A/N: I'm so very sorry this took so long to get out. I finished one on my
other books back in January, and since then homework and dance and color
guard have kept me very, very busy. And though I have had time to write,
I've had the worst writer's block for months. But finally, I have
returned. I never meant for this story to take so long to write – or for
it to be more than 5 chapters. But I think I'm going to need at least two
more. Hopefully there won't be such long gaps between them all. Thank you
for being patient, I hope it was worth the wait!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Without thinking I dragged Thayet and the baby in her arms from their horse, just missing the arrow that flew through the air. I caught the second one before it hit anything, and looked around for the assassin.
I saw someone move on top of one of the buildings, and Alanna and Buri began to climb the trellis leading up the roof. Coram and I exchanged once glance, and instantly began herding the scared and confused children, as well as Thayet, to the convent. I grimaced as I realized that the women had gone off in search of the assassin, leaving the men to take care of the children. But such were the joys of traveling with the only female knight in living history, and a fierce and protective K'miri warrior.
Focusing my attention on keeping Thayet safe, I hurried her and the children to the convent, expecting, as, I'm sure, was Coram, for them to be safe there. But once we arrived and I announced our presence, and that of Princess Thayet, the Daughters of the Convent huddled together, muttering, until they finally allowed us to enter the visitor's courtyard. Instructed to wait by a Daughter Doorwarden, who watched us suspiciously and offered not even the children food or rest, we could only wonder what was going on.
And then Alanna arrived, as furious as I about this treatment, and more than ready to pull weight.
"I am Sir Alanna of Trebond and Olau, Knight of the Realm of Tortall, shaman and rider of the Bloody Hawk Tribe of the Bazhir." She announced coldly to the Doorwarden, "Why are we kept outside this curtain wall? Why have we no explanation for this lack of courtesy?"
She continued in that vein for a while, even threatening to report them to the Goddess-on-Earth in the City of the Gods in Tortall. I had no idea if she wielded such power, but I had forgotten that she was a noble, foreign or not, and the status that went with it. I had always despised nobles who used their titles and power to get what they wanted, leaving us commoners with no choice but to obey, but this time it seemed to have the desired affect. Soon we were led to a guest house, and the children were taken away to be fed and clothed.
Unfortunately, it wasn't that easy to secure a place for the rest of us to stay. First Daughter jian Cadao greeted us, flustered and unsure of what to do with the princess. After apologizing and muttering for a few moments, her aid, the Hag-Daughter, interrupted.
"There are problems. Forgive my bluntness – Princess, your father – the Warlord – is dead. May the Black God ease his passing."
Thayet face paled as she stared at the priestesses. The Hag-Daughter continued, her eyes on Thayet.
"Try to understand our positions. His end places a different meaning on your presence in our House. The rebel leader, zhir Anduo, is frank about his need to talk to you."
"Killer her, ye mean." Coram muttered, echoing my own thoughts.
"Not under our roof." The Daughter replied coldly. "No priestess of ours will betray the Princess. But we are not proof against assassins or against traitors." She then explained that the children would be welcome, but Thayet and Buri could not be protected.
I had known it was coming since they had announced the death of the Warlord, but it still left us with a problem – how could we possibly protect Thayet on the road? For now there was defiantly not chance I would leave them to survive on their own, and I highly doubted Alanna or Coram would suggest it either.
"Thayet," Alanna announced, "you know where we're going. We're on – a quest, I suppose. When I find what I'm after, I'll return home. If Liam and Buri don't object, why don't you ride with us?"
"Mind? Gods, no! Thayet's a better cook than you are," I cried, smiling thinly at Alanna. I don't think the possibility of having to deal with much more than just the Dominion Jewel had escaped her either, but of course she would never have put her own wants before the needs of others.
I admired her for that. But if she thought she could combine a search for a fabled jewel with protecting a princess from her many enemies, she was going to be surprised.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
We left the next morning, before dawn, disguised as mercenaries. Provided with horses by the convent and without the children, we traveled fast enough to reach the border in three days. Luckily, the countryside I led us through was practically deserted, as people had fled the armies roaming the lands, though that didn't stop any of us from worrying about Thayet's safety.
It was early May as we drew closer to Chitral Pass, where the Jewel was rumored to be, yet there was snow everywhere. And at the inn we stopped at, the innkeeper told us more was expected.
"Mother Chitral won't open until Beltane." He laughed, "and then only for the strongest. The snow never leaves. Him that told you Chitral's a good road as jestin'."
