Alanna looked up from her writing desk, surprised at the shadow that had suddenly loomed across her page. Her tent was at the edge of the camp, behind the temple, and few people came to visit her here, especially when the sun was high and they knew she would be working on her book. The newcomer was silhouetted against the afternoon sun so she couldn't make out his face. His figure reminded her of George, but his voice, when he spoke, might have belonged to her brother.
"I didn't mean to disturb you, mother." Alanna smiled and beckoned her eldest son to sit next to her. He wasn't yet forty, but his hair was liberally streaked with grey, as her own hadn't been until well into her fifties.
"Not at all. What brings you here? I know you don't like living with the Bazhir much," she said as gently as she could, offering him a cup of wine. He took it gratefully, settling more comfortably on the rug.
"You know that's not true. Just because I never liked it as much as you or Alan doesn't mean I dislike it." He paused. "I'm sorry. I've been having a difficult time of it, lately. Marilynne started asking about Olau again, and suddenly I just had to get away."
Alanna nodded sympathetically. "I know you never loved her the way your father and I love each other, but I had hoped you would get past that."
"So did I. How is your book coming?" he asked, changing the subject.
"As well as can be expected. I work on it as much as I can, but there are times when I just have to get away from the papers and do something real." Thom grinned, and she ruffled his hair the way she had when he was a little boy. "Don't you be starting with that, my boy. It's just difficult to write about a lady knight without remembering that I'm one too."
Thom laughed, now. "I had hoped you would be able to retire quietly to Olau, and get the rest and peace you've earned."
"Time enough for that when I'm dead," Alanna returned in her blunt way. "You know Jasson is here?"
"More of us call him Prince Jasson, mother," Thom said dryly.
"Yes, that would be the boy who I turned over my knee when he was five for trying to steal my sword."
"I suppose you're going to tell me that legends can call princes whatever they want?"
Alanna huffed. "I don't know anything about legends, but I do know I helped raise that boy up from an infant."
"And you'll never let him forget it. No, I didn't know," he added, forestalling any further comment. "Why is he here?"
"I think Jon sent him to look after me."
"Oh, stop whining mother. He always was your favorite."
"But I don't need looking after."
"King Jonathan is abdicating. I didn't know if you'd heard."
Alanna nodded slowly. "I heard. I guess he's decided that Roald ought to run the Tortall in name as well as in fact."
"Then perhaps," Thom said gently, "Jasson is trying to learn to be King's Champion from the greatest Champion ever. I'm sure Uncle Jon know you can take care of yourself."
Alanna smiled at her son. "Will you be staying long?"
Thom shrugged. "We'll see, won't we? I'll leave when I have my head straightened out."
"Then we'd best get you a tent, hadn't we? You'll be here a while."