' "I'll think of something!" Alanna promised genuinely. "Really I will!"

"Don't know why you're sticking up for him like this," the man muttered as he walked away. "Seems a bit odd, t' me." '

Alanna sat in her room alone, thinking. Faithful leapt onto her shoulder.

You're being rash again, he informed her matter-of-factly. You know there's nothing you can do about this Cooper. I mean, you COULD keep him with you as a servant. Unpaid, of course. Working off his debt to you for saving his life. But then you might get attached--

"That's it!" Alanna cried, jumping to her feet and throwing Faithful onto the bed. She was out of her room and headed towards Jon's door when the Prince called out from behind her. She stopped in her tracks and turned around. Jon and the Provost were hurrying towards her.

"Well, I've got th' writ," the Provost called, waving the piece of parchment. They caught up to the squire. "I was thinking we should sell him as an indentured servant--"

"I'll buy his time," Alanna interrupted. Jon frowned but said nothing.

"You'll--You want to buy 'im? Jon, as his knight master, do you object?"

"I don't think it's a very good idea, Alan," Jon demurred. "He'll cut into your training."

"You speak of him as if he were a bad dog. Be that the case, I'll teach him obedience," Alanna declared, eyes clouding in anger towards the thief.

Now her companions were really confused. The Provost shook his head and thrust the indenture papers into Alanna's hand.

"Pay me later," he said shortly, and walked back towards the prison, muttering about 'crazy nobles.'

"Now what have you gotten yourself in to?" Jon demanded, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Gotten myself out of, more like. He knows, Jon. About me. I didn't really have a choice." Alanna briskly tucked the paper into her belt. "But, I wasn't lying when I said I'd teach him manners. By the end of the week he'll be the best-behaved ex-thief you've ever seen!"

"Okay," Jon said, "but where will he sleep?"

The squire pursed her lips, thinking. "In my rooms for now," she decided. "But I'll think of something."