Disclaimer-same as before. Don't own, don't sue-everything that belongs to
Tamora isn't mine! If I owned what she did, I wouldn't have to mooch off my
friends! I'd have my own money!
Here we are! Alanna and Co. finally gets to Fort Drell (but Simone stays back at the palace, poor girl.oh well!). What adventures and misadventures await them there? Well, you'll just have to read to find out! .And I'll have to think them up.The next couple of chapters are probably going to be on the many little battles of Fort Drell and that sort of thing. I'm so sorry I haven't updated in so long *sheepish grin* but I haven't been able to write anything for a while. I've been concentrating on my school work. I finally went back to check my reviews and realized I had to update soon or people would find out where I lived and torture me until I did. Phew! Well, here's the next installment of the series-sorry to keep you all waiting so long. Don't hurt meeee!!! *runs and hides from angry readers* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Alanna was sitting in the saddle of her horse, Moon, a small, spirited silver mare with a crescent moon shaped blaze on her forehead. (Obviously she's not going to have Moonlight, but the priestesses wouldn't have let her keep her anyways. Sorry. Alanna DID have Moon trained as a warhorse in secret though.) Faithful sat in front of her with claws dug into the saddle. She would have to do something about that soon-the cat looked very uncomfortable.
Duke Baird rode ahead her with the rest of the healers that would be going to Fort Drell. Some had their medicine bags with them, but most of the healers' supplies were back in the wagons. They rode east for a week and a half. Finally they reached the Drell River Falls, their destination. Alanna shaded her eyes against the glare of the sun and scanned the area. Thousands of Tusaine soldiers swarmed the opposite bank. She whistled-it didn't look like it would be a short war from where she was sitting.
"Well, Faithful, here we are," she said. Thom rode up next to her, riding his dun gelding with white socks, Dusty. He looked at his sister's nervous face. He knew she was thinking about the size of the army they were up against.
"Welcome to the Drell River Falls-our new home. Well, at least until the war's over anyways." He looked out and whistled, just as Alanna had. "Whoa. I think we'll be here a while. Well, better get set up; we might as well get comfortable."
Faithful mewed that he liked their old home better. Alanna giggled. By now, she realized that she could talk to him and he'd talk back. The strange part was that nobody else could understand him. Simone had asked her why she was talking to herself when they'd been packing, so Alanna had switched to thinking at him. It seemed to work because he always understood her. "I did too." She agreed.
When camp was set up, Thom came over and kissed her cheek, "I don't know how much I'll see of you, so stay out of trouble, got it?"
She giggled. "You sound just like a father!" He snorted at that. "You don't have to worry about me, you know." He glared at her, ready to reply that of course he worried about her-she was his sister, she was a girl, and she shouldn't be there in the first place, but he didn't get the chance because Jon came up behind them.
"We do anyways." Jon had walked up behind her. He hugged her around the shoulders, "So deal with it. Come on Thom, we need to meet with Roger."
Alanna stopped. A chill ran up her spine-that guy just gave her the creeps. "Roger? You mean Duke Roger's commanding?"
Thom stopped glaring at his sister immediately and looked at Jon, "I was under the impression that Duke Gareth was commanding. Did something happen?"
"Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you," his face was grim, "Uncle fell off his horse. Broke his leg in three different places, too. He's being taken care of by Baird right now, and Father put Roger in his place. We need to go- everyone is meeting right now, and as my squire you should come, too."
"Very well," sighed Thom. "Alanna I'll tell you what's going on later."
"Bye Alanna." said Jon.
"Bye, guys."
Alanna was very bored waiting for the boys to return from the conference. Her thoughts landed on Roger. She'd met him when she'd been introduced to Court, and he'd seemed nice enough. But for some reason she definitely did NOT like that guy. He was very handsome-everyone in the Conte line was- and he was very well-liked at Court, but for all his polite conversation and general 'good-guy' attitude, he seemed (to her) shadier than any noble had right to be, and she didn't like it one bit. What is he hiding? She asked herself.
The conference obviously wasn't going to end all too soon, so she went to her tent (which she would be sharing with Thom) that was in a ring with the tents of their friends, and curled up with Faithful for a nap.
When she awoke again Faithful had gone and it was very dark in the tent. She stumbled around blindly for a minute before remembering that there was a branch of candles next to her cot. She lit them with her Gift, shivering at the tingly feeling that it caused. Then she found her boots and put them on. She also brushed out her hair, which had been mussed a bit by her nap, and pulled it back away from her face.
Leaving the tent she realized that it was dinnertime and her stomach was protesting. There was an aroma of food to the air, and she knew why Faithful had left the tent. She walked out to the fire in the circle of her friends' tents, where they were all sitting. There was Faithful, begging scraps out of Raoul and Jon. Alex was nowhere to be seen.
"Hello, I wondered when you were going to wake up. Have a nice nap, sis?" asked Thom, handing her a steaming bowl of something that smelled only vaguely like food. She tasted it, cautiously, and made a face, "Who's responsible for this?"
