To:
Dyana-of-Tortall: Haha! *chortles*
Ladyluck: *gloomily* My parents. I've got a stupid mousetrap car project in science, science olympiad events, and a piano audition thingy in which I have a shot at winning $200. And then there's yearbook. *sighs* Well, no Alex in this chapter either, sorry.
Smileypal4eva: What 'arguing, yelling, hating?' And instead of doing a flashback, I'm considering writing a whole big prequel story about Elijah growing up. However, it will be very very lengthy. *frowns*
bblond07: Maybe I could...nah. Alex and Alanna make a cute couple, sure. But we haven't seen how that will play out.
Galadriel Greenleaf: YAY! You're back! Missed you! (contrary to common belief, I DO notice when someone stops reviewing) My parents say the same thing, too, but in a meaner way.
Crown: *Laughs at review* Honestly, you love Alex THAT much? Hmm...maybe I won't kill him off after all. *considers* He's not in this chap. No, I can't update more frequently. It's not humane to ask that of me.
White-Wolf: Ah, I will not be satisfied until it works! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!
And how is it POSSIBLE for you to forget where you finished a chapter?????
AerinBrown: Still no sign of Alex yet. *Sighs* Says wistfully, "Wish my parents told ME I was old enough to make my own schedule and free to forgo sleep. 'Cause I would. In a heartbeat." And you have no idea if Alex & Sen are hot or not because these are stories and you can't see them...which is better, I guess, 'cause then your imagination is free to roam.
RoseFyre: In a good way or not?
LadyLizzy: I don't like how in the new Charmed everyone's personality changes. I mean, yeah, the death of a loved one can do that to you....but I liked them the way they were! George shows up very little in this chapter. Sorry. More of him in the next, though.
What did you think of White-Wolf's story? I read her story, loved how she made the gang hate Thom, and wrote my own story, I was so inspired.
Xelena: Hey, don't be so quick to judge Jon! Jeez, it was only one scene and you've already jumped.
Karina: "It's good that you know what you're gonna do with Thom! For the past 10 yrs I've been in immersion because I am [born? living? sitting?] in France (ugh grammar and [something])." --how much of that was right??
Lady Arabian Knight, and everyone else: Thanks SOO much for reviewing!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapeter eighteen--
Alanna wrinkled her nose at the smell. The air was too thick, making it somewhat hard to breathe. Her head hurt from the dim light and the sound of the rogues and their ladies having fun. She tried not to notice and instead scanned their faces for the man she needed to speak to, the innkeeper. At last she spotted him and pushed her way through the crowded room to meet him.
"I need to see George," she told him breathlessly. "It's really important. I've forgotten your name; I'm sorry. Could you please get George for me?"
"How important?" he asked, filling a man's tankard. "I remember you. Alanna; came in with that other noble. Black hair?"
"Yes," she answered. "Please please. It's urgent."
"Urgent?" the man repeated with amusement. "Alright, if you say so. Why don't you sit here while you wait?"
Alanna eased herself into a seat near the wall, watching as he disappeared. Her fingers tapped the wood on their own accord. To give herself something to do while she waited, Alanna composed a conversation in her head. What was she to say to George?
Now that she was actually here, Alanna felt foolish. It was, after all, only a dream, albeit a very real-feeling dream, but a dream nonetheless. Pushing her chair back, she almost prepared to leave when the innkeeper arrived again.
"He's ready to see you," he told her. Nervously she followed him to the backroom and then up the small steps. With every step she took, she felt more and more stupid.
Oh, well. Too late to change her mind, she thought as the man left her before a door. Cautiously, Alanna rapped lightly against it. Maybe he wasn't here. Then she could pretend this had never happened. Unfortunately, the door opened. George eyed her with surprise, gesturing to his room.
With a forced smile, Alanna sat uncomfortably in a chair. Absentmindedly she toyed with the black pendant fastened around her neck. Recently she'd changed the silver chain to a gold one.
"Solom says it's urgent," George began, sitting across from her. Oh, so that was his name. Alanna fidgeted.
