Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, setting, ect. If I did, I wouldn't be writing this FanFic.
Chapter 2: Gift of Moonlight
Not a moment after he left Alanna's door burst open. Thayet bounded in the room with Buri following close behind.
"Happy birthday!" Thyet squealed. Alanna stifled a laugh.
It was hard, at this moment, to believe Thayet was the pride of the convent. In fact it was hard to believe Thayet was royalty at all. She was seen as beautiful, stunning, breath taking, but no one got to see this side of Thayet. This side was only saved for Alanna and Buri. This was the Thayet that would burst into a friend's room, moments after sunrise, to wish her 'happy birthday' in nothing but a nightgown. This is the Thayet that would skip classes with Alanna every so often and sneak into the city. This was the Thayet who would make faces at the Sisters behind their backs just to make Alanna and Buri laugh. This was the Thayet who helped Alanna convince the Sisters that archery was a graceful and feminine activity just so they could practice without hiding. This was the Thayet that was Alanna's best friend.
Buri was leaning against the closed door grinning. Then she noticed the cat, "New pet?"
"Yeah, I found him hiding under my bed last night. I fed him, and now he won't go away." The cat hissed at Alanna while Buri laughed.
"What's his name? Is it a he?" Thayet asked.
"Yeah, he doesn't have one yet."
"How 'bout Blackie?" said Buri as Thayet walked over to the windowsill and picked him up. Thyet glanced at his face then looked at Alanna, "His eyes are violet just like yours." Alanna frowned, and then she remembered waking up this morning.
"I would have called him a familiar except you don't have the Gift," Thayet said. Alanna stuck her tongue out at her. She had always envied Thayet's healing Gift. "How about Midnight, or Twilight," suggested Thayet,
A thought came to Alanna, "I kind of liked Faithful." The strange black cat with violet eyes jumped from Thayet's lap and into Alanna's where he began to purr. "Alright then, Faithful it is," she declared.
After the morning mass and breakfast, which Alanna did not eat, Thayet grabbed Alanna's arm and pulled her to the side of the temples, (A/N: I thought I recalled a Temple of the Mother Goddess before the Ordeal so I'm calling these temples). Buri was holding a piece of cloth. Thayet took the cloth and wrapped it around Alanna's head, blindfolding her.
"Thayet? Buri? What-"'
"Just wait. You'll see," Thayet cut her off, "and no using that confounded Sight of yours either. It will ruin everything."
Buri had opened the door as Thayet took Alanna's arm and guided her out of the mess hall. Once they were outside Thayet let go of Alanna's arm. "Now spin around until I say stop," she ordered. Alanna obeyed, thinking she knew what was going on. She spun until she couldn't spin standing straight. Finally Thayet broke out laughing, "Okay, okay! You can stop now." Completely disoriented Alanna stopped and Thayet took her hand again.
Alanna slowly regained awareness of her surroundings as Thayet led her, but by the time she was able to start figuring out where she was being led, she was completely lost as to where she was. Thayet stopped Alanna and let go of her arm. She heard a soft horse whicker. Oh no she didn't…
"You can take off the blind fold now!" Thayet said excitedly. Alanna quickly pulled off the blindfold and gaped at the sight before her.
"Thayet! You can't just-"
Thayet had expecting Alanna's refusal, so she cut Alanna off before she could finish protesting. "Alanna, I have a horse. She's still alive and kickin', so I don't need another horse for a log time. You, on the other hand, need a horse, not that pathetic excuse of a pony your father let you keep. It's almost dead on its feet! Look, Alanna you love her as much as I do, and I know you'll take good care of her." Still seeing resistance on Alanna's face Thyet changed tactics, "If you don't keep her, I'll have to sell her." Alanna knew a threat when she heard one. She looked at Thayet and smiled. Alanna knew Thayet didn't mean it, she knew that the threat was to make her accept such a grand gift. "Thank you Thayet," Alanna said as she ran up to her birthday present and threw her arms around its neck.
It was a beautiful golden mare with a silky while mane and tail. Her name was Moonlight. Thyet had found Moonlight as a foal, and brought her back to the convent. The foal was weak and frail having been abandoned be its mother. Thayet, Buri, and Alanna nursed it back to health together. That was how they all became best friends.
Buri stepped up to Alanna, handing her a simple leather tack. Alanna noticed that it was handmade and she smiled at Buri who smiled back. Alanna suddenly ad the urge to hug her, and she did so. Buri was a little startled at this show of affection and let out a laugh. Alanna knew this was better tack that she could buy any where in the City of the Gods, because Buri always made the best.
Alanna then ran back over to Thayet and gave her a fierce hug too. "This is the best birthday ever. Thank you both so much," she said.
