Title: Best Warrior
Author: Heiress
Rating: PG
Pairings: Not yet decided
Story Summary: Everyone knows how Alanna's secret was revealed through that one stroke in the duel with Duke Roger. Well what if that stroke had been completed in another battle, at another time?
Chapter Summary: Another section from our mystery point-of-view (although you should be figuring it out, the big Alanna and Jonathon fight, and a discussion with Sir Myles.
Disclaimer: This all belongs to Tamora Pierce. I own little of the plot at this point, just embellishing on what was already there, I do however, hold full credit for the different points of view at the beginning.
Suggestions for further plot developments are welcome and much appreciated. Flames will be doused with my muses' tears.
Responses: Thanks to everyone that reviewed, I'm glad that you like. I am not sure if there will be marshmallow level fluff but I think there will be romance later in this story, I'm going to have to consult with the characters about that.
Chapter the Fifth
I had to admit it, the woman knew how to do her job. She had the three knights wrapped completely around her dainty little fingers and with a flick of her wrist she could have had then all kneeling on the floor, begging for her mercy. And, eventually, she wood, but it wasn't time for that yet.
Yes, his three old friends were firmly controlled. However, there was the matter of young Alan of Trebond. How did that slip of a boy avoid the Duke's spell? His grace had mentioned that the boy had powerful shields but the spell had been designed to make any unmarried man lust for her unless they had specific wards against this exact spell. And that just couldn't be. I had found this enchantment myself in a crumbling book in the archives.
Was Alan a boy-lover? It would explain his lack of interest in, not only Delia, but also any of the other women who had crossed his path.
"...but nothing that a little practice won't cure." Delia's vo;ice roused me out of my contemplative stupor.
She was practically on top of the poor boy, and I felt a moment's pity for what we were putting Alan through as he glanced at Delia in shock, then at his friends. Their expressions were what I had expected; jealousy, anger, confusion over a friend's betrayal. Alan was the very picture of helplessness. Before, that is, he turned to Delia with an expression of utmost fury.
"You!" he hissed, so quietly that I inched forward from my pillar to hear. "This is all your doing." His voice was pitched to low for it to carry to the knights at the far doorway. The Trebond boy's left hand twitched and for a moment I thought that he might actually strike Delia. Mithros, I hoped so. She must have thought the same thing because of the sudden tenseness of her neck as she took a step backwards. But the boy controlled the impulse, just as his knight-master called him to order.
"Alan!" the prince was openly, rashly, furious. Gone was the quiet, authoritative anger that befitted a Prince of the Blood. Jonathon was acting far below his station and didn't care who saw it.
He made a jerk of his head and then turned on his heel, knowing that his squire would follow him. Delia tried to hold the boy in place by whispering things in his ear, but he shook her off with a disgusted look. Gary and Raoul stepped out of his way, slightly appeased by his attitude towards the Eldorne girl but not about to interfere with the prince.
Both satisfied and disappointed that Delia had done her job, I snuck out of one of the doorways and headed off in the opposite direction that the prince and his squire had taken.
~*~*~
Jonathon slammed the door behind him. "What in the name of Mithros did you think that you were doing!"
"I was doing? I wasn't doing anything! Except trying to get away!"
"How dare you manipulate Lady Delia like that!" Jonathon roared, hands trembling in rage.
Alanna's jaw dropped. He thought that she had been manipulating Delia? She could barely keep people from discovering her secret, let alone manipulate people she didn't even like! She paused for a moment, observing the prince as he ranted. Something was not right here. This was Jonathon. Mr. Let's-solve-our-problems-by-talking. And she was getting the idea that this was probably not the best time to announce that she distrusted and possibly even hated Lady Delia of Eldorne in addition to thinking that the girl was nothing more than a well-bred courtesan.
"...and what would people start saying about her honor if they saw you trying to skulk off with her!"
:This has gone too far: Alanna thought. "First off Jon, I don't even like her as a person and I was trying to get away from, not skulk off with, her. Second, hello girl! I'm not interested in anything male or female, besides my shield and I'm not much of a threat to her honor in that way. Third and finally, what honor?
"I do know that the two of you are sleeping together, I sleep just next door, and if that's not enough, she's sleeping with half of the other men at court too!" She debated mentioning that Gary and Raoul were both members of that half, but decided against it. She didn't need to ruin their friendships as well."
