"Well, you see," she muttered, "I'm actually, uh."
"Alanna," he said softly, she looked up at him. His sparkling hazel eye's gazed back into her amethyst orbs. "Just spit it out, lass."
She gave him a tired smile, before nodding slightly. "I was born a noble."
George's eyes widened, before he stiffened up. His mouth opened, then closed, and he shot a glance to the door. "Aye? That right, lass." He muttered weakly after the silence had stretched almost painfully. He shook his head, muttering under his breath. "Noble?"
She nodded. She wouldn't say anything, she'd let him ask the questions here. He'd earned that, at least. He cleared his throat. "That's-" he swallowed, "W-where, 'zactly?" he took a step or two back, leaning up against the wall now. He crossed his arms.
Her heart sank, he wasn't taking this very well, it appeared. "Trebond." Stating the truth simply, let him put the pieces together. He was smart; he didn't need too long.
He pushed off the wall. "Trebond?" he spat in disbelief, eyes wide, "So you-!" he shook his head. "What kind o' game are you playing at? You been getting me t'ask questions bout Thom when you already know!?" he was almost shouting now.
"No! I just-"
"You just lied t'me, aye. That's right, that's all."
"George, I didn't know anything about Thom."
"Aye? That right?" he said, sarcastically, "O' course, you wouldn't know anything 'bout your bloody brother, now, would you." She shook her head in denial, and his face screwed up as he pointed a finger at her "Don't lie t'me again, lass. I dun like liars, not a scrap."
"I'm not!" she cried, "George, please believe me!"
"Why should I?" he hissed, before moderating his tone. "Why should I, lass? Just give me a reason, a single one."
She looked away from him. "I-I…" shutting her eyes, she dropped her head. "I can't, George."
He muttered an oath. "What else 'ave you been lying to me about, then?" her mouth dropped open, and George sighed. "Aye, I'm sorry. That wasn't fair." Shaking his head, he went on "I just- I just need some time t'deal with this, alright lass? I think I should get out o' the Dove for a while."
"Maybe I should go instead," Alanna said. "You've still got things to do here, don't you?" he nodded slightly. She gave him a sad look. "I'm sorry George. I truly am."
"Aye lass, I know."
"I'm going to be back later tonight. Will I see you here?" he nodded, "Good." She slipped on her leather shoes, before heading out the door. Downstairs, she noted that Riven and Olly were both sitting at the table where she'd been before. When they saw her, their faces brightened.
"Ah! Alanna!" Riven said, "I knew you wouldn't be long, aye. Olly here thought you were sick."
"What?!" the boy in question paled, glaring at Riven. "Oi! That was you!"
"Be quiet, Olly." Riven clapped a hand over the younger boys mouth, "No one likes a liar."
Don't lie to me again, lass. I don't like liars.
"What have I done?" she mumbled to herself. Riven shot her a confused look, though she didn't think he heard her.
"You alright, 'lanna?" he asked. She shook her head, raven hair flying into her eyes, welling up moisture. Choking back a sob, she told him that she was going out for a while. "Oh, alright. You taking Swift?"
"No. I'm just-" George walked down the stairs, his eyes finding hers. The sparkle in them was gone, she noticed "I'm just going for a walk. Back later." She didn't take her eyes off him. Riven frowned, noticing the look between them, and opened his mouth to speak.
George cut him off. "Shut up, Riven. Let 'er get gone." His voice was sad, and she felt that same knot of emotion rising in her throat. He nodded at her, and she turned and strode out of the room as fast as she could.
***
She was wandering the streets aimlessly, as she had for the past hour or so. She just couldn't find anything to take her mind off what had happened earlier. She'd fought the urge to cry successfully, but it seemed that the melancholy she found herself in was just as bad. She was just so tired of being hurt because of what she was. Why couldn't anyone just accept her?
But why had she told him, she wondered to herself? He didn't need to know; she could have found someone else to get word to her from Trebond. Another thief.
That was harsh, and she knew it. Sighing, she berated herself. She was trying to paint him as the villain here, when she knew full well that she was in the wrong. She was just going to have to accept it, and hope that they could move on. Wherever that may lead. She trailed off at the last thought, remembering the questions she had asked herself earlier. Did she have any feelings for George Cooper? He'd proved today that he could get under skin, to pierce the heart that she had fought so hard to harden. But did that mean anything?
