Jon pushed hard with his sword against Raoul's, trying hard to bear him down. He was working up a sweat, and can obviously cannot do what he intended to do, so hepranced away before Raoul has a chance to swing his sword up against his neck.
Alanna was wary of every move, trying to predict who was going to win this duel. She smiled inwardly though, because she was aware that they were apparently trying to show off to the other ladies here besides herself. Well, maybe not Raoul, but it was not hard to see that the a part of the Prince was trying to impress other people.
The duel continued without so much as an odd against the other, so she started to think about all the possible ways the theif would spend her money, which, obviously, is now his.Maybe he would purchase a new dagger, or perhaps gamble it away to get a chance at getting wealthier. Maybe he has a family to feed, or perhaps he was going to share it with his pals. Hmm, I wonder what kind of place that boy went to was. Probably a meeting place of thieves.
"Thom?"
"Yes Alanna?"
"Do you know of a place with the Dove Insignia?"
"I don't really recall, do you want me to find out?"
"No, it's okay, I was just wondering."
"Okay. Alanna?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm bringing you to shop after this, okay?"
Why would Thom bring me shopping? Oh, right, convent ladies always go shopping. Is he going to buy me a new gown? No, why would he? Why would he want to go shopping in the first place?
"Sure."
"Great! I'll meet you at your room an hour later. You can change if you want."
"Okay."
"Alanna? I think you'll love it."
Shopping?
"I think I'll love it too," She replied hesitantly.
"Ready to go?", Thom greeted Alanna.
"Yes. Just wait until I get my cloak." She went back in her room, and left Thom standing at the door. She grabbed the cloak that was left on the chair some time ago. No, it was yesterday, when they came back from the little walk.
"Alanna? Why don't you change into breeches and a tunic? It might be easier to walk. Oh, and tie your hair back, so it won't get in the way."
Alanna glanced at Thom inquiringly. He merely grinned in response. Seeing that, Alanna shrugged uncharacteristly of a lady, and went back in. A moment later, she came back out.
"I don't have any."
"Any what?"
"Boy clothing."
"What?"
"I said I don't have any boy clothing."
Thom started getting worried then. He had never known Alanna without comfortable clothing, which mainly consists of "boy" clothing.
"Come with me then."
He led her through the guest hall, which was enormous, to the squire's wing. He told her to stay outside while he looked for something that might fit her. A while after, he came out and gestured her in.
"The smaller pairs I've got. They look like they might fit." He waved his hand toward clothing set on his bed. Alanna stared at Thom for a very long minute, before abruptly stepping forward and enveloping Thom in a tight hug.
"Thank you so much Thom, you don't know how long I have waited." Her voice was muffled against the cloth of his cloak, but Thom heard it as clear as crystal. He smiled at the gratitude. He knew something was wrong when he saw Alanna wearing a dress. He knew something was out of place when she was silent. And he aimed toward to set it right.
" This is beautiful," Alanna breathed as she held the dagger at arms lenght, viewing it over millimeters by millimeters.
" I know, that's why we are going shopping. But unlike some convent ladies, we could only buy one thing".
Alanna sighed," I know, I know. But I don't even know how to choose. I don't even know expertly how to use these things."
"Don't worry, I'll find a way to teach you."
Alanna looked up for the first time from the trance. "Really Thom? Did I tell you that you were the best?"
"No Alanna, but I already know that, considering that I am named Thom of Trebond."
Alanna smiled, enjoying this familarity. She had not had this feeling for years, but she did not entirely forgot how it feels like to joke with peolple close to you, knowing that they would not change their prospective of you if you said something offending, because they know you enough to know that you are joking.
" Yea right." She did her best to sneer.
Thom seeing her do so, chuckled. You could easily get into an accident with a place full of swords, so he elbowed her carefully.
When the sun was shining directly above, Thom told alanna that they had to get going.
"But I didn't even finish looking!"
"We're just going to eat lunch. Don't worry, we'll come back." Not just a week with Alanna and Thom is starting to get annoyed at Alanna again, as he used to when they were younger. But he was glad that she was somewhat her own self, and not one of the convent ladies that usually emerge out of the convent. It seems like for every one bearable or nice convent ladies, there were a hundred almost unbearable and extremely flirtatious ladies. Thom had earlier found this somewhat amusing and wondered what they teached at the convent.
