A/N I JUST CAME IN 3RD IN A RACE!!! Hehe I'm happy. Bet you guys didn't think I would update again. I'm sorry I take so long with updates. Please read review, and I hope Enjoy!

Chapter VIII: Lord Georges of Voleur

Alanna stared up at the tall woman before her, then slowly curtsied. The woman motioned for her to sit down, and she did. She looked Alanna up and down and her mouth curved into a perfect yet cold smile.

"You have done the best you could under the circumstances," she said. If Alanna hadn't been so awed she would have been offended. The best she could? "Of course you aren't in the ideal place to learn what you need. My brother has been most difficult about that." Everything the woman said was a statement. The husky voice rose and fell not betraying any emotion. "Of course he made it impossible for a meeting to take place between the two of us sooner, but at least in this place," she gestured at the convent, "you met me in a way." Her penetrating green eyes met Alanna's. Alanna felt as if she were digging into her soul. She didn't like it. "You do know me."

"You can't be" Alanna trailed off, looking at the face that was too perfect for any human. "It's impossible."

"Do you find it so hard to believe? You are one of my chosen. As such we had to meet. Is it so strange that I have come to you for a time, my daughter?" Alanna had learned much about the Great Mother Goddess while in the convent. She didn't appreciate the gods meddling in her affairs, but she also had a great deal of respect for them. She raised her head stubbornly.

"I never asked for help or protection." She looked around her at the confining convent walls. "I have enough of both in here," then almost to herself, "too much." The Goddess smiled, more warmly than before.

"No. Not here, but you will not stay behind these walls forever. When you are free of them you may be grateful for the gods' help." Alanna snorted, and without thinking said,

"The gods never make things easier."

"That may be true," the Goddess said with a hint of amusement in her voice, "but you shall need our help whether you will or no. That day when Thom was thrown from the pony, my brother and I were having an argument over you and your brother. I wanted your plan to succeed, but he didn't. You have learned much even in these walls. My priestess has taught you not to fear your gift, and you will learn more because of her." The Goddess looked towards the east, the chill just before dawn was beginning to set in. "My time with you is almost over, but two last things. I have brought here two people to help you. The Thief and the Dragon will teach you what you need, but you mustn't be afraid to ask. They will not refuse. Much depends on you Alanna of Trebond. Do not fail me." Alanna rose, and curtsied clumsily.

"I won't fail you. Or at least I will try not to."

"A Goddess cannot ask for more." The Goddess said with a smile, and looked down at the kitten. "Guard her well, Small One." The kitten mewed in reply, and Alanna wondered if there were more to her violet-eyed pet than she first thought. The Goddess held out her hand and Alanna leaned down and kissed it. A jolt of energy flowed through her, and Alanna had to shake her head to clear it. When she looked up again the woman was gone. As she walked back to the convent gently holding the kitten she saw that a door was open. She entered it and walked up the stairs to her room. A door gently opened around the corner, and as she rounded the bend she came face to face with one of the stable-hands. They stared at each other for a minute, and then he pushed past her and down the stairs.

"Why if it isn't Alanna of Trebond. Out of her bed this early. I believe that wandering the halls before the first bell is against the rules." Alanna looked into the lovely face of Delia of Eldorne. Delia didn't have a very beautiful expression on her face at the moment though. Alanna was in no mood to be polite to the girl, even though she was two years her senior.

"I think that what you are doing is breaking more rules than what I am. Have you no pride," Alanna said derisively. Delia glared at the shorter girl.

"If you dare ruin it I will make you wish you were dead."

"What do you expect to gain by screwing the stable-hands," Alanna said, knowing that if one of the sisters over heard her they would be shocked beyond words. She didn't care at the moment; this tart didn't have any right to make threats to her.

"There are two types of women at the palace," Delia said softly. "Those who are sold, and those who sell. I will be in control of my own destiny. If I am sold, I will be the one who gains, not some third party." Alanna stared at the girl in disgust.

"You will be used, and you will let yourself be used. You won't be in control," she said bitterly. Delia snorted.

"What about you? You will be sold to the highest bidder. That is why your virginity is protected so highly. Your father won't care if the man he chooses for you is twice your age." Alanna bristled at this. She started to walk down the hall, and then turned back to Delia.

