A/N: I know this came a little late, but I just want to say that I own none of these characters or the world they live in. That is all Tammy's. Me, I own the plot, and some future characters (one who you will meet in this chapter). Just thought I should say this! Thanks for reading!
Alanna rose with the sun the next morning, rubbing her eyes and cursing Jon's determination. Why ME? she thought as she tossed clothes-more clothes-into a leather bag. Then, after finishing her put off packing, she dressed, shivering in the morning chill. First came a breastband, and then breeches, which she pulled up under her dressing gown. Shedding the sleeping apperel quickly and quietly, she slid her arms into a long, loose-sleeved cotten blouse. Tying hoes at the thigh, she donned thick, sturdy boots and a red tunic. Full armor seemed a bit much, so the lady knight settled with a chain mail shirt and leather riding gloves. As she slid her sword belt around her waist, she yawned, trying to remember why she was doing this. Ah yes, that blasted Jewel. Now I know there's insanity in my family, she complained to herself as she double checked all that she was taking. It seemed about right, but she was too tired to tell.
When Alanna reached the stables, Darkmoon was already saddled and ready to go. The woman grinned, for it was most certainly the chief holster, Stephen's, doing. Darkmoon was getting old and a bit testy for a stallion, but Alanna loved him all the same.
"Insane," the woman heard Neal mutter to his closest friend, Lady Keledry of Mindelan. "Don't complain," the other woman told him, straight-faced. "It'll be good for you." Alanna had to try not to laugh at this. She knew Kel was right.
"Lady Alanna! Hello!" Kel exclaimed, altogether to chipper to be completely sane. "Hello, Master Numair," she said as the tall mage approached. The man managed a feeble wave. Daine was behind him, her brown curls tossing in the breeze.
"I'll saddle your gelding, love," she said, stifling a yawn. Numair nodded, still half asleep. George stood at Alanna's side, wide awake. "Let us proceed to the main gates," the baron suggested, throwing an arm around Alanna's shoulder's. "Gary and Raoul will meet us there."
"Daine, are you coming?" she asked, puzzled. "Or are you just seeing Numiar off?"
"I don't know." The girl blushed. "I kinda hoped maybe I could come along for a bit. Jon doesn't need me now, and he'll send for me if he does." Alanna nodded.
"You may, if that's what you want," the woman replied. She wanted Daine along. If they ran into any animal problems, she would be a blessing. The girl smiled.
"Come on, Lady Knight!" Raoul teased as they neared the gate. "Are you getting old and sore?" Alanna growled at him, and then laughed. Gary stood at the large man's side, yawning. "Well, here we are," she said, looking around at her sleepy companions. "This won't be easy, but we should handle. Gary, Raoul, Neal, Kel, and myself are knights, Neal and I also can heal, Numair is the most powerful mage there is, George is the best spy, and Daine, who has agreed to join us for a while, is a wildmage. We'll most likely be home by supper time." This brought a chuckle from all of her friends. Letting out a whoop of encouragement, she led her squad to victory.
Maggur Rathhausak, the elite ruler of Scanra, sat in his throne looking thoughtful. In his fingers he held a fist-sized gem. It glinted as he turned it over in his hands. The Dominion Jewel. His at last.
Maggur looked at the empty throne room. It seemed so bare, even in all it's splendor. It was made from gray marble with black flecks, and crystal chandeliers hung over the whole room. The absence of light made the empty room look barren and dismal. The man himself was dressed in a white silk shirt with a long, gray over-robe. Black boots poked out from the bottom of his robe, giving his whole outfit a grim appearance. A good outfit for mourning, he thought to himself. He, along with the rest of the country was mourning Scanra's losses. "Keladry of Mindelan, Protector of the Small," he said. It echoed in the empty chamber. Keladry was responsible. She had killed Blayce. Without him, the killing devices broke, leading to Scanra's loss. The king stroked a braid in his long blonde hair. His hair was all that set him apart from the rest of the room. It hung in braids that framed his face, and it hung long and tangled down his broad back. A wrought iron crown in a floral design harnessed his mass of hair to his head. He didn't care mush for the crown, but he adored the position that came with it.
"It's Keladry's fault," he told the room. "Now, with my all powerful Jewel, Keladry will pay." Maggur smiled to himself.