"Perhaps it was premature of me to say so?" Alanna offered. Raising an eye bemusedly, George drank from a goblet.
"Ah. So not so urgent," he said, placing the goblet back onto the table beside him. "Care for a drink?"
"I had a dream," Alanna began uncertainly. "You...you were in it. You told me to run." She stopped, not knowing what else to say, staring at the Black Ice in her hands as she turned it in circles.
"A dream? You--"
"I know, I know," Alanna said hastily. "I shouldna have bothered you about a dream, and I'm sorry if you had important...things going on, but...well, perhaps I should start over?"
George nodded encouragingly. Shifting in her seat again, Alanna stared at him. He'd looked different in her dream, naturally. Here he sat before her, whole and unscathed. Those eyes were carefully guarded, making it hard for her to tell what he was thinking. Alanna sighed again.
"I've been having strange dreams lately. All of them are...disturbing. This is the first time they've involved you. Anyway, these dreams feel so...so real. Almost like they're visions." She laughed nervously. "I know it sounds silly, but that's how it feels. Tonight I dreamed that the palace was filled with blood and dead bodies. Somehow, it was all my fault. Everyone was dead except me. And, well, you. I was walking, feeling horrible because I couldn't save these people, and I kept hearing voices. Then, you grabbed me. You told me to run or else he would kill me to. I didn't know who you were talking about, but before I could ask, you died too. I tried to save you, and then I woke up."
"Maybe it was just a bad dream," George said. Alanna gripped her cloak in frustration.
"But it didn't FEEL like 'just a bad dream!' I don't know, but it felt so real...so I came to see you."
"You think it's a vision?"
"Maybe. Maybe it's a warning or something. Maybe it's advice."
"What d'you think it means?" George asked carefully. Alanna shurgged.
"I was hoping that you could tell me."
Sitting in silence for a moment, Alanna let him think while she continued to twist her necklace. George saw and gestured toward it.
"What's that?"
"Black Ice," Alanna responded. Raising in eyebrow in skepticism, George gestured again.
"May I see?" Reluctantly Alanna unclasped it and placed it in George's large hand. His brows were furrowed as he looked at it.
"It's not Black Ice. I've seen Black Ice before, and this isn't it," he told her as he handed it back. "Just a simple piece of glazed coal."
"Really?" Alanna was disappointed as she refastened it around her neck. "It brings me comfort, though." She gripped it tightly in her palm as George reached for a pear in a carefully assembled bowl of fruit. Frowning, she watched as he lifted the pear to his mouth. It looked strange, glowing with a bright red light.
"No!" she cried as he was about to take a bite. Alanna knocked the fruit from his hand. He gave her an expression as if to say, "What is it?"
"Don't you see it?" she demanded incredelously. "The pear, didn't you see it?"
"See what?" he asked. "It looks fine to me."
Bending over, Alanna carefully lifted the pear. Now it no longer glowed. Perhaps it was her imagination or her lack of sleep. Embarrassed, she handed it back to George.
"Sorry," Alanna mumbled. "It just...it just--"
She stopped abruptly. There it was again! It was glowing! "See!" she gasped. "It's glowing!"
"Are you sure you're well?" George asked her politely. She let go of her pendant to gingerly touch the pear. The red light disappeared. Withdrawing her hand, she returned it to its place on her necklace. The pear glowed again. Alanna repeated this action for a long moment before George reached out to stop her hand.
"My necklace," she said softly, frowning. "When I touch it, I see...the pear glows with a red light."
Leaning over, George held the coal in one hand and the pear in the other. Instantly he let go of both. Suspiciously he looked to her necklace.
"Where did you get that?"
"This? Oh, just some peddler."
"May I see it again?" Without waiting for her response, he took her coal and looked at it closely.
"D'you know what it is?" Alanna asked excitedly. George shushed her, then returned it with a shake of his head.
"Never seen anything like it b'fore."
"Maybe that pear is magicked or poisoned," Alanna suggested. "I suggest you not eat it."
"I agree," George said.
