Chapter four; The Dancing Dove

Okay, here it is, thanks to all my faithful reviewers who have given me great points, this is for you.

Jonathon reached the Dove swiftly and without any further confrontations. He had only just stepped inside the worn wooden door when he heard the mysterious girl's voice again.

"Ten. Four Rogue. The rest are all dead. Selket's men then?"

"Aye." A deep man's voice answered her.

"Did Janome return here?"

"Nay. And that'll be the last we seem of him I warrant." Jon froze in the doorway as he listened to this exchange. So George knew her then, and they were on good times too, she had spoken to him as an equal, not in the undertones of a servant and not with the respect of the thieves.

He slipped in through the inner door, catching sight of her some two metres away from him. She took her cloak off, revealing herself to his sight. He looked her over thoughtfully; she was clad in a moss green dress that emphasised her hair, which brushed her shoulder blades. Confidently, as if she owned the place she walked to a table in the corner. Whenever Jon had come to the Dove and any female had walked across the floor the men usually tried to touch her or pull her onto their laps, in return receiving a good natured slap from the women. No one touched this girl as she wove her way through the tables.

"You need to take better care of your Prince my Lords." Her tone was semi mocking, but half earnest as she addressed the occupants of the far table. "He almost died tonight. He would have if I hadn't shown up." Jonathon stepped out of hiding into the open as George walked over to the table and sat heavily down. At a gesture from George, the girl began handing over weapons. By the time Jon had walked halfway across the room, four daggers, two throwing stars and a bow were piled on the table. A familiar voice then spoke,

"Mithros! I swear I will never know how you hide all that in your cloak and dress."

"It's an art." She spoke jokingly as she answered Raoul.

"I'll say." Gary commented, raising an eyebrow, "You're late Jon." The girl spun to see Jon standing right behind her. "Jon, this is Lady Alanna, Alanna, Prince Jonathon of Conté." A hard look flickered through her eyes as Gary spoke,

"Highness." He bowed slightly as she curtsied,

"Lady Alanna."

"I'm no noble your highness, just Alanna will be fine." Gary let out a grunt of pain as her foot connected with his. "Sir Gareth knows I loathe that."

Before Jonathon could reply, Rispah, George's cousin came from the kitchen.

"Alanna! Got a sec? We need another pair of hands. Change first though." Alanna nodded,

"Give me a minute." She turned back to the young knights. "I was with Eleni. She insists I get dressed up 'like a lady'." With a roll of her eyes she hitched up her skirts and ran up a narrow stairway.

Jon turned to George,

"You have a daughter?"

"Nay. She's adopted sort of."

"Oh?"

"She'll tell yeh if she wants yeh to know." George said in a tone that told Jon not to press any further.

"And she wont for some time yet." Raoul remarked, "She's secretive."

"I heard that!" Alanna came back down the stairs, she had changed from the pretty green dress, into a simple low blouse and skirt that the barmaids wore. To George, but partially to Jon she said, "Solom's sent some men to clear up. Selket'll get a warning." She turned back to the table

"Anyway. What do you all want? Lemonade? Or ale?" She took their orders and went off to the bar, returning with four full tankards. Rispah popped her head into the main room and yelled for Alanna again. With a nod the girl hurried away.

"What do you think of her?" Gary wanted to know.

"She's…nice I guess. A little surprising."

"Yeah." Raoul nodded, "She is that. But you haven't seen anything yet." Jon sat in the last chair grouped around the table,

"Have I met her before? I know I've seen her in the great market, she was the one who stole my purse."

"I gave it back" George protested, "She knew who you were all the time- thought it'd be a challenge for her."

"No much of one." Raoul clapped him on the shoulder, "She took it really quickly, while he was still trying to figure out who she was."

George nodded gravely,

"She's quick. She's met you before though, although you don't remember it." Jon looked to his companions for explanation. Gary sighed and began to explain,

"You remember when you took sick with the Sweating Sickness eight months back?"

Well, there it is, now in repayment for giving me achy fingers and a sore back, review me!!!!