She wasn't sure. When did life get so complicated? She had thought Corus would be a nice way to broaden her horizons when she left the Shang, thought that she could remain isolated from the people of it, yet still experience life in the way most people seemed to live theirs. But she had failed, she had opened her heart to someone, to some people – Riven, Olly and Nelly, as well as George. She had failed in what she had set out to do. She wasn't even any closer to finding out what happened to Thom.
Was she that disappointed in herself, though? Not as such. She had opened her heart, and it had been injured today with George's reaction, but the previous two weeks had been…fun. Something she hadn't experienced much of.
She just hoped George would forgive her. And, well, they work things out from there. Maybe she did like him, just a little. He was attractive, after all. He wasn't her Fantasy man, no, but she was beginning to realise that he was just that – a Fantasy. What would be the harm in falling for George? None, she told herself.
Blushing, she realised how presumptuous she sounded. Perhaps George didn't even like her, especially after what happened today. Perhaps they couldn't work together, a thief and a noble Shang. She sighed, her life was never easy. She just needed…well, she wasn't sure of that.
She saw a crowd gathering around a square to her right. She needed something to take her mind off of things, that's what she needed, and decided to head for the crowd. She elbowed her way in a little, before two noblewomen blocked her way. They were very tall, and their bulky skirts meant getting past them would be difficult, especially for one of her height.
"Excuse me." She exclaimed, hoping they'd notice her. They didn't appear to, continuing in whatever inane topic of conversation they were currently dithering over.
"Oh, he's very handsome, yes." One said, fluttering a pink silk fan at herself.
"I hear, " the other added, "That Lady Elena is wanting to make him hers." Laughing softly. She must have made a joke, though Alanna couldn't see how it was in any way funny.
"Oh, really?" the other giggled, "She'd be lucky to wed a pig!" Alanna rolled her eyes. So, the worst kind of noble Lady, then. The gossiping, bitchy kind. What fun. At least she wouldn't have any qualms about elbowing them out of the way if they didn't move.
"Excuse me!" she tried again. The one with the fan turned, looked at her, and turned back to her friend.
"I must say though, this man seems to be accomplished." She just continued with her conversation! Ignoring her completely! Alanna's mouth dropped open; though she did wonder exactly who 'this man' they were talking about was.
"Hmm? Oh yes," the other replied, "Moves like the wind. Sir Raoul told me th-"
"Oh, you know Sir Raoul?" the fanning one said, making Alanna grind her teeth. She could have learnt something useful there! "I had thought you were more interested in the Lord of Tirragen, dear Yves?"
'Yves' blushed. "Lord Alex is handsome, true." She smirked, "But Sir Raoul is s-so perfect! He's charming, and witty, and handsome!" She trailed off, and the fanning one laughed.
"Seems you're quite taken with him, then."
"Oh, yes. Well," 'Yves' reddened, "Maybe so. Not like Delia wit-"
"Excuse me!" Alanna all but yelled. The one with the pink fan turned to her, a look of disgust on her features.
"What do you want, commoner?" she all but spat.
Alanna held up two fingers. "Two things. One, who is this man you are talking about, this 'accomplished' one."
'Yves' sighed, "The man in the square. The one training some of the boys." She turned back to her friend, "Now, as I said before, Alex may-"
"Two," Alanna's voice cut the woman off harshly, "Get out of my way." The fan stopped waving, the wrist holding it probably too shocked to move at the moment, its' owner emitted a slight squawk of outrage.
"Well I never-!"
"Oh, do just let the common brat through," 'Yves' said, pulling her friend to the side. Alanna made a mock bow to them, before pushing her way past them. She emerged near the front of the crowd, finally able to see just what was going on. When her eyes took in one of the individuals in the square, a smile crept over her face.
There were ten to twenty boys standing in two lines in the middle of the square. To the side, there was a small area where two men were sparring with one another. The boys were attempting to emulate the men in their punches and kicks, to mixed degrees of success. What had made her smile was who one of the men were. He was Shang, obviously, and was soundly defeating his opponent. He was one she had always enjoyed sparring against, this Shang. He was known as Arune, and was technically entitled the Shang Wolf. He had a nickname among the Initiates, though, being known as the Horse. It was a strange title, but it related to his jovial nature, and that he was always 'horsing' around. He was simply fun to be around.
