Disclaimer: Ok...plot and a few characters are mine. But the overall universe is unfortunately not mine, but Tamora Pierce's.
Title: Ghost of the Past
Author: winky-wink
Genre: Romance/Humor/Drama
Rating: T (Just to be safe)
Pairing: A/J...unless I hear great roars of disapproval.
Musical Affection: 'Midnight Fantasy' by Victoria Beckham.
Author's Note: epobbp: Haha, I adore writing cliffhangers. Anyways, here's the chapter, as soon as I could get it out.
okaliedokalie: LOL...good. Hooked is very good.
Dom's Angel: Thanks and here's the chapter. I try but it's hard to keep up with my three-day-update thing.
Queen Alanna: No, it wasn't Roger that raped Abby.That's not to say he wasn't involved. Isn't drama great?
Silveni: Haha, yes, exactly. Silly and bad. I like it that way.
Lutefa: Aw, yeah, rape is really badd. My days have been rather traumatic lately too haha. Like Friday with soda pop and textbooks..and argh let's not get into that. Anyways, thanks for reviewing.
Padme Amidala2121: Yeah I guessed most people would think it was Alanna. And you're very right when you say Roger's involved. He totally is.
alana: I know. No, it wasn't exactly Roger in disguise, but he's hugely involved. You'll see...
brokefang05: You're right. ((blushes)) I messed up when Roger called Thom, Thom instead of Alan. I went back and fixed it haha. I'm surprised you're the only one that noticed. Kudos to you.
FanFictionFanthom: Yeah, that's true muaha. It was a major plot twist and I didn't really think of it till later.
Angel of Dream: Yes...or was it? Haha, you'll find out soon. Oh yeah, sacrificing quality for time is something I sometimes feel pressured to do but don't worry haha. Oh and good job on your story. ((thumbs up))
Rosemary's Granddaughter: Our deal stands lol. Anyways, cute picture, I bet everyone is burning with envy. I know I am.
WitchyMage: Thanks and that's no problem.
skyiler: Aw, thanks. That's very sweet.
snowgem: Haha, I still liked your review. Thank youu.
RumorGoddess: Thanks! LOL...and hang onto your life, I'm updating, kk?
Tortall Princess: Hehehe I really love writing cliffhangers. They're the best when you're the author...anyways, thanks too.
Ms.NoName: Oo thanks and I don't know, I don't mean for Alanna to get really out of character. I'll try to control that a bit more. Anyways, I try to include Catherine and Helena as much as possible but sometimes other plots within the story get in the way. ANYWAYS, thanks for getting me thinking lol.
charlie and lola: Aww thanks. I'm really flattered that it's actually your favb fanfic. And I'm glad my fanfic is so twisty, makes it interesting, non?
Lady Knight: Wow, thanks for the major compliment lol. And I try to update a.s.a.p. but sometimes I'm bad at it haha.
Queen Alanna of conte: Thom is innocent, so is Roger in a way. But he is involved in a way too. Confused? Just read on lol.
Confusedknight: Thanks and yeah Roger's very very sneaky. LOL...the one problem with vacations: no fanfic haha. Don't worry I'm a pretty big fanfiction-aholic too.
Wow, thanks for the reviews. That's a lot. I'll not to let the flattery get to my mind. LOL...But I am a little giddy with excitement. Anyways, hope you all enjoy the chapterr. Btw, I know it's rather shorter, but whatever, I'll make up for it next time.
'We do not seize moments of surprise. They seize us'-Ashley Montagu
Of all the rotten things Roger could've done, of all the ways in which he could've taken revenge on Alan of Trebond for being with Alanna of Conte, the Lioness never thought that this would be the way he would do it. She'd thought he might've tried to use the Gift, which she could've fought off with her own. Or, if she was lucky, he might've used a sword or a duel of some kind in which case she would've promptly defeated him. But, no, the Duke of Conte chose the worst battlefield in which to claim his vengence. The battlefield of laws and rules.
Alanna knew little to nothing about the Tortallan laws, decrees, and bylaws. She was pretty much helpless when it came to getting up in front of a judge and speaking. It required research to win a case, Alanna didn't read. It required public speaking to win a case, Alanna's tongue was venemous not compelling. In the end, she had to rely on Jonathan and Gary, who were experts in this particular area, to help her get Thom out of years of imprisonment in the Northern mines.
