Chapter 7: Words of Advice
A white face visibly glowed beneath the black cloak of the woman who had approached unnoticed.
She looked at the stranger, wondering why this stranger was talking to her and calling her daughter, it certainly wasn't her own mother, who'd never worn a cloak in her whole life!
"Don't you recognize me, my daughter?" She didn't move a muscle, but the cloak flew from her body, revealing a slim woman with snaking black locks, and eyes the color of rare emeralds.
Alanna gasped, she now knew who the woman was, the great mother goddess. Instead of curtsying, she went into a deep bow.
"Rise my child, you are not to bow to me ever again, you are my chosen. I apologize for not coming sooner, but I've been needed elsewhere. Now is the time when you need guidance most, and I ask you again, have you made the right choice?"
She thought about this, if she were the goddesses chosen, then why was she even here in the first place? Why couldn't she have been the knight she knew she should have been? Running away wouldn't have even been an option then.
"Yes, I believe I have made the right choice. What is there in Tortall for me? Some arrogant prince that I'm supposed to worship? What is there for me in Tusaine anymore? Nothing. If I break the betrothal, then I'll be shunned from my home, maybe Roger was a blessing in disguise. Maybe he convinced King Roald to cancel, maybe I've been looking at this the wrong way."
"My daughter, what is there for you among the wilderness in Tortall? Consider what you are doing before you make your final choice. I'm going to give you some advice, and I suggest you take what I say seriously. Daughter, your biggest fear is love. Love is vital, and it will make the difficult journey ahead of you easier. One of the reasons you fear the prince, Jonathon, is because he expressed love easily, and that bothered you."She paused, but kept going. "You must also keep watch on the prince, you cannot let the prophecy come true, in a way, the fate of Tortall lays in your hands. Remember, learn to love, always trust your heart, it will lead you in the right direction."
Alanna opened her mouth to speak, "How can it be in my hands, I don't belong he-,"her mouth hung open as she looked at the spot where the goddess had stood. No one was there, but a small stone lay on the ground a few meters away, it hadn't been there before.
'Close your mouth before something crawls in there'
Her eyes went big. This was too much, a goddess, and now a talking cat.
"Did you just talk?" As she stood up, she picked the cat up, hearing a pert remark made. Turning him over she checked his sex, glad he was a male.
'Do you mind?'
"Would you rather me going around telling everyone that you're a she cat?" She grinned as he ignored the comment, this cat was obviously a gift from the goddess, and she knew that he would be a good friend to her.
"Talking to yourself lass?" A male voice came from behind her.
"I'm going to kill that girl when I find her!" King Allen yelled at his wife, while she sat like a stone in her chair, doing embroidery.
"Not only is the betrothal canceled, she's decided to run away. I shall make her life as miserable as possible when I find her, banning her from weapons, forcing her to do the things she hates most. I have tried to make her life easy, even letting her train, but no more! Tortall is another thing, for cancelling the marriage, I have a surprise in store for them." He grinned evilly thinking about which land he would try and claim when he forced them into war.
"Do you ever think you pushed Alanna into running away? That you'd gone to far mentioning the king of Galla? She's got to live her life like a normal girl Alan! Maybe she's too young for this kind of thing, she was never meant to be a princess, a warrior maybe, but never a princess."
She watched the man she'd grown too loath, watched his face go from beet red to dark purple, and she knew what came next.
He would not let a woman tell him what to do! He raised his hand and slapped her, the sound echoing in the dead silence. "Never contradict me, never! Have I not taught you anything in our time together? You will have to brought back to Tusaine. I cannot have you running around the palace spreading rumors. We leave in one week's time, and if we have not found the girl, then let the black god have her. She can rot in hell. I've decided Thom will continue his training here. I can use him for some of the upcoming events here in Tortall."
Jonathon stared out of the window, viewing the wilderness of Tortall. The betrothal had been canceled, as he had been informed, yet he didn't know how he felt inside. It was like an overbearing sadness had dawned upon him, but how could that be? He'd known the girl not even a week, and she'd already stolen his heart, even though she'd rejected him. He'd opened his heart to her, even offered her his personal study, but she'd still ignored him, which made him want her even more, to win her over.
Maybe a ride will help clear my thoughts, maybe I'll even find her, he thought to himself.