He seemed to be enjoying himself at the moment, too. He was playing with his opponent, baiting him to kick in a certain way, or to punch in a certain angle, and would then astound the crowd by turning the attack back on his attacker, or dodging nimbly to the side and tripping the man up. From the row of men leaning against a wall behind the two sparing men, it appeared that Arune had defeated a few men before this as well. Of course, that wouldn't stop other men trying – who wouldn't try and prove himself against a Shang?
It was one of the reasons she didn't like revealing just who she was, as with her gender, and her size, she'd have had numerous challenges from half drunk individuals, or even sober ones!
But Arune seemed to be enjoying himself, as she knew he would. He wasn't injuring the men too badly, more lasting damage to their pride then anything. She laughed along with the crowd as Arune kicked the man in the rump as he had charged past, sending the man sprawling to the ground.
"Another round?" Arune laughed. The man simply groaned, and shook his head.
Was this perhaps what Alanna could use to clear her head? She hadn't tested her skills properly in weeks, and extending herself in such a fashion would be a perfect way to get her attention focused off of George and her search for answers.
Arune was strolling around the square, pointing out tips to the young boys as they attempted to properly mimic the kicks they had seen. "No, no! Keep your arms at your sides! Kick from the hip, not from the knee!" all very basic, but Alanna knew that it was mastery of the basics that led to mastery of Shang. Arune shook his smiling head at some of the boys as they fell over attempting a high kick.
"Another challenger!" someone from the crowd shouted, "Let's see another challenger!" the chant was taken up by more people, and Arune grinned.
"I'll take on anyone who presents themselves," he laughing said. "One of the Ladies, perhaps?" the Ladies giggled politely, before engrossing themselves in gossip once more.
Alanna grinned, and stepped into the square. "I'll challenge you." She said, expecting a response. She got one; the entire crowd erupted in laughter, seeing this tiny girl stepping forward to meet the challenge of a Shang.
Arune recognized her, however, and his grin took on a friendly edge. "Challenge accepted." He stated. Some of the crowd stopped laughing, probably wondering why he'd sink to such a low. They probably considered her a child, or drunk, or both.
But Arune stepped up to her, clasping her on the shoulder. "It's good to see you again, Falcon." He stated, formally. She returned the gesture, invoking his title as well. Some of the crowd heard, and it quickly spread that this 'girl child' was more than she appeared. He motioned to the crowd, "Do you mind…?" she shook her head, and he raised his voice. "Ladies and Gentlemen, you are in luck! The Shang Falcon has decided to surface!" the crowd began to murmur excitedly.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked softly, as he allowed her to warm up.
He shrugged. "I had heard that there was a Shang present here already. Rumours, mostly. But I didn't know who, and I hadn't heard any titles." She nodded. "Ah, but it's good to see you again."
"You too, Horse."
He chuckled at her. "This may well be a testing that I had not prepared for," he told her. "I had warmed up with these louts," motioning to the men against the wall, "Only to come face to face with the former Initiate of the Dragon himself!"
She frowned, "You mean?"
He nodded. "Ironarm has ascended. The previous Dragon passed away all a fortnight after you left, may the Dark God watch over him."
"That's marvelous!" she said, before realizing how that sounded. "What I mean, uh…"
Arune laughed. "I know what you mean, Alanna. It is indeed." Seeing her finishing with her exercises, he asked her if she was ready.
Nodding, she took up a ready stance in the middle of the square. Arune faced opposite her, their left wrists touching in the formal beginning to a fight. They exhaled, counted to three, and began to dance.
There was really no other way of explaining it, they moved faster almost than the eye could follow, in patterns that looked so choreographed and graceful that it could have been a performance, rather than combat. The glimpses of the crowd they caught were almost always the same, men or women with their eyes and mouths wide open in astonishment.
But they did not see much of what occurred around them, they were focused on each other. Only the other existed, and would do so until one of them lay on the ground, yielding the bout.
Alanna had sparred with Arune before, many times, and knew how he fought. He, of course, knew this, and was attempting to confuse her a little. Where he would have normally used his right arm, he used his right leg, or the left arm. Where he normally kept his head well back from the fight, he now launched it towards her own every now and again in futile attempts at butting her into submission. But she managed to stave him off, her speed allowing her to keep away from anything that she wasn't expecting.