It had been one day since Thom's arrest and he was still in the dungeons. The court marshall and the King's Own would not permit her to go see him until this evening because it wasn't 'safe.' Safe? Safe? Thom wasn't a convict yet! What had happened to the suspect is innocent until proven guilty?
In her frustration, Alanna kicked the leg of the table she was sitting at, earning her a look of reprimand from the old cout of a librarian. The Lady Squire scowled at his shaggy-robed back for a second, before turning back to her book. The laws of the Human Era. Fascinating. Not. It practically put her to sleep. She'd been sitting there for a good fifteen minutes and hadn't even gotten past the first page of chapter one.
Just as she cleared her mind and set about reading the actual book, another distraction came, this time in the form of Roger of Conte. Alanna's face went red from silent rage. She steeled herself not to run up to him and strangle the demon. Instead, she clamped her fingers around the rim of her book and pulled it up to her nose, covering her face. She didn't want Roger to see her and come over here or anything. Then she really would have to kill him.
Unfortunately, he had aleady noticed her and was stalking over. Alanna shut her eyes, urging herself not to do one thing.
Don't kill Roger. Don't kill Roger. Don't kill Roger. Don't kill Roger.
It wouldn't look very good if she just leapt up and choked him, now would it?
"Cousin Alanna, what a surprise to see you here," Roger bowed to her.
The Trebond forced her book down and gave him a mechanical smile, "Is it?"
"Well, not many ladies I know enjoy reading up on Tortallan laws, m'lady," the Conte Duke smiled, sitting down at her table.
"Oh?" Alanna decided the less she spoke, the less likely that she would feel the need to massacre him.
A silence fell between them, in which Roger checked his nails for dirt. The Lioness pretended to read her book while watching him out of the corner of her eye, wondering what he could be thinking. How could he sit there so peacefully knowing he had wrongfully thrown someone in jail?
Looking up, he sighed in a very fatherly manner, "Come now, Alanna, is all this awkwardness between us neccessary?"
"Awkwardness?" Alanna raised an eyebrow.
"I can tell you're mad at me for having Alan of Trebond thrown in prison. Jonathan's the exact same," the socceror shook his head, "Don't both of you realize this is for the best?"
"You admit he's in prison because of you," she spat, losing her polite ladylike quality, "How can this be for the best when an innocent man is in the dungeons? Tell me how you did it?"
"A magician never reveals his secrets," Roger chimed, annoying Alanna, "Especially not when those secrets can be used against him in court."
"Then at least explain why you did this?" the Lioness demanded.
Roger shook his head, like she didn't realized what was good for her or something, "Don't you understand why I did this?"
Alanna narrowed her eyes, "No, I don't, cousin dear."
To her great surprise, he reached a peachy scarless hand across the table and took her own pale cold one, "He was a bad distraction for you, Alanna. I needed to get him out of the picture for our marriage. Our us."
The Lioness gave a hollow, disbelieving laugh, "So, let me get this straight...Alan of Trebond, possibly one of the most celebrated squires in Tortall, is in the dungeons because you're jealous because he's with me?"
Roger frowned, "I wouldn't say jealous exactly..."
"Then what would you say, you good-for-nothing, pathetic, selfish, money-grubbing, -"
"Shut your mouth," the Conte Duke snapped, face going sour, "Speak like that when you're my wife and you'll see where you end up. You'll be lower in the ground than your dear Alan is now."
Giving her hand a tight squeeze of warning, he released it, leaving her alone. Alanna brought her hand to her chest, cradling it. This minute intereaction between her and her enemy only encouraged her to get on with the research. He would pay.
Also, in the back of her mind, Alanna couldn't help but feel guilty. It was all her fault that Thom was in prison. She was the one that had asked him to come here, she was the one that had taken his hand on the parapet as a sisterly gesture, she was the one that had scrolled Alanna of Conte all over her notebook and gotten him into this mess. Now, it seemed, the both of the twins would pay. Thom may have to go the mines and toil away finding diamonds when he should've been conquering kindgoms with his Gift. Alanna may have to marry Roger of Conte, who would eventually kill her off, that much was obvious. She shivered. Never.
"Good Morning Alanna," Gareth, the Younger, of Naxen greeted her, just getting off council duty.
Jonathan nodded towards her too and settled down at the table. Even Raoul, who disliked books as much as Alanna, had come along. Douglass and Geoffery, who would've only been nuissances since they knew little about the Tortallan law, were off scouring about the palace for gossip on the topic of the rape of Alanna of Conte's servingmaid.