"Well," Alanna said as she stood, "I suppose there's really not much else to say." He rose with her.
"I suppose not. You've got the Gift too, haven't you?"
"Yes," she responded. "How did you know?"
"Because I can't see you," he told her. "But if you have the Gift, well maybe these dreams of yours are visions, or messages from the gods."
"Messages from the gods?" Alanna laughed. "What would the gods want with me?"
"We mortals can't tell," he responded simply as he opened the door for her. As Alanna moved forward, he caught sight of her clothing. Though curious, he decided not to ask.
''Well...be careful," Alanna said awkwardly. "Take care of yourself. Don't die."
She felt foolish saying the words, but they made her feel better. In case her dreams WERE visions, and they came trued, she'd warned him beforehand. George offered her a kindly smile as she left.
"Be sure to visit again," he told her.
"I will," Alanna responded, surprising herself. Shocking herself even further, she went so far as to return his smile.
"I look forward to it."
------------------------------------------------------------
Bowen felt ready to die as he stumbled down the road. Ah, finally in Tortall. And without any help from his brother! Clutching his side, he staggered off the road to rest.
Sitting, he inhaled deeply. Autumn was hitting hard, the cold wind making him clench his teeth. All of his belongings were damp, and the ink on his maps had run off the paper. Yesterday he'd tossed the useless sheets into a river.
"Curse you, Devin," he muttered again. "A thousand curses upon your unsuspecting head. May your innards bring you pain. May your blood dry. May your brains melt. May your--"
"Now, is that the way to speak of someone who saved your life?" a stern voice breathed into his ear. Bowen jumped to his feet.
"Vera, what are you doing here?" he asked in surprise. She smiled and handed him a sandwich. He accepted it gratefully and devoured it in seconds.
"Elijah (Bowen flinched at the mention of his brother) told me that you refused his help," Vera said with a frown. "Would you refuse my help as well?"
"I would," he told her honestly. She sighed.
"Obstinate. Why? You're half-dead already. You'll kill yourself in trying to get to Corus. At least let me provide you with a horse! A very, very un-magical horse, I assure you," she added, catching his look.
"Lady, I will do fine without your aid," he said politely. He willed himself not to feel guilty when a hurt expression crossed her face at his tone. Vera reached up to stroke his face, but he pulled away from her.
"Why don't you trust magic?" she asked.
"My parents trusted magic, and look what it's done to them," Bowen said bitterly.
"And what has magic done to me?" Vera asked.
"You used to be sensible," Bowen said. A corner of Vera's lip curved upward.
"People tell me that I still am."
"Are you?" Bowen countered. "Are you still sensible to trust magic? You used to be the most sensible, practical person I knew."
"Must we discuss this again?" she said with a sigh. Bowen shrugged.
"If you will let me do this my way, we don't have to."
"Understood," she said. In her hand appeared another sandwhich, which she held out to him. "Want another?"
"No, I'm not hungry."
"You're not a good liar," she told him as he looked at her sandwich with obvious distaste. "I know you don't want it because I conjured it, but so did I for the other one. You have yet to turn into a toad. You'll need your strength if you insist on walking all the way to Corus with barely an hour of sleep between."
"I can find my own food," Bowen protested. "There's plenty of forest about. I've lived off of mushrooms, nuts, roots, and berries for years now."
"And what of meat?" Vera asked. "Don't tell me you're going to hunt with that sword of yours. You need protein."
"I can build snares."
"With what time? Let me take you to Corus, Bowen. I don't want to find out that you died on the road from exhaustion and malnutrition."
"No," he told her firmly.
"Why don't you ride a horse?" Vera asked. "Other than because you don't own one."
"I said that I don't want your help."
"But you need it. Bowen, let me help you! I thought maybe you would let Elijah help you, but--"
"Oh, so you sent him to look after me?" Bowen demanded angrily.
"I care for you, Bowen," Vera said softly.
"Obviously not enough," he retorted. She recoiled as if he had struck her.
"I don't want to see you hurt."
"Too late," Bowen said bitterly. "Much too late."
