pAlanna slept for two days. When she woke up she found Lady Portia standing over her with the general look of disapproval she reserved specially for her, but Alanna saw a look of respect and awe at the back of her hard eyes.

p"Well, how's our heroine today?" she sniffed. "I hope we've realized that healing is not a game. Though, thanks to us, His Highness is up and going."

p"I'm fine." Alanna replied.

p"His Grace is very worried about us. His Majesty wants to thank us for saving his son's life, of course. The only other hope had was in his nephew, the Duke of Conte, and he hasn't arrived in Corus yet."

pAlanna sat up straight when the Duke of Conte was mentioned. She had the unique sensation of seeing the strict and humorless Lady Portia smile like a love struck girl.

p"He's ever so charming. Quite a gentleman." She frowned and drifted out of the room and Alanna thought about the Duke of Conte.

pOn her thirteenth birthday, Alanna's mother had told her all about her past life-except who Alanna's father was. When Marcella was dying she had told Alanna the truth and made her promise that "the last thing Roger sees is this ring." She had given Alanna her wedding ring before dying. Alanna realized now that her mother had wanted her to kill the man responsible for their misery - Duke Roger of Conte.

p'So,' Alanna thought, 'my father is the best sorcerer in Tortall and the king's nephew. I wonder if he knows I'm here. I wonder if he knows I was ever born!'

pLady Portia interrupted Alanna's thoughts by hurrying her along. As soon as Alanna was dressed, a stone-faced manservant came to escort her to His Majesty's presence.

pAlanna followed the silent manservant to King Roald's private rooms. The king was sitting in a high backed velvet chair behind a mahogany desk. Anslie curtseyed deeply and King Roald said,

p"I hope you are feeling better, Lady Alanna." His voice was low and sincere.

"Much better, Your Majesty." She whispered. "I'm honored by your concern."

p"I hardly wanted anyone to risk their life for my son." Roald stroked his dark brown beard. Anslie knew he was an old fashioned, proper king and she wondered what he thought of her and her mother. "I just wanted to thank you. Is there anything you would like?"

pAlanna's purple eyes met the king's blue ones. She thought of the horse she longed to ride, the friendships she longed to have - and the mother lying in the grave. She had made up for her mother's death. She needed no reward.

p"No, Your Majesty, I'm perfectly happy." She murmured.

p"If there ever is anything." King Roald smiled. 'Well, I'm sure Jonathan would like to thank you."

pIt was a dismissal, even if rather abrupt.

p"Thank you, Your Majesty." Alanna curtseyed again before leaving the large room. A shiver went down her spine. She didn't want Jonathan to feel as if he was indebted to her! It would probably make him dislike her more.

pAlanna leaned against the balcony edge, thinking before she was forced to return to Lady Portia. All of a sudden, there was a shout behind her. Turning, she saw Jonathan walking towards her. Swallowing hard as he stopped a few feet away. Alanna curtseyed.

p"Good day, Your Highness, I hope -."Alanna murmured before Jonathan interrupted.

p"I wanted to thank you." Jonathan kept his eyes on the ground as he shifted from foot to foot. "You saved my life."

p"It was nothing, your Highness. I just did my duty." Alanna replied.

p"Nothing! You were nearly killed and you say it was nothing!" Jonathan looked up at Alanna, staring in disbelief. He paused, and then said more quietly, "If you ever want something, just tell me. Anything. I can change whatever you want."

p"I don't need anything, Your Highness." Alanna answered.

p"But you must have gone through all that work for something." Jonathan cried.

p"Your Highness, it never even occurred to me! I saved you because you were dying, not for my personal gain!" Alanna retorted angrily.

pJonathan looked at Alanna oddly. p"I'm sorry, Alanna. I misjudged you." Alanna nodded as a way of accepting the apology, noticing that the prince had called her Alanna.

p"It's alright, Your Highness -."

p"Jonathan." The prince interrupted. "I've been cruel to you, yet you risked your life to save me. I'm very sorry for everything I said or did, and I'd like to be friends. So would Gary, I believe - I'm not so sure about Alex."

pAlanna laughed lightly at Jonathan's ashamed face. Jonathan laughed too.

pJust then Duke Gareth came around the corner. He looked surprised to see Alanna and Jonathan together, laughing.

p"Hello, your Highness." The duke smiled. "Are you feeling better, Alanna?"

p"Much better, Your Grace." Alanna smiled. Duke Gareth raised an eyebrow.

p"Well, I won't keep you from your conversation. Goodbye, Alanna, Your Highness." Duke Gareth left the terrace, still looking skeptical.

pJonathan was about to say something when there was a loud shout and Gary came running along the terrace.

p"Jon!" he shouted, halting beside Alanna. "Duke Roger is here!"

pJonathan's face lit up at the mention of his cousin.

p"Great!" Turning to Alanna, he added, "I'm sure Roger will be very happy to meet such a good sorceress, Alanna." Alanna smiled weakly.

pGary was hoping around anxiously, "Well, come on!"

pThe three entered the entrance courtyard to see a tall, handsome man standing in the center talking to Duke Gareth. He had dark brown hair and blue eyes on a well-tanned face, much like Jonathan, as well as the broad shoulders. He wore well worn ridding clothes which, though dusty and simple, showed wealth and everything about spoke of a royal bloodline. At the moment, he had his head tilted back as he laughed and seemed easy going and relaxed, but Alanna saw a look of ruthlessness and determination behind it all. Without knowing why, Alanna didn't like him. 'I'm being silly.' She thought 'just because my mother hated him doesn't mean I should, even if he did leave us to die.' Deep down, Anslie knew there was another reason that she disliked the smiling, popular Duke.

p"Jon!" Roger cried. "I heard you were ill and a remarkable novice cured you!"

p"Yes, Roger." Jonathan motioned to Alanna. "It was Lady Alanna."

pAlanna had the pleasure of watching the happy careless exterior slip and be replaced by pure astonishment - not just because of her youth or sex.

p"What -!" He gulped. "You look so much like Marcie." Alanna thought the duke was probably not normally foolish enough to call a lady he supposedly had barely known by a nickname, but the shock was an excuse.

p"You knew my mother?" Alanna asked innocently.

p"Well, very slightly." Roger smiled, but Alanna knew that he knew that she knew who her father was.

p"You must be a very good sorceress to have been able to cure Jonathan, Lady Alanna." Roger continued.

p"Oh, Your Grace, it was nothing!" Alanna murmured.

p"Don't be modest." Duke Roger chided pleasantly. Alanna saw, in the back of his eyes, that he was wondering if it really was nothing.

pJonathan laughed.

p"There's no more work for you here, Roger. Why have you come?"

p"To see you and my uncle." He smiled. "I've seen most of the countries around Tortall. I think it's time for me to settle down somewhere - and what better place than right here, with you?"

pBoth Jonathan and Gary smiled, obviously delighted and Anslie knew she too should be pleased. Forcing a smile, Anslie looked into the deep blue eyes of Duke Roger.

pThe Duke turned away from the young girl with startling purple eyes. He could see Marcella's sweet and innocent face. For one moment Roger felt guilty, but that soon passed. Marcie, like every other woman, had only been fun. She had hinted that there was a child, but he thought it had probably died at birth. Now, here she was standing in front of him, ruining his plans. She must leave!

p"Well, I must go see my uncle now. Goodbye, Jon, Gary, Lady Alanna."

pThe Duke strode purposely from the courtyard, leaving Alanna with a lot to think about.