Chapter Twenty Eight; Plans.

There was one day left until they suspected Roger would strike. It was vital that Roger thought he was safe, so Alanna advised the Prince and his companions to act as normal as they could, whilst still keeping an eyes on the Conté Duke.

Alanna was the only one who would be able to leave undetected, and she would leave to collect any information her adoptive father had and plan their strategy for the big night.

So she had left the place in her usual disguise, a dark cloak and a Glamour beneath it. She released the Glamour when she was out of the sight of the palace guardsmen.

Alanna was greeted enthusiastically by those at the Court of the Rogue. They had no idea what their Princess was up to, and truth be told, most did not want to know. They held Alanna in high regard, doting on her like uncles upon a favoured niece, but they respected her as well; she had a firm command and a glare that could freeze a man on the spot. She could be as hard and cold as ice and had dispatched more than one traitor before. Although she loathed torture and found it repulsive, she was not above threatening to use it, and none of the thieves, male or female, doubted that she would make good her threats if pushed.

Alanna nodded and smiled at the unusually crowed in, this was her family as well, she belonged here more than anywhere else. Old Solom came up to her.

"Are you well 'Lanna?"

"I'm fine, just a little tired." She had been up for most of the night, explaining her suspicions to her friends at the palace.

The doorkeeper watched as she walked to the thief king and they mounted the stairs together. He had a wife and children and he would hate for his little girl to look so weary and thin. And world weary, he added, for the Crooked God's sake she was only sixteen she shouldn't have those shadows under her eyes, no, nor in her eyes neither.

Alanna and George entered his rooms, to her joy Rispah and Mistress Cooper were there, sitting at the round table.

"Alanna!" Eleni stood and came to embrace her. When she felt the girl's ribs slightly under her clothes, the lady stepped back,

"You need to eat more." She rebuked. "You aren't taking care of yourself."

Rispah looked Alanna over critically, agreeing with her Aunt, then said firmly,

"I'm getting you some food. And you are not leaving here until you have eaten it all."

Alanna  nodded sheepishly in agreement, she had missed a few too many meals over the last month from excitement or anxiety. She had never been a heavy eater to begin with and now it was beginning to show, both in her body and the fact that she was tired so much more. As they waited for Rispah to return, she recounted the tale of how she had revealed Roger's plans to the young knights, and their reactions, up to when the book had burnt.

George pushed himself back from the table.

"You did rightly lass. An' so the Duke is responsible for her majesty's illness. We didn't see that comin'."

"What worries me is that he could be sticking pins into those dolls right now." She confessed.

"I think our smilin' friend will wait." He reassured her. "He hasn't got this far to rush into things on a suspicion. He'll be patient and wait."

"So what are we going to do?" George's mother asked.

"I hope we can break the Gate before he activates it. Jon might be able to do that; he has the Gift."

"So do you."  Mistress Cooper reminded her. The girl nodded,

"True, but I suspect I'll be busy fighting off the allies Roger has, he'll have men posing as guests there no doubt.

"You'll have to mingle then." George said, accepting the plate from Rispah. who had just entered. Alanna look a bite from the bread on her own plate.

"I thought I'd go as a servant again."

"Nay. Pages and Squire's will be servin'."

"You'll have to go as a guest then." Rispah declared, sitting down heavily. "An' you'll need a dress."

"Oh no, if I go as a lady I'll have to be formally introduced. Otherwise they will definitely suspect an unknown lady, especially when Roger will be on the lookout for a brown haired girl.

"So go as yourself. Goddess knows you've been that little enough recently." Eleni advised, "They wont recognise you."

Alanna began to protest.

"Girl, it's time that you accepted that ye're a noble as much as you are Princess here." George counselled curtly, "You must do it someday."

She sighed,

"How will I get a dress so soon?"

"I know Kuri Tailor works fast. She'll get you fixed up properly. Put on a dress instead of that skirt and We'll go now."

"Let us finish planning first mother." George said.

They conferred for a good half hour, before a quiet knock interrupted them. When the door opened, Master Raquel stepped over the threshold. He was greeted warily, but soon as down next to Eleni, a bit closer than was necessary, Alanna noted, amused. He joined in the planning, adding advice where he could. His associate would be here in time, and could easily get access into the ball with him. They would concentrate on the magical battle instead of the physical one, engaging Roger into a magical duel in a hope to drain his power.

