DISLAIMER: I don't own Tamora Pierce, but I do own TP....see? (Shows toilet paper roll) I also own all the original characters!
alianne of conte: Well, we will have to see! Yes, Roger is in this one!
Aly Spy: I agree wholeheartedly.
MistyFox14: Thankie very much!
warrior of tortall: Yeah, I made it so Thom would be happy. Maybe a little too soon for
her to fall in love.
NN: Okay, I will.
DestinyHunter: Yeah! Maybe Thom wont be as lonely.
Alanna cringed at the amount of homework she had. Raoul laughed and told her to 'have fun.' He wasn't quick enough, though, to avoid the blow directed at his shoulder.
"Ow!" Raoul whined dramatically as he left the library. Thom just shook his head and continued with his homework. Gary had arrived with him, but left early so that he could get some sleep.
"So far my plan has worked." Alanna said quietly as she finished her math problem. Thom looked up and scanned the library; no one seemed to be there.
"I agree. I am glad you came. I would have hated life." Thom said as he closed his history book. Sir Myles, Thom and Alanna's favorite teacher, had assigned a small summary of some forgotten battle.
"I am glad I came too. At least I will be able to help you along with the sword. Today's practice was dreadful!" Alanna said. Thom cringed at the memory. He had ended up hitting himself on the head with the wooden practice sword.
"Hey, don't make me mention your answer in etiquette." Alanna groaned at her answer to the question how a duke should be greeted. "I think it was something like, 'I don't know, why don't you do it?'" Thom chuckled.
"I am so glad you found that funny." Alanna rose from the table and grimaced. Her legs tingled and her back was stiff. "How long have we been here?"
"At least five bells after evening meal." Thom said rubbing his numb buttocks. He picked up his books and they walked back to their rooms.
"My Lord gave me the morning off tomorrow. I am going to the market, is there anything I can get for you?" Alanna asked as she opened her door.
"Yeah, I would like some parchment to write down my ideas for new spells." Thom said as he too opened his own door. "Whom are you going with?"
"Francis of Nond, Sara said it would be nice if I got to know him. I guess she told him about me, but as a boy instead. She confused me when she said that, but oh well." Thom chuckled as he disappeared into his room.
Early the next morning saw Alanna and Francis walking into the market place. Alanna looked wide-eyed at the booths and stalls as Francis rolled his eyes and dragged her from store to store. It was nearly midday when Alanna was looking at Raven Armory swords.
"They are the most expensive swords ever created." Francis said as he whistled at the price of a small dagger.
"That they be." Alanna spun around to look at the same boy who had talked to her the first day she had arrived. Getting a better look at him, she decided she liked him. He had dark hair and twinkling green eyes. He had a small gold earbob in his ear.
"Well, hello Page Alan. It is good to see you again." The boy said, thrusting his hands into his pockets. He grinned at Francis who had raised his eyebrows in question.
"Hello." Alanna said smiling. She looked at Francis and just shook her head.
"Would you two like to have midday meal with me?" He asked.
"We would love to!" Alanna followed as he turned to leave. Francis followed confused. They went two blocks and entered an Inn called the Dancing Dove.
"Hello Majesty." A man said from behind a counter. Alanna raised her eyebrows but didn't say anything.
"Hello Marek. Three for a meal." They were led to a long round table near the fireplace. Alanna studied their friend more closely, but before she could get anymore thoughts in Fancis spoke up.
"Who are you?"
"My name is George Copper, you are Francis of Nond, and this is Alan of Trebond." Alanna looked at this George again. She was about to respond but Francis beat her to it.
"Why is it that you know about us?" Francis was leaning back in his chair, clearly at ease, but his eyes spoke differently.
"Well, I wouldn't even have thought about you if you weren't with the boy here. I have met him before and thought I would make amends of my comments at the time." Alanna raised her eyebrows. George just smiled and began eating his food. Half way through the meal Alanna spoke.
"You are a thief." George grinned and held up his hands in admission.
"I am a thief. But never fear, you and your friend will always be safe from my people. You still have your purses, or at least should."
When Francis was done checking he nodded and looked at George. "You're not just a thief, but the leader, aren't you." It wasn't a question. George chuckled.
"Yes, I am. And what is it exactly that you are going to do about it?" George said drinking from his cup.
"Nothing, I am going to come down here again, for I like you. Friends?" Francis held out his hand and George took it. He then looked at Alanna.
"And what about you?"
"I think it's time we returned to the palace." Alanna said standing up. "Don't worry about me, I wont say a thing to the Lord Provost."
"It is few who can sit and listen without saying a word." George said leading them to the door.
"Alan never really talks, he keeps quiet. Thom, on the other hand." Francis rolled his eyes. He had gotten a speech from him when he had mentioned a spell in a book.
George watched as the two boys made their way back through the street. His mind was on a certain redhead.
"Alanna where are we going?" Thom asked as he followed his twin through the dark halls. They were wearing their darkest clothing they had. Alanna was sneaking them through the halls and Thom couldn't see where they were going.
"You will see. Now shut up before we get caught." Alanna hissed as they finally came to a room. The door was unlocked and she disappeared inside. Thom shook his head and followed. It was dark and Thom closed the door. He heard a small sound and then a light flared. Alanna had lit a candle shedding light in the room.