She bit her lip. Then, extending her arm, she placed it on his shoulder. Suddenly Bowen was blinded by light. He closed his eyes and shielded his face. He felt Vera's hand leave its position from his shoulder. Warily he opened his eyes. Spots swam before him as he unsteadily rose to his feet.
His eyes finally adjusted to the dim light. Vera was nowhere to be seen. Looking around, Bowen saw that he was in what appeared to be a somewhat empty street.
"Curse you, Æveradysné Ceïlan," he muttered. Looking up he saw a woman gaping at him in horror. In the light, it almost seemed as if her gaze was violet. Their eyes met for a moment before she turned and ran. Bowen followed her.
"Wait! Milady, wait! Is this Corus? Lady, why do you run from me?"
Despite that he was bone-weary, he gained on her easily. He had always been quick on his feet, his strides long and his legs powerful. Gently yet firmly he grasped her by the shoulders.
"Milday, is this Corus?" he asked, turning her to face him. Her eyes were indeed a violet shade and wide with terror. As he brushed the red hair from her face, he let go of her in shock, staring at her features. Large eyes, strong chin, small nose, high cheekbones.
"Yes," she responded. "Yes, this is Corus. You-you appeared out of nowhere. You frightened me."
"Who...are...you?" Bowen managed to choked out. By now the lady seemed to have recollected herself.
"Alanna," she responded. "Who was that other woman with you? How did...how did you just appear out of nowhere?"
Bowen shook his head. Her voice. It sounded...alike and yet different. There was a more feminine note to it. Shaking his head again, Bowen pressed a palm to his forehead. Perhaps Vera was right. He hadn't had enough food. For the past few days he'd more or less starved. How much food could there be on a snowy mountain anyway? The mix of little sleep and little food added to the fatigue from Vera's transportation and this recent chase, was too much for him.The world spun. He tried to regain his balance.
"Lady Alanna," he heard his own tired voice say, "can you take me to an inn?"
Bowen felt faint. Vaguely he was aware of her catching him before he fell. Before his tired lids closed and shut out the world, he heard her say softly, "The Dancing Dove."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Didn't like my scene with George? Thought it was too short, too pointless, too hasty, too messily/badly written? I know and I don't care. I had to write this chapter in a rush. And I kinda realized (too late, I might add) that I'd written myself into a corner.
More George in the next chapter. Maybe a bit of Jon, too, if I can work that in there. Expect the goddess to show up 6 chapters later. Though don't hold me to that.
As for Vera, I agonized over her real name. At first I made it Veradysné, but that seemed too parallel to Veralidaine. (why is her nickname Daine and not Vera anyway??) In a bout of creativity I even considered twisting up this story EVEN MORE and making Vera the same person as Daine. As you can tell, I rejected that idea. It just plum wouldn't work out nicely. Though if I thought of it earlier, I might've been able to make it work.
Guess what the "Black Ice" is. Isn't it o-so-obvious??
I'm considering actually making a website. I mean, I used to frown on them and say they were a waste o' time (because who actually cares about your personal site but your friends??) ...but, oh, I don't know. I'm already coming up with brilliant ideas for it. It's been half a year since I did any HTML stuff, though, so I gotta brush up on that.
I finally got around to checking TP's website. Wow, we have so much in common! *gleefully* I KNEW there was a reason I always liked her!
-----------Don't read below this line if you haven't already read Lady Knight...contains spoilers!!----------------
Just finished ready Lady Knight. NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cleon!!!!!!! *sniffles* I dunno, maybe they still have a chance together now that Kel's killed Blayce (did she get paid for that? She should!!). Then again, the ending suggested that she and Dom would get together. Hmmm...I like Dom, too. And that last exchange between him and Raoul was HILARIOUS!
"Sergeant Domitan, tell me these children aren't the result of your squad's Scanran frolics," Kel heard Raoul say cheerfully. "Though I do admit, some of them look a little old to be yours."
"Well, sir, my men helped," Dom said, the picture of boyish mischief.
Heehee!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have read this far and refuse to review, you are a cruel, cruel person!