In return, she was able to launch in some effective attacks of her own, right arm darting to glide across his left cheek, left leg catching the back of his knee, causing him to fall into her elbow. They danced, and Alanna was leading, it appeared. Arune was forced onto the defensive, working with all his skill to keep her limbs away from him, not managing to create many opportunities himself. Her leg slashed out at his side, catching him in the torso. He brought his elbow down on top of the leg, crushing it against him, but she was expecting this. She jumped off the other foot, throwing her arms onto the ground to support her, and twisted at the waist. Her free foot thudded into the side of his temple, throwing him to the side momentarily, and the other was jerked out of his grasp.
She rolled onto the ground, quickly rising to her feet in time to stave off an overhead chop with her right forearm. The other hand, held flat so as not to cause any lasting damage, flashed out, striking him in the nose, causing him to stumble backwards slightly. She too skipped back, shooting a quick glance to her left as she readied herself to dodge the high kick she knew was coming.
With a frown, she caught a pair of sapphire blue eyes in the crowd, in a face topped with coal-black hair. She froze, recognising her Fantasy man. She opened her mouth in astonishment, almost calling out to him.
A foot slammed into the side of her head, sending her sprawling to the ground. Her head struck the compacted ground hard, reverberations spreading through her body. She heard a roaring sound in her ears, and everything swam in front of her eyes. Feet thudded just in front of her face, all around, muddy feet. She blinked, and it seemed to take an incredible effort to pry her eyelids back open again afterwards. She tasted the tang of blood in her mouth, and felt it drip along the side of her lip onto the ground. The roaring sound increased, and an almighty pressure built up in her head.
"-anna!"
The pressure continued to build, but she fought against it.
"Alanna!"
Suddenly, she snapped back to awareness, the roaring disappearing as she did so. Her vision cleared, and she realised that Arune was shaking her shoulders in desperation. "Alanna!" he cried. She just looked at him, her eyes still not adjusting properly.
"Arune?" she said, weakly. "What happened."
"Oh thank Mithros!" With a relieved sigh, he smiled. "What happened? You froze up! You were beating me, and I sent a last kick to your temple, and you just stood there!"
She frowned. "I thought I saw-" she cut herself off. It wouldn't do to tell a former teacher that she was seeing strange Fantasy men during the middle of combat. "Nothing. I don't know what happened."
Arune helped her to her feet. "Are you sure you're ok?" she nodded, groaning slightly as a splitting pain spread through her temple. She pushed him away from her, and stood alone on wobbly legs. "Alanna-"
"I'm fine, Arune. Please."
He nodded, skeptically, then smiled. "At least allow me to help you back to wherever you're staying." She nodded, a little slower this time. "Right then." She pointed the direction that they'd have to go, and he helped her toddle off through the crowd. The people parted to allow the two of them through, some of them clapping as they left. The young boys in the square seemed to be rather put out that their teacher was leaving, but they didn't put up much of a fuss.
"The Dancing Dove," she mumbled to him. She was finding it difficult to concentrate. "That's where I'm staying." Arune nodded, he knew it.
***
"Here!" she whispered to him, she'd been leaning heavily against him most of the way. At least, the last part of it, anyway. "Just here." They were outside the Dancing Dove now, that same 'normal' front that had caused her to miss it on her first day, till Olly had pointed it out to her.
Arune nodded, and cracked the door open, supporting her as she went in.
"Mithros! Alanna!" she heard the person say it, but she couldn't work out who it was, her vision was still a bit blurry. She thought how she must look; deathly pale and with bloodied lips and chin. She was beginning to tremble, which she knew was a bad sign. But she'd had an injury like this before, a sharp knock to her head, and she had gotten over that one with just rest. "What 'appened to 'er!?" It was Riven, and he was directing the question to Arune.
"I'm fine, Riven." She said weakly. Both Arune and Riven snorted. "Arune here's an old friend."
Riven gave her a skeptical look, before leaning over to Olly. "Go get George." Olly nodded, and dashed out.
"No, Olly!" she was too late, she groaned. "What did you do that for?" she asked Riven. He merely shook his head. Arune helped her sit at the table across from Riven. She let out a weary sigh, and took in great gulps of air.
"I'll go get you a drink." Arune said, pushing away from her. She thanked him as he left, and glared across the table at Riven.
