8) An Interesting Deduction

Alannaspun round and slashed across her visions with her Raven knives as George ducked and countered her attack with two daggers aimed at her neck and stomach. She blocked one knife with a quick thrust but as she tried to knock the other weapon away from her face, George twisted his knife around her blade causing her to lose grip of the hilt and drop the weapon. Since her other hand was protecting her stomach against Georges blade, his other hand was free to point a glinting metal point to her throat. They froze.

She raised her hands and grinned, "I yield. – Mithros! How many times in a row now have you beaten me?" she complained as she gasped for air and poured water over her head.

George smiled. "You lasted longer than last time and to your credit, you've only been learnin' knife fightin' from me for a couple of months. Besides, what sort of Rogue would I be if I couldn't beat a lady in a knife fight?" he teased.

She groaned, "Don't remind me – I really loathe that place. "Sit up Alanna." "Walk upright Alanna." As if that's all that I can do with myself! Thank gods I've got a place to go outside of that prison. Anyway, what was that move – that "hook" that you used back then? You haven't taught me that."

"Don't expect to know all of my secrets after just a couple of bouts. And you should know by now that I of all people should be expected to have a few tricks up my sleeves – I couldn't have gotten where I am now f I was beaten that easily."

Alanna sneered. "Thanks for reminding me that I'm just a weak little girl," she said dryly.

George laughed "Come on, I'll get you a drink" and led her back into The Crown and Lamb.

"I heard you did well in your history class today." George stated.

"Trust you to know that. Then I suppose you know that I'm not exactly doing well in magic?"

"I may do."

"I've just never really had an interest in it like Thom does. I suppose I just don't want to lose control of my Gift. Master Si-Cham has been trying to convince me that I'm the one who wield my magic, not the other way round – but I still don't like it." She looked at George, "I still can't really believe that you know Si-Cham."

George laughed. "I'm sure you'll get a hand of you gift soon enough, lass. Si-Cham is a good teacher – besides, I'd like to see that brother of yours try to hold a couple of knife for half an hour without cutting a body part off, let alone fightin' with them!"

"Now that would be interesting." Alanna laughed.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Move your feet further apart – I said further apart, not turn your toes in! You need to be more stable on you feet. Anyone would think that this was the first time that you've walked in heels."

"It is." Alanna mumbled.

"Hold your head up girl. You can't be looking at the floor when you walk! And we don't want to only see the top of your head – however lovely it may be. Chin up!"

The Daughter picked up a book and placed it on top of Alanna's head as the girl frowned. "Now walk – don't move your head girl. Balance the book!" She reached out and repositioned the book as it slid off.

"Hold your chin high – don't poke it out like that. And who walks in zigzags? Goddess girl! I've never seen such a lost cause."

Alanna gritted her teeth while all the other girls tried not to laugh out loud and carried on walking while trying to keep the book from falling – it looked as if she was trying to audition for the circus.

"Again – you have to learn this, girl, if you ever want to have an iota of a chance of acquiring a husband."

Alanna started to grind her teeth.

"Stand up straight. How many times do I need to tell you? You look as if you are broken old grandmother," she informed the girl who was steadily turning purple. "You're clenching you hands. Why are you clenching you hands?"

"Because I'm preparing to flatten your nose," Alanna growled under her breath. Fortunately, the Daughter did not hear.

"A lady must always position her hands elegantly, like so." she showed the class what she meant. "Try harder girl. This is one of the most basic skills every lady needs to know – Don't stick your chin out! Lift it up! Up, up, up!"

Alanna had to endure another hour of the etiquette Daughter's carping before the lesson was finally over.

"Aaargh! I swear that they are trying to drive me insane!" Alanna complained to Saethea as they hurried to their next class.

They both sat down to join Thom – this was one the few classes that they had with the boys.

"Quieten down class. Today will be on the basics of magical imagery -" Si-Cham informed the class.

They were half an hour into the class when a messenger burst into the room. "Master Si-Cham. You're needed at the meeting at the cloisters."

Si-Cham frowned "They require me now? In the Middle of a class?"

The messenger nodded as he leaned on a desk trying to get his breath back.

Si-Cham turned to his class "Carry on with your exercises class. I'm sure that this will no take long -"

"The Masters told me to tell you to bring everything with you – I don't think you're going to have time to come back," the messenger interrupted.

The Master sighed, "Tidy up class, I believe that you have the rest of the after noon free. Be sure to not waste the time." He gathered his belonging and followed the rather worried looking messenger out of the room.

The room erupted with loud chatter. "What do you think is going on?" Thom asked.

"No idea. I've never heard of teachers leaving classes to go to meetings before – they are usually scheduled out of lessons. It must be serious," Saethea commented with a frown.

"I hope it's something interesting. Nothing of interest ever happens round here. I'm not going to miss an opportunity like this – who wants to come riding with me?" Alanna asked.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Thom walked into the room. "It's bad."

"What's happening?"

"It seems that a sickness has been spreading through Tortall. Healers are calling it the 'Sweating Sickness' since it causes high fever."

"And where did you learn of this, brother?"

"I, erm… Overheard a couple of Daughters gossiping about it…"

"When are you going to learn not to eavesdrop, Thom?" Saethea enquired after looking up from a book.

"Well, it doesn't sound that bad – fevers aren't life threatening."

"They are when the sickness kills healers," Thom added.

"What?" Alanna may not like magic but anyone with the least amount of knowledge of healing knew that no naturally occurring illness kills healers.

"The first cases of it were along the Southern Wall but it's spread north. The first case here was reported two days ago and already it's spreading – a Daughter is ill with it."

"So that's what the meeting was about – they think that it's sorcery don't they?"

Thom looked grim. "Guess who they think caused it? Only three names came up – a sorcerer from Sarain, a Carthaki Black robe and Duke Roger of Conte - but here's the interesting bit – only one of them is within range close enough range to cast a spell like that."

A/N: Guess who? One of the least "hanging" cliff-hangers ever written. Oh well – review please and give me some constructive criticism? What do I need to work on? I don't want to bore you lot out of your minds.