Dyana-of-Tortall: Haha! *chortles*
Ladyluck: *gloomily* My parents. I've got a stupid mousetrap car project in science, science olympiad events, and a piano audition thingy in which I have a shot at winning $200. And then there's yearbook. *sighs* Well, no Alex in this chapter either, sorry.
Smileypal4eva: What 'arguing, yelling, hating?' And instead of doing a flashback, I'm considering writing a whole big prequel story about Elijah growing up. However, it will be very very lengthy. *frowns*
bblond07: Maybe I could...nah. Alex and Alanna make a cute couple, sure. But we haven't seen how that will play out.
Galadriel Greenleaf: YAY! You're back! Missed you! (contrary to common belief, I DO notice when someone stops reviewing) My parents say the same thing, too, but in a meaner way.
Crown: *Laughs at review* Honestly, you love Alex THAT much? Hmm...maybe I won't kill him off after all. *considers* He's not in this chap. No, I can't update more frequently. It's not humane to ask that of me.
White-Wolf: Ah, I will not be satisfied until it works! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!
And how is it POSSIBLE for you to forget where you finished a chapter?????
AerinBrown: Still no sign of Alex yet. *Sighs* Says wistfully, "Wish my parents told ME I was old enough to make my own schedule and free to forgo sleep. 'Cause I would. In a heartbeat." And you have no idea if Alex & Sen are hot or not because these are stories and you can't see them...which is better, I guess, 'cause then your imagination is free to roam.
RoseFyre: In a good way or not?
LadyLizzy: I don't like how in the new Charmed everyone's personality changes. I mean, yeah, the death of a loved one can do that to you....but I liked them the way they were! George shows up very little in this chapter. Sorry. More of him in the next, though.
What did you think of White-Wolf's story? I read her story, loved how she made the gang hate Thom, and wrote my own story, I was so inspired.
Xelena: Hey, don't be so quick to judge Jon! Jeez, it was only one scene and you've already jumped.
Karina: "It's good that you know what you're gonna do with Thom! For the past 10 yrs I've been in immersion because I am [born? living? sitting?] in France (ugh grammar and [something])." --how much of that was right??
Lady Arabian Knight, and everyone else: Thanks SOO much for reviewing!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapeter eighteen--
Alanna wrinkled her nose at the smell. The air was too thick, making it somewhat hard to breathe. Her head hurt from the dim light and the sound of the rogues and their ladies having fun. She tried not to notice and instead scanned their faces for the man she needed to speak to, the innkeeper. At last she spotted him and pushed her way through the crowded room to meet him.
"I need to see George," she told him breathlessly. "It's really important. I've forgotten your name; I'm sorry. Could you please get George for me?"
"How important?" he asked, filling a man's tankard. "I remember you. Alanna; came in with that other noble. Black hair?"
"Yes," she answered. "Please please. It's urgent."
"Urgent?" the man repeated with amusement. "Alright, if you say so. Why don't you sit here while you wait?"
Alanna eased herself into a seat near the wall, watching as he disappeared. Her fingers tapped the wood on their own accord. To give herself something to do while she waited, Alanna composed a conversation in her head. What was she to say to George?
Now that she was actually here, Alanna felt foolish. It was, after all, only a dream, albeit a very real-feeling dream, but a dream nonetheless. Pushing her chair back, she almost prepared to leave when the innkeeper arrived again.
"He's ready to see you," he told her. Nervously she followed him to the backroom and then up the small steps. With every step she took, she felt more and more stupid.
Oh, well. Too late to change her mind, she thought as the man left her before a door. Cautiously, Alanna rapped lightly against it. Maybe he wasn't here. Then she could pretend this had never happened. Unfortunately, the door opened. George eyed her with surprise, gesturing to his room.
With a forced smile, Alanna sat uncomfortably in a chair. Absentmindedly she toyed with the black pendant fastened around her neck. Recently she'd changed the silver chain to a gold one.
"Solom says it's urgent," George began, sitting across from her. Oh, so that was his name. Alanna fidgeted.
