wooh! that was fun:) hope you like the next:)

Although the sun was warm, it was still bitter cold outside. When the wind picked up, as it did every once in a while, it nipped at any skin showing, making Alanna's face scrunch up and turned her mood a bit sour.

"We were fine," Alanna said once they were down the road a bit. "If you just point out the way we'll still be fine." She let go of his arm.

George looked at her with a funny look on his face, "Have we met before?"

Alanna turned a little pink and looked at Kat, pulling her hood farther up, so no one would notice the colour of her hair, just as the darkness of the top of her hood shaded the colour of her eyes. "Er… no, I don't believe so sir," she answered. "So this is the way to the city then? Just follow this road??" she repeated, walking ahead a bit.

"Now, jus' wait a minute, I know we've met b'fore. Have ye been in Corus long?"

Alanna shook her head.

"Have ye been in Corus before?"

Alanna shook her head again.

"Are ye sure we never met before?"

Alanna nodded. "You still haven't answered my question!" she demanded.

George looked startled, then looked at Jon, "Well, shall we give them the complete directions?"

Jon nodded, "First follow this road about 10 blocks until you reach the house with the yellow porch-"

"-If ye see a lawn with a small duck ornament, ye've gone too far."

"Then turn left, and the street should be called 'Airey Avenue' follow that until you reach 'Candle Street' and turn right."

"Ye should keep followin' that til ye get t' th' biggest house on th' road, then keep goin' fer one more house and turn left-"

"-No, right!"

"Left!"

"I'm sure its right,"

"No, if ye go right, then ye'll reach the main road leading to the castle, not t' the market!"

"Oh, right."

"So ye turn right-"

Alanna and Kat were thoroughly confused. Finally, exasperated, Alanna threw up her hands, "Fine I give up, show us please?"

"I don't know… You've been rude to the both of us since we met you, - neither of us even know your name." Jon said with a grin.

"That be true, I thought I heard ye say ye were fine without us? I don't think I could take ye anywhere til I've heard an apology." Jon nodded in agreement.

Alanna looked at them both, they've got to be kidding, both of their looks said they weren't, so sighing Alanna walked ahead of them, Kat in tow and began walking down the streets, mumbling the directions out loud so she wouldn't forget. "If they think I'm apologizing…"

Kat stopped, shocking Alanna the most. "Alanna – if – you – don't – apologize. And end up getting us killed by who knows how many people this time, I swear on the Goddess that I will personally make sure you never, ever, ever forget it." Her eyes blazed, and even the stubborn Alanna knew it was time to swallow her pride.

"I'm – Sorry," She said through her teeth, "Would you please show us the way to the market?"

"What she say, Jon?? Somethin' bout it getting darker?"

"I don't know, George, I heard something about a locket." Both were trying to control their laughter.

Alanna turned to the men standing a few steps behind, her violet eyes blazing, and said in the most lady-like polite voice she could conjure in the snow, "Dear sirs, please forgive my previous rudeness, it was incredibly inappropriate at the time, especially since you were both doing such a chivalrous deed in taking my friend and I to the city, would you be so kind as to show us the way to the market so we may tell our chaperones that we are safe and unharmed?"

The look in her eye was one that no one would ever dare toy with, so both men swallowed deeply and Jon answered, "Of course, Ladies, we thought you would never ask." He took Alanna's arm this time and began walking. "Now was that so hard?" he said to her. She almost kicked him, but controlled herself when Kat gave her a look that said 'just try it.'

George took Kat's arm and followed Jon, "So now that that's cleared up, what're yer names then?"

Kat smiled, "Katariina of Hollows Wood, and this is Alanna of Trebond."

"Trebond, hmm?" asked George, "would ye be related to a young lad known as Thom would ye?"

Alanna smiled sweetly at him, "He's my twin brother,"

The group of four turned into quite good company to be in during the walk back to the market. George and Jon were both rather charming and kept Alanna's mind off the cold morning. They learned about Corus and many of its occupants as well as quick ways to remember their way around. Finally they reached the Market, at around half passed midday.

"That was a rather pleasant walk," said Kat politely to both men, and nudged Alanna who in turn thanked them as well. "We never got to hear your names though," she continued.

"Well I'm George Cooper, and this here's-"

"KATRIINA AND ALANNA! YOU TWO ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE THAT I WOULD EXPECT YOU WILL NEVER SET FOOT AS FAR AS TWENTY FEET AWAY FROM ANY SISTER – EVER!" interrupted a loud voice from behind them

"Uh oh… here it starts." Said Alanna, "thanks again boys, hopefully we'll see you again."

George looked worried, "Do ye need any help – ye know we could say ye were with us and that ye were attacked and so on."

Alanna shook her head, "thanks for offering, but you really don't want to see Reddlark angry," she shuddered and turned to catch up to Kat. "Bye boys!"

so hopes yah like :) please review thanks a bunch!

~CJ~