"Hi everyone," Alanna tried to smile and failed, "Thank you for coming."
"Thank you for coming?" Raoul blanked, "This is for Alan, of course I came."
"Listen, Alanna, we've got good news," Gary announced, getting her hopes up, "Jonathan's managed to convince Uncle Roald and Aunt Lianne to give Alan a court date. It's a week from now."
"It wasn't very difficult to persuade them," Jon shrugged, "Mother and Father like Alan."
Alanna managed a real smile, "Well that is good news. But a week? Is that how long Th-I mean Alan will have to be in the dungeons for?"
Gary nodded, "The traditionalists won't let him out. They say he'll escape if he's given the chance."
"What I don't get is why everyone's getting huffed up about this case," Raoul grumbled, "There have been other charges against nobles for rape of another's servingmaid and the young fellow, whoever he is, usually just has to pay the court off to get them off his back. Why is this case such a big deal?"
"Cousin Roger won't let it go," Jonathan sighed, not daring to look at Alanna, "He says it's a different situation when it's done to the help of royalty and a foreigner. Alanna falls under both categories."
Apparently Alanna had paled because Gary reached out a comforting hand and patted her back, "Don't think on it too much. It's not your fault, neither is it your maid's fault. And anyways, the squires and most Knights are in an uproar. They all say they know Alan and that he would never do any such thing. What am I saying, even the noble ladies are upset. Cythera in particular is going crazy."
"The King and Queen don't seem to be too happy either, do they?" Raoul asked, thoughtfully, "Then again, they can't really show favorites."
"I bet everyone's talking aren't they?" Alanna murmured, breathing in deeply.
"They are but we can change what they're talking about if we free Alan," Jon said, hinting at the fact that they hadn't started any research, "Alanna, can you pass me that book you're reading?"
She obliged and felt someone behind her. It was Arram Draper, dressed in his signature black. He was well clothed for the wintery days and bowed to her when she noticed him.
"Lady Alanna, Your Highness, My Lords," he said, graciously, "I've been watching you and if I may offer my opinion?"
"You may," Jonathan allowed, raising an eyebrow.
"I believe it is quite impossible to defeat Duke Roger with the law because the law is on his side. He has eye witnesses, he has the victim under a truth spell and he has great persuasion," Arram said, his voice musical, "There is only one way to beat him. Shall I suggest magic?"
"Magic?" Gary wrinkled his nose, "You mean the Gift? Why should we heed your words? Why do you want to help out Alan? What've you got to gain?"
"What've I got to lose?" the mage inquired, eyes dancing, "And, anyways, Alan is somewhat of a project of mine."
Here he looked at Alanna and she was determined to not look him in the eyes. She had a feeling he already knew she was a girl trying to be a Knight who played the parts of Alan of Trebond and Alanna of Conte.
"What do you suggest we do?" Jonathan implored, noticing the small glances shot between Arram Draper and Alanna and choosing to ignore it.
"Well, firstly, we think back. Discuss the back drop of this story. It's obvious that Duke Roger is out to get Squire Alan, but why?" Arram questioned, leaving the question in the air for the rest of them to ponder.
"I know why," Alanna admitted, blushing a bit, "He wanted Alan in prison because-erm-he wasn't pleased with the relationship he and I shared."
Everyone except Jon, who already knew about the Roger-Alanna relationship, looked shocked. Arram Draper gave a quaint cough and the other two tried to avoid looking at Alanna, since they didn't know her very well.
"One down. Now, His Grace, the Duke of Conte is a very powerful mage. He knows magic most do not. I can really think of a number of things he could've done. Why he could've even created a similicrum of Alan and had it rape Abigail. Or he could've disguised himself as Alan of Trebond and done it himself. The possibilities are endless," Arram ranted on, sounding extremely intelligent, "It doesn't really matter because, you see, that's the one default with the truth spell, it cannot decifir the whole truth, it can only decifir what the person under the spell believes to be the truth."
"So what you're saying is that...," Raoul looked dumbfounded, "Abigail didn't have to neccessarily see Alan for the truth spell to force her to say she did as..."
"As long as she believed she saw Alan," Arram finished for him.
"How could he have done it? Similicrum?" Gary wanted to know.
