DISCLAIMER: So, I don't own anything by Tamora Pierce and I only wish I could! So, anything that comes out of my genius (yeah, genius...yeah right!) is mine and only mine...though I guess one of the other voices in my head would rather claim it!

Sorry about taking so long! I went out of town for four days, sorry!

DrStrangelove007: Both!!!

parcheezie: Okay! But Jon will fall in love, but not Alanna...muahaha!

Sly vixen: I won't make it like the others, promise!

enchantednight84: Just wait and see!

devilz child: Well, she gets married rather soon.

Now, on to the show!

Alanna ran a hand through her cropped hair with triumph. They were riding steadily to Corus and towards her destiny, at least she was hoping it was. What if I am caught? What if Coram sends me packing? I guess I could threaten to make him see things and spell his belongings. She giggled and looked back at the carriage that now followed her. Sara was looking out the window at the scenery. She had asked if Alanna had wanted to accompany her, but she had refused saying that she would have to play the part of a boy as soon as she could. Sara had understood and resigned herself to sit with Maude.

Maude had come along to make sure that they made it safely to where Coram would be waiting. She was to assist in getting the old master-at-arms to agree to the plan. She sat anxiously upon Chubby, who picked up her mood and danced under her rider.

After another few hours of riding, they came upon a hill and Alanna stopped short. The guard who rode next to her saw her expression and grinned. He clapped her on the shoulder and gestured toward the city which was now in view.

"I say, ye have never been to the capitol?" The soldier's words brought her out of her reverie. She looked at the man. He was a guard from Nond, escorting Sara and 'Alan' to the palace. They had never really looked close at her on the journey to Trebond, for that she was very thankful. It would not do for someone to realize what had happened. Sara had done some quick explanations about 'Alan' and they accepted it. They seemed glad to have her there, not just another woman.

"No, I have never. I have stayed at Trebond and-"Alanna held her tongue, she had been about to mention the convent.

"Well, ye not worry. I heard that this week them pages are bein' accepted in all. You aren't late. I'd done and heard that you thought you was goin' to be." He signaled for them to keep moving. Alanna thought about Coram and Thom. If they had been at least two weeks early, what had they done during the time? She slowed Chubby down and rode next to the open window next to Maude.

"Maude. I just heard that this is the first week for the new pages. That means Thom and Coram have been here for two weeks." Maude looked at her deep in thought.

"Coram would have found an Inn to stay at. He wouldn't want them to really see Thom until they have to." Maude snorted and Alanna also had to smile. Her brother was the worst at anything knight related, except maybe the book work of it.

"I agree. I will keep a look out for a respectable Inn when we reach town." With that she kneed Chubby back next to the guard she had spoken too earlier.

The thief smiled as he saw the boy with red hair complaining to an old man who looked as if he would rather be melting into his surroundings.

"But Coram! What am I to do? I don't like it one bit. Why do I have to practice? I mean, I haven't even gotten to training!" The boy had screamed indignantly in the courtyard behind an Inn. The Inn was right next to another, though there wasn't respectable company inside. The Dancing Dove was the thief's domain. He could hear every word the boy had said for the last two weeks. He had kept his eyes on the boy, something about him drew him in, and yet he didn't want to.

Coram, the old man, growled and tossed the wooden sword at the boy. "Thom, you will do as your told boy! My Lord, it is important that you do practice." The thief smiled at the man's tense words.

"George! There be new ones next door." These words said, George Cooper, the King of Thieves, knew that there was something about the new arrivals that his men wanted him to see. When he saw the carriage he just shrugged, but it was the rider in the front of the group which caused him to raise his eyebrows. The resemblance was all to clear to who he was related to.

Alanna laughed whole heartedly at Coram, whose eyes seemed to bulge. She quickly mastered herself and slipped from the horse. It was the third Inn they had tried and she was glad they had. Her rump was getting sore from riding in the saddle for such a long time. Though she was adept at riding, it was the long periods she wasn't used to.

"Oh Coram, I have brought Alan to court. His bout of the cold healed quite quickly." Maude and sidled up to Coram and pulled him away from the others. Alanna smiled at Thom as he looked happy and relieved to see her.

"So, Alan?" Thom looked at her quizzically and then his expression was caught by the woman exiting the carriage. He looked at her again, confused.

"May I introduce Lady Sara of Nond? She has been such a good friend to me that father allowed me to ride with her, rather than our own contingent of guards." Alanna's tone was one that told him not to say a word. He had learned quickly her tones and mannerisms so that he would stave off her sharp tongue.