"What?" he asked.
"Never mind," she sighed, sinking her head to rest on the table.
"What 'appened?" Riven asked her, a nervous smile dancing on his lips. "Err, m'Lady."
She brought her head up quickly to stare at him, and then hissed as another wave of nausea overcame her. "George told you, huh?" she asked him through clenched teeth.
He nodded, a wide smile on his lips. "I think it's neat." She frowned, that wasn't the reaction she was expecting. She asked him what he meant. "Well, it's like a story, ain't it? The Noble Lady o' Shang." He laughed as she groaned.
"Just," she licked her lips, this pounding in her head was beginning to worsen. "Just don't tell anyone."
"Oh, dun you worry 'bout me and Olly, 'lanna." He said, "Won't tell a soul! Honest!"
She lowered her head to the table again, taking deep gulping breaths. The roaring was coming back in her head, now. She could hardly hear what Riven was saying, and at this rate it wouldn't be long before she couldn't hear anything.
"'lanna?" Riven queried softly, "You alright?"
"Where is she?" she head George's voice off to the side, Olly was probably trotting beside him. "Olly!?"
"Over 'ere, George!" Riven shouted. She winced, why did he have to shout so loudly? "She dun look too good!"
The last thing she remembered was George's hands wiping some of the hair away from her forehead, his worried voice shouting "Go get Elani!" before she blacked out.
***
She was lying in a small cot, slicked with sweat. Though she didn't think this was the good kind of sweat, not the normal type which accompanied these dreams. Her head swam, and she realised she was probably ill.
A cough tore itself out of her lungs as if to prove her thoughts right. A hand shifted a washcloth on her head, before stroking her hair as it left her forehead.
"Come on, Alanna," His voice said tremulously, "you can't die on me! Not you! You're too strong for this!"
She peered up, seeing the fabric of a tent above her. She lay there for a while, too weak to actually turn over or do anything else for the moment, examining the fabric above her, the knots, the picked threads. Eventually, she found enough strength within her. She turned to the side slightly, seeing the top of His head as it looked down at the floor. She reached a hand out, astonished by how weak she felt, tangling her fingers in his hair. His head raised up, and she noticed that his eyes were red from crying. He was crying? For her?
"Hi." He said softly, "how are you feeling today?"
She opened her mouth, and no sound came out of her raw throat. He looked around, grabbing a waterskin for her. Pouring some water into a cup, he offered it to her. She accepted it gratefully, drinking slowly from it. The water soothed her throat, and she was able to talk.
"I-I'm a little better, I think." She said slowly.
He grinned, "That's my girl." She felt that she should blush at that, but she didn't have the energy to do so.
"I should have known that a blow to the head would be worse than what it first felt like." She reprimanded herself.
The man frowned, "You weren't hit on the head, Alanna."
She nodded as best she could, before tangling her fingers with His. "Just stay with me, please."
He nodded, and lay his head down next to hers. A small smile spread across her face, which was to remain as they lay together for what seemed like hours. Eventually, the tent flap opened in front of her, and bright light spread over the cot…
She cracked an eye open, realizing that – as she had expected – she was not in a cot, or in a tent. She lay under heavy white sheets, looking up at a dark mahogany frame. The bed was huge, and she was squashed up on one side of it.
She heard a noise to her right, and shifted her head. With a small smile, she realised George was sitting in a chair beside her. His head was propped up by one of his arms, and he was fast asleep. She noticed that there also appeared to be a huge bruise under his left eye, one which hadn't been there before. As she stared, he began to stir, before his eyes opened. Seeing her, a wide smile spread across his face.
"Lass," he whispered in relief, "You're awake."
"Looks like," she whispered back, although that was more out of necessity than anything else. "What happened?" when he frowned, she added "To your face?"
"Oh," he blushed. "I, uh, tripped." She looked at him skeptically, "Well, ok. I tripped onto Arune's fist."
"He hit you?" she said, with all the heat she could muster. Which wasn't very much.
"Well, t'be fair, I 'it 'im first."
She scowled at him. "Why'd you do that?"
George shrugged awkwardly. "I dun'no. Just got mad after 'e said that 'e caused this." He waved at her in the bed, before he turned away from her.
"It was my fault, George." She said. "Arune wasn't to blame."