They made many plans in the late morning, stretching into early afternoon, plans for different situations, as they did not know their enemy's strategies.

George said he might be able to persuade some Rogues to help fight the Duke, and he could provide some weapons. All the knights at the ball would have their own swords anyway, and the others at the palace could raid the armoury there and conceal the weapons in the Queen's hall and the banqueting room.

Alanna was to tell the men the plans then they would have to muddle their way through if something unexpected came up, as it was bound to. She had seen Jonathon in action, before he had met her, he was a born leader and his friends easily switched between leaders and followers.

George could explain the situation to Liam if he returned in time, he was currently in Port Caynn, visiting an old acquaintance, half a day's ride away.

At the third bell, the conspirators parted company; they could do no more now. And they all had tasks to do and now they went to fulfil them.

Alanna sighed as she stepped onto the raised dressmaker's platform, dressed only in a breastband and loin cloth. The bronze haired lady, ran a knotted cord around her body as she grimaced and called out the measurements to Eleni Cooper, who was sitting on a stool nearby. The two women chatted happily, they were fellow healers and had been friends for a long time. The girl stood there, stoic and silent, as she pulled on the dress Mistress Cooper had insisted that she wear. Mistress Kuri, pulled a sheaf of designs out of a drawer and pieces of fabric, which she held up to Alanna's face. Eventually they decided on a pale lilac colour, which would look good on her, while not being too showy.

The design of the gown was harder. Alanna was emphatic on a decently high neckline. The healers made several new sketches before deciding on one that suited them all, to a degree, as a compromise.

Then Alanna and Eleni were shooed out the door, so Mistress Tailor could begin her work. She had promised to have the dress ready by noon the next day, and if she was to meet that deadline, she needed to start work immediately.

While Alanna inspected some weapons, the older woman bought several bundles of herbs, she had no doubt that her healing skills would be needed very soon, and she would need to prepare the potions and draughts for the wounded. She left the red head with a hug, telling her to come and prepare for the ball at two o'clock tomorrow.

Alanna wandered around for a little while before making her way back to the Dancing Dove. This whole city, and indeed the country was relying on her and her friends, a although they didn't know it. Her heart was weighed down with that knowledge. She had been shunned by those she was trying to save, and yet... Here she was, risking all she had for them.

Moonlight was already saddled and waiting for her when she arrived back at the inn. George stood beside the golden mare, a hand resting gently on her withers. Wordlessly he gave her a boot up, and watched her carefully as she gathered the reins into her hands.

"Go well Alanna."

She did not respond to his comment, just saying,

"'Till tomorrow then."

"Aye, tomorrow." He slapped Moonlight's hindquarters as her rider urged her into a trot.

When she reached the edge of the city she did not turn up palace way at one, instead she urged Moonlight into a gallop, not caring where she was going. Her hood fell back and the wind created by their speed whipped through her hair and clothes, stretching them out behind her. She rode hard, wishing that she could go fast enough and far enough to leave all her problems and worries behind.  Slowing her faithful steed to a trot, they enter the Royal forest. She laughed at herself, even if she could leave her current set of problems behind her, she would quickly encounter another.

Suddenly a cold, white light flared in front of her, and a volley of angry shouts followed it. She slipped from Moonlight's saddle and crept closer on foot.

A camp had been set up in the trees. Men in Eldorne colours, and others in ones she didn't recognise sat in front of a blazing fire. The man standing before the flames had obviously the cause of the flash of light, he was mage and had just lit the damp wood.

Alanna counted the men, she made it around seven score in total. She double checked and came back to the same total. Around one hundred and fourteen men were sitting a mile and a half from the gates of the palace.

Before she could be discovered, she hurried back to her horse, careful not to stand on any twigs that might crack and give her away. The men had to know about this; they had not expected so many to oppose them.

Now Liam and any members of their court George could persuade to fight with them would be vital.

As soon as they were out from under the trees, Moonlight, with no urging from her rider, ran with all her speed, back to the palace.