Alanna awoke later than night. Her kitten had gone and Alanna was alone. Biting back a yell at the cold air that enveloped her when she stepped out of bed – it was coming up to winter after all – Alanna left her room and went downstairs.
The Dancing Dove was alive with music, talk and games of dice. George sat on his 'throne', watching his court. Alanna made her way over to him, to see her new kitten sitting on his lap. The moment the kitten saw her he jumped off George and ran to Alanna. Settling himself on her shoulder he meowed.
That George Cooper of yours has good taste. He likes cats. You have a good choice in friends.
George, not knowing what was being said about him, reached out to pat the cat.
"What's his name?" he asked.
"Faithful," Alanna replied, without thinking about it. She was startled, where had that come from? She shook her head when she realised George was talking.
"Nice name. So, are you goin' to tell me where you went this morning?"
"I just went for a ride," she answered, as carefree as she could. "Nothing special. Why?" George looked shrewdly at her.
"Yer tellin' me you went for a ride to nowhere special and came back with a talking cat? Why don't you tell me the truth lass?"
"You understand him too?" Alanna questioned. "I thought I was going mad." The thief chuckled.
"I understand when he wishes me t'understand. I've no notion of what he said to you just now."
Sighing, Alanna gave in. "And She gave me Faithful as a parting gift," she finished up. George was looking at her in awe.
"The Mother Goddess came to you?" he asked. He shook his head. "Lass, you're not going to have an easy life," he told her. "As my mother would say: a hard path to walk."
Alanna was uncomfortable. "I don't know why she chose me," she said. "I wish she hadn't really. Maybe I should have gone to the convent after all and learnt to be a lady."
"Page Alan, a lady?" George chuckled again, back to his old self. "Now that I can't see."
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Days passed and Alanna grew used to her new routine. She would rise at dawn like normal and practice wrestling with George for an hour or more. Once she had finished that she would practice drills with Lightening. Page she may not be, but didn't mean she wouldn't have to defend herself from strangers on the road.
As the days turned into weeks Alanna grew uncomfortable. She had had no word from anyone. The King had sent no one looking for her with a writ of arrest. Even her old friends hadn't come down to visit George in the weeks since Alanna had left court.
Instead of comforting Alanna, it only made her worried. Why had she seen nothing from the palace? At last, three weeks after her arrival, a letter came from her father. It was brief.
Alanna,
I am greatly angered at the news Coram brought to me: that he has been serving you as a page instead of your brother. He tells me you swapped places and Thom is now at the City of the Gods. He will be permitted to stay there. You, however, will leave Corus immediately. I have sent word to the Convent and they expect you in fifteen days.
You father, Lord Alan of Trebond
Alanna stared at the paper, swallowing a lump in her throat. So this was what her great plans had come to. It was back to being a lady.
At least Thom is doing what he wants to do, she thought. One of us can be happy at least.
George took the letter from her, read it, and put a big hand on her shoulder.
"I'll accompany you to the convent," he told her. She looked at him, startled.
"But you need to stay here and rule your court," she began.
"They can rule themselves for a while," George replied. "Anyhow, I'd like to see somewhere outside of Corus afore I turn old and grey."
Alanna had to smile. In truth she had been worried about the long journey by herself and it was a relief to know George would be with her.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
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The night before she and George left she sat in her room with Faithful, saying goodbye – or trying to. The cat refused to stay behind.
"The Convent won't let cats in with the girls," she protested over again.
Then we'll find some way around it, The cat replied. You always do.
Alanna was interrupted from telling Faithful firmly that he could not come by George coming in.
"I thought you might want some company," he told her. He glanced at the cat. "Other than Faithful." The cat mewed at him and left the room. Alanna smiled.
"I'm nervous," she confessed. "All those other girls will think I'm stupid for not knowing the basics, or worse, they'll know who I am and hate me." George shook his head.
"A lot of girls want to be warriors when they're young," he remarked. "There's some who'll hate you, there's no denying that, but there are others who'll respect you for following your dreams."
When Alanna looked skeptical George patted her on the shoulder.
"Get some sleep lass," the thief said. "Tomorrow, we ride for the convent."