Sara smiled at Thom. She had heard a lot about him from Alanna. "I am glad to meet you Thom. Alan has told me a lot about you." Mischief twinkled in her eyes and it shocked a laugh out of Thom.

"Well, I shall be glad to hear about you then and about your run-ins with my dear brother." Thom led her into the Inn and left Alanna standing alone in the courtyard. Her things had already been taken into the Inn and Chubby taken care of. She looked at the discarded practice swords and smiled. She was picking them up when she saw Coram shaking his head and coming to her from one of the back doors.

"So Alan, are ye up to practice?" Alanna knew that he needed to channel his thoughts into something other the current situation.

"I am indeed Coram." Alanna assumed the 'Guard' position and so did Coram. The bout was long and serious. They had trained hard at Trebond, and Alanna knew that her swordsmanship was better than Thom's and that her presence in training would prove that Coram was indeed a good trainer and master-at-arms.

Alanna was vaguely aware of someone watching them, but paid no heed. She was so concentrated on her moves that she didn't notice Coram had changed his swing until too late. She gasped as the wooden sword came down on her collar bone. She dropped her sword but remained upright. She wouldn't let Coram see any weakness, incase he decided about changing his mind. Alanna had come to the conclusion that Coram was going to give her a chance at this.

"La-"Coram began as he dropped his sword. When he saw there was a person watching from next to the fence in the courtyard he clipped the word short. "Alan, are you alrigh'? You havenna let me get a hit on ye for months!"

"Well, that's what you get when he get distracted by your own sword!" She said jovially as she experimentally moved her right should. She winced and knew that the bone was bruised, possibly even cracked. She wasn't going to let it stop her though. "See, nothing but a small bruising."

"You are lyin'. But I know better than ter say differently. I know that sharp tongue of yours and I don't wanna have another headache, I gots one already from Maude." Coram grimaced and rubbed his neck. He looked at the watcher and the man stood straighter and strode over to them.

"Well, that was an interesting show." The young smiled and looked at Alanna. She looked at him and something drew her to him.

"I am glad you thought seeing me injured entertaining." Alanna said huffily as she made to enter the Inn.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean that your injury was cause of my entertainment. It was the swordplay. I was going to offer assistance on that shoulder of yours." Alanna raised her eyebrows at the man and looked at Coram.

"Sorry, but his Lordship has enough attendants to assist him. And I wonder why a thief like ye would want to talk with him." Coram said. The man just grinned and spread his hands in defense.

"What? Me?" Alanna shook her head and went in. The people of Corus were a strange bunch. She took one last look at the young man as Coram walked passed her into the Inn. He winked at her and left. Confused, she just turned and walked cradling her right arm.

After long arguments with Coram and a lot of wine, he finally agreed to take Alanna to the palace along with Thom. He had sworn every oath he had known when Maude had told him about her seeing into the fire and the threats given by Alanna and Thom if he didn't comply. At last when the old master-at-arm fell to sleep Alanna and Thom could be found in the courtyard talking.

"I can't believe I am actually here, and that Coram agreed." Alanna said quietly looking up at the star spotted sky. She and her twin were happy once again, at being together.

"I know. But I am glad you are here. I think I will be able to bear it now. I am glad that you got thrown out of the convent. But how did you get father to agree to this?" Thom was bewildered as she told him her tale of the convent and at home. When she finished he whistled and smiled.

"I have a plan. I heard that the training master will sometime send progress reports to pages' homes. I am going to instruct him to send ours to Maude. She will also send the money I got from father at the same time yours is sent. It will look as if we were actually twin boys." Alanna had thought this plan through as much as she could. She had spent those hours on Chubby's back planning.

"That's sounds like a good plan. I just hope that this is worth it." Thom said quietly as he rose and stretched. He said good night and left her in the courtyard by herself.

I hope that it is worth it too. Alanna thought as she too went to bed.

The next morning found them entering the gates at the palace and handing their reins to the stable hands. Coram groaned a little, no matter how well the hangover remedy Maude made, he still had a little headache. When thinking about it, he knew that it was from nerves, not the previous nights' drinking.

"I've brought Lord Thom and Lord Alan here to see the training master." The servant he spoke to bowed and led them away. The servant directed another to deal with the saddlebags.