"You're wrong you know. There is a third kind of lady at the palace. She is neither sold nor the seller. She is in charge of her own destiny and does not allow herself to be used. That is the kind I will be."

Delia laughed.

"Keep dreaming, you will be packaged off in marriage like all the other fools here."

*~*~*

George looked down at Ela. She was dressed in a pretty frock that was richly embroidered with birds and flowers. She had her satin ribbon in her limp brown hair, and was like a ray of sunlight in the drab room of the Magpie. George was dressed handsomely in a black velvet tunic, and cape. He had combed ashes into his thick brown hair, streaking it with grey, and a neat salt and pepper mustache decorated his face. He was the picture of the wealthy debonair widow he was playing. He took Ela by the hand and they left the inn together heading towards the temple district.

They arrived at the convent when the sun was high, and George pulled the rope outside the door. Inside he heard a bell toll and very quickly the heavy oak door was opened by a novice in a grey robe.

"I have come to inspect this convent as a suitable place for my daughter to be taught," George said coolly. The novice bowed and ushered the two imposters into a starkly furnished anteroom. There she bowed, and left the room. Soon after she left the Mother of the convent entered.

"You wish to enroll your daughter in our school?" she said doubtfully looking at the little girl. "Forgive me but isn't she a little young?"

"Her mother died, last year and I can't give her the attention that I wish to. I heard good reports of this place from my cousin Lord Alan of Trebond. His daughter goes here I believe," George said smoothly. Ela smiled winningly up at the Abbess.

"You are related to Lord Alan?" Mother Lokisk said skeptically.

"Yes I am," George replied, clearly affronted that anyone would ever doubt him. "I am his cousin."

"Well then," Mother Lokisk said, "You must wish your relative, Alanna, to show you around." She was a shrewd woman, and knew that George looked nothing like Lord Alan, but she would judge this man by the way Alanna reacted towards him.

"Please do, I haven't seen her since she and her brother was as tall as my little Elafos," he said patting Ela gently on the head.

"What name shall I tell her?" Lokisk asked.

"Georges of Voleur," he said, hoping desperately that Alanna would understand that he was the thief from the day before.

"Georges of Voleur?" Mother Lokisk said raising an eyebrow. "Please have a seat while I send a novice to find you cousin."

A/T

Mandygirl: Yes I am going to continue. I take too long to update. Sorry. I'm glad you like it!

Tirana: It's different! Good! I'm glad you like it! I'm trying to decide how much fighting Alanna should learn from the Shang, but she isn't going to come out of that training an amazing warrior. Hehe.

Amara: Are you from New England, wicked is kinda a N.E. expression. I use it too. Thanks for the review.

Drunken Little Monkey: Your S.N. cracks me up. I'm glad I'm getting better. That is always good to hear.

ExxxxRrrrooooommmmiiieeee!!!!: I CAME IN 3RD OUT OF ALL THE JV GIRLS!!!! YEAH!!! I'm so happy. I'm glad you liked the chappie.

Glowbird: I do think a lot on what I think will happen in the story, a lot when on long skis or during races. Hehe.

Dragonlady: Roger got to be king by killing Jonathan. He was next in line for the throne. Thanks for the review.

Pixie Princess: I hope you liked the update! Thanks for the review.

Matt: I'm not sure if you will read this, but thanks for the excellent review. I'm glad we got the whole flamer thing straightened out.

Paradoxie: Wow, thanks for the wonderful review. I'm glad you like the story. I'm glad you think I'm true to the book.

Stardusted: Thank you for the review. It is so nice to see that people like my story! Thanks again.

Andrea Rimsky: I don't think I will have too many more of the dream flashbacks. The reason I had them in there is that I wanted George to know Alanna before they met. Also I must say I like writing the same thing but from a different angle (my first fic was like that except it was Squire from Neal's perspective).

Keita: I'm glad you like it! Thanks for the review.

Christine: Hehe, I'm glad you like my convent story. I was reading the other ones and I was like what are they doing? Why is Jon alive? Why is Thom Jon's squire? Thanks for the review.

Devilkitti8: Thanks for the review.

Wow 15 reviews! I'm sorry I said I would update after ten. But thanks to you all!