Chapter Three

Alanna wandered through the empty palace halls, lost in a dream.  She wasn't watching where she was going, and jumped about a foot in the air when a skeletal bird came flapping around the corner, followed by a baby dragon running flat out.  Alanna flattened herself against the war as Bonedancer and Kitten, Skysong, raced past her.  She grinned at the thought of the scolding the pair would receive if caught by Daine, or Numair, or Lindhall Reed.

            Her smile widened a few moments later, as a pair of young woman in servants garb came panting around the corner.  One of the women glanced up at Alanna, and curtseyed respectfully.

            "Beg pardon lady, but did you see what way them animals went?"

            Alanna pointed towards the place she had last seen Kitten and Bonedancer, and the maid curtseyed again and ran off in that direction.

            "What on earth was that?" she heard a voice asked.  Turning round, she found Thayet, queen of Tortall, leaning casually against the wall, smiling.  Alanna's heart sped up for a moment as she remembered the crime she had committed against Thayet, and as a result, her answering smile probably looked considerably forced.

            "Skysong and Bonedancer decided that the halls were a good place to play tag, and those ladies seem to disagree," she replied, feeling as though the word 'Traitor' was painted in huge letters on her forehead.

            But Thayet didn't notice her unease, or ignored it.  She laughed.  "I pity the maids,"

            Alanna's smile grew stronger.  "I was just thinking how sorry I'd be for Kitten and Bonedancer if Daine or Lindhall caught them."

            Thayet thought about it for a moment, and then nodded.  "You have a point there," she agreed.  "But now tell me about you.  I've missed you.  It's been awfully quiet around here lately,"

            "I don't think I'll make much difference to the noise level Your Majesty," Alanna told her friend.

            "Maybe, but still, it's good to have you back.  I've been sorely lacking in sensible female companions of late.  Ever since Buri was married she's been off in another world," The queen took Alanna's arm and began to walk her through the palace.

            Alanna laughed.  "We can only hope that her husband has managed to keep his head on better,"

            "Indeed," Thayet agreed.  "So how are you?"

            "Alright for having spent the last three months enduring winter near Scanra," the champion told her.

            "Oh that's right, you don't like the cold do you?" Thayet recalled.  "Whatever was Jonathon thinking to place you there?"

            "Probably of the threat I made to cut off his ears if he tried to put me anywhere else," Alanna replied, trying to suppress the wave of cold fear that welled up inside at the mention of Jon's name.  Thayet laughed again, and after a moment, Alanna joined her.

            "So you'll be glad to be back with us here," the queen continued.

            "Very,"

            "And how long do you plan to stay?"

            "As long as I can, but at least until your grandchild is born,"

            "Which one?" Thayet asked.  When Alanna frowned she laughed.  "I saw Stephan some hours ago, and he said you'd arrived.  You must've seen Kally or Jonathon, and I know either one would have told you,"

            "You're right; I've seen them both, and Kally told me, but I think she'll be back in Cathark long before hers is born,"

            "Perhaps," Thayet frowned.  "I'd hoped she could stay here during her pregnancy.  Her body's not used to the climate over there,"

            "Have you talked to her husband about that yet?" Alanna queried.

            "Ah, no," Thayet replied.  "I thought I'd try Jonathon first, as practice, though I don't actually think it'll be either of them that presents a problem,"

            "Kally?"

            "Exactly."

            "Why?"

            "I don't know really.  She'd probably just see it as cheating, hiding from a problem by making little excuses,"

            "Pregnancy is hardly a little excuse,"

            "To Kalasin, the end of the world is a little excuse," the girl's mother sighed.  "And besides, I think she feels the more time she spends in Tortall, the less she can do as a monarch in Cathark,"

            "She does have a point on that one," Alanna pointed out.

            "I know that, but I just wish she'd talk to me more.  She's coping with the separation too well,"

            "Maybe because she knew it was going to happen,"

            "Maybe,"

            The two women walked in silence for a while.  Alanna thought about Jonathon, and wished she was with him in his study, or even better, in the bed they had shared when he was a new knight and she was his squire, instead of wandering through the palace with his wife.  She remembered the day in the desert when she'd told Thayet to marry Jon, and remembered that even then she'd been lying when she said she wasn't in love with him any more.

