Disclaimer: When I read other people's FanFics I wonder if a Disclaimer is for disclaiming or if it's there to complain about having to write one.
Claimer: Rick and the Rusty Blade are mine, but they're not really important so whatever.
Special Note:
Thanks to all of my wonderfully fantastic reviewers who are so awesomely supportive. I dedicate this chapter to you.
Chapter 4: No Looking Back
After supper the curfew bell found Thayet, Buri, and Alanna, all in Alanna's room. Thayet sat on Alanna's bed, Buri took her usual spot sitting on the window frame, and Alanna was at her lookout post slouching in a chair by the door. The terrible trio was whispering and laughing about the tricks they had played on the Sisters over the years.
"And remember that time we stole the clapper from the bell-"
"And hid it in that bitch Delia's room!" Thayet cut Buri off excitedly.
"As if she could have pulled it off," Buri remarked, remembering how much trouble Delia had gotten into. Alanna was laughing so hard that she fell off her chair.
"Gods I'm tired!" Alanna said, getting up.
Thayet let out a yawn, "Me too!"
"I think it's time we all turned in," said Buri as she stood up. Thyet followed suit.
"G' night Alanna," Buri said opening the door.
"Night," said Alanna quietly.
"See you in the Mo-morning," Thayet yawned as she followed Buri out. Alanna slowly shut the door.
"No," she whispered, eyes shining with unshed tears, "you won't."
Time to get going Faithful said after a moment of silence.
Alanna angrily wiped the tears from her face. "You're right. Let's go." Alanna stripped off her clothes from the convent, putting on a pair of deerskin breeches and a loose cotton shirt. She tied her hair back into a simple knot, then grabbed her two pre-packed saddlebags and set them by the door. Finally she took her brother's gift out form under the floor and reopened the box.
Alanna carefully tied the silver belt around her waist, letting the daggers hang at her sides. Smiling, she buckled the vambraces to her arms, fitting like a second skin. She put the fan deep inside one of her saddlebags and opened the trunk sitting at the end of her bed and took out her two most valuable possessions. One was a flat knife that Marek had given to her before he disappeared. This, she slipped into the side of her boot where only a trained eye might notice the small bump. The other was her pride and joy. It was a cloak cut from a very rare cloth. It wad cost her a small fortune when she bought it, nearly two years of her allowance, but is had been more than worth it. It appeared to be a grey color in the candlelight, but as Alanna put it on, the colors shifted to show different shade of green, brown, and darker grey. The cloak made the wearer near invisible in shadows. That was the key to the cloak. It could blend colors in shadow or in the dark of night, but during the day it appeared to be a normal cloak made out of a fine silver cloth.
Alanna picked up the sword and slung it diagonally across her back so the cruciform hilt stuck up over right shoulder within easy reach. She picked up a stack of papers and a couple of books from the bottom of the trunk, and as an after thought she grabbed the ring that was given to her by her mother, then she closed the lid. She took the paper sitting on top of the stack and put it in her pocket. The put the rest of the stack in the now empty box that her brother had given her, and then put the box under her bed. Finally she unfastened her necklace and added the ring as a third charm.
Alanna picked up the saddlebags and cast a last glance about the room checking to make sure that everything was normal and nothing was out of place. Smothering the candle's flame with her fingers, she silently deserted the room.
Like a shadow, Alanna stalked the halls. Finally, reaching the door to Thayet's room, she stopped. She took the paper she had retrieved from her trunk out of her pocket and slid it under the door. "Good bye Thayet," whispered Alanna, "good bye Buri." She continued down the hall and about a minute later Alanna reached the side door, nearest the stables. She opened it and walked out into the silent, starry night.
Faithful was waiting for her at the stables. He was sitting on top of a bedroll. "Thank you," said Alanna.
The saddle and tack are in the stall already was all he had to say in reply.
She walked over to Moonlight, who looked at Alanna with patient expectancy. Alanna gave a little chuckle and saddled up Moonlight. Then she attached the saddlebags and bedroll. Mounting Moonlight, Alanna looked at Faithful sitting on a nearby post. He jumped, easily, to land on the saddle in front of Alanna; Moonlight shifted her weight a little then stood still. Good horse, thought Alanna and patted Moonlight on the neck.
"Well girl, lets go find us an adventure." Moonlight snorted as if agreeing, and with a light nudge from Alanna she galloped away from the convent. No looking back.
The usual forty-five minute walk into the City, took only five minutes riding Moonlight. The City of the Gods was quiet, except for random Inns along the streets. Alanna rode until familiar the sound of familiar voices reached her ears, all of them singing the same bawdy song. Dismounting Moonlight and handing her reigns over to an awed stable boy who greeted her with a nod, Alanna walked to the front door of an Inn called the Rusty Blade. Inside the voices caroled, "Such sights the Princes never did see/ And they honor the Beggar to this very day!"
She winced. "Do they really need to sing that song?"
At least it's almost over Faithful said in her ear. He was sitting on her left shoulder, his favorite spot.
She let them finish singing and then entered the Inn. The moment Alanna entered, there was an immediate uproar. "Look who's here!" and "Happy birthday!" 's were shouted in greeting. Alanna smiled at the boisterous common room. The Innkeeper, named Rick, waved at her from the bar. Alanna made her way over to her chair be the fire. There sat her family.
Author's Commentary:
This was a short chapter, I know. I promise the next chapter will be longer than this one! I'm just hesitant to continue writing until I have The Prophecy completely finished. I mean the whole story revolves around it, so it's really important. It's almost done so don't worry, I'm just stuck on the last few lines. Not only that, but I am also swamped with end-of-the-year projects, and my Biology Accelerated teacher is a bit of a Nazi who hates students so she's being a pain in the ass. I'll try my hardest to get the next chapter posted by Thursday, the latest! So have fun, enjoy, and review!