Alanna arrives in Corus and goes in search of George Cooper. But why?

I forgot to mention that none of these characters are mine and that there will be more chapters to this story. You guys rock, by the way. Thank you for all the great reviews.

Sacrifice: The Lady and The Rogue

Lady Alanna of Trebond slipped into the Dancing Dove, assessing the dark tavern with caution. Keeping to the shadows Alanna moved into a small alcove where she could watch the goings-on unobserved. The tavern was packed, the noise nothing short of a roar. Alanna could make out at least three ways into the room: the front door, the stairs and the trap door near the fire place. Her sources told her there was also a hidden ladder by the bar leading upstairs. Several gambling games were being played. In particular, the card game was drawing quite a crowd. Everyone in the room, from the serving women to the gamblers, were armed. While that fact wasn't surprising, the sheer amount of weaponry was. Alanna's skilled eyes spotted concealed weapon on almost everyone. This was defiantly the place she was looking for.

"Can I help ye, lass?" a deep voice growled into her ear.

Swirling around to face the voice, Alanna tried her best to look frightened. "Beg pardon?" She asked, voice trembling a bit. The tall man didn't reply, watching her with startled hazel eyes. Used to the reaction here looks brought, Alanna exploited his hesitation, palming one of her many daggers.

The man did not respond for several moments, but kept a firm grip on her arm. Looking him over Alanna cursed her inattention. This man had been sitting in a large chair by the fire when she entered. He had managed to work his way around her with out her noticing. So much for stealth, Alanna thought dismissively. She'd always preferred a strait fight, anyway. "Sir?" she prompted.

Shaking his head, the man seemed to come back to himself. "This isn't the kind of place for the likes of ye, lady."

Raising an eyebrow, Alanna hid her dismay. Not only had this man seen her, he'd pegged identity as well. "Compliments will get you everywhere, lad," she replied tartly.

His eyes narrowed dangerously, "You do not seem to appreciate yer situation. A lady such as yourself will find not here but trouble ."

Giving him a measuring look, Alanna smiled and leaned close to the man. "A lady such as myself," she hissed, pressing her dagger against his inner thigh, "is more than capable of getting out of what ever trouble she gets herself into."

His hazel eyes crinkled up with laughter, but he remained perfectly still. "I stand corrected."

"That you do." Alanna snuggled closer to him, knowing that any passerby's would dismiss them as an amours couple. "Now that I have a captive audience--"

"You can't capture the willing, lass." he replied.

Alanna clenched her teeth in frustration. As if wasting most of her night with a blue eyed flirt hadn't been bad enough, she now had to deal with a hazel eyed one. Did the men of this city think of nothing else? "I'm looking for George Cooper," she said, tired of wasting time. "He's expecting me."

The man sobered instantly, something dangerous falling over the laughter of his eyes. "Now, I know for a certainly that yer the last thing he's expecting."

"I come in place of the man he was expecting," she said roughly, trying to hide the frustration in her voice. He patience, warn thin by the long weeks of waiting, was at an end. "You will take me to Master Cooper."

The man assessed her silently few moments. The time seemed to slow to a crawl. Alanna knew that ordering this man to do anything was well beyond reckless, but she had little choice. Returning his scrutiny, Alanna saw that his hair was cropped short. He was not very handsome, his nose a little to large for his face, but there was something about him that made Alanna want to trust him.

He shifted slightly to the left and Alanna, thinking he meant to escape, pressed even closer. With a gasp, she realized that his body was by no means opposed to her presence. The man, conscious of her embarrassment, gave her a slow, intensely intimate smile. Alanna's stomach flipped over. He was suddenly very handsome, and much, much too close for her liking. Still, if she moved away from him she might lose him. Burying her embarrassment under anger, Alanna pressed the dagger deeper. His smile disappeared instantly, but the wicked laughter in his eyes did not.

"Very well," he said finally, relaxing against the wall behind him. "I must say I'm surprised, though. I never thought he would send me a lass. Even a lass is as--" the smile reappeared, "capable as you."

Anger overrode any sense of relief Alanna might have felt at apparently finding George Cooper. Men! Looks were all they cared about! Their weak mind cared naught for else. Alanna had exploited that weakness many times, much as she had in the palace. Right now, however, smiling and flirting would get her no where. "Well, I am here all the same," she growled though clenched teeth. "Yet I have not proof as to your identity."

"Come, now lass," he said. "You've the Gift. Can you not sense the truth from a lie?"

The dagger came dangerously close to drawing blood. "You must already have children," she hissed, amethyst eyes flat violet.

He laughed, but Alanna could hear the strain in his voice. "So you really don't like being teased. I guess Liam wasn't jesting about that."

Alanna stepped away from him with a sigh, relieved that her wait was over. "I need to speak with you. Privately."

"So what brings you do my door?" The King of Thieves asked her as he closed the door of his rooms behind them.

"We had an agreement!" Alanna hissed.

George leaned against the door, muscled arms crossed over his chest. "That we did," he replied.

"I ignore your 'trading' with Scanra--"

"For a share of the profits."

Alanna glared at him. "Aye. But my people were not to be involved, nor harmed."

George sighed. Liam had often spoken of the Alanna's temper. "Lass, will ye not tell me what you are so overset about?"

"The Scanra thieves were found slaughtered and your people no where to be found. A few of my people with them, although they were no where close to the trading that night."

If the news surprised George, he didn't show it. "Trading with the Scanra has been rough of late. I pulled my people out weeks ago. I'm surprised that you came to Corus over a few dead thieves."

Alanna snorted. "Don't be coy. I'm here to find Ironarm."

Something flickered through George's hazel eyes. "He's missing, then?" George asked.

"Taken." Alanna replied, scrubbing her face with her hands. "His mount returned with out him the same night as the killings, covered over in blood."

"It would take an army just to phase the lad. The Dragon is a capable man, lass--"

"Don't you think I know that?" Alanna demanded, pacing the room. "But not this time. None of my sources have found no trace of him."

"And you came to me for help?" George asked skeptically.

Alanna eyed the thief, wondering if she'd misjudged his character. Liam had vouched for this man, but Liam wasn't here. "We've had good dealings in the past," she said slowly.

"But that isn't what brought you here."

"Liam is as much your friend as he is mine." Alanna replied. "You have contacts everywhere. There isn't a place that your fingers can't reach. I need to find him."

George watched her intently. "I do nothing for free."

"Aye." Alanna replied. "I have money enough."

He watched her still, hazel eyes unreadable, "Payment will depend on how hard it is to find him. Let's leave talk of payment for later, shall we?"

Alanna glanced at him sharply. She didn't like walking into anything blind. While Alanna knew there was no honorable in dealing with thieves, she also knew that honor only got you so far before it got your killed. Besides, when push came to shove, she didn't have a choice. "Very well," she said finally.

"He's that important to you?
Knowing full well what he was asking but would walk to Trebond and back before answering such a personal question. She had to give him something, however, if she expected him to help her. Alanna met the thief's gaze without flinching, "He has information that I need," she replied honestly.

One of his eyebrows raised, "Indeed?"

Alanna's eyes narrowed dangerously. She had never played well with others and hated being forced to do anything she didn't want to do.

"You're the one who came to me for help, lass." he said simply, sensing her reluctance.

Alanna sighed, closing her eyes briefly. "He's the only one who knows where my brother is being held."

To be continued……