"Now I know why no one took this jewel before." Buri muttered. I watched Alanna's face as we made our way to our room. Determination was written all over it - she would get that jewel or die trying. I wondered if she was this stubborn about everything, or she was just very bad at admitting defeat.
I went downstairs with the rest of them, to relax in the nearly deserted common room. I could see no way to reach Chitral, even if the snow were to let up for a day or two. I wasn't good at admitting defeat either; not when we'd come this far, but I was worried Alanna would risk her life for it.
I shouldn't have worried about her attempting something dangerous as we sat there, for a few moments later she entered, dressed in a violet silk gown. My eyes widened, watching her blush when Thayet clapped and Buri whistled. I was used to seeing her muddy and wet, dressed in commoners' clothes like the rest of is. Thayet in an elegant dress that made her look her station wouldn't have been such a surprise. But Alanna – that was more of a shock
She could indeed be described as beautiful. And every inch announced the lady she truly was. Even when I saw her shield and sword daily, reminders of her knighthood and the titles that went with it, and even when I had heard those same titles announced again and again, it was easy to forget how high above me in rank she was.
"Well?" she demanded, looking at me, "don't you like it?"
"It's well enough." I replied. "Doesn't seem practical, though."
Her face reddened. "It isn't supposed to be practical. It's a dress. A dress that feels beautiful when you put it on."
"Feeling beautiful won't win a fight." I pointed out.
"I hardly think I'll fight anyone here, unless it's you," she snapped, temper rising. "Why can't I wear impractical garments every now and then?"
It occurred to me then that she had done this to impress me, and that she desperately wanted my approval. But once I started, I couldn't stop.
"Suit yourself," I shrugged, ignoring the others who were slowly leaving. "I supposed you'll want earbobs next, and bracelets and other frippery. What comes then? A noble-born husband and court intrigues?"
"I'm female. Why can't I wear a dress without you deciding I want to give up everything I am?" she was hurt, I could tell, but I ignored that too.
"Maybe you realize now that a knight-errant's life isn't as glorious as you expected. Maybe this is the Lady Alanna you mean to show to your Prince when you go home."
As she stormed out of the room, I knew I had gone too far. But lately I had thought of her as my equal, and she had acted the part, never putting herself above me. And now how could she throw our inequalities in my face? She was a noble, a lady, and I – Shang or not - I was nothing better than the son of a farmer. Even if we ignored my fear of magic and the way we argued over every little detail, our relationship couldn't continue once we returned to Tortall. We were born to two different lives.
And I, idiot that I was, had forgotten all of that.
Or perhaps I had forced myself to overlook the fact that she was noble born. After all, I had long distrusted and hated the nobility. Rich and powerful, they would use anyone and anything to get more money and power. Including the peasants, who they lorded over and treated no better than dirt. And good people, like my family, would die because of nobles' folly and greed.
But Alanna wasn't like that. She had treated commoner and noble alike on this journey and always had, if her relationship with Coram was anything to go by. Besides, she was hardly the typical noble lady – she was, after all, a knight. Wearing a dress and looking like a lady wasn't going to change that.
Realizing I had to apologize, I trudged up the stairs to our room. I heard her voice and Thayet's, so I softly knocked on the door before entering.
"I was just leaving." Thayet said, moving towards the door. By eyes focused on Alanna. From her red and blotchy face I could tell she'd been crying.
"You shouldn't've taken the dress off. You look very pretty in it." I mumbled, my eyes on the floor. "I guess we get used to seeing a person a certain way."
Alanna motioned for me to sit beside her on the bed. "I like dresses. If you come with us to Tortall, you'll see me wearing more of them. Just because I'm a knight doesn't mean I don't like pretty clothes. I'm not ashamed of being female, Liam."
And while you're dressing like a lady, associating with the nobility and flirting with your Prince, where will I be? I thought, but didn't say. Perhaps I was just bitter that she was born for a better life than I – though both of us had had to work hard to achieve what we wanted from that life. There was no reason to take out my anger with one noble on the rest of his social class.
"I didn't think you were." I brushed her hair back gently. "I never forget you're a woman, Lioness." I kissed her then, willing us both to forget about all the issues between us, about Chitral and the Dominion Jewel, about our future, about everything.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
We spent the next few days at the inn, as the snow continued to pile up around us, and we all become increasingly edgy and worried. It seemed a shame to come all this way and then have to admit defeat without really trying, but I couldn't think of another option. And knowing Alanna's hatred of the snow, I figured she was ready to give up to.
