Chapter Nine; Disguises.
And…. Here it is; my brand spanking new chapter where she meets Alex for the first time.
Alanna was true to her word. She showed up when Jon least expected it. He was sitting in Gary's room with the other knights, talking about the latest Lady at court who had her eye in winning the handsome Prince, when the door opened, and a serving girl entered to clean the grate. They didn't pay much attention to her, except to lower their voices as their topic of conversation changed to Alanna's whereabouts. Three weeks had passed since any of them had seen her. Alexander of Tirragen, the last of their group had never met her, but was intensely curious about Alanna, after hearing all their tales of her.
"I wonder why she hasn't come to see us. We usually see her about once a week."
The girl finished clearing out the coals and stood up straight. She spoke softly.
"May be she was busy." As she turned around to face the men looking at her quizzically, she pulled her blond hair from her head, revealing coppery locks beneath. "You were worried about me? How sweet."
"Alanna!" The knights jumped to their feet.
"How did you get in here?" Alex said, hand on the hilt of his sword, wary of this girl who entered men's rooms without permission and in disguise.
She pointed, deliberately misunderstanding him,
"Through the door."
"How often do you do this?" Raoul asked.
"Quite often, it's a good way of finding out what's going on in the Palace, to see if My Lord Provost has found anything out he shouldn't have. And to keep an eye on you." She smiled crookedly, "How are you anyway? What have you been up to recently?"
"Not much," Gary replied, "The usual training. You?"
"George said you were out of Corus for a while." Jon explained.
"I was at a funeral." Alanna's voice and face were totally devoid of all expression.
"Whose?" Alex wanted to know, "Your father?"
A sudden flare of anger flashed though her eyes before she spoke flatly once more,
"I don't have a father."
"Don't be silly." The dark knight spoke cuttingly, "Everyone has a father."
"I don't." Her voice was harsh. As Gary took a step towards her, inadvertently blocking the doorway her eyes flickered around the room like a caged animal, finally they alighted upon the window behind Jon. She placed a hand swiftly on the sill and jumped out. The knights all rushed to the window and watched her flee across the palace gardens, then mount a brown horse Stephan held for her.
"Wow." Alex breathed. "She's touchy isn't she?"
"I don't know." Jon said, "I think it might be something more than that."
I know it was kind of short, but I have the next chapter half typed so you should get that soon.
Thanks again to all my reviewers.
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