Alanna watched as Thom fell asleep. She felt his pain, and knew he wouldn't awaken for hours after that healing. She quietly took her bags and put them in a corner. Alanna walked out of the room, and went downstairs to join Coram.
She found him sitting at a round wooden table, alone. He had a mug of mead in one hand, and a letter in the other. He glanced up at her, and folded the other. Tucking it into his pocket, he asked her "How'd it go with Thom?"
Alanna sighed and sat down across from him. "Good, in a bad sort of way. I learned valuable information, but I wish that none of it was true."
"I know how ye feel, lass. These are trying times, meant to test our courage and loyalty." Coram spoke with almost rehearsed lines.
Alanna raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And where'd you hear that from?" She was curious at Coram's sudden, almost philosophical, statement.
Coram blushed. "Rispah. She sent me a letter." He pulled it out again and scanned it, almost as if he was looking for something in it. He began to speak again. "She says that Corus is hectic. Roger hasn't managed to round up all of Jon's supporters, and there's been some riots recently. Everyone's feelin' rebellious."
Alanna laughed. "So where is Eleni now? Is she with Myles, or are her and Rispah hiding out with the Court of the Rouge?"
Coram glanced down at the letter again. "Court of the Rouge. Myles didn't want her to follow him; it would just put her in danger."
"I suppose." Alanna stared at the painting over the inn's fireplace. It featured a former King of Tortall. From her history classes with Myles, Alanna remembered him to be King Jasson, Jonathan's grandfather. Alanna shuddered as she looked up into his glistening sapphire eyes, which looked so similar to Roger's that it frightened her. She pulled her eyes away from it, and turned back to Coram.
"Who does that remind you of?" she gestured towards the painting. Coram looked at it and grimaced, making the sign against evil on his chest.
"Gods-cursed, that man is. Ain't natural what that brother of yers did."
"I know Coram, but it can't be changed now." Alanna sighed. "I should be going. I have to catch up with Jon and Thayet."
"Then go. I can take care of Thom fine myself, an' you have other things that you need to be doing." Coram told her.
"I know, but I think that he. . . need s me. He hasn't got a whole much longer. . ."
Coram bowed his head. "I know, but there's nothin' you can do. There's nothing no one can do. It's best he be left alone."
"Very well. I'll leave tonight. Better get some sleep before then. But first, a mug of apple cider." Alanna grinned. "I haven't had any of that since I was at the palace, and it'll help me get to sleep sooner." She got up and waltzed over the bar, taking care to keep her eyes down.
She paid the innkeeper a few silver coins, and he gave her a key to a room, and her mug of cider. She carried them upstairs, and found her room at the end of the hall. She let her self in, and slipped into bed with her cider. She drank all of it in three sips, and was asleep before her head hit the pillow.
Alanna woke with a start. She jerked from her pillow, and went to the dirty window. She glanced outside, and realized that it was sunset. She marveled at the beauty for a moment, before getting up out of the room. Quietly, she stole her way to Thom's rooms and opened the door.
Thom was awake. "Good-bye, sister dear." He met her eyes, and then said, "I'm afraid this will be the last time that we see each other. Alanna felt tears fill her eyes, and she wiped them from her eyes before her brother could see. "Don't cry Alanna. Death isn't necessarily the ending of everything. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to find my way out of the Black God's Realms."
Alanna smiled a half smile. "Very funny Thom, but I doubt it. No one has ever done that before."
"Yes, Alanna, but no one has ever been able to raise the dead, have they? I imagine it must be similar. . ."
Alanna laughed at Thom, and walked over to her brother's bed. She bent down, and kissed his forehead, hot and clammy from sickness. "Please try to hold on Thom. I love you. " She grabbed her bags and walked out, taking one last look at her twin before leaving.
The tavern had come alive since her time upstairs in her bed. Men sang and drank, the alcohol overpowering their minds. The gamblers had three more added to their number, and two flower girls on their laps. Coram sat at the counter, filling up with mead. Alanna made her way through the sea of people, stopping only once to kick an old drunk who had grabbed out at her. She tapped Coram on the shoulder, and he sluggishly turned.
"No lass, I'm not drunk. I knew ye'd be worrying." Coram gave her a gruff smile. "I wouldn't be careless enough to let anything slip, either."
Alana let out a sigh of relief. "It's nice to se you're trying to control your old. . . habits, Coram." She thought for what felt like the millionth time, that that man knew her all too well. "I had better get going now. Sun's setting."
Coram smiled again. "Goodbye lass. I'll miss ye." He drew her into a small hug, and then looked away, embarrassed.
"I'll miss you too, Coram." She looked up at the older man. "And do try to take care of Thom, will you?"
"Aye lass, I will." Alanna smiled, and disappeared amidst the crowd of tavern goers. She finally arrived at the inn's doors, and pulled them open.
A blast of cold air poured out. She shivered, and closed the doors behind her. Dropping her bags on the ground, she rummaged through them until she found her cloak. She flung the dark material over her shoulders, and closed her bags back up. She found the stables and went inside.
Moonlight was in the stall nearest the door. She was asleep, and Alanna regretted waking her. She rubbed her nose, and grabbed a carrot she found in a bucket outside the stall. She held it under the mare's nose, until the irresistible scent of carrot awakened her. Moonlight took the carrot whole in her mouth, and whinnied her pleasure. Alanna fed her another carrot, and then an apple before going into the stall to saddle her.
As she worked to cinch the saddle tight upon her horse's back, Alanna talked softly to the horse, whispering words of encouragement to her horse. When the saddle was tight, she strapped her bags to Moonlight and led her out of the stall. The stepped out back into the cold of the early night, and Alanna closed the stable doors behind her.
She swung her leg over her horse's back and pulled herself up. Moonlight's body heat added warmth, and spurred Alanna's mind awake. She focused on the road, letting the freedom of the ride embrace her. She rose and fell from the horse's long strides, the wind whistling past her, causing her cloak to billow up.
Alanna fell into a trance from the ride, and jolted out of it when Moonlight came to a sudden halt. She realized how tired her horse must have been, and steered her off the side of the road. Her horse wheezed and coughed, and Alanna groaned. Now, more than ever, did she pray that the Gift worked on animals. Alanna too closed her eyes, and leaned against the birch tree she had walked to.
A flash of purple eyes forced her to open her eyes. A beautiful figure stood before her, her radiant beauty blinding Alanna. Alanna shielded her eyes, and then smiled as she realized who it was.
We're long overdue for another one of our talks. - The Goddess smiled at Alanna.
Author's Note: Ouch. That took a while for me to get that out. Sorry about that. I have not abandoned this fic, or any of the others for that matter, and I do not intend to. I just have been getting caught up in school and stuff. Please review, and go read my two other stories. (I just got a new one out last night! Go read it, if you haven't already!)
Alanna-of-Olau: Yes, you are right, I should probably add something to it that's happy. It will get happier, though, I just haven't gotten far enough in the story!
treanz-alyce: Thanx for reviewing! (Again!) I still love your fics!