            She stopped her thoughts when she realised they were headed towards the rider barracks.  A good third of the palace's empathic population dwelt there, and Alanna didn't want any untrained mage eaves-dropping on her mood.  She made a mental note to avoid her mother-in-law, Eleni Cooper, as much as possible, trying to forget the fact that the woman had helped her through her early romantic problems with Jonathon and George.  She knew that Eleni would probably still be willing to talk to her about it in an unbiased way, but Alanna didn't really want to talk to George's mother about the fact that she was cheating on her son.

            Hearing Thayet call out to someone, she looked up to see Onua Chantoung, the Horse Mistress for the Queen's Riders, wandering in their direction.  Alanna suddenly remembered her promise to Roald to visit his wife, and after greeting Onua, she made her excuses to Thayet, and headed off in the direction of Shinkokami's rooms.

            Alanna knocked on the door to Roald and Shinokami's quarters.  As she waited for an answer she nervously smoothed her tunic.

            A Yanami maid opened the door and stared at Alanna.  "Yes Ma'am?" she asked.

            Alanna smiled at her politely.  "I'd like to see Princess Shinkokami please," she requested.

            The maid opened the door wider to allow Alanna to step into the small ante-chamber.  Nodding towards a door the maid whispered, "She's in there; only don't expect to be able to speak to her much.  That room's fair crowded with Noblewomen all thinking they know what's best for Her Ladyship," she snorted.  "Best my foot Lady, beggin your pardon.  What Princess Shinkokami needs is fresh air and some time to herself, if you'll excuse my boldness Ma'am,"

            "I'm sure you're right," Alanna told her.  "Don't worry; I'll speak to the Princess.  Leave that door open," she added, pointing to the one she had come through.

            The maid nodded and watched as Alanna pushed open the door into Shinkokami's bed-chamber.  She paused for a moment to examine the scene, and coughed as the scent of a million miscellaneous incenses floated into her nostrils.

            Princess Shinkokami lay on her bed, fully clothed even down to her shoes.  Around her bed were masses of Noble Tortallan ladies, and even a couple of visiting dignitaries.  They were all fussing over the princess enthusiastically, but what they were actually accomplishing Alanna wasn't sure.  She glanced to the sides of the room and saw Kel leaning against the wall with a heavily blank expression on her face.  Lady Yuki of Queenscove, Shinkokami's lady in waiting and Neal's wife, was standing next to her, wearing the identical Yanami expression to Kel's.

            Alanna smiled at the pair, before turning to face the rest of the room.

            "Everybody out!" she yelled, placing one hand on her belt as if to grip a sword.  Instantly all the ladies looked up at her with shocked expressions.  Shinkokami's eyes were wide.

            Alanna pointed menacingly at the door, and all the ladies jumped up to scurry through it.  Alanna glanced at Yuki and Kel.  "I'll come and talk to you in a moment," she promised.  Both women nodded, bowed, and closed the doors behind them as they left the room.

            Alanna wandered over to the windows and opened them to allow air to begin to circulate.  Then she walked over to Shinko's bed, and sat down next to the princess.

            "What will the king think about you doing that?" the girl asked.  Alanna chuckled.

            "He'll understand, and if he doesn't, well, it'll be fun to educate him," she replied.  "Now, let's fix you up.  Do you really want those shoes on?"

            Shinko gave a shy smile.  "Not really," She lifted her feet as Alanna removed the boots.  The knight dropped them unceremoniously on the floor.

            "Better?" she asked, and Shinko nodded.

            "Thank you," she addressed Alanna.  "Those ladies have been hovering over me for days, and I didn't know how to get rid of them,"

            "Yell," Alanna recommended.  "Or tell Kel or Yuki to get rid of them.  If that doesn't work, find me, and tell Thayet about it,"

            Shinko blushed.  "I don't want to trouble her," she whispered.  Alanna laughed again.

            "You won't be troubling her; you're part of her family,"

            "But she's always so busy,"

            "With things that she doesn't want to be doing and probably would delight in having an excuse to get out of," Alanna told her firmly.  "& she'll always be happy to talk to you, as will I,"

            The princess's blush deepened.  "You've been speaking to Roald?" she acused.

            "Yes," Alanna told her. "And he's very nervous as well,"

            Skinko smiled.  "I know.  He's so sweet to me,"

            "I can imagine,"

            "It's just… I know that it happens to women all the time, but…" the young woman had turned scarlet.

