A/n: Soooo sorry for the delay, my life's been hectic… Promise we're back on track now!
THE NEXT MORNING
Alanna was sitting on her bed, desperately trying to sort out her intricately styled hair. She had so far succeeded in creating a massive rat's nest. She was on the point of chopping it off when the laughing voices of Cythera and Sandry echoed down the corridor. Grinning with delighted relief, Alanna screeched at them to get in here and 'help her with this crazy mass of snakes.'
Cythera threw up her hands in horror as she came into the room. "Aly!" She wailed. "I spent ages doing that! And don't tell me you slept in it."
"Yup." The Lioness replied cheerfully, still attacking her copper locks. "Are you going to help or not?"
Shaking her head in resignation, Sandry came over with Cythera to gang up on the unruly hair. Despite the constant wails of despair from the two ladylike nobles, eventually Cythera and Sandry sorted it out. Alanna ran a hand through her now-sleek head of fire, eyes dancing.
"Thank you. I don't know how I'd've
managed it. You coming to practice this morning?" Cythera nodded; Sandry frowned, confused. Alanna,
blushing at her own stupidity in not telling Sandry about them, informed her
swiftly of the morning training sessions. Luckily, and slightly to Alanna's
surprise, Sandry was all for it.
"We learnt staff fighting at Winding Circle, but no edged weapons. I'd love to
learn. Daja would, too, and tris might like to watch.
I'll ask them." Her eyes went unfocused for a moment, as though looking at
something only she could see, then returned to normal. "They'll be there." Sandry
said decisively, standing up and tying her hair back with a spare ribbon. Alanna
blinked.
"How did you…" She asked, stunned. Sandry grinned.
"I'm sure I told you, Aly. We can speak mind-to-mind. I did tell you. Briar will come too, by the way."
Alanna nodded, looking rather shell-shocked. "I didn't believe you," she mumbled faintly. Suddenly she whirled on Cythera, her vitality rushing back. "You knew about this!" She cried accusingly. Cythera nodded, grinned, and chucked a pillow at her friend. Another war would have ensued, had not Sandry pointed out that they really did have to go right now.
Tris and Cythera were sitting on the benches at the side of the courtyard, watching the others fighting. Cythera's green eyes were amused; Tris's grey ones were full of mixed awe, disapproval, and envy. Both had their attention currently fixed on Alanna. She was playing with a blade the way Sandry played with silk thread, or Tris played with lightnening.After a while, Tris remarked quietly,
"I can see why you call her the Lioness."
Cythera snorted. "We called her that before she ever touched a weapon. You don't ever want Aly mad at you."
"You don't ever want Tris mad at you." Pointed out a lilting voice. Daja had come to sit next to them. "It's the lightening thing."
Cythera raised an eyebrow. "The lightening thing?" She enquired calmly.
Daja chuckled. "For some reason the whole oh-look-I'm-going-to-electrocute-anyone-who-annoys-me attitude doesn't go down well. Can't think why."
Idly, Tris batted at her friend, glaring at her. "I hardly ever do that ever more." She pointed out. Laughing, the three went back to their places on the courtyard, preparing for yet more bruises.
