A/N Reading pp 67-72 in In the Hand of the Goddess after reading this might be helpful. Please read, review and I hope Enjoy.
Chapter VI: Tears
The monk's robe itched horribly. George wondered why anyone would ever wish to become one, the hood shaded his face though and that was the vital point. It was imperative that he wasn't seen. He was in a dark room surrounded by old leather bound books. He read the bindings. They were mostly histories of Tortall. The door behind him opened. There was something hopeful in the footsteps.
"Excuse me," the voice was disappointed. George smiled, and turned towards the redhead, removing the cowl. His grin widened at the surprise in the violet eyes. Alanna slammed the door, and locked it.
"Are you out of your mind?" she whispered, the expression on her face revealed that she wanted to yell. "Some of my Lord Provost's men do know what you look like!"
"Upset for my safety? I'm touched," George chuckled. Alanna glared at him.
"You're touched in the head," she snapped. "Anyway, since you're here, why are you here?" George looked at her; something was worrying her.
"I thought you mightn't get the chance to come down to the city before you rode out, and I wanted a word with you," he said with concern. "But you were wanting to ask me somethin'" Alanna made a face, and produced a burr. She told him how it was found on Duke Gareth's saddle blanket. The more he listened the less he liked the idea of Alanna going off to war. Especially when she was going to be put under the command of Duke Roger. He wished that he could go with her and keep an eye on things, but he knew that his people would look on that as a betrayal. He reached out and smoothed her hair with his hand. "She's about as vulnerable as that cat of hers," he reminded himself. "She doesn't need me to watch her back." Alanna smiled at him, he read in the smile that she wished that he could come too.
"I'll be alright," she said with a false heartiness that the thief could see right through. "Faithful will be with me, and if things get bad I'll go to Myles. He's smart enough for three of us." He was still anxious for her but he sensed that she did not want to hear about how much danger she was heading into. He changed the subject. It was a flippant change, but he was serious. He could tell that Alanna didn't like this conversation any better than the previous one.
"I've already found her, and you know it well." George watched Alanna, she was uncomfortable, but he didn't want her leaving not knowing this. She pulled herself together and glared at him.
"You think highly of yourself! I'm the daughter of a noble—" George laughed. He knew that that would never stand between Alanna and anything.
"Does that truly stand between us, Alanna? If you loved, would you care about birth or wealth?" Alanna protested. George looked at her. She was different from any other woman he had ever known. Her arguments were growing weaker. She was pleading with him to stop the conversation. He sighed. He wanted her to understand that he would wait.
"I—I won't let it ruin our friendship, George." Her voice was so low that he could hardly hear it. She was looking at her feet.
"And I won't speak of it again till you ask it." He had to look in her eyes. Then he would see her answer. "Look at me Alanna." She slowly raised her eyes, and met his. Looking into them he saw that he had hope. He didn't know what he was doing, but suddenly he found his mouth against hers. He hadn't meant it to goes this far, but she kissed him back. He held her closer and realized that he would never love another woman in his life.
*~*~*
George awoke. He shook his head and looked down at Ela sleeping deeply beside him. His dream Alanna was going off to war. The living breathing one was at the convent. He wondered if she had ever dreamed of him.
"She didn't recognize you in the slightest," he told himself. "Don't be stupid." She was now truly a noble's daughter, but then he wondered. He had seen fire in those eyes. She was not the same girl, and yet she was. He had to see her again, but how. Men were not allowed in the convent. He looked down at Ela again and smiled. She would be his ticket in.
*~*~*
Alanna groomed the grey palfrey again. His name was Purity, but Alanna called him Donkey. The sisters didn't like the nickname.
"Easy, boy." She untangled his mane and tail carefully. His coat shone in the sun of the courtyard. Alanna looked at the gateway, her escape, and her prision. A tall woman was striding through it leading a bay mare. The woman moved with grace and ease. Alanna was impressed. The woman saw her, and walked up to Alanna.
Alanna looked up at the tall woman with grey hair. The woman was old, but athletic, and dressed in breeches. Alanna looked down at her skirts cursing them. The woman looked at Alanna appraisingly.
"Would you take a message to my sister," she said. Her voice was gravelly, but sweet.
"Who might your sister be, your dignity?" Alanna asked, using the general term for addressing visitors to the school. The woman made a face at the title.
"My sister is Lokisk." Alanna stared, then looked at the woman again.
"M—mother Lokisk?" Alanna stuttered. "The high priestess?"
"Oh, she was promoted again. Good. Well yes she is the one." The woman grinned, showing white teeth. "Tell her that her wayward sister has returned." Alanna started to curtsy. "Don't bother to with me, and non of this 'your dignity' either." Alanna grinned.
"Yes your dignity," she replied impudently. Then ran off to find the High Priestess. The woman smiled and shook her head.
*~*~*
Esanta gasped for breath, half of her body ached. She struggled to her feet, but she was thrown back against the wall. Roger's irate face filled her eyes. She was terrified, but her mind was quick. She knew that her life depended on what she did now.
"What's wrong?" she cried, tears streamed from her blue eyes.
"Snake," he hissed at her, slapping her face. She fell to her knees. Her tears were real now. She touched the spot where his hand had met her cheek.
"What did I do?" she sobbed. He pulled her up from her knees.
"Whore, harlot, slut," he hit her with each word. "You have been seeing other men. When I'm asleep you sneak through the secret passages. Do they pay you? Am I not enough for you?" He slapped her again. She threw up her hands to block her face.
"Roger, you are the only one," she sobbed. He pulled her hands down, and pinned them against the walls.
"Then where do you go? What do you do in the walls like a rat?" She turned her face away from his.
"I'm spying for you," she said. "Roger, I would never be false to you. I love you. You and only you." The words felt bitter on her lips, but she said them. "Please believe me." Roger let go of her and became dangerously calm.
"Of course," he said. He fiddled with his sapphire ring. It sparkled brightly, distracting the eye. "You are spying for me." Esanta's eyes were drawn to it. She was sleepy.
"Yes," she said trying desperately to keep her mind to herself. "The ring," she thought "Don't look at it." She tried to look beyond it. It sparkled there. She tore her mind from its grasp, and brought something into her mind's eye, anything. It was Gary. His handsome face filled her eyes. Her head cleared.
"Have you ever slept with another man?"
"No," she replied keeping Gary in front of her.
"What do you do in the walls?"
"Spy to see any that are plotting against you."
"Who have you seen?"
"Richard of Scales, Henry of Willowwood," she said naming two men who were completely loyal to Roger.
"Are you sure you have nothing else to tell me?"
"Yes, I am sure."
A/T
Lith: The Seat of the Magpie does take up some time that might be devoted to Amber Fire, and because I'm very Cliffhanger prone some people don't like it when someone is working on two stories at the same time. I'm glad you like this story. I like my stories equally, and it is nice to get a break from one and work on the other.
Xelena: I'm glad you like it.
Keita: I'm glad that you are reviewing. This is much quicker updating than last time. I'm glad you like the way I write Thom.
Exroooooommmmieeee!!!: I hope your Thanksgiving break went well and that Katherine wasn't so grounded that you couldn't see her at all. It would have been kinda funny if you had reviewed when everyone thought that you were writing it. Miss you.
Mage Melery: I'm glad that this is an atypical Alanna-goes-to-convent story. That is probably the best complement for this story (if I ever start to slip into the cliché everyone must slap me).
Googlepuss: I read and reviewed Other Side of the Mirror. I will read Thom goes to the Convent. I have always wanted to write something where a guy had to hide his sex. Heh.