However, I was wrong. Two days after we had arrived, I was talking to the innkeeper about the weather, and he mentioned that Alanna had been asking about snow gear.
"Thinkin' 'bout leavin' us, are ye?" he joked. "Ye won't get too far in this weather!"
I nodded icily and stormed out of the room, marching upstairs to confront her. It amazed me that she would be so reckless and stubborn to even think such a thing. When I entered our room, she was peering through a crack in the shuttered window. She turned around and smiled hopefully. "I think the storm's dropping."
"Don't even think of it," I warned angrily. "And don't make your eyes wide and ask what I'm talking about," I continued, as she did just that. "I'm not Coram, and your tricks don't work with me."
"Maybe Coram lets my tricks work and I don't know what you're talking about." She snapped
"Then why'd the innkeeper tell me you were asking about snow gear?" I cried. "Do you think you're immortal? That's a killer blizzard out there! Maybe that Gift of yours could shelter you from the little blows in Tortall, but this is the Roof of the World, and you will die. I'd never attempt it, and I forbid you to do so."
I realized later that it was a mistake to order her in that fashion. I too refuse to take orders from others, and she would have taken my command as that of a man trying to control a woman. I had only said it because I was angry, and I was only angry because I was worried about her, but she clearly didn't see it that way.
"You don't know what I can do, Ironarm." Her voice was as cold as the icicles hanging from the roof. "I resent your acting as if I'd do something stupid if you weren't around."
"And wouldn't you do something stupid? Sometimes you have no more sense than the kitten I named you!"
She glowered at me, before storming out. I knew that, yet again, I had gone too far with her. But were both so stubborn and easily angered that these frequent arguments were so easily created, and then pride prevented us from mending them. I knew there was no way to work this out, and I realized that she knew it too when I found her in bed that night, her face tear-streaked.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When I woke the next morning and found Alanna already gone, my first thought was of the quarrel last night and that perhaps we could put things right today.
My second thought was that I could feel the magic in the room. That familiar tingling sensation crept up my spine, causing me to shake as I looked around the room. Now that I was looking for it, I could see it everywhere, a white shimmering glow, and slowly my eyes began to shut again. Fighting the temptation to go back to sleep, I forced myself to sit up and glance around the room. Someone was trying to keep me asleep, but I could see no one in the room.
Ready to fight, I stood up – and then I saw my opponent.
Faithful lay on the end of the bed, magic flowing out of him. I shouted, throwing a pillow at the cat. When that did nothing, I picked up a boot, and hurled it in his direction. Faithful jumped, meowing angrily.
"What do you think you're doing?" I cried, fury and fear overwhelming me. The cat purred, and the magic began to fade away.
It was necessary to keep you asleep, the cat snapped. Otherwise you might have woken before Alanna could get away -.
"What!" I screamed, "You let her go? How could you? She's going to die out there!" I continued ranting in this vein for awhile, the reality not really hitting me. How could she sneak off like that, regardless of all that I had said and everything that could happen? I had never supposed her to be that irresponsibly foolish.
I had never thought she would use magic me either.
I couldn't decide what hurt more – that she had ignored my warning and left, or that she had used my greatest fear against me.
Meanwhile, Faithful simply sat there, watching me as if he was angry I had woken him. Furious with Alanna, and willing to take it out on the smug cat, I threw another boot at him. This time he took the hint and ran.
Sinking down onto the bed, I buried my face in my hands. I couldn't go after her, because I had no idea where she had gone and I knew I couldn't catch up to her and bring her back. No, she was in this by herself and I would just have to pray she would regain her senses and return before it was too late.
And I had to break the news to Coram, Thayet and Buri.
But once I went outside, I realized the blizzard had stopped. It was just before dawn, and the air was still and silent.
And the walls began to shake, and the ground beneath my feet shifted. An earthquake? I heard shouts, as other guests ran out of their rooms, and the innkeeper and servants began to rush around. I hung on the wall and watched the panic, as some people prepared to run to the temple for safety.
And then it was over, as quickly as it had started.
Later I learned, from the Doi tribesmen who had gone out to see what had happened, that the pass had cleared. Right then all I had thought about was Alanna. I rushed into Thayet's room, where Coram and Buri already were. One look at my face, and they didn't need any explaining to know what had happened.
The next few hours were the longest I have ever suffered through. Unable to go out and search and terrified that she could be dead; the four of us could do nothing but wait. Had she even reached Chitral? Had the battle of strength, wits, and magic that would undoubtedly ensue killed her? Or had she died in the earthquake? And why had the blizzard ended so suddenly?
