Ok sorry I probably won't post quite so often because spring break is over,
tear tear. Thank you all those people who review you are so kind, but I
understand that there is some confusion. So first off this story takes
place only like a few months after Alanna returned from the Roof of the
World, The coronation has not yet taken place (I know it should have but it
hasn't yet b/c I say so), so therefore Thom can be alive but sick. Also I
introduced Arazo as Amazon on accident at first b/c of the spell check and
I knew it was there but I couldn't find it so I figured wutever. Sorry if
you were confused, and I know I killed off Thayet its horrible but I kind
of think I have a plan for that so don't be to mad that she is gone.
Disclaimer: None of this is mind (tear, I wish it was) it all belongs to Tamora Pierce.
*****Chapter 7*****
---Buri, Myles, Arazo---
"Has he stopped bleeding?" Buri asked directed towards Arazo who was carefully inspecting Sir Myles wounds. She was worried for him and could only hope they reached the city in time.
"Its to hard to tell, the light is making it hard to say," Arazo replied after a moment, it was dawn and although they gotten some sleep it hadn't been enough. He slumped back into his own saddle and kept riding.
Traveling down the road Buri did all she could to stop thinking, and numb her from all pain. Thayet was dead and she knew it, but that didn't mean she had to accept it. From previous experience she knew that it wouldn't go away, but now was not the time to deal with it.
Only a little over an hour had passed before the city was in view and quite close. Not able to contain himself Arazo gasped at the size and galloped up ahead. Buri secretly chuckled, she heard that Port Caynn was nothing compared to the wonders of Corus.
Rushing Myles to the nearest inn, Buri left Arazo to stable and brush down the horses. Reaching the inn the keeper called for a healer as they placed the old knight on a cold table in a secluded room. As she helped remove the makeshift bandages she saw the wound was still sluggishly bleeding, and it did not look pretty.
A round small lady walked in and as soon as she saw the man lying there in such a condition she asked everyone to leave. Sitting in the common room worrying about Myles with Arazo she realized how little she knew him, yet she still was sorry.
Not more than an hour later the lady introduced herself, "I'm Cassie. Your father looked like he got in quite a scrape there. I don't know what will happen I've done all I can and now all we can do is hope. He is to old to loose so much blood, hopefully he will be awake by sunset."
"He is not my father, just a old friend. As I knight I hardly think I can stop him from fighting again, but thank you for your efforts. I know his family will appreciate what you did," Buri replied as the healer left them alone.
She sat in silence and thought, she was strangely sorry for the man. He had a family and a life, if he didn't live he would be leaving behind a daughter and many other people in grief. Unlike her, he had something to live for.
Knowing that her thoughts were unfair she continued, and soon she envied Sir Myles. She had nothing here in a place she didn't know. She didn't know what to do now, wait for this man who made her seem so worthless.
To take out her anger she left the city with her crossbow, leaving Arazo alone to explore the city, while she practiced. After setting up a target she shot for hours, and hours. Finally she had worked herself to tears and fell to the ground crying.
She had failed as a bodyguard, it was her one job and an easy one at that. Disgracing her family, every other K'mir in her family line had kept their charges alive until her. Was she that bad, it hadn't seemed so hard for her mother but it had been for her.
Memories flooded into her head, each one was a major part of her. Finally she recalled her first meeting with Thayet, it had been so long since she had thought of that day and now seemed like the worst time to remember it but she knew she had to:
(flashback)
She was only five and her mother insisted that she meet the girl she would guard, another jian Wilima, her family had guarded them forever and now it would be her turn. Walking into the room, she saw a little girl around her age.
She was still beautiful then, with her raven black hair cropped just above her shoulder, which was the fashion in Sarain at the time. Dressed in an over fanciful dress, she looked stuck up and spoiled. Looking down at her own simple clothes Buri became self-conscious and immediately decided she didn't like this girl.
With the voice of an angel Thayet spoke, "I have no use for a guard, but since it doesn't look like I have a choice I think you will do."
Still Buri wasn't convinced she liked this girl, but with a nudge from her mother she replied, "I promise you, lady that I will protect the best I am capable until my death."
Only days later they became steadfast friends, although Buri always knew her place below Thayet. They shared everything, secrets, interests, friends, and gossip, side by side everyday.
