The inn was bustling with life, the smell of alcohol permeating the air.
Alanna let her eyes sweep around the room cautiously. She felt
uncomfortable, in her home she had always yearned for the lively bustling
cities but spending years in a meditative Shang life made her feel
uncomfortable not being able to hear what all the conversations around her
were involving; it made her insecure.
The King of Thieves directed her towards the centre of the crowd, coming to a stop at a table set beside the hearth. The men and women sitting around it moved out of the way for George to make his way to its head, taking Alanna with him. She took a seat next to him and the rogues sat back down looking curiously at her. She shifted uneasily at the sudden silence at the table; after a deafening minute of quiet it erupted in discussion once more and she breathed a sigh of relief. George chuckled beside her.
She whirled around angrily, cheeks reddening and he sent a maddening grin her way before lifting his tankard up in mock toast and gulping some of it down. "So what brings ye to Corus lass?" He enquired genially, studying her face.
"Personal reasons," she answered shortly. She was still questioning whether her brother would appreciate her visit and whether sitting around in a tavern was any way to achieve a high ranking title when she returned to the Shang citadel. He raised an eyebrow but a tall, dark haired man making his way over to the table saved her having to delve into her family matters.
"Perhaps I could have a word George?" He asked politely, glancing from George to Alanna.
"Sure ye can, Johnny." He told the man, standing up from his seat. He turned back to her briefly, "Do ye want me to find some accommodation for ye now? I know this lot can be less than welcomin' at times but they're a good bunch." He said, inclining his head to the chattering group. She nodded silently and got up with him. "Be with ye soon Johnny. Amuse the lass for a while will ye?" He asked as Alanna made her way over to them. Alanna glowered at George's retreating back.
"You're related to Thom them?" Jon asked deceivingly casually. Alanna spun around, her violet eyes widening for a second before she quickly schooled her features.
"What is a Noble such as yourself doing amongst commoners?" She returned icily. She had not wanted to deal with any of her Noble brethren until the ceremony and then it would have been on her own terms. His eyes darted around the inn quickly but the continued noise indicated no one had heard.
"I could ask the same of you," he stated calmly, his intense blue eyes piercing hers.
George came back up to them, telling her, "Solom has a room to spare; upstairs, second on the left." He looked at both Jon and her confused.
"I am not a Noble." She hissed vehemently before stalking off in the direction of her room.
**
"You upset her a fair bit didn't ye Jon?" George asked lightly, staring bemused at the spot that the red head had occupied moments before. Jon shook his head, clearly shocked, before asking
"Who is she?"
George waited a moment before answering. "An initiate of the Shang Order. The Dragon holds her in high regards and I'd like to keep her close."
"Her name?" Jon pushed.
"Alanna."
//FLASHBACK//
"I hear it's your birthday," Jon commented his head bent over a magic book. "A whole year older, congratulations." His class partner mumbled something incoherently. Jon looked up and studied the younger boy for a moment. Poor guy wasn't really cut out for knighthood; the only time he seemed happy was when he was in the class for the Gifted that he had campaigned so long for and even this did not seem to lighten his mood today. "Cheer up man," Jon said awkwardly. He didn't really know the guy after all.
"It's my sister Alanna's birthday today as well. We were twins." He said suddenly. Jon looked at him, this was the first time he had shared anything personal about himself to anybody as far as he was aware. "I let her down and she ran away," he finished miserably.
//END FLASHBACK//
Jon whistled and then murmured, "the sister's back."
(A/N: My deepest apologies. I know it has been a long time since I reposted and I was honestly considering discontinuing this fanfic, I've been spending so much time on my original work. Then you go and review and I feel obligated to write more. *sticks out tongue*. Not that I mind of course. Lol. Could do with your advice, I don't even know if I am writing IC any more. Just like to point out that although there are a load of shang fanfics now, when I started this it was fairly original *doesn't like taking overdone themes* Now the only other thing to consider is... Am I cruel? Is Thom going to die in the chamber of the ordeal?)
The King of Thieves directed her towards the centre of the crowd, coming to a stop at a table set beside the hearth. The men and women sitting around it moved out of the way for George to make his way to its head, taking Alanna with him. She took a seat next to him and the rogues sat back down looking curiously at her. She shifted uneasily at the sudden silence at the table; after a deafening minute of quiet it erupted in discussion once more and she breathed a sigh of relief. George chuckled beside her.
She whirled around angrily, cheeks reddening and he sent a maddening grin her way before lifting his tankard up in mock toast and gulping some of it down. "So what brings ye to Corus lass?" He enquired genially, studying her face.
"Personal reasons," she answered shortly. She was still questioning whether her brother would appreciate her visit and whether sitting around in a tavern was any way to achieve a high ranking title when she returned to the Shang citadel. He raised an eyebrow but a tall, dark haired man making his way over to the table saved her having to delve into her family matters.
"Perhaps I could have a word George?" He asked politely, glancing from George to Alanna.
"Sure ye can, Johnny." He told the man, standing up from his seat. He turned back to her briefly, "Do ye want me to find some accommodation for ye now? I know this lot can be less than welcomin' at times but they're a good bunch." He said, inclining his head to the chattering group. She nodded silently and got up with him. "Be with ye soon Johnny. Amuse the lass for a while will ye?" He asked as Alanna made her way over to them. Alanna glowered at George's retreating back.
"You're related to Thom them?" Jon asked deceivingly casually. Alanna spun around, her violet eyes widening for a second before she quickly schooled her features.
"What is a Noble such as yourself doing amongst commoners?" She returned icily. She had not wanted to deal with any of her Noble brethren until the ceremony and then it would have been on her own terms. His eyes darted around the inn quickly but the continued noise indicated no one had heard.
"I could ask the same of you," he stated calmly, his intense blue eyes piercing hers.
George came back up to them, telling her, "Solom has a room to spare; upstairs, second on the left." He looked at both Jon and her confused.
"I am not a Noble." She hissed vehemently before stalking off in the direction of her room.
**
"You upset her a fair bit didn't ye Jon?" George asked lightly, staring bemused at the spot that the red head had occupied moments before. Jon shook his head, clearly shocked, before asking
"Who is she?"
George waited a moment before answering. "An initiate of the Shang Order. The Dragon holds her in high regards and I'd like to keep her close."
"Her name?" Jon pushed.
"Alanna."
//FLASHBACK//
"I hear it's your birthday," Jon commented his head bent over a magic book. "A whole year older, congratulations." His class partner mumbled something incoherently. Jon looked up and studied the younger boy for a moment. Poor guy wasn't really cut out for knighthood; the only time he seemed happy was when he was in the class for the Gifted that he had campaigned so long for and even this did not seem to lighten his mood today. "Cheer up man," Jon said awkwardly. He didn't really know the guy after all.
"It's my sister Alanna's birthday today as well. We were twins." He said suddenly. Jon looked at him, this was the first time he had shared anything personal about himself to anybody as far as he was aware. "I let her down and she ran away," he finished miserably.
//END FLASHBACK//
Jon whistled and then murmured, "the sister's back."
(A/N: My deepest apologies. I know it has been a long time since I reposted and I was honestly considering discontinuing this fanfic, I've been spending so much time on my original work. Then you go and review and I feel obligated to write more. *sticks out tongue*. Not that I mind of course. Lol. Could do with your advice, I don't even know if I am writing IC any more. Just like to point out that although there are a load of shang fanfics now, when I started this it was fairly original *doesn't like taking overdone themes* Now the only other thing to consider is... Am I cruel? Is Thom going to die in the chamber of the ordeal?)