"Unlikely," the Tyran mage shook his head, "Similicrums would create an exact copy of someone yes, but they are lifeless. The similicrum can barely walk and hold up meagre conversation, let alone rape someone."
"Then Roger dressed up as Alan himself, is that what you're saying?" Jonathan raised an eyebrow, "That's not really his style."
"No, the Conte Duke is not stupid," Arram frowned, "He knew that if he did it himself, someone of his essence would be discovered on the body of the victim with one magical essence check. This is something else entirely."
Alanna picked up her skirts, lightly, as she skated across the pool in the royal forest that had frozen over during the winter. The blades of her skates gnashed the icy surface with brutality. The Lioness was furious. A full week had passed in which poor Thom had to spend the freezing days and ever colder nights down in the dungeons. Yet, Alanna's usual group of friends, which had now welcomed Arram into their ranks, were still stumped on what had happened that fateful night, not too long ago.
Not a similicrum, not Roger. The essence check had been done on Abigail and the essence left there was of someone unknown. It wasn't Thom's essence. Some other noblility was in on Roger's plot and was actually helping him achieve his ends. There was also Delia, Helena and Lady Catherine who were constantly protesting that they had seen Alan do it even though his essence wasn't found within Abigail.
The Lioness made a figure eight, moving elegantly here than she did on the dance floor. She looked to the side of the rink and noticed that Abigail was still sitting on a snowy rock, glaring numbly at the ice. Her boots were off and the skates were half on, Alanna was afraid her toes would fall off from the cold.
"Abby!" she called to her, "Don't you want to skate?"
It really was a pathetic attempt to get the royal Niece's mind off the trauma that had recently been inflicted upon her. Lady Winfred practically begged Alanna to take her out for a day and entertain her. Make her smile. Something. But Abigail was unshakable.
"No," she called back to the Lioness, "I'm thinking."
"On what?" the young Trebond asked, although she had a very good inkling.
"My brother Lincoln," Abby replied, surprising Alanna as she skated by her, "He says he has a surprise for me in his latest letter. Wouldn't say what..."
She trailed off, looking lost and sad and homesick.
Sighing, Alanna made a quick swish with her feet and stumbled. She fell, mightily hard, on her rump. "Ow!"
Even that didn't break Abby out of her stupor. Normally, that would've made her laugh for weeks on end. Grumbling, the Lioness struggled to lift herself from the ground. After a few painful minutes, she gave up. Sitting here for a little while would do no harm. Alanna checked out her reflection in the ice beside her, admiring the pretty sapphire blue Conte eyes. She didn't exactly like the annoyingly long brown red hair that cascaded down her shoulders. It would look far more beautiful on someone else who knew how to handle it better. It was strange, though, to see herself look so different all because of one simple potion.
Potion. Change the way you look. Abigail. Rape. The young Trebond's head shot up and her eyes widened. She felt like she was having a sudden epitome. Of course! It suddenly made so much sense. Roger had used the potion to dress himself or rather someone else up as Alan of Trebond. That is, if you could actually use that particular type of potion to become identical to one person in particular. Who knew? She could always ask Eleni, but already Alanna was half-assured she had just saved Thom.
"Abby!" she cried, getting up from the ice with a sudden speed and agility, "Guess what?"
She clanged towards the royal Niece, happily. Abigail looked up and almost smiled at the amusing sight. Peeling off her skates, she stuck her feet back into her boots. She knew she wasn't going to skate anyways.
"What?" she asked because she was required to.
"I've found a way to save Thom!" Alanna declared, triumphantly.
Abigail's face darkened, "Oh. Good."
Suddenly all of Alanna's giddiness was drained away, "Oh good? You act as if it would be a good thing if Thom was stayed in the dungeons."
Abby shrugged and the Lady Squire plomped down in the snow, beside her, "You do know he's innocent, don't you?"
Lady Winfred had recently decided that she believed that Thom was innocent and that he'd been framed. Even though Abigail had said nothing, Alanna thought it was a given that she believed her twin was wrongly accused too.
"I don't know, Alanna...," she sighed, "He was there. Or at least it looked a lot like him. I just...it felt so much like it was him."
The Lioness opened her mouth to argue, then decided against it. What good was it to upset Abigail when she was already torn up inside her very being? Trying to be a good friend, Alanna offered to take her to a knight duel. There were some going on today in the practice courts. That seemed to cheer the royal Niece up since she'd seen nothing of the sort since her arrival in Tortall.
