Thanks for the reviews everyone! Sorry to be late in the updating!
-MK
Jon raised an eyebrow.
"So?"
"I'm going to Galla."
He sat down in his chair, quite heavily. He looked like someone had draped lead over his shoulders.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm very sure."
"May I ask why?"
Alanna drew in a short breath, "Thayet is not coming on our trip because of her pregnancy. We can't let the Gallans catch a whiff of weakness they'll either attack or bethrothe you, neither of which is acceptable since you have a daughter to take care of…" Jon gave her an expecting look, "Kalasin…you have to take care of Kally, Jon," she muttered something, "Anyway, like I was saying I need to be there to make sure nothing happens and I could get into the heart of Galla to find everything out…"
"Alanna, I will let you go on three conditions," He paused.
"What?"
Jon counted off fingers "One, you have to listen to everything that I tell you/order. Two you will research Galla thoroughly more than even Gary would research Galla…more than Myles even." Alanna's eyes widened slightly, but Jon ignored this, "Three you have to be a perfect Lady."
Alanna's mouth dropped, "That's hardly fair...I'm supposed to be.."
"The Lioness, I know. However, the Lioness is no good in Galla, the last thing we want is to create a ripple. You're not carrying a sword, you can carry daggers, but you'll have to wear dresses for formal and semi-formal occasions."
"But Jon…"
"Besides men aren't the ones who'll reveal their secrets, but women. Women are known to gossip…in Galla I meant." Alanna gave him a warning glance.
She paused for a second and then said, "If I agree to this, I'm also bringing Ali along…"
Jon opened his mouth and shut it, "She's your daughter."
"Thank you, I will see you on the day of departure." She said curtly
The next day held a small meeting in the conference room. Everyone was there except for a certain knight (Two guesses who…?)
When she came in, people all had to pinch themselves.
Alanna wore a pale purple dress, and she glared at Jon, making sure to sit the farthest seat from him. She gave death glares to anyone who made any comments.
She didn't mind dressing up, but being forced into a dress was a completely different thing. She could barely walk properly in the stupid bundle of cloth.
"My, my Alanna, you're starting to look like a lady…" Numair grinned.
"Numair, do you know what happened to the last man who made a comment about my femininity?" Alanna asked sweetly.
"What?"
"He wasn't heard from again…now can we start this?" Alanna asked in her sweetest possible tone. She turned to the rest of the council room and sighed.
"Why the dress lass?" George asked.
"I made a deal with his royal pain in the highness that if I were to come I'd be a lady" She muttered something that Jon ignored.
"So shall we start this meeting?" Jon was pleasant, trying to get more people to relax.
"Galla is not well known to us. I do know that they have had many civil wars in the last little while, but have rebuilt themselves. The Gallans are (like the Islanders) a little crazy because of inbreeding. They seem to be fairly peaceful, but not enough so that we may just sleep. They have many traditions that we MUST follow, and they have many practices that we may not agree with. However, I would not try anything if I were you…" Myles shot a look at his former pages.
"It was Gary's fault…" Alanna said, whistling slightly and looking away. She nudged Gary who caught on.
"I'm sorry, but the frogs were ALL Raoul," Gary grinned catching on.
"No, the frogs were Jon's idea, the mud was mine…" Raoul's look was innocent.
"I didn't do the frogs, I did the honey, remember with the bees?" Jon smiled.
"No, no Jon. You were the one who yelled RUN, I was the one who set up the honey and the wire to trip them…" Alanna said looking intently at him.
"Yes, but I put the mud in front of the wire and the freezing cold bucket of water outside the door…" Gary mused.
"The Mithran Priests never treated us the same…" Raoul grinned.
"You wondered how I passed Math…" Alanna
Duke Gareth sighed, "I tried and I tried, but when one is given nuts, you may only make butter with it…"
"Are you saying we're smooth and creamy?" Gary asked with wide eyes.
"No, Duke Gareth is obviously saying… what are you trying to say your grace?" Jon asked.
"He's saying that we stick to your teeth…" Raoul grinned.
"Or that we need to be followed with a good glass of milk…" Alanna suggested.
Myles coughed, "Anyway, like I was saying, we're leaving at the end of tomorrow. The boat ride will be long and…"
Alanna paled quite obviously, "B..B…Boats?" She asked.
"Yes Alanna, unless you have found a magical way to fly to Galla…" Raoul teased.
"Stop it, you're the one who had to come back with me after the Dominion Jewel." Alanna snapped.
"Aye, is it true ye'were greener than the grass, that the Lioness actually has a weakness?" George teased, making several people mock-gasp.
Jon cleared his throat, hiding laughter, "Well now that this is settled I supposed we should all get packed, George and Thayet would you stay for a second?"
Alanna lingered before Jon shot her a look that told her to leave.
"I can take a hint…" she muttered.
She ran into Gary outside, "Are you eavesdropping Mr. Prime Minister?"
"Either join or go away and shush, I'm trying to listen." Gary pressed his ear to the door, and Alanna mimicked him. Pressing her ear to the door, she used a little of her gift to draw the sounds out.
"What!" Came two voices.
"It's very clear you're having a difficult pregnancy Thayet, you have to rest. I can think of no one whose hands I'd rather you to be in."
"What do you mean Jon?"
"George isn't required to come like the rest of us. Alanna is the only exception as she too had a baby, but you heard her decision," Jon sighed loudly.
"Jon, are you sure t'is wise to let me stay with Thayet?" Alanna could picture George turning red slightly.
"George, I trust you, to take care of Thayet, I can't leave her alone. Besides, everyone else who's leaving is a high position in court. No offense, but you're an expendable position. I think you're better off here watching after the queen, than in the middle of Galla. You're trained in self defense and spot a fishy situation from miles away, I can't think of anyone I'd rather have in your position…"
With that, she heard them get up, and Gary knocked her out of the way and behind a wall hanging. Just in time, it appeared, as the door swung open and George and Thayet came out.
"Thanks…" She whispered. She heard two sets of footsteps leave and grow faint, but the third was missing.
"I've always wondered about the artwork Father put up…" Jon remarked to no one at all, and then he pushed aside the hanging to find Alanna and Gary.
"I'm sure Cythera will be heartbroken." He said, struggling to hide a smile.
Alanna flicked her hair behind her and rolled her eyes, "Don't start Jon, we were merely having a cabinet meeting." She coughed slightly.
"About what?"
"About…" She nudged Gary.
"…The Ganthorp Act…" Gary substituted.
"Really, and what have you learned Alanna?"
"The …Um… The…"
"I can't believe you weren't listening to what I was saying! Mithros Alanna, do I have to explain everything. That was the third time, and I even took the liberty of doing it in private…" Gary threw his hands up and walked away.
Alanna threw a weak smile at Jon.
"You are a terrible liar!" He grinned, slinging his arm around her shoulder.
"You are a terrible person, so we even each other out!"
Jon feigned hurt, "How am I…?"
"You're trying to set up George and Thayet, shame on you."
"Alanna." It was a warning that she was going too far, but Alanna ignored it.
She pushed his arm off her shoulder, "You should know that I'm planning to marry George…"
"What makes you think this has anything to do with you?" Jon shot at her.
"It obviously has nothing to do with you!" She retorted.
"How do you know this?"
"You're transparent...!"
"I am not..."
"Are too!"
Jon rolled his eyes, and Alanna frowned slightly.
"I'm happy we didn't marry because you're so bloody infuriating!" Alanna yelled as she stormed down the hall.
Review!
-MK