"Yeah, I know," he sighed, "But I was just real angry." She nodded. They sat for a while in silence, George was peering at her intently. She noticed that the light outside was very bright, too bright for what should have been late afternoon. It must be the next morning. "Lass?" he said in a small voice, breaking the silence, "Can I jus- ah…I'm sorry, alright. For what I said yesterday. I dun meant what I said, not really."
"You did, George, you meant it." She replied, taking his hand in hers, "And you were right. You shouldn't be apologizing." He shrugged. "I'm sorry. For what I didn't tell you."
He grinned, giving her hand a squeeze. "Apology accepted, m'Lady."
She groaned, taking her hand back to point at him. "If you call me that again, I'll get out of this bed and hit you." She shifted around under the covers, blushing when she realised she wasn't wearing all that much. "I'm not a Lady, alright George?"
"But-"
"I may be a noble by birth, but I haven't felt or acted like one for over seven years, if I ever did before then." She stated, finally. "If you call me Lady, then I'll call you King."
He laughed, "Good t'see that you ain't lost your sense o' humour, Alanna." She nodded, as if he shouldn't have expected anything less. "You were going t'ask me something, yesterday. Before you told me 'bout you being a noble." He fidgeted on his chair. "If you tell me what, I'll get on it. Give me something t'do like."
She nodded, grateful for a friend like George. "I haven't heard anything from my home in years. I was just wanting to know some of the basics, how things are going, how my father's holding up. No rush, really."
"I'll get someone on it, dun you worry, lass."
"Thanks." She smiled. Looking around the room, she asked; "George? Where are we?"
He frowned slightly, before he blushed slightly. "We're at m' mother's."
"I wasn't in the best position to visit your family yet, George." She joked.
"She's a healer." He answered her, dryly. "I weren't really thinking straight when Olly called me in." the smile dropped from his face. "You should o' seen y'self, Alanna. Y'looked like death."
"I'm alright now, George." She noted how worried his voice had sounded at the end there, "That's all that matters, right?"
He paled, "Y'wouldn't have been if Eleni-" she quirked an eyebrow, "My ma, -hadn't used her Gift on you, Alanna." She stiffened, "Y'very lucky."
Nodding to herself, Alanna realised how hungry she was. She asked George if he had any food she could eat.
"Aye, lass." He answered, "Won't be a second." And he stood up from his chair. He hesitated just as he began to take off, looking down on her with an intense gaze. She thought he was going to- but no. After a moment, he shook his head slightly, whispered to himself, and strode out of the room.
***
After she had eaten, she ordered George from the room, managing to pull herself to her feet. She looked around the room for some clothes to wear – she was only wearing her tunic – but frowned after she saw no breeches that would fit her.
"Aie!" came a shout from behind her, "What are you doing out of bed, missy!"
Turning slowly, she was still slightly woozy, she noticed a graying old woman standing beside the bed, hands on her hips. She was tapping her foot, and pointed a finger at the large bed.
"You get back in there, right now!"
"Misstress Eleni, I presume?" she said. The older woman nodded, "Look, I feel fine now, I just want to go back to my rooms a-"
"At the Dancing Dove? Phaw!" her mouth curled in distaste, "Not clean enough, no! Better that you just stay here, dearie." The last words had sounded innocent enough, but Alanna got the feeling that she would have to fight with all her strength to get the woman to change her mind.
"Please, Mistress E-"
"What's this Mistress garbage, girl? Call me Eleni and be done with it!"
"Eleni, sorry." She sighed, "Look. I am incredibly grateful for your aid, and it's not that I'm suddenly, ah, ungrateful." Elenis looked unconvinced, "It's just that I want to get back to the bed I'm used to, and show my friends that I'm ok."
"George can tell your friends that you're up, dearie. Now just lie down on the bed like a good girl, and I'll ge-"
"Eleni," she cut in again, this woman was obstinate! "I would just like to get dressed and head back to the Dancing Dove. George can probably make sure I get back alright, but I should be off. Get out of your hair." The woman was tapping her foot again, "Eleni. I may have taken a nasty blow yesterday, but I'm a fast healer. I'll be fine."
"No, dearie, better if you just lie down." This woman was too much like herself, Alanna thought. She didn't know when to give up.
"Please, Eleni. I will be fine." Sighing, she pulled her last card, "I am Shang, after all."