(End Flashback)
***George***
He had ridden through the night, trying as best he could to fight off sleep. It wasn't often he was forced to ride alone at night and now he was sufficiently bored.
Missing all of his fellow thieves at the Dancing Dove, he did his best to stay awake and think of what they would say. They had a happy nature, and would be talking bout life and everything in it, the night would be filled with their merry jokes and drunken laughter.
Thinking of his friends soon brought him to his friends in the palace, many would think it strange that the King of Thieves had made friends with people so high in the government, but he didn't care. Every one of them was different, yet they were just other people not stuck up nobles.
There was Gary who could always crack a witty joke. Raoul who was somewhat reserved, but always the first to laugh. Jon, his Royal Highness who acted everything but the crowned prince he was. Lastly there was Alanna, he had liked her spirit since he had first met her as a page. She had a quick temper, but was quicker to laugh than frown. She was different than any other lady he knew, yet different than any man too, Alanna truly was a Lioness.
It was midday and he estimated that he was only a few miles from Port Caynn. Something told him that it wouldn't be easy to find Myles in such a city, but he might as well try, they probably wouldn't arrive till tomorrow.
Looking around he spotted someone holding a bow sitting in an undignified heap, with what looked like a target a hundred yards away. His first instinct was to go and help the person, it looked like he could be injured, but his training took over and he knew that this could be a dangerous situation.
From the road he called, "You, in the grass, are you alright? Why are you lying there?"
As the person raised her head he saw that it was a lady, at first this was a shock and it took a while to realize what a trendsetter Alanna had become. Surely this lady couldn't be dangerous and with that he approached her.
"George Cooper, and who might you be lass to be training with a dangerous weapon. No disrespect, but not many women can use a crossbow all to well," George said.
With this the girl was clearly irritated and strung the bow, shot and hit the center of her target.
With her wide eyes she asked him, "You'll be wanting to see Sir Myles?"
This girl had known what he wanted and could wield a crossbow, although he wasn't sure, this lady had an accent of a K'mir and the looks to go along. He highly suspected that this was Buri, the bodyguard of Thayet of Sarain. That would explain just about everything except why she was on the ground. With that he followed her into town.
He was led into a room at an inn, where he saw the old knight, but nothing could have prepared him. Myles looked deathly pale and only the slight rise of his chest comforted him. In his life he had seen many of his men dye and although some of them died horrible deaths, but this was just wrong. Myles was a good man and didn't deserve to suffer like that.
"What happened, wait what about Thayet, she isn't hurt to? And you must be Buri," George asked.
He knew that that was the wrong question, because her eyes filled with tears. He thought she would start to cry, but instead she told him what had happened. Their friend Arazo filled in parts that Buri left out. After they were done all he could do was sit and feel sorry for them in silence, but he guessed that it had helped, because Buri let out a loud sigh. She looked like a big weight had been lifted from her.
Later as they sat around a table eating dinner trying to agree on the plan of action when George finally said, "Ok we will wait for Myles to heal and then we will go onto Corus, my guess is that Buri you will still be in some minor danger."
With this in mind they waited five days for Myles to be ready to ride, in the mean time they were frequently found practicing with weapons. Although Arazo had not done much work with a sword or knifes, George managed to teach him as best as possible.
Finally they were off to Corus, all together.
***Alanna***
Alanna woke before dawn, she was tired and sore from yesterday, but she knew she had to train. It had been several days since she had seen Liam, and now she wanted to train with him. After dressing in her practice outfit and grabbing her weapons, Alanna headed out to find him.
After searching nearly everywhere she could think and not finding him she resigned herself to practicing alone. Finally reaching the practice courts she spotted Liam starting to begin his daily routine.
"And where have you been kitten, off with your prince and forgetting to practice?" The Shang Dragon asked. She knew he wasn't happy with her, but she also didn't know what she had done wrong this time.
"I think I deserve a break every once in a while. Its not like you've been exactly friendly since we returned either," Alanna replied coolly.
His eyes changed and she knew that color meant he was upset and didn't want to share anything. With that the conversation ended and they began practicing silently. Starting out with the basic exercises and working towards newer ones they worked from hands, knives, and sword.
