Hey everyone! I'm updating...and I'm doing two because I'm SO good :D
So yes, thanks for all of the reviews and Mary I put it up in three days so the mental hospital won't have to hurt you :D
Vonnie...You're my favorite person (for now...okay maybe not, but I lurv you :D)
Chelsea- Get better soon, I'm looking forward to your wit and comments, yes. Jon. Is. Pretty.
Enjoy the story!
Alanna of Trebond, first female knight, King's Champion, Woman who rides like a Man, and holder of many titles…was throwing up over the side of the boat.
She swore again as she felt sweat pour down the side of her face.
"Are you all right Alanna?" Came the concerned voice.
"Do I look all right Numair?" She snapped.
Numair simply sighed and returned to his book.
"Don't give me that…" Alanna snapped again, then leant over the rail again.
"What?"
Alanna wiped her mouth with her sleeve, "You're looking down on me, I hate it when people look down on me…" She glared at him.
Numair seemed to ignore her, getting Alanna more angry.
"You're lucky that I'm sick or else I'd…"
"Vomit me to death?" Numair struggled with a grin and then pretended to go back to his book.
"You're going to have a very nasty accident when we land…" Alanna muttered.
Numair chuckled, "But for now I'm in the position of power…" He grinned slightly.
Alanna swore and cursed at him.
"I see George has taught you new words, impressive…"
Alanna continued in a long line of insults and curses.
Numair sighed, shutting his book with a snap, "Are you always this testy?"
Alanna glared, and heard a wry chuckle, "Only on sea voyages…I got the galley to make some of the soothing tea…" Raoul grinned.
Alanna took it hastily, and was about to retort, when she felt something rising in her throat.
She could hear Numair and Raoul laughing.
Glaring, and muttering something about her sword, she retreated into her cabin to try to sleep.
The sun was beating down on them, barely shaded by the tent that had been puut up. Rikal mentally cursed at the king for dragging him out here. He was an artisan he had better things to do than parade around court like an animal.
Sea-water coloured eyes swept the harbor. His beautiful face was creased by a scowl. He hated the heat, when it was unbearable. He enjoyed warm and sunny days, but a day where there was no breeze to counter the heat…Rikal deepened the scowl and hoped the Tortallans would arrive soon.
"Cheer up brother, I hear there will be pretty girls aboard this ship…" The woman to his right teased, poking him slightly.
"Liya, go back to your books…" He snapped.
Liya adjusted copper rims and simply turned to the king to engage in conversation. Their other sister was not present, the king was always more lenient with her. Rikal scanned the crowd, but he still could not see her, giving up he simply turned his attention back to the ocean.
He saw a speck, a black dot on the horizon and he nudged Liya slightly. Amber eyes were pensive and a smile rose, "They are here…" She murmured.
Rikal saw the King straighten slightly and form a smile. Rikal himself took a breath and cleared his face. Forcing a smile on his face, he watched at the dot slowly formed to a ship.
He watched the parade of people come down. His sister, as infuriating as she could be, was right. They were many pretty girls on the ship, but two who caught his attention. A girl, blonde with blue eyes…she seemed to be awfully clingy to another man, though, a man with chestnut hair and hazel eyes.
Rikal turned his attention to the other woman, she was striking and eerily familiar. With a proper hairstyle, a fresh dress and some cosmetics she could be prettier than any other girl at the Gallan court. Her face was sour, probably from the heat. He saw her snapping to the man at her side…he smiled to himself. He would find her name and maybe talk to her later.
Still smiling he thought that maybe this day was not a total loss.
Alanna was bored, nothing had happened since they had landed in Galla. The king and Jon were talking, Jon seemed slightly shocked and rigid.
"People of Tortall," The king spoke with a slightly accented voice, "We will be moving across the Gallan country. Tonight and for the next night we will take residence on the shore. Please get comfortable, we may be riding for the next while until we get to our next residence, which is inland…Good day!" The king called, and was led off by servants.
Jon was slightly white when he came down to stand with his friends.
They were given fresh horses and followed the Gallan delegation to the compound.
The land was sprinkled with rocks, and the road they were to travel held a high incline, something Alanna wasn't looking forward to. She was surprised that the horses could climb it, but the horses were more muscular than that of the Tortallan horses.