"Where-"But Thom cut himself off as he looked around. They were in the library. Alanna led him to the back and to another door. She took out a few metal strips and started to pick the lock. Thom looked dubiously at his twin.
"Where did you learn how to do that?"
"Shh. I need you to help with the wards." Alanna said. Thom muttered a few words he had learned on his free time in the library. The door swung open to reveal another room. There were rows and rows of books.
"Alanna, why are we here?" Thom persisted. Alanna just smiled and took down a book from the shelf. She handed it to Thom. When he looked at the title he gasped.
"See, I knew you would like to be here. They didn't think anyone would want to come here since Mages have long since been ignored." They were in the old mage library and Thom was looking at the title of a book which taught wards and shields.
"Alanna, I will never doubt you ever again. This is the best present ever!" Thom hugged his sister as she squirmed in his grasp.
"If you are going to act like his, then maybe I should have just not brought you here." She looked around the room. "Since no one ever comes here I think it would be alright for you to take some books from here. When you want to return, I will teach you how to pick locks."
"Where did you learn how to do that?" Thom asked as he leafed through the book.
"That is a secret saved for a free afternoon."
Thom spent the next few weeks sneaking into the library as Alanna did some of his history homework. She knew that Thom had wanted to become a Mage, but this was going to be the next best thing. She also showed him a gate in which he could leave the palace to practice his spells. Silently Alanna thanked the King of Thieves and her short visits to the palace.
Since the time that Alanna and Thom arrived at the palace, they had been watched by a certain boy. Ralon of Malven never forgets when he made a fool of. It was the week after her visit to the library with Thom that he struck his first blow. Alanna was taking care of her horse when Ralon entered the stables.
"Take care of my things." Ralon said as he threw his gear at her to clean and left. She looked at the saddle and decided she wasn't going to do anything about it. She continued to brush her horse when another voice spoke.
"Are ye goin' ter take care of it?" Stefan the holster, George's man she learned earlier, asked her. She looked at him.
"No, why should I?"
"Well, I have ter turn 'im in then. He won't like it." Stefan said scratching the back of his head. He head straw in his hair.
"Well, that's his problem, now isn't it?" Alanna finished and left the stables. The blow out of her decision was heard about all over the palace. Ralon got extra chores in the stables for a month for not taking care of his gear. Alanna and Thom joined the older pages in the prince's room as they discussed the event.
"It looks as if he tried to make a little guy take care of it." Gary said as he looked at the prince. Alanna looked at her shoes, Thom had grown a whole head taller than Alanna so now that their friends could tell them apart.
"I'd like to see him mess with our Alan." Raoul said as he slung his arm around his charge. Alanna kept her head down and the prince didn't miss the flush in her cheeks. When everyone got up to leave, only Alanna and Thom were allowed to go. The prince held back his friends.
"I think that Ralon is picking on Alan." He said simply. Francis nodded his head as Raoul looked angry. "We can't do anything now though."
The prince got his proof soon. Alanna was in the library when Ralon struck. He had been watching her through out the day to see when her friends wouldn't be around.
"You snitched you little brat!" Ralon beat Alanna to a pulp. She could barely walk when she was summoned to Duke Gareth's office. When he saw her he cringed inwardly.
"Who did you fight with?"
"Sir? I fell down." Alanna said. She had gotten used to this excuse; she had been in the office for other small fights.
"Well, I guess I will not get anything out of you. You get three bells' time on Sunday in the armory. Next time, hit low." Alanna bowed as she was dismissed. Nothing happened between the two until after midwinter. Alanna had been learning little things from Coram and was just getting used to it when she was called upon to serve Sir Myles at the last midwinter meal. She was serving him his meal when Ralon pinched her and she dropped the plate biting off the squeal of pain that was about to erupt.
"Page Alan, would you mind helping me to my room?" Alan looked at Sir Myles questioningly. It was the end of the meal, and he only requested her assistance when he drinks too much. But tonight was different; he hadn't been drinking as much.
When they arrived at his rooms he asked Alanna to enter with him. "Page Ralon is giving you trouble, isn't he?"
"I don't know what you mean sir." Alanna said standing by the door.
"I know it is an honor not to tell, but come on Alan! You are too small. You are going to lose every time." Sir Myles said exasperated. He slumped down into one of his chairs and looked at Alanna.
"Sir, I have no idea what you are talking about." Alanna hated to lie to Sir Myles, but she had to.
"Alan, you can call me Myles. You may go to your dinner. I just hope one day that you can beat him." When Alanna reached the door she turned around.
"I will one day, Myles." Alanna ducked out of the room and went to dinner. The words from Myles gave her an idea. She was going to need to see George soon, but she didn't know when she was going to have the time.
Ralon made the decision for her. Alanna was walking around the palace grounds when she was hit from behind. She fell and looked up to see Ralon. She stood and quickly kneed him between the legs. He fell in pain. Alanna looked around and no one was in sight. They were on the outskirts of the grounds near the royal forest.
"Come on Ralon. Give my your best shot!" Ralon stood and went at Alanna.
Please review!! I finally updated. Sorry it took so long. I had a little of writers block. I hope you like this chapter. I am staying in with the main events until the sweating sickness, so, please forgive me!