Chapter 1-Insane Rulers

"How on EARTH did he not get it through his head?" Alanna began, violet eyes sparking as she paced the King's study.

"I haven't the slightest idea…aside from the fact that he's definitely got a very twisted plot. And that's not even the half of it." Jonathan of Conte answered grimly to those who had gathered in his study--Queen Thayet, Duke Gareth, Duke Baird, Alanna the Lioness, Gareth the Younger, Raoul, Buri, Numair, Daine, and Myles.

"What's the other half then?" Gareth the Younger questioned with a touch of sarcasm.

"That Scanra is allied with Carthak." Jonathan responded.

"They are WHAT?" Raoul screamed in horror

The King of Tortall could only nod.

"So then basically it's going to be undeclared war," Alanna put in simply.

Jonathan sighed as everyone began to exit, "Practically."

Alanna took off towards the rooms she shared with her former squire (for the time being as her squire had just been knighted). She had just walked into her rooms when she saw Neal of Queenscove exiting the room. A slight grin spread across Alanna's face as she tapped the door lightly. It clicked open and she motioned for her to join Alanna in her room.

"So…how was that meeting?" Keladry of Mindelan asked grinning evilly as she sat down, knowing how much Alanna hated meetings (almost as much as social gatherings!).

Her former knight-mistress made a face. "That's what I came to talk to you about…" she began "Apparently Emperor Ozorne hasn't gotten it through his mind that Tortall wants peace and nothing else!" the Lioness ranted, her temper flaring.

Kel winced. Alanna was quite famous for her temper.

"And that's not all-SCANRA is allied with him-!" the Champion was cut off by a knock on her door.

Thankful that her former knight-mistress had temporarily halted her rant, Kel shifted positions and let her mind wander. I wonder if it's Neal again? Wait. What on EARTH am I thinking?

Sighing, Alanna had gone to see to the person at the door. When she opened it, Raoul had popped his head in over Alanna's fiery red hair and the Lioness backed up, giving Raoul room to walk in.

"Jon wants us to ride out tomorrow before dawn." Raoul started as Kel raised her eyebrows questioningly. To Alanna he added in whispered tones, "I presume you haven't told Keladry yet?"

Alanna shook her head once, rolling her eyes with a look of I WAS getting there!

Kel glanced from one knight to the other as Raoul exited the room.

Another sigh escaped Alanna as Kel raised her eyebrows in a silent question.

"What I WAS getting to is that it's practically war. Undeclared war. Raoul was relaying the message that Jon wants us, Third Company and a group of the Queen's Riders to go to—" Alanna was cut off by an extremely loud bang on her door.

Sighing with exasperation, Kel went to get the door.

Neal fell to the floor with a thud as both Kel and Alanna stifled a laugh.

"I tell you every time I lean on that blasted door," Neal muttered picking himself off the ground.

"Then why do you always lean on it, Meathead?" Kel questioned sarcastically.

Pretending he didn't hear Kel, Neal continued to Alanna in a jumbled mess, "Daine just got word from a sparrow that George sent that said he's spotted Scanran and Carthaki ships about two days sail from Pirate's Swoop."

At the mention of Pirate's Swoop, Alanna's face paled before anger clouded over her violet eyes.

"Is that all Neal?" Alanna asked, her voice deadly calm. Way too calm for the anger that was visible on her face.

"Yes…and Alanna, Raoul says we best be starting out at dawn tomorrow-with Third Company, Numair, Daine, yourself, Kel and a group of the Queen's Riders." Neal finished hurriedly and sprinted out of the room, nearly tripping on his way out.

Alanna had finally gotten herself under control enough to suggest that Kel pack before immersing herself in packing her own belongings, worrying all the more about her home and family.