"Perhaps it was premature of me to say so?" Alanna offered. Raising an eye bemusedly, George drank from a goblet.
"Ah. So not so urgent," he said, placing the goblet back onto the table beside him. "Care for a drink?"
"I had a dream," Alanna began uncertainly. "You...you were in it. You told me to run." She stopped, not knowing what else to say, staring at the Black Ice in her hands as she turned it in circles.
"A dream? You--"
"I know, I know," Alanna said hastily. "I shouldna have bothered you about a dream, and I'm sorry if you had important...things going on, but...well, perhaps I should start over?"
George nodded encouragingly. Shifting in her seat again, Alanna stared at him. He'd looked different in her dream, naturally. Here he sat before her, whole and unscathed. Those eyes were carefully guarded, making it hard for her to tell what he was thinking. Alanna sighed again.
"I've been having strange dreams lately. All of them are...disturbing. This is the first time they've involved you. Anyway, these dreams feel so...so real. Almost like they're visions." She laughed nervously. "I know it sounds silly, but that's how it feels. Tonight I dreamed that the palace was filled with blood and dead bodies. Somehow, it was all my fault. Everyone was dead except me. And, well, you. I was walking, feeling horrible because I couldn't save these people, and I kept hearing voices. Then, you grabbed me. You told me to run or else he would kill me to. I didn't know who you were talking about, but before I could ask, you died too. I tried to save you, and then I woke up."
"Maybe it was just a bad dream," George said. Alanna gripped her cloak in frustration.
"But it didn't FEEL like 'just a bad dream!' I don't know, but it felt so real...so I came to see you."
"You think it's a vision?"
"Maybe. Maybe it's a warning or something. Maybe it's advice."
"What d'you think it means?" George asked carefully. Alanna shurgged.
"I was hoping that you could tell me."
Sitting in silence for a moment, Alanna let him think while she continued to twist her necklace. George saw and gestured toward it.
"What's that?"
"Black Ice," Alanna responded. Raising in eyebrow in skepticism, George gestured again.
"May I see?" Reluctantly Alanna unclasped it and placed it in George's large hand. His brows were furrowed as he looked at it.
"It's not Black Ice. I've seen Black Ice before, and this isn't it," he told her as he handed it back. "Just a simple piece of glazed coal."
"Really?" Alanna was disappointed as she refastened it around her neck. "It brings me comfort, though." She gripped it tightly in her palm as George reached for a pear in a carefully assembled bowl of fruit. Frowning, she watched as he lifted the pear to his mouth. It looked strange, glowing with a bright red light.
"No!" she cried as he was about to take a bite. Alanna knocked the fruit from his hand. He gave her an expression as if to say, "What is it?"
"Don't you see it?" she demanded incredelously. "The pear, didn't you see it?"
"See what?" he asked. "It looks fine to me."
Bending over, Alanna carefully lifted the pear. Now it no longer glowed. Perhaps it was her imagination or her lack of sleep. Embarrassed, she handed it back to George.
"Sorry," Alanna mumbled. "It just...it just--"
She stopped abruptly. There it was again! It was glowing! "See!" she gasped. "It's glowing!"
"Are you sure you're well?" George asked her politely. She let go of her pendant to gingerly touch the pear. The red light disappeared. Withdrawing her hand, she returned it to its place on her necklace. The pear glowed again. Alanna repeated this action for a long moment before George reached out to stop her hand.
"My necklace," she said softly, frowning. "When I touch it, I see...the pear glows with a red light."
Leaning over, George held the coal in one hand and the pear in the other. Instantly he let go of both. Suspiciously he looked to her necklace.
"Where did you get that?"
"This? Oh, just some peddler."
"May I see it again?" Without waiting for her response, he took her coal and looked at it closely.
"D'you know what it is?" Alanna asked excitedly. George shushed her, then returned it with a shake of his head.
"Never seen anything like it b'fore."
"Maybe that pear is magicked or poisoned," Alanna suggested. "I suggest you not eat it."
"I agree," George said.
