11) To live at the Palace.

After the first few occasions where Maude's coughing syrup was used, it became very apparent that it was an simple and effective remedy for the persistent coughs that are a symptom of the Sweating Sickness, which impressed the Duke greatly and led him to insist that all the Palace healers make and use the concoction.

Alanna stirred a large saucepan, which was more like a vat, of thick bubbling liquid gently while adding measured amounts of lemon juice and honey into the mixture. She wrote down what she was doing while she was working to produce an accurate cough syrup recipe for the trainee healers as requested by Duke Baird.

As she squinted at the mixture to determine the thickness of her liquid, she wiped away sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.

"You realised that it isn't all too hygienic to add sweat to medicine – but then maybe bodily fluids from a healer is the secret ingredient or is it just an economical way of adding salt to the syrup?"

Alanna scowled as she turned around to face the joker. She hadn't heard Duke Baird enter the room. "I apologise but it's not as if I can do anything about it – it's so damned hot in here."

"I agree," he smiled kindly at her "You have done more that your fair share this week – you've helped save many people that could have coul have ended up being carted out. Take a day's break to recuperate – I can't risk you dying on me…"

"Thank you your grace. I'll do that as soon as I finish this sough syrup," she replied gratefully before reverting her attention back to the simmering liquid in front of her.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Alanna hadn't seen George since her first day in Corus and so planned on using her free day to find him. Since he was the Rogue it may turn out quite hard to locate him but if she knew him as well as she thought she did, finding George would not be too much of a problem.

She staged a loud conversation with Coram where there were plenty of servants around and discussed a trip to the market with her manservant during the afternoon on the next day while servants turned round.

He frowned at her overly loud voice. "Lass, they don't take females to be heralds. First knights, then this -" he mumbled.

Hopefully, George would get the information quickly enough to prevent her needing to traipse all over the lower city and visit every inn she came across to find him.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Surely enough, as she rode into the market square alongside Coram, she was tapped on the arm by none other than the Rogue himself.

"George!" Alanna leaned down to hug her friend as he grinned.

"An interestin' way of getting' a message 'cross to me lass," he teased. "Next time you need to find me, get Stefan, the hostler – he has messenger birds that are generally a little more subtle."

"Well, I guessed that you of all people would hear everything going on at the palace – you're probably the only person I know who is better than the King's own spies!"

At this point Coram was frowning at her acquaintance. "Do I know ye?"

"Sorry Coram – I haven't introduced you before. This is George Cooper. George, this is -"

"Coram Smythesson." George interrupted. "Nice to meet you," he held out his hand.

Coram only stared with a look of distaste at the offered hand. He turned to Alanna. "What do ye think ye're doing associating with th' likes of him?"

"He is one of my closest friends. Just because you may not approve of his profession does not mean that you have the right to be rude." She snapped and as her eyebrow went up in expectance, Coram hastily took George's still offered hand.

George led them to the lower city and stopped underneath the sign of an inn: The Dancing Dove. "This is the epicentre of my court. I should be here most of the time, if not, ask the old innkeeper, Solom – he'd be able to fetch me quick enough."

She afternoon passed very enjoyably and they had plenty of time to catch up on news while Coram amused himself with flirting with the maids and getting drunk, if rather early compared to usual.

"I trust you've been keepin' up with your fightin' exercises. I'd be disappointed if I can still beat you in under a minute. But I suppose healing is more on your mind at the moment. I hear that you've taken up cooking."

Alanna laughed, "Not quite- just brewing some coughing syrup. I don't see why they need me here though – I could have quite easily have sent the recipe over from the convent – not that I'm complaining of course," she added hurriedly. "Thank the Goddess that I don't have to do much magic," and shuddered.

"So old Si-Cham still hasn't cured you of you fear of magic then I see." He paused before asking, "Have you found whether the cause is sorcery or not yet?"

She looked sharply at him, "Unfortunately not. But both me and Thom are both pretty certain that it is but with no proof I can't really do much."

"You'd best get going lass. Send through Stefan if anythin' comes up."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

She propped her chin on her hand and fiddled with a pen. What could she write? Life in the palace was nearly as dull as in the convent but she hadn't written to Thom in a while and so thought it may be a good idea to update him about her activities and palace life.

She was staring out the window when someone rapped on her door.

"Come in!"

