Coming Home to Mother
Chapter 1
"Good morning, Alanna!" came George's cheerful voice.r "What's so good about it?" Alanna snapped. "Ali is coming home today!" George said happily. "Oh wonderful! Now she's going to be all 'Oh, Mother! I'm so sorry, I didn't know I'd be kidnapped, you only warned me five of six thousand times!' That's all I need right now, George!" Alanna was obviously grumpy, very grumpy! George shook his head, sighed and turned down the hall.
Alanna glared at her husband's retreating back and stomped off to see if Kel was awake yet. Pounding on the other lady knight's door Alanna stomped her foot angrily. Of course! Kel will be sleeping like a bear! Alanna cursed loudly and kicked the door so hard it splintered. Cursing even louder Alanna sat abruptly on the floor clutching at her toe.
"Alanna? Are you alright?" Keladry of Mindelan stood over Alanna clad only in a sheet. Alanna clambered to her feet looking up to see the expression on Kel's face. She looked surprised, annoyed, embarrassed and uncomfortable. "I see this isn't a good time, did I wake you?" Alanna said a calm mask covering her writhing thoughts. Alanna scowled and turned away. Kel grimaced and turned sharply back into her room.
Down stairs Alanna stopped the first servant she found, a girl by the name of Nilda, and said, "Lady Keladry's door had a little mishap this morning, would you please see to it that it is replaced?" Nilda nodded and scampered to do Alanna's bidding.
"Heryam!" Alanna shrieked. The lean stableman rushed in as clatters and bangs- the entire household being awoken- sounded upstairs. "Yes Sir Alanna?" Heryam stammered. "Saddle the swiftest mount in the stables, will you?" Alanna snapped. Heryam nodded and scampered off as Alanna's oldest son, Thom, staggered down the stairs.
"I can't believe I forgot to ward my room to noises!" Thom grumbled bitterly. "Good morning to you to," Alanna said shortly. "Mother, why did you have three children if you're going to ignore us?" her second son, Alan, who had followed Thom down stairs, asked sleepily. Alanna grinned, "Wouldn't that be 'Sir Mother'?" Alan chuckled, "Yes, 'Sir Mother'. As you say, 'Sir Mother'."
Alanna had conveniently chosen Alan as her squire, as everyone- with an exception of Alan- hoped she would. Alanna excused herself and headed for the stables where Heryam was waiting with Far Stride. Alanna mounted as gracefully as any noble lady born and bred in the saddle. Kicking the stallion into a gallop she clattered out of the inner courtyard, out of the mercifully open gate into the village of Pirate's Swoop. All the villagers who were in the streets bowed or curtsied to their lady and she nodded to them.
Out to the countryside she galloped watching the waves crash against the shore next to her, she let out a Tortallan victorious battle cry, she was were she belonged! She hated being cooped up in the stuffy indoors where she was expected to drop all her knight training and be a proper lady. She was glad; at least, she could wear breeches in and around the Swoop and when she was riding.
She breathed in the fresh sea air wafting off the Emerald Ocean and let out a whoop of pleasure, Far Stride pranced and pushed ahead faster than he ever had before. White sails caught the corner of Alanna's eye. Slowing Far Stride she turned to see the name of the ship. Firefly. 'Ali is coming home today!' Ali! Alanna turned Far Stride and galloped to the port where the ship was anchoring. A girl with red-blond hair to her shoulders appeared on deck grinning. She caught sight of Alanna as the gangplank was lowered. "Mother!" she screeched. Alanna raced Far Stride to the harbour where Ali was stepping off the gangplank and back onto the soil where she was born.