The boys burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" she asked, still making a face as she tried to choke down another spoonful of the stuff.
"You're the only one who dares to make faces at your brother's cooking!" cried Gary.
"Yeah," said Jon, "If WE say anything about it, we get shocked with violet thunderbolts for the rest of the night."
"Hey! My cooking isn't THAT bad, ya know." Claimed an indignant Thom.
"Thom, I think you'd better let me take over your cooking from now on," said Alanna.
"But-"
"No buts about it, Thom! Alanna can cook for us if she wants to. We definitely won't turn hers away!" exclaimed Gary.
"You guys are too mean to poor wittle Tommy, and after all Jon, he's your squire. Shouldn't YOU be teaching him how to cook properly?" Jon blushed and continued to eat, muttering about the nerve of women these days as Gary, Raoul and Thom went into fits of laughter. Faithful, who'd had the mind to stay away from Thom's attempt at stew, nibbled on a piece of bread instead. Alanna grinned and forced herself to finish the bowl for the sake of Thom's pride.
The enemy invaded the next day, forcing everyone to ride out and meet them in battle. Alanna rushed around the camp, helping her friends get ready. She saddled Dusty and Darkness, and then ran over to Raoul's, Gary's, and Alex's tents to see whether they needed help at all. She thought it was strange to see her brother mounted up in armor and carrying a sword. Oh well, she thought, I guess even would-be mages can be warriors sometimes. "Thom! If you or anyone else I know gets killed, I'll never forgive you! Come back in one piece, ya hear me?" yelled Alanna. What she didn't mention, because she knew Thom would violently disagree, is how much she envied him. She wanted to be the one riding out with the knights and the soldiers in her brother's place. It's not fair! (This is probably the millionth time she's thought that!) I should have been born the boy!
"Don't worry, Alanna. We'll be fine!" replied Thom, riding off with his friends. "YOU, on the other hand, are not to leave comp for any reason!"
Alanna glared at his retreating back
Boy, these Tusaine idiots don't waste any time, do they? Asked Alanna. Faithful cocked his head to one side and replied, well of course not. They're invading us remember? The more time they give us to prepare, the less chance they have of gaining any ground against us.
"Oh, shut up," muttered Alanna. Sometimes Faithful was too intelligent for his own good.
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=^__^= Wait till you see what happens in the next chapters! I've got an interesting idea forming, but.Hee hee! Oh I'm so evil-I'm not telling you guys anything yet! You'll just have to find out next time I decide to update, which may not be for a while the way things are going. I'm so sorry.don't hurt me!!! *runs again from random objects thrown by readers* ~Linz~
Here we are! Alanna and Co. finally gets to Fort Drell (but Simone stays back at the palace, poor girl.oh well!). What adventures and misadventures await them there? Well, you'll just have to read to find out! .And I'll have to think them up.The next couple of chapters are probably going to be on the many little battles of Fort Drell and that sort of thing. I'm so sorry I haven't updated in so long *sheepish grin* but I haven't been able to write anything for a while. I've been concentrating on my school work. I finally went back to check my reviews and realized I had to update soon or people would find out where I lived and torture me until I did. Phew! Well, here's the next installment of the series-sorry to keep you all waiting so long. Don't hurt meeee!!! *runs and hides from angry readers* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Alanna was sitting in the saddle of her horse, Moon, a small, spirited silver mare with a crescent moon shaped blaze on her forehead. (Obviously she's not going to have Moonlight, but the priestesses wouldn't have let her keep her anyways. Sorry. Alanna DID have Moon trained as a warhorse in secret though.) Faithful sat in front of her with claws dug into the saddle. She would have to do something about that soon-the cat looked very uncomfortable.
Duke Baird rode ahead her with the rest of the healers that would be going to Fort Drell. Some had their medicine bags with them, but most of the healers' supplies were back in the wagons. They rode east for a week and a half. Finally they reached the Drell River Falls, their destination. Alanna shaded her eyes against the glare of the sun and scanned the area. Thousands of Tusaine soldiers swarmed the opposite bank. She whistled-it didn't look like it would be a short war from where she was sitting.
"Well, Faithful, here we are," she said. Thom rode up next to her, riding his dun gelding with white socks, Dusty. He looked at his sister's nervous face. He knew she was thinking about the size of the army they were up against.
"Welcome to the Drell River Falls-our new home. Well, at least until the war's over anyways." He looked out and whistled, just as Alanna had. "Whoa. I think we'll be here a while. Well, better get set up; we might as well get comfortable."
Faithful mewed that he liked their old home better. Alanna giggled. By now, she realized that she could talk to him and he'd talk back. The strange part was that nobody else could understand him. Simone had asked her why she was talking to herself when they'd been packing, so Alanna had switched to thinking at him. It seemed to work because he always understood her. "I did too." She agreed.
When camp was set up, Thom came over and kissed her cheek, "I don't know how much I'll see of you, so stay out of trouble, got it?"