In about two minutes, they were outside the courtyards. Dozens of young nobles were going in, excited to see a battle. Abigail stuck close to Alanna's side and when they entered all eyes fell upon them. There they were, Alan's love and the servingmaid he was accused of raping. The Lioness put a protective arm around her servingmaid's shoulders even though it was unladylike and most certainly un-noblelike.
They came to lean against a railing as the first duel began. Alex of Tirragen against Imrah of Legann. They bowed to each other, then began. Even though Alex's usual duelling partner was absent, Imrah made the match surprisingly even. The two young ladies watched the way they moved with awe and a frightening interest on Abigail's part. Alex moved vigorously, quickly-quicker than anyone she'd ever seen...or had she? In the end, his talent won out over Imrah's and there was a roar of approval and applause.
The Tirragen Knight bowed, grinning. A few squires came forward to help him remove the padded armor. Even in the heat, he had sweated through the battle. His tunic stuck to the pads inside the armor and most every noble lady relished in the fact that they had glimpsed his smooth, wry, body as his tunic flipped up, slightly, to reveal his chest and stomach. A stomach with a healing bruise on it. Like he'd been punched in the stomach. Or kicked.
With a scared memory, Abigail clutched Alanna's arm, "That dark-haired Knight-he's Alexander of Tirragen, is he not?"
"Yeah," Alanna nodded, not really interested, "Would you mind relenting on my arm? Ouch. Hey, why do you look so frightened? You look as if you've seen a ghost or something. Or-she paused-Abby, it's not Alex is it? It wasn't Alex that, you know?"
Her voice had dropped to a whisper. Abigail numbly nodded, staring at Alex like he was a mythical creature like a dragon or something. Could it really be that Alex of Tirragen had raped Abigail? Had he changed so much? Had he sunk that low? Alanna gritted her teeth, she hated what Roger had done to him. He'd as well as killed him.
'I've lost Alex,' she thought, feeling a strange sort of sadness, 'He's as good as dead to me now.'
"Alanna," Abigail choked out, "Please, get me out of here."
The Lioness obliged, forcing salty tears out of her angry eyes.
'I've lost a friend...'
"Alex? Of Tirragen?" Raoul repeated, blinking a few times, "Our Alex?"
Jonathan nodded, "It's what the maid, Abigail remembers and it's what Alanna claims. She says Roger probably got him to take a potion that would morphe his apperance to replicate Alan's."
"How did you figure this all out? The potion part that is?" Arram Draper demanded to the Lioness.
The young Trebond gulped, "Erm...I've known people who've taken it. Is it possible to do with such a potion?"
"Very much so," the mage nodded, rubbing his chin, "I never would've thought it. This time of potion is usually something noble ladies use to lengthen their hair or hide blemishes, it isn't known to be used for transforming people entirely. But it can be done. It was ingenuis for you to have thought of it, my lady."
Alanna's face flushed. She felt guilty for being called so smart and intelligent when it was only by fluke that she'd thought of it. They were lucky that they'd managed to gather all the information leading to Thom's trial just in the nick of time. His trial was this afternoon and they had about three hours to prepare a proper statement about why he was innocent.
"I can't believe Alex would just let Alan take the blame," Gary shook his head, "He's changed more than I thought."
Upon hearing the latest information they had, Jonathan, Gary and Douglass set about writing something up that was at least somewhat presentable. The rest paced about wondering what they would say and what they would do. Arram Draper was muttering to himself, thinking over what he'd say to the traditionalist jury when he was called up to be a witness. Alex would already be there so they had no need to worry over whether or not he would be there. He usually followed Roger where ever he went as of recent days.
Alanna hated him more than ever and couldn't wait to see his face when he got convicted of raping Abigail. Faithful rubbed against her ankles, comfortingly and the Lady Squire looked down at him, lovingly. She picked him up and cradled him close.
"This trial is going to be an interesting one," Alanna told him, almost grinning at the revenge that was to be her's.
'Yes,' Faithful purred, 'But I think what's going to happen before the trial is even more interesting.'
Alanna made a face, wondering what the godly feline was talking about. However, she knew it was pointless it ask since Faithful wasn't about to answer. He thought it would make life too easy for her.
'Ha,' she thought, perilously, 'My life has no chance of becoming even remotely easy.'