"I would encourage you to go for a ride right now, except…" Thayet trailed off. Alanna grimaced, knowing that she was talking about her dress. Alanna hated dresses. Especially when they prevented her from doing something that she wanted to do. But Alanna learned that wearing a dress was better than doing punishment chores, so she learned to live with them.
Buri laughed as Thayet and Alanna started walking toward the stables. She whistled for Moonlight to follow her as she ran to catch up to them.
A couple hours after she had returned from the stables, Alanna found herself walking up to the Head Sister's room. She was preoccupied, trying to think of what she had done to get herself into trouble this time. She couldn't remember anything at the moment.
Alanna stopped at a plain wooden door. You won't find out what you did just standing here Faithful remarked. He jumped down from Alanna's shoulder and sat by the door. Go ahead, knock. I'll wait right here
Alanna rolled her eyes, but she lightly taped on the door in a "lady like" fashion.
"Come in," she heard an old woman say. Alanna entered and closed the door behind her. The room wasn't big, but it was big enough to fit a large desk, some chairs, and a fireplace rather comfortably. The Head Sister sat at her desk.
Alanna curtsied, "You asked for me Head Sister?" She was the perfect image of a young lady. The only reason Alanna was able to survive the convent was because she would pretend to be a Player acting out a noble lady in a play, like she was doing now. Alanna loved to act, but the only problem with it was that she would sometimes over do it.
The Head Sister narrowed her pale, watered down eyes. She was old with a thousand wrinkles and snow-white hair, but she was sharp, and had a sour attitude, which is what made her so much fun to pull pranks on. "Ah yes, Miss Alanna," her voice was soft like a whisper, "I have received a package addressed to you." Indicating a long brown paper package in front of her on the desk. "You are dismissed."
Alanna curtsied and took the package. She opened up the door where Faithful sat waiting. After closing the door she bent down to pick him up and he climbed to his favorite spot under her left ear. Alanna started to walk back to her room.
What do we have here?
"A package, probably a birthday present."
From whom?
"No idea. Maybe from one of my friends in the City."
Your friends in the City? he questioned.
"You'll meet them tonight."
I'm dieing with anticipation Faithful remarked sarcastically.
At this point they reached Alanna's room, and she entered. Alanna locked the door behind her and set the package on the desk. She probed its contents with her Sight, and took a sharp intake of breath. Alanna was completely taken off guard. The content of the package was surrounded by a spell for repelling and concealment, which explained why everything was still properly sealed, but the shocking part was that she recognized the Gift used to cast the spell.
"Thom?" Alanna whispered the name as if it was a forbidden word; it had been years since she had last heard from him. She knew he hadn't been able to write; he had gone over seas to study. He hadn't said when he was coming back so the sudden package came as a surprise.
She tore off the brown paper only to find a long wooden box as long as her arm and about a hand's span wide. It was plain and unadorned, and sitting on top of the box was an envelope with 'Alanna' written on it. She slowly let out a breath. It is him. I'd recognize that writing anywhere.
Alanna picked up the envelope and flipped it over to see the wax seal, only to find it was blank. Good for him, he's learned subtlety, but why is he being cautious now? She picked up a blunt knife that was on the far side of the desk and peeled off the seal. She opened the envelope, and unfolded the letter. It read:
To my favorite twin,
Happy birthday. Thank you for the book of spells you gave me for our birthday four years ago; it proved to be most helpful. I imagine this package has come as a shock because I haven't been able to write you in three and a half years. My deepest and heartfelt apologies and I hope you can forgive me, but you must understand that it was a matter out of my control. However, I have been checking up on you, and you seem to be doing well enough.
I'm leaving for Carthak soon, by the time you are reading this I'll probably have already left. I imagine that you'll be setting out on your own journey soon, and I hope that my present will help. I made them my self you know; I have become quite talented in that particular art. Make sure you are completely alone when you open it. You won't want to weasel out of this one if you're caught!
With all my love,
Thom
'It was a matter out of my control…' Alanna read the letter over again and sighed. What wasn't in his control? She knew hoe ambitious Thom was when it came to sorcery, and what ever had him caught up in his work she didn't want to know about.
End of chapter 2.
Author's Commentary:
Okay, that was fun. Something I forgot to mention is that Thom never went to the palace to become a knight. He told their father that he was going somewhere else to become a 'scholar' when he really went to go study sorcery. So now, I guess he's going to study at the university in Carthak.
About the time period… hmmmm… I didn't really think about that one. I guess the best way to explain it is that this is happening during the Alanna books, with a twist. Yes, Chaos is attempting to break loose, but it hasn't succeeded yet, like in the Diane books.
I know Kyprioth isn't supposed to be loose in Tortall either, but Mithros and the Mother Goddess have put that law on pause for the time being. You'll figure out why later, if you haven't already guessed.
Hope you liked it. Please read and review. I enjoy your comments and I take all requests into consideration. Chapter 3 will be posted in a day or two!