She giggled. "You sound just like a father!" He snorted at that. "You don't have to worry about me, you know." He glared at her, ready to reply that of course he worried about her-she was his sister, she was a girl, and she shouldn't be there in the first place, but he didn't get the chance because Jon came up behind them.
"We do anyways." Jon had walked up behind her. He hugged her around the shoulders, "So deal with it. Come on Thom, we need to meet with Roger."
Alanna stopped. A chill ran up her spine-that guy just gave her the creeps. "Roger? You mean Duke Roger's commanding?"
Thom stopped glaring at his sister immediately and looked at Jon, "I was under the impression that Duke Gareth was commanding. Did something happen?"
"Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you," his face was grim, "Uncle fell off his horse. Broke his leg in three different places, too. He's being taken care of by Baird right now, and Father put Roger in his place. We need to go- everyone is meeting right now, and as my squire you should come, too."
"Very well," sighed Thom. "Alanna I'll tell you what's going on later."
"Bye Alanna." said Jon.
"Bye, guys."
Alanna was very bored waiting for the boys to return from the conference. Her thoughts landed on Roger. She'd met him when she'd been introduced to Court, and he'd seemed nice enough. But for some reason she definitely did NOT like that guy. He was very handsome-everyone in the Conte line was- and he was very well-liked at Court, but for all his polite conversation and general 'good-guy' attitude, he seemed (to her) shadier than any noble had right to be, and she didn't like it one bit. What is he hiding? She asked herself.
The conference obviously wasn't going to end all too soon, so she went to her tent (which she would be sharing with Thom) that was in a ring with the tents of their friends, and curled up with Faithful for a nap.
When she awoke again Faithful had gone and it was very dark in the tent. She stumbled around blindly for a minute before remembering that there was a branch of candles next to her cot. She lit them with her Gift, shivering at the tingly feeling that it caused. Then she found her boots and put them on. She also brushed out her hair, which had been mussed a bit by her nap, and pulled it back away from her face.
Leaving the tent she realized that it was dinnertime and her stomach was protesting. There was an aroma of food to the air, and she knew why Faithful had left the tent. She walked out to the fire in the circle of her friends' tents, where they were all sitting. There was Faithful, begging scraps out of Raoul and Jon. Alex was nowhere to be seen.
"Hello, I wondered when you were going to wake up. Have a nice nap, sis?" asked Thom, handing her a steaming bowl of something that smelled only vaguely like food. She tasted it, cautiously, and made a face, "Who's responsible for this?"
The boys burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" she asked, still making a face as she tried to choke down another spoonful of the stuff.
"You're the only one who dares to make faces at your brother's cooking!" cried Gary.
"Yeah," said Jon, "If WE say anything about it, we get shocked with violet thunderbolts for the rest of the night."
"Hey! My cooking isn't THAT bad, ya know." Claimed an indignant Thom.
"Thom, I think you'd better let me take over your cooking from now on," said Alanna.
"But-"
"No buts about it, Thom! Alanna can cook for us if she wants to. We definitely won't turn hers away!" exclaimed Gary.
"You guys are too mean to poor wittle Tommy, and after all Jon, he's your squire. Shouldn't YOU be teaching him how to cook properly?" Jon blushed and continued to eat, muttering about the nerve of women these days as Gary, Raoul and Thom went into fits of laughter. Faithful, who'd had the mind to stay away from Thom's attempt at stew, nibbled on a piece of bread instead. Alanna grinned and forced herself to finish the bowl for the sake of Thom's pride.
The enemy invaded the next day, forcing everyone to ride out and meet them in battle. Alanna rushed around the camp, helping her friends get ready. She saddled Dusty and Darkness, and then ran over to Raoul's, Gary's, and Alex's tents to see whether they needed help at all. She thought it was strange to see her brother mounted up in armor and carrying a sword. Oh well, she thought, I guess even would-be mages can be warriors sometimes. "Thom! If you or anyone else I know gets killed, I'll never forgive you! Come back in one piece, ya hear me?" yelled Alanna. What she didn't mention, because she knew Thom would violently disagree, is how much she envied him. She wanted to be the one riding out with the knights and the soldiers in her brother's place. It's not fair! (This is probably the millionth time she's thought that!) I should have been born the boy!
"Don't worry, Alanna. We'll be fine!" replied Thom, riding off with his friends. "YOU, on the other hand, are not to leave comp for any reason!"
Alanna glared at his retreating back
Boy, these Tusaine idiots don't waste any time, do they? Asked Alanna. Faithful cocked his head to one side and replied, well of course not. They're invading us remember? The more time they give us to prepare, the less chance they have of gaining any ground against us.
"Oh, shut up," muttered Alanna. Sometimes Faithful was too intelligent for his own good.
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=^__^= Wait till you see what happens in the next chapters! I've got an interesting idea forming, but.Hee hee! Oh I'm so evil-I'm not telling you guys anything yet! You'll just have to find out next time I decide to update, which may not be for a while the way things are going. I'm so sorry.don't hurt me!!! *runs again from random objects thrown by readers* ~Linz~