forward, surrounding and nearly swallowing her up. Alanna fought against it, as she once again grabbed the center of fire. Slowly, she rose and tried to take the fire to Jonathan. She was in pain, her head spinning and sweat pouring down her face, but she didn't give up. Finally, she found herself by Jonathan's bed again. Closing her eyes again, Alanna reached into Jonathan's soul, releasing the evils of his hidden heart. Evil spirits swarmed around her, trying to draw her way from the prince.
p In the middle of it all stood the God of Shadows, the god of the dead, dressed in a long black robe and holding a skull, his emblem. His face was white and his yellow eyes glared evilly, as he tried to take Jonathan's soul away from Alanna.
p "No!" Alanna screamed. The god only laughed, a high-pitched, spine- shivering, evil laugh that made her blood run cold. "No." she continued calmly. "You can't have him. He's not going to yet." Alanna held on to Jonathan's soul and, ignoring the pain, began to pray.
p "Goddesses of Light three, Help me, I beg. Give me the power to put life into this dying soul. Help me save this poor mortal from death." as she continued to pray, the evil spirits vanished and the God of Shadows slowly slipped away. Gradually the fire slid from Alanna's body into Jonathan's.
p "You're fine now." Alanna whispered, tears streaming down her face, "You're home."