DISCLAIMER: Not mine, not mine, not mine!
~Orders~
You can always tell a woman's attitude towards a man by the weapons she chooses to attack him with.
George Cooper knew this, and so was encouaged when his wife chose to match him at staffs for their morning exercise rather than something sharper and more deadly. It meant she was beginning to calm down.
It was barely dawn, and the practise courts in the Royal Palace were deserted. Apart, of course,from the red-headed King's Champion and her husband.
The air was filled with the clack of wood on wood and the soft padding of their feet on the floor. They were moving quickly, deftly; they knew each other's styles like their own.
George spotted a split-second opening in Alanna's defense, and almost went for it before a small voice inside his head warned him that it might be wiser to let her win today's match. Anything to avoid her going after those aforementioned sharp weapons.
In the instant that it took him to organise these thoughts in his head, Alanna had disarmed him and nearly sent him to the floor. He managed to regain his balance as she wiped her face on her sleeve.
"Well then," he said dryly, "I see your argument with Jon hasn't spoiled your form."
She gave him a tiny smile. "I just imagine I'm aiming for him."
The Baron snorted and slung an arm over her shoulders as they left the courts.
"When do we ride for the Swoop?"
She swung her staff thoughtfully. "There's some things I need to do here before we leave," she said. "I suppose in a few hours, if you can be packed by then."
He nodded, and then paused. "Lass, you're not aiming to do anything foolish, are you? Jon *is* King, when all's said and done."
"I know *that* George." They were entering the nobles' quarters of the Palace, and she lowered her voice. "Look, they said I can't talk to her or see her, right? But they never said I wasn't to drop hints." She smiled at him as she pushed open the door to their rooms.
"But if they find out it's you, Alanna..."
"I thought of that," the redhead replied triumphantly. "I'm going to be stuble."
With that, she propped her staff in her weapons rack and, stripping off her shirt, began to wash briskly.
George raised his eyebrows. "Alanna, my love, I have nothing but the highest respect for you, but subtlety is not your strong point."
She glared at him from under her dripping hair. "Just watch me."
*****
Stay tuned for the next installment!