"Well," Alanna said as she stood, "I suppose there's really not much else to say." He rose with her.
"I suppose not. You've got the Gift too, haven't you?"
"Yes," she responded. "How did you know?"
"Because I can't see you," he told her. "But if you have the Gift, well maybe these dreams of yours are visions, or messages from the gods."
"Messages from the gods?" Alanna laughed. "What would the gods want with me?"
"We mortals can't tell," he responded simply as he opened the door for her. As Alanna moved forward, he caught sight of her clothing. Though curious, he decided not to ask.
''Well...be careful," Alanna said awkwardly. "Take care of yourself. Don't die."
She felt foolish saying the words, but they made her feel better. In case her dreams WERE visions, and they came trued, she'd warned him beforehand. George offered her a kindly smile as she left.
"Be sure to visit again," he told her.
"I will," Alanna responded, surprising herself. Shocking herself even further, she went so far as to return his smile.
"I look forward to it."
------------------------------------------------------------
Bowen felt ready to die as he stumbled down the road. Ah, finally in Tortall. And without any help from his brother! Clutching his side, he staggered off the road to rest.
Sitting, he inhaled deeply. Autumn was hitting hard, the cold wind making him clench his teeth. All of his belongings were damp, and the ink on his maps had run off the paper. Yesterday he'd tossed the useless sheets into a river.
"Curse you, Devin," he muttered again. "A thousand curses upon your unsuspecting head. May your innards bring you pain. May your blood dry. May your brains melt. May your--"
"Now, is that the way to speak of someone who saved your life?" a stern voice breathed into his ear. Bowen jumped to his feet.
"Vera, what are you doing here?" he asked in surprise. She smiled and handed him a sandwich. He accepted it gratefully and devoured it in seconds.
"Elijah (Bowen flinched at the mention of his brother) told me that you refused his help," Vera said with a frown. "Would you refuse my help as well?"
"I would," he told her honestly. She sighed.
"Obstinate. Why? You're half-dead already. You'll kill yourself in trying to get to Corus. At least let me provide you with a horse! A very, very un-magical horse, I assure you," she added, catching his look.
"Lady, I will do fine without your aid," he said politely. He willed himself not to feel guilty when a hurt expression crossed her face at his tone. Vera reached up to stroke his face, but he pulled away from her.
"Why don't you trust magic?" she asked.
"My parents trusted magic, and look what it's done to them," Bowen said bitterly.
"And what has magic done to me?" Vera asked.
"You used to be sensible," Bowen said. A corner of Vera's lip curved upward.
"People tell me that I still am."
"Are you?" Bowen countered. "Are you still sensible to trust magic? You used to be the most sensible, practical person I knew."
"Must we discuss this again?" she said with a sigh. Bowen shrugged.
"If you will let me do this my way, we don't have to."
"Understood," she said. In her hand appeared another sandwhich, which she held out to him. "Want another?"
"No, I'm not hungry."
"You're not a good liar," she told him as he looked at her sandwich with obvious distaste. "I know you don't want it because I conjured it, but so did I for the other one. You have yet to turn into a toad. You'll need your strength if you insist on walking all the way to Corus with barely an hour of sleep between."
"I can find my own food," Bowen protested. "There's plenty of forest about. I've lived off of mushrooms, nuts, roots, and berries for years now."
"And what of meat?" Vera asked. "Don't tell me you're going to hunt with that sword of yours. You need protein."
"I can build snares."
"With what time? Let me take you to Corus, Bowen. I don't want to find out that you died on the road from exhaustion and malnutrition."
"No," he told her firmly.
"Why don't you ride a horse?" Vera asked. "Other than because you don't own one."
"I said that I don't want your help."
"But you need it. Bowen, let me help you! I thought maybe you would let Elijah help you, but--"
"Oh, so you sent him to look after me?" Bowen demanded angrily.
"I care for you, Bowen," Vera said softly.
"Obviously not enough," he retorted. She recoiled as if he had struck her.
"I don't want to see you hurt."
"Too late," Bowen said bitterly. "Much too late."