After what seemed like years, the Doi returned to the inn, an unconscious Alanna slung over their pony and the Dominion Jewel clasped firmly in her hand.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Without thinking I dragged Thayet and the baby in her arms from their horse, just missing the arrow that flew through the air. I caught the second one before it hit anything, and looked around for the assassin.
I saw someone move on top of one of the buildings, and Alanna and Buri began to climb the trellis leading up the roof. Coram and I exchanged once glance, and instantly began herding the scared and confused children, as well as Thayet, to the convent. I grimaced as I realized that the women had gone off in search of the assassin, leaving the men to take care of the children. But such were the joys of traveling with the only female knight in living history, and a fierce and protective K'miri warrior.
Focusing my attention on keeping Thayet safe, I hurried her and the children to the convent, expecting, as, I'm sure, was Coram, for them to be safe there. But once we arrived and I announced our presence, and that of Princess Thayet, the Daughters of the Convent huddled together, muttering, until they finally allowed us to enter the visitor's courtyard. Instructed to wait by a Daughter Doorwarden, who watched us suspiciously and offered not even the children food or rest, we could only wonder what was going on.
And then Alanna arrived, as furious as I about this treatment, and more than ready to pull weight.
"I am Sir Alanna of Trebond and Olau, Knight of the Realm of Tortall, shaman and rider of the Bloody Hawk Tribe of the Bazhir." She announced coldly to the Doorwarden, "Why are we kept outside this curtain wall? Why have we no explanation for this lack of courtesy?"
She continued in that vein for a while, even threatening to report them to the Goddess-on-Earth in the City of the Gods in Tortall. I had no idea if she wielded such power, but I had forgotten that she was a noble, foreign or not, and the status that went with it. I had always despised nobles who used their titles and power to get what they wanted, leaving us commoners with no choice but to obey, but this time it seemed to have the desired affect. Soon we were led to a guest house, and the children were taken away to be fed and clothed.
Unfortunately, it wasn't that easy to secure a place for the rest of us to stay. First Daughter jian Cadao greeted us, flustered and unsure of what to do with the princess. After apologizing and muttering for a few moments, her aid, the Hag-Daughter, interrupted.
"There are problems. Forgive my bluntness – Princess, your father – the Warlord – is dead. May the Black God ease his passing."
Thayet face paled as she stared at the priestesses. The Hag-Daughter continued, her eyes on Thayet.
"Try to understand our positions. His end places a different meaning on your presence in our House. The rebel leader, zhir Anduo, is frank about his need to talk to you."
"Killer her, ye mean." Coram muttered, echoing my own thoughts.
"Not under our roof." The Daughter replied coldly. "No priestess of ours will betray the Princess. But we are not proof against assassins or against traitors." She then explained that the children would be welcome, but Thayet and Buri could not be protected.
I had known it was coming since they had announced the death of the Warlord, but it still left us with a problem – how could we possibly protect Thayet on the road? For now there was defiantly not chance I would leave them to survive on their own, and I highly doubted Alanna or Coram would suggest it either.
"Thayet," Alanna announced, "you know where we're going. We're on – a quest, I suppose. When I find what I'm after, I'll return home. If Liam and Buri don't object, why don't you ride with us?"
"Mind? Gods, no! Thayet's a better cook than you are," I cried, smiling thinly at Alanna. I don't think the possibility of having to deal with much more than just the Dominion Jewel had escaped her either, but of course she would never have put her own wants before the needs of others.
I admired her for that. But if she thought she could combine a search for a fabled jewel with protecting a princess from her many enemies, she was going to be surprised.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
We left the next morning, before dawn, disguised as mercenaries. Provided with horses by the convent and without the children, we traveled fast enough to reach the border in three days. Luckily, the countryside I led us through was practically deserted, as people had fled the armies roaming the lands, though that didn't stop any of us from worrying about Thayet's safety.
It was early May as we drew closer to Chitral Pass, where the Jewel was rumored to be, yet there was snow everywhere. And at the inn we stopped at, the innkeeper told us more was expected.
"Mother Chitral won't open until Beltane." He laughed, "and then only for the strongest. The snow never leaves. Him that told you Chitral's a good road as jestin'."
"Now I know why no one took this jewel before." Buri muttered. I watched Alanna's face as we made our way to our room. Determination was written all over it - she would get that jewel or die trying. I wondered if she was this stubborn about everything, or she was just very bad at admitting defeat.