Finally Alanna was satisfied with herself and truly tired, she walked up the hill back to her rooms. Something just didn't feel right, but it wasn't like an attack was going to happen, more like something she couldn't place. All of a sudden she found that she had been gagged and blindfolded from behind.
Being very frightened she started kicking at her capture as they were holding her hands, hearing someone cursing in pain she smiled. This might not be too hard to get away from. Rough hands lifted her up onto a horse as the person rode holding her in their arms.
Try as she might she couldn't escape and from what she heard there were several others riding around her. Even if she did get off this horse they would be on her in a second, things didn't look hopeful.
Slowly they came to a halt and as the person with her dismounted he carried her to what felt like a spot on the grass. 'What were these people going to do to her?' She thought.
Some different fingers were attempting to untie her gag, at this Alanna sat somewhat excited to be able to get mad at these people. As soon as her mouth was free she started cursing words that she had learned at the Drell River, but the people didn't seem fazed because they still remained silent.
Her blindfold was being removed and there she saw her best friends and her own fiancé. Hardly able to suppress her surprise, her jaw dropped and she suspected her eyes had grown wide. It wasn't long before Gary, Cythera, Raoul, and Jon erupted with laughter.
"That was not funny. I didn't know what was happening," Alanna protested.
"Are you kidding—You should see the look on your face, it was great," Raoul replied in between laughs.
Gary was the first to get over his laughter and finally he said, "Man, Alanna you sure can kick when you're mad. It hurt and bad."
Tired of all this teasing Alanna tried to get to the point, "So why did you all kidnap me? I assume you brought food because I'm starving."
They all sat down to a lunch in front of a beautiful brook with summer's first flowers around. Finding that Gary and Raoul wouldn't give up on teasing her she took up talking with Cythera, who had apparently had come with Gary.
"They are proud of themselves aren't they, well I guess I can't blame them," Alanna said.
"Certainly you aren't planning on letting them get away with all of that? Now I would defiantly get revenge," Cythera said, clearly very shocked.
"O no, I can't blame them for thinking it was funny, but I certainly can blame them for what they did. They will all get a wonderful surprise."
Hearing this Jon walked over and joined the conversation, "I'm shaking in my shoes Lioness, but certainly you wouldn't do anything to your favorite fiancé?"
"Now there is where you are wrong, especially you King-to-be will get it. The other men cannot be held responsible for their actions, but you should have known what you were getting into. There will be consequences," Alanna said with a wicked smile.
DID YOU LIKE IT? Well please review and tell me!!!!
Disclaimer: None of this is mind (tear, I wish it was) it all belongs to Tamora Pierce.
*****Chapter 7*****
---Buri, Myles, Arazo---
"Has he stopped bleeding?" Buri asked directed towards Arazo who was carefully inspecting Sir Myles wounds. She was worried for him and could only hope they reached the city in time.
"Its to hard to tell, the light is making it hard to say," Arazo replied after a moment, it was dawn and although they gotten some sleep it hadn't been enough. He slumped back into his own saddle and kept riding.
Traveling down the road Buri did all she could to stop thinking, and numb her from all pain. Thayet was dead and she knew it, but that didn't mean she had to accept it. From previous experience she knew that it wouldn't go away, but now was not the time to deal with it.
Only a little over an hour had passed before the city was in view and quite close. Not able to contain himself Arazo gasped at the size and galloped up ahead. Buri secretly chuckled, she heard that Port Caynn was nothing compared to the wonders of Corus.
Rushing Myles to the nearest inn, Buri left Arazo to stable and brush down the horses. Reaching the inn the keeper called for a healer as they placed the old knight on a cold table in a secluded room. As she helped remove the makeshift bandages she saw the wound was still sluggishly bleeding, and it did not look pretty.
A round small lady walked in and as soon as she saw the man lying there in such a condition she asked everyone to leave. Sitting in the common room worrying about Myles with Arazo she realized how little she knew him, yet she still was sorry.
Not more than an hour later the lady introduced herself, "I'm Cassie. Your father looked like he got in quite a scrape there. I don't know what will happen I've done all I can and now all we can do is hope. He is to old to loose so much blood, hopefully he will be awake by sunset."
"He is not my father, just a old friend. As I knight I hardly think I can stop him from fighting again, but thank you for your efforts. I know his family will appreciate what you did," Buri replied as the healer left them alone.