Jonathon's face went stark white before rapidly changing to an apoplectic red. "Don't you dare slander her name again Alanna of Trebond!" Jonathon shouted. "You're only using her so everyone will continue to believe that you're a boy and if you do so again I swear that I will tell everyone!" The prince glared at her for a few more seconds, his eyes near glowing with rage before turning on his heel and stomping into the hallway.
:Well, that was interesting.: came a purr from under the desk.
"That's one word for it," the girl retorted. "What in the seven hells is wrong with him?
:He's infatuated with the girl, not that she's trying to dissuade him. He's also the Crown Prince, the third most important person in the realm. You hurt his feelings.:
"Well, he can get over it, but that isn't what I was talking about. I didn't even touch Delia except by accident and was plainly trying to get rid of her. She was obviously trying to jump me! So why am I being yelled at about damaging her honor? It was almost like she was trying to get us into a fight."
: That is interesting. In the meantime, I suggest that you avoid her as much as possible, and for the next few days, Jonathon as well.:
"Raoul and Gary aren't that mad, just confused. I can probably talk to them tomorrow."
:Yes, talk to them before she does, else you might find that you attacked Lady Delia in the brush this afternoon. Also, you might want to leave now considering Lady Eldorne and a friend are walking towards this hallway as we speak.:
"After you," she said, waving the cat towards the door.
A few moments later they were walking briskly down the corridors. Rather, Alanna was walking and Faithful washed his paw and looked on from his position on the girl's left shoulder.
:Where are we going?: the cat asked.
"Sir Mules, he might be able to give me some advice about this whole affair."
:Good, he gives me cheese, are you going to give him the full or condensed version of events?:
"A; eat much more cheese and I won't be able to carry you. B; it full means including the fact that I'm a girl and have been lying to him for the last five years, we are definitely going with the condensed version."
:I don't think that he would reject you for it.:
"Thinking doesn't count. Unless I am absolutely one hundred percent sure, he learns nothing."
A shadow, ghosting past them unnoticed, paused for a moment, wondering. Who shouldn't learn what? And why was this little boy wandering around talking to himself. He started to go after him. Suddenly, the black shadow by the boy's left ear turned, a nightmare of flashing violet eyes and sterling teeth bared in a silent hiss. The man stumbled backwards, hastily drawing the mark of the Gods across his chest. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea.
~*~*~
"I'm afraid I can't help you Alan," seaid Sir Myles, slowly shaking his shaggy head. "This is just something that you and Jonathon will have to work out on your own."
"I know, just wishful thinking I suppose. Do you have any advice about Raoul and Gary? I haven't been spending much tie with them since she showed up and I don't think that they are anywhere near as mad at me as Jonathon is."
"I think that very few people are as mad at you as Jon is," answered Sir Myles with a hint of a grin. "But you're probably right. Just spend some time with them and explain what really happened.
"Yes," Myles continued, absently stroking his beard eyes sharp as hawks focused completely on her. "You need to explain exactly why you are not a threat to their pursuit of her." Because he was watching her so intently, he saw her jump, then squirm, with a faintly guilty look on her face. There is something there, he thought, I'm sure of it.
From the floor, Alan's cat glanced up at the man, and then went back to licking his claws. "You know Alan, if there's anything that you need to tell me."
"I think that I should go back to my rooms about now, Jon'll be gone and he won't bother me if he thinks I'm asleep." The agitated squire quickly stood up and walked to the door, cat following at his heels. Opening the door, he turned back. "Thanks, Myles," and walked out. Just behind the flame haired youth, the black cat paused, turned toward the aging knight, and slowly winked one brilliant amythest eye before following the young squire out the door.
And that is it for today, or this week, or however long it takes me to update.
In case no one has noticed by my incredible lack of updates, I have been hitting a major writer's block and would appreciate any suggestions made. I would even appreciate being told things that are odd so that I can incorporate or change them throughout the story.
Next Chapter: Apologizing to Raoul and Gary, a brief run-in with Duke Roger, and thinking about apologizing to Jon.
The scene from which this story takes its name is going to take place in chapter eight, maybe nine.
Toodles,
Heiress