She bit her lip. Then, extending her arm, she placed it on his shoulder. Suddenly Bowen was blinded by light. He closed his eyes and shielded his face. He felt Vera's hand leave its position from his shoulder. Warily he opened his eyes. Spots swam before him as he unsteadily rose to his feet.
His eyes finally adjusted to the dim light. Vera was nowhere to be seen. Looking around, Bowen saw that he was in what appeared to be a somewhat empty street.
"Curse you, Æveradysné Ceïlan," he muttered. Looking up he saw a woman gaping at him in horror. In the light, it almost seemed as if her gaze was violet. Their eyes met for a moment before she turned and ran. Bowen followed her.
"Wait! Milady, wait! Is this Corus? Lady, why do you run from me?"
Despite that he was bone-weary, he gained on her easily. He had always been quick on his feet, his strides long and his legs powerful. Gently yet firmly he grasped her by the shoulders.
"Milday, is this Corus?" he asked, turning her to face him. Her eyes were indeed a violet shade and wide with terror. As he brushed the red hair from her face, he let go of her in shock, staring at her features. Large eyes, strong chin, small nose, high cheekbones.
"Yes," she responded. "Yes, this is Corus. You-you appeared out of nowhere. You frightened me."
"Who...are...you?" Bowen managed to choked out. By now the lady seemed to have recollected herself.
"Alanna," she responded. "Who was that other woman with you? How did...how did you just appear out of nowhere?"
Bowen shook his head. Her voice. It sounded...alike and yet different. There was a more feminine note to it. Shaking his head again, Bowen pressed a palm to his forehead. Perhaps Vera was right. He hadn't had enough food. For the past few days he'd more or less starved. How much food could there be on a snowy mountain anyway? The mix of little sleep and little food added to the fatigue from Vera's transportation and this recent chase, was too much for him.The world spun. He tried to regain his balance.
"Lady Alanna," he heard his own tired voice say, "can you take me to an inn?"
Bowen felt faint. Vaguely he was aware of her catching him before he fell. Before his tired lids closed and shut out the world, he heard her say softly, "The Dancing Dove."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Didn't like my scene with George? Thought it was too short, too pointless, too hasty, too messily/badly written? I know and I don't care. I had to write this chapter in a rush. And I kinda realized (too late, I might add) that I'd written myself into a corner.
More George in the next chapter. Maybe a bit of Jon, too, if I can work that in there. Expect the goddess to show up 6 chapters later. Though don't hold me to that.
As for Vera, I agonized over her real name. At first I made it Veradysné, but that seemed too parallel to Veralidaine. (why is her nickname Daine and not Vera anyway??) In a bout of creativity I even considered twisting up this story EVEN MORE and making Vera the same person as Daine. As you can tell, I rejected that idea. It just plum wouldn't work out nicely. Though if I thought of it earlier, I might've been able to make it work.
Guess what the "Black Ice" is. Isn't it o-so-obvious??
I'm considering actually making a website. I mean, I used to frown on them and say they were a waste o' time (because who actually cares about your personal site but your friends??) ...but, oh, I don't know. I'm already coming up with brilliant ideas for it. It's been half a year since I did any HTML stuff, though, so I gotta brush up on that.
I finally got around to checking TP's website. Wow, we have so much in common! *gleefully* I KNEW there was a reason I always liked her!
-----------Don't read below this line if you haven't already read Lady Knight...contains spoilers!!----------------
Just finished ready Lady Knight. NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cleon!!!!!!! *sniffles* I dunno, maybe they still have a chance together now that Kel's killed Blayce (did she get paid for that? She should!!). Then again, the ending suggested that she and Dom would get together. Hmmm...I like Dom, too. And that last exchange between him and Raoul was HILARIOUS!
"Sergeant Domitan, tell me these children aren't the result of your squad's Scanran frolics," Kel heard Raoul say cheerfully. "Though I do admit, some of them look a little old to be yours."
"Well, sir, my men helped," Dom said, the picture of boyish mischief.
Heehee!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have read this far and refuse to review, you are a cruel, cruel person!