When Thom caught sight of his sister, he beckoned her forward. Alanna noticed that Thom looked out of place in the group when she saw it. He was like a candle among ashes, and a cocoon among full-grown butterflies. His red hair contrasts greatly with the brunettes and brown heads, and he was obviously a squire among the knights.

"My knight master Sir Myles gave me a half day off, and Duty did not call my fellow knights away form Corus just yet. So, my dear Alanna, you have the luck to go to the city with all of us charming gentlemen!" Thom exclaimed.

Alanna blushed at this informality, unused to it, and was not quite sure how to respond.

When Thom said "Charming gentlemen", he had placed a hand on the one closest to him. Keeping his hand there, he introduced the big gentlemen as Raoul of Goldenlake.

Alanna liked his warm dark eyes, and his ruddy face almost immediately. He immediately put Alanna at ease, which she had not been for a long time. Alanna did not miss the similar air around the well-known Gareth of Naxen, son of the king's champion. Alanna fought to not feel to relaxed, or let her guard down too much, even though she felt safe with these friendly men.

But Alanna's mind was changed when a man with piercing blue eyes was introduced. she felt uneasy, for of course, this man was part of the Conte line. Alanna did not let a certain emotion in the gaze go unnoticed. She had saw the same look that stable boys got when one of the convent ladies were flirting with them. She thought of all the girls back at the convent, all those who had dreamed of marrying the prince, or meeting him. She tried to humor herself from the bad feeling by thinking, Oooo, the prince kissed my hand! The prince kissed the hand of Alanna of Trebond! Hah, the impossible can happen.

Would you find it uncanny that one of the convent ladies who witnessed this would be thinking along the same lines as these?


Delia tried to blend into the scene by flirting with one of the stable hands, while trying to get a glimpse at the prince. She fought to not collapse in surprise as she witnessed the courtesy the prince gave that wretched Alanna. She smiled coyly at the boy while she contemplated over this. Her heart gave a skip of panic when the thought that that Trebond slut would would snag the prince before her occurred.(Of course, Alanna isn't a slut. Delia simply calls whoever gets on her nerves a whore or slut). Trebond would probably convince the Prince that Delia was up to no good. She cannot afford to face her lord's fury. No, that simply must not happen. She must take action fast.


Alanna was conversing with Raoul, when a young man ran, or rather, rammed into Alanna. She stumbled, but that did not stop her from feeling the deft tug at her waist, where her purse of coins were. Raoul steadied her while the young man apologized convincingly. Alanna first impulse was to take her purse back and stomp on the thief's feet. But spending so long at the convent made Alanna think over her course of actions. The thoughts settled down to Alanna thinking that this boy in front of her could probably spend the money more sufficiently than some nobles, and would probably need it.

She thanked Raoul for steadying her, but did not respond to apologies that were directed towards her. She did, however, watched him walk away until he disappeared through a door under a sign with the insignia of a dove.

Her last thought was, If that boy gambles it all away, I'll take it back myself!


Thank you to all my reviewers!

Destined Angels -Muchas Gracias, or in other words, Many thanks!
BlueSword16- I don't think you would have to wait too long.
Wingedrider - I hope I can somehow fit George in here, but I cannot guarantee it to be AG.
horsiegurl- Thanks
maria- I'll try to make the Chapter's longer, but I kind of categorize the events and things. It might not be so confusing if you think it as a story told to the reader in the third person's point of view, but i'm sorry that it is.

I might be starting another Alanna goes to the convent story, but it might not be as well written. Thanks