"Yes, yes," the woman muttered, "I know all about that. Yes. The Falcon, no?"
Alanna frowned. "George told you?"
Eleni shook her head. "Oh no, dearie. It's all over town; the Fighting Falcon in the lower city, aye." Alanna paled. "What was it again? Oh yes, the tiny girl with the heart of a lion. Or something. I was never very good at remembering gossip."
Alanna opened and closed her mouth a few times in surprise. "Er, regardless," she went on, after a while "Eleni, I'd appreciate it if you could just tell me where I can find my breeches, and then I'll head back with George."
"Breeches?" the woman almost shrieked, "Oh no, dearie! None of those, here." Alanna noticed a twinkle in the old woman's eyes, which did not reassure her in the slightest. "No, if you're determined to leave now," she said, almost musing to herself, "You'll have to leave in one of those." She pointed behind Alanna.
Turning, Alanna's eyes popped out of her head. There, behind her, was a rack of very pretty, very frilly, and very revealing dresses. Her heart sank.
"Oh no."
The old woman laughed – Alanna thought it might almost be a cackle. "Of course, if you take my advice and stay here for a while longer, George can probably bring a few of your clothes over."
Alanna ground her teeth. This could well be the toughest test she had endured as Shang, it would take all her courage to walk outside wearing one of these, and she was worried that she wasn't up to it. But she wanted to get back to the Dove, to see Riven and Olly, and hopefully Arune. To fall asleep on her own bed, to have one of Nelly' meals. Was it worth the horror of wearing one of…those…however?
She steeled herself, drawing upon pools of untapped courage. "Let's do it."
The old woman smiled after a while – Alanna thought she caught her muttering 'Braver than I though' under her breath - and clapped her hands in delight. "We'll need some facepaint, too! And some hairpins…" she began to list off a whole bevy of items that she would need to make Alanna look 'pretty as a picture', and all Alanna could do was fight the growing feeling of dread that settled over her.
As Eleni pulled out a large mirror from behind a screen, before handing her a dress that 'had just seemed to look the right size', Alanna had the distinct feeling that the woman had been playing her…
***
Alanna wobbled slightly, more from the high heeled boots than any remaining wooziness. The herbal broth Eleni had forced her to slurp had cleared her mind remarkably well. She gripped the skirts of the dress tightly as she descended the stairs, Eleni holding her elbow in support. She was also murmuring in her ear all the things she had to remember while wearing a dress, things Alanna hadn't heard in over seven years and which still filled her with horror.
"And remember to lift your boots high, since they could catch on the edge of the skirt," she said, "And remember to smooth them out when you sit. And watch out for them catching on anything, oh and ensure that it doesn't ride up-"
"Ride up?!" Alanna hissed; she snuck a look down at the open bodice of the dress, which displayed far too much for her liking. "I'd greet such a thing with a song and a dance, I think!"
"Don't be sarcastic, Alanna," Eleni chided, "It isn't becoming."
Alanna just groaned. She stepped off the last step, and before she could sneak out the door, Eleni had grasped her elbow, dragging her towards another room.
"George has to help see you back, dearie." She said. Alanna nodded, but she ground her teeth. "Stop that."
"Great Mithros!" George stood in the center of the room, his eyes popping out of his head as he looked at Alanna. She blushed like the sun when his eye's moved down from her face.
"Not a word, Cooper!" she shrieked, "And look up, you filthy pig!"
George blushed, his eyes and mouth still wide open. He gulped, and his eyes darted downwards again. Oh, how she was going to hit him!
***
It had been a most horrible trip back to the Dove. She was in such a foul mood that anything he said was greeted with a grunt at best. He eventually gave up, and just contented himself with holding on to her elbow as he led her along the streets of Corus. She was still very unused to walking in such boots, and the rough ground didn't help.
George was probably getting a thrill out of this, having to 'escort' the delicate maiden back to her rooms. She hated it, hated it more than she could say. Especially since he kept darting looks towards her.
"Eyes forward, George." She seethed, again.
He coughed. "I wasn't looking at anything, Alanna." His voice was filled with such innocence, that she just narrowed her eyes at him.
"I'm going to hit you, once I get back into some proper clothes."
He grinned, "Aye. Wouldn't expect anything less." She rolled her eyes at him. "Y'do look very pretty, though lass."
"Shut up, George."