She sat in silence and thought, she was strangely sorry for the man. He had a family and a life, if he didn't live he would be leaving behind a daughter and many other people in grief. Unlike her, he had something to live for.
Knowing that her thoughts were unfair she continued, and soon she envied Sir Myles. She had nothing here in a place she didn't know. She didn't know what to do now, wait for this man who made her seem so worthless.
To take out her anger she left the city with her crossbow, leaving Arazo alone to explore the city, while she practiced. After setting up a target she shot for hours, and hours. Finally she had worked herself to tears and fell to the ground crying.
She had failed as a bodyguard, it was her one job and an easy one at that. Disgracing her family, every other K'mir in her family line had kept their charges alive until her. Was she that bad, it hadn't seemed so hard for her mother but it had been for her.
Memories flooded into her head, each one was a major part of her. Finally she recalled her first meeting with Thayet, it had been so long since she had thought of that day and now seemed like the worst time to remember it but she knew she had to:
(flashback)
She was only five and her mother insisted that she meet the girl she would guard, another jian Wilima, her family had guarded them forever and now it would be her turn. Walking into the room, she saw a little girl around her age.
She was still beautiful then, with her raven black hair cropped just above her shoulder, which was the fashion in Sarain at the time. Dressed in an over fanciful dress, she looked stuck up and spoiled. Looking down at her own simple clothes Buri became self-conscious and immediately decided she didn't like this girl.
With the voice of an angel Thayet spoke, "I have no use for a guard, but since it doesn't look like I have a choice I think you will do."
Still Buri wasn't convinced she liked this girl, but with a nudge from her mother she replied, "I promise you, lady that I will protect the best I am capable until my death."
Only days later they became steadfast friends, although Buri always knew her place below Thayet. They shared everything, secrets, interests, friends, and gossip, side by side everyday.
(End Flashback)
***George***
He had ridden through the night, trying as best he could to fight off sleep. It wasn't often he was forced to ride alone at night and now he was sufficiently bored.
Missing all of his fellow thieves at the Dancing Dove, he did his best to stay awake and think of what they would say. They had a happy nature, and would be talking bout life and everything in it, the night would be filled with their merry jokes and drunken laughter.
Thinking of his friends soon brought him to his friends in the palace, many would think it strange that the King of Thieves had made friends with people so high in the government, but he didn't care. Every one of them was different, yet they were just other people not stuck up nobles.
There was Gary who could always crack a witty joke. Raoul who was somewhat reserved, but always the first to laugh. Jon, his Royal Highness who acted everything but the crowned prince he was. Lastly there was Alanna, he had liked her spirit since he had first met her as a page. She had a quick temper, but was quicker to laugh than frown. She was different than any other lady he knew, yet different than any man too, Alanna truly was a Lioness.
It was midday and he estimated that he was only a few miles from Port Caynn. Something told him that it wouldn't be easy to find Myles in such a city, but he might as well try, they probably wouldn't arrive till tomorrow.
Looking around he spotted someone holding a bow sitting in an undignified heap, with what looked like a target a hundred yards away. His first instinct was to go and help the person, it looked like he could be injured, but his training took over and he knew that this could be a dangerous situation.
From the road he called, "You, in the grass, are you alright? Why are you lying there?"
As the person raised her head he saw that it was a lady, at first this was a shock and it took a while to realize what a trendsetter Alanna had become. Surely this lady couldn't be dangerous and with that he approached her.
"George Cooper, and who might you be lass to be training with a dangerous weapon. No disrespect, but not many women can use a crossbow all to well," George said.
With this the girl was clearly irritated and strung the bow, shot and hit the center of her target.
With her wide eyes she asked him, "You'll be wanting to see Sir Myles?"
This girl had known what he wanted and could wield a crossbow, although he wasn't sure, this lady had an accent of a K'mir and the looks to go along. He highly suspected that this was Buri, the bodyguard of Thayet of Sarain. That would explain just about everything except why she was on the ground. With that he followed her into town.
He was led into a room at an inn, where he saw the old knight, but nothing could have prepared him. Myles looked deathly pale and only the slight rise of his chest comforted him. In his life he had seen many of his men dye and although some of them died horrible deaths, but this was just wrong. Myles was a good man and didn't deserve to suffer like that.
