I think that I will start calling baby Alanna Jr. so that we don't get confused.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters unless there are some who you don't then they will be mine. But the rest are Tammy's.

CHAPTER 4 - Corus

The next day at dawn the group now including Alanna, George and some of their guards and servants, set off for Corus.

Aly was nervous as they entered the city. She hadn't seen her foster Aunts and Uncles in years and she didn't know what to think. Walking through the city she noticed all the changes made since the last time she was here. Altogether there were only about 10 major changes and most of them were just the buildings. Three of Aly's spies were pretending to be her maids and another three were walking quietly around the city. Aly smiled as she saw who they were and quickly looked at her Da who was also looking around. She held in a laugh as she saw her Da notice two of his own spies who were supposed to be in Rajmuat. The look on his face was one she never wanted to forget.

She had brought two of her Da's spies from Rajmuat just to tease him, but she also knew of about 5 others so she didn't worry that her Da knew that she had found out about these two.

After they were welcomed and shown to their rooms, Aly went into the forest and sat down under a tree near her favourite pond. Aly had always gone here to get away from everyone when she was a child, now she went here so people wouldn't see her talking to a blob of black liquid. Aly thought that they would think that a it strange. Then again, she thought, they live in Corus, they should be used to strange things.

Aly looked down at Trick who had polled himself into her lap.

"Trick what news from secret?" Aly asked. After a moment Trick replied "Dove say everything fine and there is nothing to report, but Secret say Dove been seeing man in grounds at night. Secret say he left behind." Trick replied.

"Can you ask Secret to find out who he is and get Ping-Pong to follow him?"

"Secret say fun." Said Trick. Aly smiled.

"What about everyone else." She asked. "Any other news?"

"All normal. Winna received letter from Sarai. She visiting next month with child. Chenaol got 500 more knives. Crows still at Palace but no one to talk to. Think they elect some one to be human till you get back. Everything else reported to Fesgao."

"I see you like the Darkings after all." Said a soft voice near-by. Aly turned around pulling a knife out of her boot as she did so. When she saw who was there she screamed with joy and threw herself at her Aunt Daine. Not noticing Numair standing behind Daine Aly asked her "Daine where's Numair? I need him to look at something for me."

"What no hug for Uncle Nummy?" Numair asked in mock hurt.

Aly grinned. "Of course not." She replied. Then went to hug him. Numair smiled.

"So what did you want me to see?" He asked.

"What all work no catching up with a niece?" Aly teased him. "But now that you mention it I was wondering if you could check out my daughter? Everyone I ask says that she has a whole bundle of magic but no one can tell me exactly what it is." Numair frowned.

"Take me to her." He said. Aly nodded not noticing Trick flow onto Daine's shoulder.

"So what is her name?" Daine asked from behind them as they entered the Palace still talking to Trick. Aly coughed.

"Well, her name is…" Aly drifted off. Knowing she was going to have to answer she decided to get it over with. "Alanna." She said. She waited a feew seconds but Daine and Numair couldn't contain their laughter.

They were still laughing as they came up to Aly and Nawat's room. Numair wiped a tear from his eye as Aly opened her door…