Timon, one of the palace servants entered looking out of breath. "Lady Alanna – you're needed. Duke Baird told be to fetch you." He looked very worried.

Alanna jogged behind a hurrying Timon along countless corridor, which was a difficult feat in a dress, especially for one such as Alanna, until they reached the trainee knight's wing. Alanna sighed as she realised where she was, if only things had turned out a little differently, she rooms could have been along here.

As she entered through a door, a bewildering site woke her from her musings – the room was filled with priests of the Black God who were chanting loudly and filling the room with smoky incense around the bed of a very sick looking boy. She turned to look for Duke Baird who she assumed would be in the room and found him looking defeated and collapsed in a chair.

He smiled weakly at her. "Alanna – thank the Goddess. This boy is Prince Jonathon," he explained, "He was only stuck down this morning and he is severely ill already. You have to do all that you can to save him."

She looked back at him with a startled but determined look in her gaze. She turned to take in her surrounding once again and had to bite back some rude words, "What in Mithros' name are all these priests doing here? You can't clog a sick room like this! Get them out of here."

Duke Baird sighed and called over Timon, "Find Sir Myles and tell him he's needed immediately."

After snapping orders to get equipment and ingredients to a maid, Alanna could do nothing but grind her teeth mop the Prince's forehead as she waited for this knight to come, since Duke Baird had no energy to throw the priests out and she had no authority to do so.

After what seemed an age, Timon hurried back into the room and informed them the Sir Myles was here. A short and plump man with long brown hair streaked with grey and a beard, dressed in a baggy and rather rumpled tunic was patiently waiting outside of the room.

Alanna walked up to him. "Sir Myles?"

He nodded at her curiously.

"Take a look inside."

His friendly eyes widened as he peeked into the room and took in the strange site in front of him.

"I need your help – these people need to get out of here. Their incense and frantic prayers will do nothing but harm the Prince."

"You know that there isn't much hope," he told Alanna softly. "Not if he's so ill this soon."

The girl stuck out her chin stubbornly with eyes as hard as stone. "As you will know, normal healing will only take a little of the healer's strength. This fever doesn't. It takes all of your strength – and if you continue to heal, it will kill you. Three of Duke Baird's healers are dead already and none have the strength to help the Prince except me. Despite the obvious sorcery, I'd like to try; I have to try."

"So you believe that the cause is magic as well," he noted. "Timon. Announce me."

"Sir Myles of Olau!"

The crowd hushed and faced the door. The priests stopped chanting. Myles stepped into the room and was followed by Alanna. The change in the knight was stunning. The short, stout knight was suddenly very regal and very angry.

"Have you left your sense?" he demanded. His gentle voice was sharp and clear. "No one can tell me his Majesty knows of this – this folly. I won't believe it."

No one spoke.

"Get out," the man ordered. "This is a sickroom, not a funeral." He glanced at the priests. "For shame. The boy isn't dead yet."

After a moment the head priests bowed his head and led the others out of the room as Duke Baird nodded as Myles, relief on his tired face. Alanna immediately moved to open the windows and ordered Timon to start heating the hot bricks.

"Baird? Could you introduce us and what is going on?" Myles asked turning to exhausted healer.

"Myles, this is Lady Alanna of Trebond. I requested Alanna to help me after she healed her twin from a serious onset of the Sweating Sickness. She has shown remarkable aptitude for the skill and I follow her orders."

The knight raised his eyebrows high. That was praise indeed.

The Prince spoke for the first time since Alanna had entered the room. "Duke Baird?"

"I'm here Jon. You'll be fine. Alanna here will see to that," he replied reassuringly.

Prince Jonathon smiled. "I know you won't let me die."

"You're not going to die," Myles said over Alanna's shoulder. "Don't even think of it."

"Myles? You're here? I dreamed there were people -"

"There were," Alanna assured him trying to keep the mood light. "Sir Myles threw them out."

The Prince grinned. "I wish I could've seen that."

"You have to sleep your Highness."

From the look in his eyes, he looked as if he was ready to ask more questions, so Alanna reached for her magic and held his eyes with hers. "Sleep now your Highness. Sleep."

Prince Jonathon thought he was drowing in violets and finally, he slept.

A/N: Not the ideal circumstance in which to meet both Myles and Jon is it? P

I'm really sorry this took so long to upload - it was a very difficult chapter to write! I've got a bit of a writer's block but I will try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible. Review! Review! Review!