Lady Alanna straightened, trying to work out the stiff spot in her back. They had been riding since dawn, and she was getting sore. "Are we going to stop for midday?" Numair asked, rubbing his eyes. "Get used to the road, mage," Gary teased, knowing that Numair spent as much time traveling as he did. "We're soldiers, hand picked by our dear Alanna, and we don't have to eat at every opportunity!"
"But we like to!" Raoul commented. His ruddy face was tired and pale. Alanna could sympathize. She felt as weary as he looked.
"I'm fair tired, myself. I wouldn't say no to a nap," Daine said, smiling at the lanky mage.
"We'll stop soon," Alanna said, grateful for an excuse not to bring it up on her own.
"Good. I'm famished," Neal remarked to no one in particular. Alanna laughed inwardly.
Their partial squad continued a bit longer before stopping to eat. Alanna dismounted and sat down on a log near the place where Numair was going to start a fire.
"How are you faring, Lioness?" The woman looked up Keladry stood next to her. Alanna winced at the girl's height.
"Poorly," the older woman said. "I'm tired, I miss my children, and I am sick of this confounded war. But no, Jon has to keep sending me off on these idiotic missions. I just want to go home!" She sagged, shoulders slumped.
"It has to be done, Lady. It's nice that his majesty finds you capable of such important duties, isn't it?" Kel asked, hazel eyes fixed on Alanna. The Lioness had to bite her lip to stop from snapping at the younger knight.
"Yes, I suppose it is," she said, watching Neal and Numair argue over the soup they were preparing. The two woman sat in silence as they waited for their meal.
"Soup, Lady Knight?" Neal asked her, holding out a spoon and steaming bowl.
"Yes, thank you Neal," she told her former squire. The man bowed mockingly.
"You're more than welcome, Lioness," he teased, taking a seat next to Kel. George sat on Alanna's other side, while Raoul, Gary, Daine, and Numair sat on the ground next to him.
"Eat your vegetables, they're good for you," Kel told Neal. The other knight rolled his eyes.
Alanna took a mouthful of soup, sighing as the hot liquid slipped down her throat. It filled her with welcomed, renewed strength. "Are we ready?" she asked Numair as he doused the fire with his gift.
"Stormwing," Daine said unexpectedly, squinting up at the cloudless sky.
"She senses them," Numair explained, catching Gary's confused look. He nodded, and turned his attention to the sky as well.
"There's only one, and it's right there," the woman said as the steel-winged immortal wheeled overhead. "I hope it's not us he wants to see." Daine sighed, and shook her curls.
"Can't you shoo him off or something?" Alanna demanded crossly. She despised Stormwings, nearly as much as she hated spiders.
"No, mum. He goes where he pleases."
"I, for one, hope he leaves," George remarked, eyes shaded as he studied the lone Stormwing.
"Hello, ground-pounders!" The great immortal swooped down, perching on a tree branch.
"Scram," Alanna murmured under her breath. The thing had a Scanran look to it, with matted blonde hair and seemingly bottomless blue eyes.
"Sadly, I am here to help you, female," he snarled at the Champion. She tensed, hand on her sword hilt. "I am Tollahay, in alliance with King Maggur. Or Maggot, as you southerners so charmingly put it." He grinned, flashing sharp, pointed teeth.
"Got the idea from the late Emperor Ozorne's companionship with Rikash, no doubt," Daine muttered to her companions. Inside, her heart hurt at the thought of Rikash. He had been the one who taught her that Stormwings only acted as their nature made them. He had been her friend after tricking Ozorne into trapping him in Stormwing shape himself.
"Then why help us if you side with the enemy?" Numair asked, plainly confused. It must be contagious, Alanna thought wryly. The immortal shook his head in an irritated manner.
"I'm not helping you, really. More like warning you," Tollahay replied, eyes serious.
"Then warn us!" Alanna snapped, drawing her sword. The big creature irked her, and she was too tired to be toyed with.
"King Maggur wants your blood, Keladry of Mindelan, Protector of the Small. I would watch out if I were you. If you don't, things will get ugly, and fast. Well, uglier, that is!" He chuckled and launched off his perch and into the sky. His laugh followed him into the blue sky, and Alanna swore it carried on far after he'd left.
