CHAPTER 1, WEAPONS.

Here is a message for why should I tell you, who reviewed King Jon of the many animals, and said Alanna deserved George, and Jon is a jerk. I thoroughly agree.

Jon is a jerk, Jon is a jerk. Alanna deserves better, Jon is a jerk. Jon is a jerk.

Please review, because this story has been up for 2 weeks, and I have 4 Reviews. 2 reviews from people I told to review it, 1 review from myself, and one unprompted review. Here are my replies. P.s. somebody recommend me a violent historical book!

Confusedknight: I can't tell you what's going to happen next. It would spoil the plot!

Saphron: of course it was short. It was a prologue!

Charlie and Lola: it's going to be just about everyone you can think of!

Alanna, after questioning had found out a bit more about her travelling companions. As she says, even a person with insanity in their family can join someone blindly and jump in head first, without knowing anything about her companions.

So she found out this.

1 The twins were not mages, but their mother was, and if they tried really hard, they could shape shift.

2 Martin was a mercenary, wanting to bring glory to Tortall and fed up of serving causes he does not like

3 They were going deep into Galla, which involve either, wild courage, some kind of bet/debt, or the same source of insanity that was in Alanna's family.

4 Cassandria was an unofficial knight/soldier/mercenary.

Leenagh was a Shang warrior who stopped training too early, because of some private reason of her own.

What's that, said Alanna, gesturing to a rough cloth and leather piece of material, and a pouch of stones tied to Leenagh's large brown belt, holding up her long rough homespun tunic, which went down to her knees in the Shang style. This tunic covered up a grey shirt, that may once have been white, and a pair of beige jodhpurs, indicating that there had not always been a lack of horses. "It's my sling," said Leenagh "Cassandria is the real expert at the sling though. I am best with the glaive. I got it during my training at the Yamani islands." Alanna looked puzzled. "A glaive?" "Yes. It is a long staff, nearly five feet tall, and topped with round about 17 inches of sharp strong steel at the top. You use it mostly if you are a lady, and it is very useful."

The two of them ran on ahead, and in a clearing outside the path trough the wood that they were travelling through. She began to perform a pattern dance. An intricate combination of swings and twists at a remarkable speed, showing exactly why many people considered the glaive to be one of the most deadly Yamani weapons.

A few hours of walking later, Cassandria was giving Alanna a sling demonstration. Alanna as almost shocked to see Cassandria whirled the sling about her head, threatening to spin away any second, and then released it to hit any target asked of her with surprising strength. In return, Alanna taught the two girls about bows and arrows and swords, and she certainly picked up a few Shang methods of combat.

Then it came to Martin. Martin could use almost any weapon he picked up. Longbow, crossbow, sword, his own hands, spears halberd, glaive, dagger, and sling. All Alanna could teach him was how to use a lance, but since they had no horses or lances, it was pretty useless. Also, martin was so muscley, (and handsome Alanna thought) the lances would have just broken anyway.

(Weapons, my favourite-m.p.24)

Later that evening, Cassandria and martin were talking about Alanna, after everyone should have gone to bed. Alanna and Leenagh were asleep.

"She is nice," said Cassandria" and strong, and brave, and everything I wish I could be."

"And beautiful."

"What did you say?"

"Don't go getting jealous. I still love you, even if she is quite attractive, and very pretty."

He tightened his grip on her hand, and helped her t stand up. Wordlessly he touched his lips to hers, and cradled her head in his hands, and she returned his kiss. They stayed like that for several minutes, until martin returned to sentry duty, and Cassandria went to sleep.

p.s. Please review, I'm desperate. Next chapter as soon as I can, (That's not saying much!)