There was no greenery, Alanna noticed. It looked like a beach, and Alanna assumed that inland would hold forests and trees, or something to provide shade. Right now, the rocky sands held no sign of cool.
Alanna swung up onto her horse and followed the group of people on the stone path. She felt sweat drip down her forehead and wiped it with her sleeve. She fanned herself with her hand, but this proved to be useless.
"Do you want one?" The soft voice came.
It was a fan, a paper fan that was fairly useful. Alanna took it and thanked the lady.
She smiled, "I'm Lillane…I know you're the Lioness."
Alanna nodded, leaving a silent question, why are you talking to me?
Lillane shifted slightly. She had dark hair that was pinned up behind her, and honey coloured eyes.
"We've heard a lot about you. I didn't actually believe you were ten feet tall…"
Alanna chuckled at this, and Lillane paused.
"I suppose I'm curious, I just wanted to see what you were like." Her voice pensive, her eyes bright with ideas.
"I'm mortal, if you're wondering." Alanna grinned.
Lillane giggled, "Not too many people say that anymore…either you're the witch slut or the hero whose name doesn't deserve to grace our tongues…" Her voice was even softer now, not soft enough to make people wonder what they were saying, but just enough so others would not hear.
Alanna was shocked to hear the fragile court lady in front of her use such language.
"That was…frank…"
Lillane was quiet for a moment and gave a worried look, "I'm sorry was that too frank?"
Alanna shook her head, "No, I just didn't expect it from … you…"
Lillane smiled slightly, "No one does, it's the dress…" She smiled slightly, and then turned slightly.
"What?"
"That man…is calling to you…"
Alanna turned too, she saw that Jon was indeed beckoning to her.
"I'm sorry Lady Lillane…"
"Just Lillane."
"Lillane, I will see you…Good day!"
"Good day Lioness!"
"Did you know?" Jon hissed slightly.
"Know what?"
"That Mimrath the King of Galla is a woman…?"
Alanna laughed, "Of course, you made me study it remember?"
"Study what?" Gary asked, riding beside them.
"Dresses, it was part of our deal…" Alanna cleared her throat. She didn't want the contents of their deal to be known, especially the part of her obeying every order Jon gave.
Gary nodded, if he suspected something he didn't say, "Did you two notice that Mimrath is…different from what we expected?"
Alanna smiled slightly, "I thought you did research…" She teased.
"Well, I've been busy, you know being Prime minister and everything…" He glared slightly.
"You didn't listen in history? That's right you were too busy sleeping…" She retorted.
Gary rolled his eyes, but smiled slightly, "I suppose you weren't? Myles had to wake you up sometimes because you were snoring so loudly…"
Alanna blushed, "I do not snore!"
He raised his eyebrows, "It was amazing that a noise that loud came from such a tiny creature…"
Jon nodded, "It was like a cross between a pig and a storm…but louder…"
Raoul rode in behind them, joining in the banter, "No, I say a trumpet, a hundred trumpets!"
"I don't know how George deals with it…" Jon teased, and Alanna glared at this.
"Well do you want to hear what I know or not?"
They fell silent.
Alanna smiled, recognizing the power she had over the three men, "All right, in Galla the king is a title based on the person and not the sex." She paused watching their eyes, when she saw no sign that she should stop, she continued.
"That's why Mimrath is a woman. I've heard other things about her, some rumors say that she was in line from birth, some say she was…more than friends with the current king. Either way she inherited the title…"
"What about the queen then, unless they condone…you know…" Raoul blushed slightly.
Alanna bit her lip to keep from laughing, "It's a case by case thing, in this case Mimrath was married to the MAN who wanted to become king Mitroth…"
The people in front of them stopped, and Alanna tried to sit up a little to see what was happening.
Raoul chuckled, "Poor little midget…" he sighed.
She glared at him, he who loomed almost a foot (maybe more) over her.
"I have better access to your shins though Raoul, so don't start!" She said sweetly.
Alanna smiled to herself, her friends were good people, and she did love them…but she swore that one day she may kill them…
Okay this chapter isn't that great, I'm putting all of my efforts into the tenth and eleventh chapters where I have some interesting plot twists in mind :D
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-MK