A/N: Sorry for the pathetic ending to this chapter, I was out of ideas. After hrs and hrs of volleyball, one gets a little funny, expecially so late. Thanks for reading and feel free to reveiw!! hugs Rachel
Alanna rose with the sun the next morning, rubbing her eyes and cursing Jon's determination. Why ME? she thought as she tossed clothes-more clothes-into a leather bag. Then, after finishing her put off packing, she dressed, shivering in the morning chill. First came a breastband, and then breeches, which she pulled up under her dressing gown. Shedding the sleeping apperel quickly and quietly, she slid her arms into a long, loose-sleeved cotten blouse. Tying hoes at the thigh, she donned thick, sturdy boots and a red tunic. Full armor seemed a bit much, so the lady knight settled with a chain mail shirt and leather riding gloves. As she slid her sword belt around her waist, she yawned, trying to remember why she was doing this. Ah yes, that blasted Jewel. Now I know there's insanity in my family, she complained to herself as she double checked all that she was taking. It seemed about right, but she was too tired to tell.
When Alanna reached the stables, Darkmoon was already saddled and ready to go. The woman grinned, for it was most certainly the chief holster, Stephen's, doing. Darkmoon was getting old and a bit testy for a stallion, but Alanna loved him all the same.
"Insane," the woman heard Neal mutter to his closest friend, Lady Keledry of Mindelan. "Don't complain," the other woman told him, straight-faced. "It'll be good for you." Alanna had to try not to laugh at this. She knew Kel was right.
"Lady Alanna! Hello!" Kel exclaimed, altogether to chipper to be completely sane. "Hello, Master Numair," she said as the tall mage approached. The man managed a feeble wave. Daine was behind him, her brown curls tossing in the breeze.
"I'll saddle your gelding, love," she said, stifling a yawn. Numair nodded, still half asleep. George stood at Alanna's side, wide awake. "Let us proceed to the main gates," the baron suggested, throwing an arm around Alanna's shoulder's. "Gary and Raoul will meet us there."
"Daine, are you coming?" she asked, puzzled. "Or are you just seeing Numiar off?"
"I don't know." The girl blushed. "I kinda hoped maybe I could come along for a bit. Jon doesn't need me now, and he'll send for me if he does." Alanna nodded.
"You may, if that's what you want," the woman replied. She wanted Daine along. If they ran into any animal problems, she would be a blessing. The girl smiled.
"Come on, Lady Knight!" Raoul teased as they neared the gate. "Are you getting old and sore?" Alanna growled at him, and then laughed. Gary stood at the large man's side, yawning. "Well, here we are," she said, looking around at her sleepy companions. "This won't be easy, but we should handle. Gary, Raoul, Neal, Kel, and myself are knights, Neal and I also can heal, Numair is the most powerful mage there is, George is the best spy, and Daine, who has agreed to join us for a while, is a wildmage. We'll most likely be home by supper time." This brought a chuckle from all of her friends. Letting out a whoop of encouragement, she led her squad to victory.
Maggur Rathhausak, the elite ruler of Scanra, sat in his throne looking thoughtful. In his fingers he held a fist-sized gem. It glinted as he turned it over in his hands. The Dominion Jewel. His at last.
Maggur looked at the empty throne room. It seemed so bare, even in all it's splendor. It was made from gray marble with black flecks, and crystal chandeliers hung over the whole room. The absence of light made the empty room look barren and dismal. The man himself was dressed in a white silk shirt with a long, gray over-robe. Black boots poked out from the bottom of his robe, giving his whole outfit a grim appearance. A good outfit for mourning, he thought to himself. He, along with the rest of the country was mourning Scanra's losses. "Keladry of Mindelan, Protector of the Small," he said. It echoed in the empty chamber. Keladry was responsible. She had killed Blayce. Without him, the killing devices broke, leading to Scanra's loss. The king stroked a braid in his long blonde hair. His hair was all that set him apart from the rest of the room. It hung in braids that framed his face, and it hung long and tangled down his broad back. A wrought iron crown in a floral design harnessed his mass of hair to his head. He didn't care mush for the crown, but he adored the position that came with it.
"It's Keladry's fault," he told the room. "Now, with my all powerful Jewel, Keladry will pay." Maggur smiled to himself.