I went downstairs with the rest of them, to relax in the nearly deserted common room. I could see no way to reach Chitral, even if the snow were to let up for a day or two. I wasn't good at admitting defeat either; not when we'd come this far, but I was worried Alanna would risk her life for it.
I shouldn't have worried about her attempting something dangerous as we sat there, for a few moments later she entered, dressed in a violet silk gown. My eyes widened, watching her blush when Thayet clapped and Buri whistled. I was used to seeing her muddy and wet, dressed in commoners' clothes like the rest of is. Thayet in an elegant dress that made her look her station wouldn't have been such a surprise. But Alanna – that was more of a shock
She could indeed be described as beautiful. And every inch announced the lady she truly was. Even when I saw her shield and sword daily, reminders of her knighthood and the titles that went with it, and even when I had heard those same titles announced again and again, it was easy to forget how high above me in rank she was.
"Well?" she demanded, looking at me, "don't you like it?"
"It's well enough." I replied. "Doesn't seem practical, though."
Her face reddened. "It isn't supposed to be practical. It's a dress. A dress that feels beautiful when you put it on."
"Feeling beautiful won't win a fight." I pointed out.
"I hardly think I'll fight anyone here, unless it's you," she snapped, temper rising. "Why can't I wear impractical garments every now and then?"
It occurred to me then that she had done this to impress me, and that she desperately wanted my approval. But once I started, I couldn't stop.
"Suit yourself," I shrugged, ignoring the others who were slowly leaving. "I supposed you'll want earbobs next, and bracelets and other frippery. What comes then? A noble-born husband and court intrigues?"
"I'm female. Why can't I wear a dress without you deciding I want to give up everything I am?" she was hurt, I could tell, but I ignored that too.
"Maybe you realize now that a knight-errant's life isn't as glorious as you expected. Maybe this is the Lady Alanna you mean to show to your Prince when you go home."
As she stormed out of the room, I knew I had gone too far. But lately I had thought of her as my equal, and she had acted the part, never putting herself above me. And now how could she throw our inequalities in my face? She was a noble, a lady, and I – Shang or not - I was nothing better than the son of a farmer. Even if we ignored my fear of magic and the way we argued over every little detail, our relationship couldn't continue once we returned to Tortall. We were born to two different lives.
And I, idiot that I was, had forgotten all of that.
Or perhaps I had forced myself to overlook the fact that she was noble born. After all, I had long distrusted and hated the nobility. Rich and powerful, they would use anyone and anything to get more money and power. Including the peasants, who they lorded over and treated no better than dirt. And good people, like my family, would die because of nobles' folly and greed.
But Alanna wasn't like that. She had treated commoner and noble alike on this journey and always had, if her relationship with Coram was anything to go by. Besides, she was hardly the typical noble lady – she was, after all, a knight. Wearing a dress and looking like a lady wasn't going to change that.
Realizing I had to apologize, I trudged up the stairs to our room. I heard her voice and Thayet's, so I softly knocked on the door before entering.
"I was just leaving." Thayet said, moving towards the door. By eyes focused on Alanna. From her red and blotchy face I could tell she'd been crying.
"You shouldn't've taken the dress off. You look very pretty in it." I mumbled, my eyes on the floor. "I guess we get used to seeing a person a certain way."
Alanna motioned for me to sit beside her on the bed. "I like dresses. If you come with us to Tortall, you'll see me wearing more of them. Just because I'm a knight doesn't mean I don't like pretty clothes. I'm not ashamed of being female, Liam."
And while you're dressing like a lady, associating with the nobility and flirting with your Prince, where will I be? I thought, but didn't say. Perhaps I was just bitter that she was born for a better life than I – though both of us had had to work hard to achieve what we wanted from that life. There was no reason to take out my anger with one noble on the rest of his social class.
"I didn't think you were." I brushed her hair back gently. "I never forget you're a woman, Lioness." I kissed her then, willing us both to forget about all the issues between us, about Chitral and the Dominion Jewel, about our future, about everything.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
We spent the next few days at the inn, as the snow continued to pile up around us, and we all become increasingly edgy and worried. It seemed a shame to come all this way and then have to admit defeat without really trying, but I couldn't think of another option. And knowing Alanna's hatred of the snow, I figured she was ready to give up to.
However, I was wrong. Two days after we had arrived, I was talking to the innkeeper about the weather, and he mentioned that Alanna had been asking about snow gear.
"Thinkin' 'bout leavin' us, are ye?" he joked. "Ye won't get too far in this weather!"