            Alanna smiled gently.  "But you're still worried," Shinko nodded.  "Well don't be.  You'll be fine.  You've got the best healers in Tortall to attend to you, and I'll be here as well, and Princess Kalasin.  And after it's over you'll have a child, and the kingdom will have its heir, and everyone can breathe a sigh of relief.  It really isn't that bad Your Highness,"

            "My friends call me Shinko," the princess muttered.

            "Alright then Shinko" Alanna agreed.  "Now shall we call your friends in?"  The princess nodded and Alanna walked to the door to call in Kel and Yuki.  After they came in and sat down she turned to speak to all three girls.

            "You don't have to let all those women in here.  When Thayet was pregnant Buri and I used to kick them out all the time; the king won't mind,"

            Kel looked dubious.  "Are you sure?" she murmured, not intending Alanna to hear her.

            Alanna looked at her sharply.  "Yes I am.  Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go and speak with him," She stood and walked out, passing the grinning maid on the way.

            "Oh that was just brilliant Lady Alanna," she told the knight.  Alanna smiled back at her.

            Jon was still in his office.  He looked up at her.

            "Lock the door behind you," he instructed.  Alanna complied quickly, and then took the seat opposite the king.  Jon took his chair and dragged it around the desk so they were only centimetres apart.

            "I just had a visit from a large portion of the palace's noble ladies," he informed her.  "Care to share your side?"  Alanna looked at him, and smiled when she saw the amused smile shining in his eyes.

            "Those ladies were harassing your poor daughter-in-law," she told him.  "Do you remember when you had the Sweating Sickness; her room was like that.  That environment is totally inappropriate for an expectant mother, especially one as shy as Shinko!"  She was trying to sound severe, but the sight of the amusement shining in the king's eyes melted her resolve and she ended up smiling uncontrollably.  Jon grinned at her.

            "What I remember about the sweating sickness," Jon replied deliberately.  "Is that you, my Lady Knight, came into my room and kicked all of those nobles out, and saved my life.  That was the first time I heard you as a woman, remember,"

            Alanna had to look away from his eyes.  "I remember," she whispered.

            "Did you know that was when I fell in love with you?" Jonathon asked.  "Even though I didn't know it then," He leaned towards her and smiled.

            Alanna closed her eyes and allowed Jonathon's lips to meet with hers.  He pulled her into his lap as the kiss deepened.

            "So you're not mad with me?" she purred softly.  Jonathon kissed her again for reply.

            "There's nothing wrong with being mad," he pointed out.  "It means we get to make up again later,"

            Alanna shook her head and chuckled.  "I love you Jonathon," she whispered.

            "I love you too," he replied.  "& that's all that matters right now," He ran his hands through Alanna's thick red hair and wrapped his arms around her.

            The sound of feet pounding up the stairs caused them to bolt apart liked frightened rabbits.  Alanna raced over to unlock the door as Jonathon returned the chairs to their original positions.

            The intruder was Gary.  "Sorry to interrupt Jon," he panted.  "Oh hello Alanna, Stephan said you were here,"

            "What did you need Gary?" Jonathon asked.

            "Oh right," the knight returned to his purpose.  "Well, the thing is, we can't find Prince Roald.  Lianne said that she'd been with him and the other children at the practice courts, but she and Jasson and Liam left, and now Roald's nowhere to be found.  Daine flew over the area and couldn't find him, and Numair's scrying spell turned up nothing.  The queen's fairly worried," he added.

            Jon and Alanna exchanged a look.  "When was the last time anyone saw him?" Jon asked.

            "About an hour ago, at the courts, with Kalasin," Gary replied.

            "Yes, I talked to them there," Alanna confirmed.  "But why such a fuss Gary?  Are you sure the Prince isn't just somewhere no one thought to check?"
            "He had an important meeting with the Yamani ambassadors," Gary replied.  "He had promised Shinkokami he'd go and see them, and when he didn't turn up she asked Numair to look for him,"

            "Are you sure Gary," Jonathon asked.

            "Positive," the knight replied.  "I'm sorry Jon,"

            The king sat heavily in his chair.  Alanna got up and went over to put a comforting hand on his shoulders.  Jonathon smiled weakly at her.

            "Alright," he whispered.