They went a little away from the store that they were browsing, and proceeded to seek out a place where they could consume some food. Suddenly, a swinging sign caught Alanna's eyes, and she pointed to the dove on the sign to Thom.
" That's where the theif went!"
Thom looked at Alanna, switched his gaze to the dove, and then back to Alanna again. He raised an eyebrow at this. Alanna laughed at his reaction, and explained to him what happend the day before.
"Are you sure that this was the place he went to?"
"Yes, pretty sure. Let's check it out."
As the went in, the scent of beer and alchohol rushed into their noses, which had recentlybeen occupied with fresh air.
The atmosophere soddend down a level or two as they entered, as if the people here were wary of alanna and Thom.. Alanna glanced at Thom to see his reaction. She could see that he had once again had his eyebrow higher on his forehead. They made their way to the counter and ordered juice to drink.Staying silent, they waited for the noise level to resume to loud before speaking.
Thom was the first one to voice both of their minds. "This place is weird."
" It doesn't feel right, does it?"
His lips spread into a smile," No, not like any old bar."
There was silence once again as each of them savored the taste of their berry sweet drink. But no matter how good it was to press her tongue against the juice in her mouth, Alanna could not help but fidget uncomfortably.She is very uneasy with such a myriad of men present.
"Two for me Solom!" A man bounded down the stairs off to the right of this bar, which, apparently, is also an inn. Her heart almost soared through her stomache as a man placed himself next to her, scaring her almost out of her seat. Shakily, she tried to poise herself, hiding the fact that she had never been in a bar before, and the fact that she was nervous.
"So, what are you two lads doing here?Are you two brothers?"
Thom grinned widely, a bit too widely, and said,"Yes, this is my smaller brother Alan, and I'm Thom."
"And who are you?" Alanna asked timidly.
The mouth under a large nose extended to a smile. "I go by the name of -"
"George! Rispah needs you here!" A man hollered.
"Aye, got bus'ness to attend to. See you lads later." With that, George made his way over to the loud-voice man and together, they trotted through a door.
" He seem friendly enough. We better go if we want to make it back to the palace before sundown." Thom said.
Alanna nodded her agreement and got of the stool. Thom placed the coins down on the table for the bartender and went outside.
They made their way through the palace gates with the money they had intended to spend earlier. They did not find anything that suited Alanna, not even a small knife, and decided to go back later when the next imports come.
Both of them went their seperate ways to change for dinner. Alanna put on one of her simple purple dress and made her way down to the mess hall to meet Thom. Instead, she was met by Gary, as he insisted to be called. He escort her to get her meal, and then to her table.
As she was eating and talking politely to Gary, Raoul and Prince Jonathan, her brother bounded through the door wheezing, and quickly got his meal
"Sir Myles had extra reports to go over, and I had to scribe for him", he explained as he sat down.
"Where did you guys go all day today?"Raoul inquired. "You missed our duel."
"Oh, well, I just brought Alanna shopping."
"So you could meet some of her friends?" Prince Jonathan said slyly.
Thom blushed, and said," No, we went by ourselves."
"What did you purchase?"Gary said. "Did Lady Alanna buy a new dress for the upcoming ball to introduce all the convent ladies?"
"No, we did not attain anything," she said carefully, fully aware of the other daughters around. She saw Lady Delia sitting with many men clustered around her, while Lady Cythera of Elden was sitting with some of the other convent ladies. Lady Delia's laughter could be described as fluttering, with wings that carried the sound through the whole hall.
"Alex does not spend as much time as he use to, ever since he became Roger's squire." Raoul said thoughtfully. Alanna felt a forbidden chill settle around the name of the well known Duke Roger of Conte. She saw Thom tense slightly, as though he felt that chill too, but it seemed to Alanna that only she and Thom could sense a wrongness in the air. She caught Thom's glance and raised her own eyebrows.
So here's a longer chapter, even thought nothing really happens here though. Thank you to all the reviewers. I'm very glad you like it. It encourages me to continue. Muchas gracias a todos!( I don't know if that is correct.)