I nodded icily and stormed out of the room, marching upstairs to confront her. It amazed me that she would be so reckless and stubborn to even think such a thing. When I entered our room, she was peering through a crack in the shuttered window. She turned around and smiled hopefully. "I think the storm's dropping."
"Don't even think of it," I warned angrily. "And don't make your eyes wide and ask what I'm talking about," I continued, as she did just that. "I'm not Coram, and your tricks don't work with me."
"Maybe Coram lets my tricks work and I don't know what you're talking about." She snapped
"Then why'd the innkeeper tell me you were asking about snow gear?" I cried. "Do you think you're immortal? That's a killer blizzard out there! Maybe that Gift of yours could shelter you from the little blows in Tortall, but this is the Roof of the World, and you will die. I'd never attempt it, and I forbid you to do so."
I realized later that it was a mistake to order her in that fashion. I too refuse to take orders from others, and she would have taken my command as that of a man trying to control a woman. I had only said it because I was angry, and I was only angry because I was worried about her, but she clearly didn't see it that way.
"You don't know what I can do, Ironarm." Her voice was as cold as the icicles hanging from the roof. "I resent your acting as if I'd do something stupid if you weren't around."
"And wouldn't you do something stupid? Sometimes you have no more sense than the kitten I named you!"
She glowered at me, before storming out. I knew that, yet again, I had gone too far with her. But were both so stubborn and easily angered that these frequent arguments were so easily created, and then pride prevented us from mending them. I knew there was no way to work this out, and I realized that she knew it too when I found her in bed that night, her face tear-streaked.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When I woke the next morning and found Alanna already gone, my first thought was of the quarrel last night and that perhaps we could put things right today.
My second thought was that I could feel the magic in the room. That familiar tingling sensation crept up my spine, causing me to shake as I looked around the room. Now that I was looking for it, I could see it everywhere, a white shimmering glow, and slowly my eyes began to shut again. Fighting the temptation to go back to sleep, I forced myself to sit up and glance around the room. Someone was trying to keep me asleep, but I could see no one in the room.
Ready to fight, I stood up – and then I saw my opponent.
Faithful lay on the end of the bed, magic flowing out of him. I shouted, throwing a pillow at the cat. When that did nothing, I picked up a boot, and hurled it in his direction. Faithful jumped, meowing angrily.
"What do you think you're doing?" I cried, fury and fear overwhelming me. The cat purred, and the magic began to fade away.
It was necessary to keep you asleep, the cat snapped. Otherwise you might have woken before Alanna could get away -.
"What!" I screamed, "You let her go? How could you? She's going to die out there!" I continued ranting in this vein for awhile, the reality not really hitting me. How could she sneak off like that, regardless of all that I had said and everything that could happen? I had never supposed her to be that irresponsibly foolish.
I had never thought she would use magic me either.
I couldn't decide what hurt more – that she had ignored my warning and left, or that she had used my greatest fear against me.
Meanwhile, Faithful simply sat there, watching me as if he was angry I had woken him. Furious with Alanna, and willing to take it out on the smug cat, I threw another boot at him. This time he took the hint and ran.
Sinking down onto the bed, I buried my face in my hands. I couldn't go after her, because I had no idea where she had gone and I knew I couldn't catch up to her and bring her back. No, she was in this by herself and I would just have to pray she would regain her senses and return before it was too late.
And I had to break the news to Coram, Thayet and Buri.
But once I went outside, I realized the blizzard had stopped. It was just before dawn, and the air was still and silent.
And the walls began to shake, and the ground beneath my feet shifted. An earthquake? I heard shouts, as other guests ran out of their rooms, and the innkeeper and servants began to rush around. I hung on the wall and watched the panic, as some people prepared to run to the temple for safety.
And then it was over, as quickly as it had started.
Later I learned, from the Doi tribesmen who had gone out to see what had happened, that the pass had cleared. Right then all I had thought about was Alanna. I rushed into Thayet's room, where Coram and Buri already were. One look at my face, and they didn't need any explaining to know what had happened.
The next few hours were the longest I have ever suffered through. Unable to go out and search and terrified that she could be dead; the four of us could do nothing but wait. Had she even reached Chitral? Had the battle of strength, wits, and magic that would undoubtedly ensue killed her? Or had she died in the earthquake? And why had the blizzard ended so suddenly?
After what seemed like years, the Doi returned to the inn, an unconscious Alanna slung over their pony and the Dominion Jewel clasped firmly in her hand.