Chapter 2
I would like to thank Kel goddess protector of for encouraging me to write this chapter and not just pulling this off line. Kel you're the best!! :: Hugs Kel:: Oh I do know I'm spelling Alianne's name wrong but you can live with it... right?
"Mother!" Ali cried throwing her arms around Alanna's neck. "Ali! I missed you so much! Alianne, you grew! Where were you? What happened to your hair?" Alanna asked suspiciously. "One question at a time, Mother," Ali said with a grin. "I was in the Copper Isles and when I was caught my hair was blue and the pirate captain told them to cut it. So they did." Ali grinned at her mother's shocked expression. "Alianne, who is that?" Alanna asked sharply pointing to the deck of the Firefly.
Ali turned and grinned as Nawat Crow walked unsteadily down the gangplank. "Mother, I would like you to meet Nawat Crow. Nawat, I would like you to meet my mother Sir Alanna of Trebond and Olau also known as the Lioness." "The Lioness?" Nawat murmured in disbelief. "Pleased to meet you Nawat," Alanna said briskly. "Tell me, what is the story behind your last name?" Nawat shuffled his feet, eyes downcast. Ali nudged his ribs gently and whispered, "It's alright, Mother will understand... I think." Nawat sighed and said, "I used to be a crow, living in the Copper Isles. I was to help Ali learn crow language so she would win her bet with the Trickster. I decided I could help her more be becoming a human, so I did."
Ali looked at him incredulously, "You never told me that!" she yelped her tone accusatory. "Sorry," he muttered, "I thought I had."
Alanna looked at her daughter and saw in her eyes a fire that she recognised. Ali may not know it, but she was in love, with a crow man. Alanna sighed. "I don't have any other horses with me-" she started apologetically, but Ali cut her off. "It's fine Mother, I for one want to walk. We've been on that bloody ship for the past three weeks!" Alanna looked at Nawat who nodded. She shrugged and said, "I'll meet you back at the Swoop. I need to alert the kitchens that our girl's come back home." She mounted Far Stride and kicked him into a gallop. Before she was out of earshot she heard Nawat say, "I'll race you to the..."
She didn't hear the rest of what he said because of the wind whistling in her ears. Even if I am getting old like George, Thom and Alan say I'll never be to old to do this! She thought gleefully as she tugged sharply at Far Stride's reins. As expected, Far Stride reared from the sudden change from full out gallop to complete stop. He nickered at her as if to say, What did you do that for? "For the fun of it you silly thing!" Alanna replied grinning.
Far Stride shook is copper-brown head his ebony mane flying. The white spots on his head that gave him his name flickered like a horses legs in full gallop. She trotted him into the town and up the hill to the Swoop's gates and into the courtyard. Dismounting she stood waiting for a stable boy to take Far Stride and groom him. After about five minutes, when no one came, she took him into the stable where Heryam was sitting with his back rested against a stable wall, snoring like a hog.
Alanna's eyes rolled and she whistled a piercing whistle that made poor Heryam jump and hit his head on a latch. He cursed and looked up at Alanna with watering eyes. "Sir so Alanna sorry! Me Far let Stride take!" Alanna immediately called upon her Gift and Healed Heryam, at least enough so he sound talk in correct sentences. After that was finished she handed Heryam the reins and strode off into Pirate's Swoop interior.
"GEORGE!" she shrieked at the top of her voice. George appeared out of a door way directly in front of her rubbing his ears. "Yes, Alanna?" he whispered. "She's home, with a crow-man." Alanna hissed. "Oh Nawat?" George asked pleasantly. That was the last straw for Alanna, "YOU MEAN YOU KNEW?" she bellowed. "YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS NAWAT PERSON! YOU KNEW AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME?"
George looked shocked, "Alanna, I've met him, once in the Copper Isles. What's there to know about him?" Alanna took several deep breaths and said in a slightly calmer voice, "You don't know about the way she feels for him?" George looked perplexed and shook his head.
Alanna smiled at him, kissed him on the cheek and marched into the vast kitchens. "MAEBELLE!" Alanna called to the head cook. "AH! SIR ALANNA! WHAT CAN I BE A DOIN' FOR YE?" Maebelle called back. "WELCOME HOME FEAST! FOR ALI AND HER FRIEND, NAWAT!" Alanna ordered. "AYE, MILADY! I'LL BE A HAVIN' IT READY B'FORE YE CAN BE A SAYIN' SIR ALANNA LADY KNIGHT OF TREBOND AND OLAU!" the cook bellowed as a stack of pots clattered to the floor. Alanna grinned and walked out of the kitchen, right into King Jonathan.