"What happened, wait what about Thayet, she isn't hurt to? And you must be Buri," George asked.
He knew that that was the wrong question, because her eyes filled with tears. He thought she would start to cry, but instead she told him what had happened. Their friend Arazo filled in parts that Buri left out. After they were done all he could do was sit and feel sorry for them in silence, but he guessed that it had helped, because Buri let out a loud sigh. She looked like a big weight had been lifted from her.
Later as they sat around a table eating dinner trying to agree on the plan of action when George finally said, "Ok we will wait for Myles to heal and then we will go onto Corus, my guess is that Buri you will still be in some minor danger."
With this in mind they waited five days for Myles to be ready to ride, in the mean time they were frequently found practicing with weapons. Although Arazo had not done much work with a sword or knifes, George managed to teach him as best as possible.
Finally they were off to Corus, all together.
***Alanna***
Alanna woke before dawn, she was tired and sore from yesterday, but she knew she had to train. It had been several days since she had seen Liam, and now she wanted to train with him. After dressing in her practice outfit and grabbing her weapons, Alanna headed out to find him.
After searching nearly everywhere she could think and not finding him she resigned herself to practicing alone. Finally reaching the practice courts she spotted Liam starting to begin his daily routine.
"And where have you been kitten, off with your prince and forgetting to practice?" The Shang Dragon asked. She knew he wasn't happy with her, but she also didn't know what she had done wrong this time.
"I think I deserve a break every once in a while. Its not like you've been exactly friendly since we returned either," Alanna replied coolly.
His eyes changed and she knew that color meant he was upset and didn't want to share anything. With that the conversation ended and they began practicing silently. Starting out with the basic exercises and working towards newer ones they worked from hands, knives, and sword.
Finally Alanna was satisfied with herself and truly tired, she walked up the hill back to her rooms. Something just didn't feel right, but it wasn't like an attack was going to happen, more like something she couldn't place. All of a sudden she found that she had been gagged and blindfolded from behind.
Being very frightened she started kicking at her capture as they were holding her hands, hearing someone cursing in pain she smiled. This might not be too hard to get away from. Rough hands lifted her up onto a horse as the person rode holding her in their arms.
Try as she might she couldn't escape and from what she heard there were several others riding around her. Even if she did get off this horse they would be on her in a second, things didn't look hopeful.
Slowly they came to a halt and as the person with her dismounted he carried her to what felt like a spot on the grass. 'What were these people going to do to her?' She thought.
Some different fingers were attempting to untie her gag, at this Alanna sat somewhat excited to be able to get mad at these people. As soon as her mouth was free she started cursing words that she had learned at the Drell River, but the people didn't seem fazed because they still remained silent.
Her blindfold was being removed and there she saw her best friends and her own fiancé. Hardly able to suppress her surprise, her jaw dropped and she suspected her eyes had grown wide. It wasn't long before Gary, Cythera, Raoul, and Jon erupted with laughter.
"That was not funny. I didn't know what was happening," Alanna protested.
"Are you kidding—You should see the look on your face, it was great," Raoul replied in between laughs.
Gary was the first to get over his laughter and finally he said, "Man, Alanna you sure can kick when you're mad. It hurt and bad."
Tired of all this teasing Alanna tried to get to the point, "So why did you all kidnap me? I assume you brought food because I'm starving."
They all sat down to a lunch in front of a beautiful brook with summer's first flowers around. Finding that Gary and Raoul wouldn't give up on teasing her she took up talking with Cythera, who had apparently had come with Gary.
"They are proud of themselves aren't they, well I guess I can't blame them," Alanna said.
"Certainly you aren't planning on letting them get away with all of that? Now I would defiantly get revenge," Cythera said, clearly very shocked.
"O no, I can't blame them for thinking it was funny, but I certainly can blame them for what they did. They will all get a wonderful surprise."
Hearing this Jon walked over and joined the conversation, "I'm shaking in my shoes Lioness, but certainly you wouldn't do anything to your favorite fiancé?"
"Now there is where you are wrong, especially you King-to-be will get it. The other men cannot be held responsible for their actions, but you should have known what you were getting into. There will be consequences," Alanna said with a wicked smile.
DID YOU LIKE IT? Well please review and tell me!!!!