A surprisingly and heart-touchingly large group of people headed to the trial in support of Squire Alan before the second hour rang. Alanna had to admit she was intensely warmed that all these people had come because they refused to believe Alan of Trebond had raped anyone, even if all evidence pointed that way.
The Lioness walked ahead with Jonathan and Arram Draper on either side of her. Lady Winfred and Abigail had decided to go off ahead, so they were already in the Court Room, preparing themselves mentally for the excruciating trial that was to come.
From within the crowd, someone poked her back. She turned around, wondering who it could be. A hooded figure grinned at her. A toothy grin she had come to adore...George!
"Cooper!" she cried in an excited whisper, "What're you doing here?"
"Hidin' from my Lord Provost," he responded, snarkily, "And 'ere t'support Alan o' Trebond, o' course."
"Thank you," Alanna mouthed, truely overjoyed to see him there even though he could just as easily get caught. Then again, he was George Cooper, King of Thieves. Who knew? The Lady Squire blended back into the front of the crowd with the Prince and the foreign mage.
"What think you of our chances to win?" Alanna asked, forgetting to walk small and gliding like a proper lady and switching to full on manly strides.
"The battle is won," Arram said with such confidence that it made the Lioness feel reassured too.
They came back down to the lower parts of the palace, where the lights were dimmed and the dust loomed on every surface. It was a very gloomy place for very gloomy occasions. This was the same place someone else had probably been sentenced to death or life in the mines or worse. Who knew? But this one time, someone would get off clean.
As they came upon the lower ground door, Alanna noticed someone standing near its large wooden front, casually hanging about. The squire-made-lady squinted. Who was that? One that seemed so utterly unaware of the grave trial to follow? He looked like a traveler, someone who had just come from far away. His boots were stained and the ends of his long cloak were flecked and tinged with sludge. His hood was ragged and bits of shaggy black hair that pulsed through looked uncombed. Truthfully, he looked more like a bandit than a noble.
He straightened at the coming procession. The Lioness felt worried when she drew closer to him for some reason. Although, she ought not to. Who was safer than her? She had knights and squires all around her and hundreds of ready witnesses. No, she was perfectly safe.
It was then that she remembered what Faithful had mentioned. Something interesting happening before the trial? Could this man possibly be it? Speaking of the thing, was it a good thing or a bad thing? No, her cat would've warned her if she was in danger, right?
As they came upon him, he threw back his hood, grinning, "My, my, what a crowd."
The face of this stranger was shocking. He had shaggy black hair that was just an inch above his shoulder. That wasn't too exceptional. But his eyes, Mithros, his eyes were that of a deep Conte blue. His face structure was handsome and while he wasn't twin-faced to Jonathan as Abigail was, he was obviously related. A long scar ran along the length of his left cheek and, instead of ruining his appearance, it made him all the more attractive.
"Cousin Lincoln?" Jonathan sounded disbelieving, "Don't tell me it's you!"
"Tis, Princie, 'tis!" Lincoln laughed, throwing himself on his royal cousin, "You don't know how good it is to see you!"
"It has been too long!" the Crown Prince agreed, smiling now that he was over his intial shock, "What're you doing here?"
"I'm here to surprise my mother and sister. They've been away too long and I yearned to see them," Lincoln explained, "Where is my sister anyway?"
Alanna wanted to shrivel up and die. By the Black God! Lincoln would ruin everything! He had no clue about the mess and tangle of lies that had sprouted up over the weeks. He didn't know his sister was a servingmaid and that a she-male was pretending to be his sister. Alanna should've known this was going to happen! Abby had said that Lincoln had suggested a surprise for her...but not this! Even Faithful had hinted at it, but she had been too caught up with Thom and his trial to realized it. Perhaps she could escape yet...
"Here she is!" Geoffery revealed her with a shout, "Here's your sister!"
Alanna wanted to slap him upside the head. Grr...
"Where? Let me get a look at her," the royal Nephew demanded, eyes searching the crowd. He passed over Alanna which surprised everyone.
"Right here, my Lord," a freckle-faced page tugged his sleeve and pointed at Alanna.
Lincoln looked her up and down, completely and wholely confused, "You're not my sister."
Author's Note: I know. How much worse could it get, you ask? Well, looksie! Haha, anyways, next chapter should be up soon so you won't have long to wait. Next chapter...let's just say two people are found innocent of something, another is convicted of something else, and someone is thumped over the head.
winky-wink