Lady Alanna straightened, trying to work out the stiff spot in her back. They had been riding since dawn, and she was getting sore. "Are we going to stop for midday?" Numair asked, rubbing his eyes. "Get used to the road, mage," Gary teased, knowing that Numair spent as much time traveling as he did. "We're soldiers, hand picked by our dear Alanna, and we don't have to eat at every opportunity!"
"But we like to!" Raoul commented. His ruddy face was tired and pale. Alanna could sympathize. She felt as weary as he looked.
"I'm fair tired, myself. I wouldn't say no to a nap," Daine said, smiling at the lanky mage.
"We'll stop soon," Alanna said, grateful for an excuse not to bring it up on her own.
"Good. I'm famished," Neal remarked to no one in particular. Alanna laughed inwardly.
Their partial squad continued a bit longer before stopping to eat. Alanna dismounted and sat down on a log near the place where Numair was going to start a fire.
"How are you faring, Lioness?" The woman looked up Keladry stood next to her. Alanna winced at the girl's height.
"Poorly," the older woman said. "I'm tired, I miss my children, and I am sick of this confounded war. But no, Jon has to keep sending me off on these idiotic missions. I just want to go home!" She sagged, shoulders slumped.
"It has to be done, Lady. It's nice that his majesty finds you capable of such important duties, isn't it?" Kel asked, hazel eyes fixed on Alanna. The Lioness had to bite her lip to stop from snapping at the younger knight.
"Yes, I suppose it is," she said, watching Neal and Numair argue over the soup they were preparing. The two woman sat in silence as they waited for their meal.
"Soup, Lady Knight?" Neal asked her, holding out a spoon and steaming bowl.
"Yes, thank you Neal," she told her former squire. The man bowed mockingly.
"You're more than welcome, Lioness," he teased, taking a seat next to Kel. George sat on Alanna's other side, while Raoul, Gary, Daine, and Numair sat on the ground next to him.
"Eat your vegetables, they're good for you," Kel told Neal. The other knight rolled his eyes.
Alanna took a mouthful of soup, sighing as the hot liquid slipped down her throat. It filled her with welcomed, renewed strength. "Are we ready?" she asked Numair as he doused the fire with his gift.
"Stormwing," Daine said unexpectedly, squinting up at the cloudless sky.
"She senses them," Numair explained, catching Gary's confused look. He nodded, and turned his attention to the sky as well.
"There's only one, and it's right there," the woman said as the steel-winged immortal wheeled overhead. "I hope it's not us he wants to see." Daine sighed, and shook her curls.
"Can't you shoo him off or something?" Alanna demanded crossly. She despised Stormwings, nearly as much as she hated spiders.
"No, mum. He goes where he pleases."
"I, for one, hope he leaves," George remarked, eyes shaded as he studied the lone Stormwing.
"Hello, ground-pounders!" The great immortal swooped down, perching on a tree branch.
"Scram," Alanna murmured under her breath. The thing had a Scanran look to it, with matted blonde hair and seemingly bottomless blue eyes.
"Sadly, I am here to help you, female," he snarled at the Champion. She tensed, hand on her sword hilt. "I am Tollahay, in alliance with King Maggur. Or Maggot, as you southerners so charmingly put it." He grinned, flashing sharp, pointed teeth.
"Got the idea from the late Emperor Ozorne's companionship with Rikash, no doubt," Daine muttered to her companions. Inside, her heart hurt at the thought of Rikash. He had been the one who taught her that Stormwings only acted as their nature made them. He had been her friend after tricking Ozorne into trapping him in Stormwing shape himself.
"Then why help us if you side with the enemy?" Numair asked, plainly confused. It must be contagious, Alanna thought wryly. The immortal shook his head in an irritated manner.
"I'm not helping you, really. More like warning you," Tollahay replied, eyes serious.
"Then warn us!" Alanna snapped, drawing her sword. The big creature irked her, and she was too tired to be toyed with.
"King Maggur wants your blood, Keladry of Mindelan, Protector of the Small. I would watch out if I were you. If you don't, things will get ugly, and fast. Well, uglier, that is!" He chuckled and launched off his perch and into the sky. His laugh followed him into the blue sky, and Alanna swore it carried on far after he'd left.
A/N: Sorry for the pathetic ending to this chapter, I was out of ideas. After hrs and hrs of volleyball, one gets a little funny, expecially so late. Thanks for reading and feel free to reveiw!! hugs Rachel