A few moments and a dizzyingly march through hallways they found themselves in the office of one Duke Gareth of Naxen, the training master. He was middle aged man whose presence commands respect.

"Welcome you two. And Coram, I do expect you to join in guard duty." Coram beamed at having been singled out. "Alan, Thom, be aware that your stay will not be one of leisure." He dismissed them and a servant outside led them to their rooms. Alanna had gotten the one with a servants' room. She looked at Thom who just shrugged.

"I couldn't stand having Coram in my room anyway." Alanna snorted as Thom disappeared into his room. They had already gotten their clothes, though Alanna almost fainted. She was glad that she didn't have to strip and reveal her secret.

A bell tolled telling them it was time to get to dinner. Alanna, already changed, stepped into the hallway, waiting for her twin. He had always taken a while to change. He often got distracted. It was then that she felt herself pushed against the wall. Many boys in the hall looked their way and stopped.

"So, a country boy. You don't belong with us noble folk. I bet you aren't even a noble." The boy who had pushed her sneered. She could see her brother on the sidelines and shook her head. She didn't want him to get injured.

"What? To good for the likes of us?"

"Leave him be Ralon." Someone called in the crowed of boys.

Alanna looked at her attacker and smiled. "Well, I was told we were to learn manners here. But I guess people were wrong."

Ralon took her collar and shook her. "From now all, whatever I tell you to do. You will do it answering "Yes Lord Ralon."

"I wood rather lick the bottom of my boots after cleaning the stables. Maybe you've been kissing pigs, or being kissed." (Sorry, had to put that in.) Ralon lifted her up and threw her against the wall. Alanna charged Ralon her head hitting him in the stomach. He bounced off the other wall and fell to the floor.

"What is going on?"

The voice had been loud and clear. Ralon had frozen in place as Alanna slowly stood straight. The crowd of boys had made a walkway to them, letting five boys enter the fighting circle.

"Your Highness, this boy was acting as if he were in charge of the palace," Ralon said rising from the floor laying a hand on his sore belly. "And he insulted me like no gentleman should be spoken to-"

"I wasn't speaking to you Ralon of Malven." The dark-haired "Highness" said as he looked around at the boys gathered. "I told you to never speak to me ever again."

"Highness, but-"

"You should shut up, Ralon." Said one of the larger boys in the entourage that had entered. He had curly brown hair and dark black eyes. "An order is an order."

The boy that seemed to be in charge, still looking around, spotted who he was looking for. "Douglas, tell me what happened."

When the boy finished the crowd had started to laugh. Alanna hung her head in shame. Ralon may have acted badly but she hadn't really been much better.

"Ralon, you have been dismissed. I will talk to you later in my rooms." The dark haired boy kept his eyes on Alanna. When Ralon didn't move but glared at Alanna he added icily, "I said go." Ralon ran out of the hall, and Alanna knew that she had made an enemy already.

"So, Fire-Top, lets have a look at you." Alanna blushed but looked up. She looked to bright blue eyes and someone stood behind her. The eyes switched over and widened. Alanna turned as saw her brother standing behind her.

"Two of you?" When neither of them answered one of the other boys spoke to her.

"This is Prince Jonathan." The twins both bowed to the boy and Alanna looked down once again.

"Your Highness, I am sorry about the, the, um, fight." Alanna stammered as she kept her eyes down.

"Don't worry about it, Ralon does this all the time. What are your names?"

"I am Thom of Trebond, and this is my twin brother, Alan." Thom answered knowing that Alanna wasn't going to be able to answer for herself.

"I don't recognize seeing your family at court." The prince commented.

"No, your highness."

"And why not?"

Alanna looked at Thom and he looked perplexed. She spoke up, "Our father doesn't like it."

"Oh, and what about you?"

"I have no idea, your Highness." Alanna stood up straighter and looked around at the four boys with the prince.

"Who is going to sponsor these two boys?" The prince asked hands behind his back. A number of hands rose up and he looked at the volunteers. "Gary, you had better sponsor Thom, Raoul, you have Alan." With that settled he looked at the twins once more. "Your sponsors are to make sure that you don't get lost and to answer any questions you may have." The twins bowed to their new counterparts.

A bell tolled in the distance. "We must be going. Don't get separated from your sponsor." The prince warned as everyone set off. Alanna looked at his retreating back and shook her head.

Raoul laid a hand on her shoulder. "Let's get going, we don't want to be late. By the way, my name is Raoul of Goldenlake."

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