Chapter Ten: The Plan in action

Aly joined Maude, Thom, and Alanna in Alanna's room while Coram readied the horses. Thom had two letters in his hand. They were quickly opened, and Aly looked them over.

Duke Gareth of Naxen,

The name held up Aly. Gareth... She hadn't heard anything from him for about ten years. She hadn't written to any of her friends at court in nearly ten years. She would have loved to see Gareth after all these years. He was great company to be around, King Roald's champion, and the best swordsman in the Realm of Tortall. She shook her head to clear it, and finished reading the letters.

I entrust the care of my son, Thomas of Trebond, to you. Money will be sent quarterly to pay for his upkeep until such a time as you see fit to return him home. As I am busy with my studies, I trust the judgment of you in all matters.

I am in your debt,

Lord Alan of Trebond

The one to the convent was almost the exact same thing.

First Daughter,

I entrust the care of my daughter, Alanna of Trebond. She is to be trained to become a lady of Tortall. Money will be sent quarterly to pay for her upkeep until such a time as you see fit to return her home. As I am busy with my studies, I trust the judgment of you in all matters.

I am in your debt,

Lord Alan of Trebond

Thom got started on the copies, and when he was done, Aly checked them to make sure everything was in the letter that was needed.

Duke Gareth of Naxen,

I entrust the care of my son, Alan of Trebond, to you. Money will be sent quarterly to pay for his upkeep until such a time as you see fit to return him home. As I am busy with my studies, I trust the judgment of you in all matters.

I am in your debt,

Lord Alan of Trebond

First Daughter,

I entrust the care of my son, Thomas of Trebond, to you. He is to be trained as a sorcerer. Money will be sent quarterly to pay for his upkeep until such a time as you see fit to return him home. As I am busy with my studies, I trust the judgment of you in all matters.

I am in your debt,

Lord Alan of Trebond

"You two might actually pull this off." Aly stated as she gave the letters back to Thom and he carefully sealed them. Aly took the old letters, and threw them into the fireplace of Alanna's room, then used her purple Gift to start a fire burning them. It wouldn't due for a servant to find these and alert Alan of the fact that the children had "lost" the letters. Maude took Alanna into the dressing room to cut her hair. Aly stayed out in the main room with Thom and helped him into a riding skirt.

Aly looked at Thom once he was in the skirt. She nodded her satisfaction.

"Listen to me Thom." Aly said. Her son looked up at her. "I want you to remember to behave, and remember, if you talk about Alanna at all, you are identical twin boys now."

"I'll remember mother." Thom said somberly.

"And keep a head on you shoulders," Aly said. "Many sorcerers die young because they get obsessed with the power they can weld, and try to do magic they have no business doing. The gods don't take well to that sort of thing."

Thom looked at his mother thoughtfully. "Don't worry mother. I will work hard, but I'll know my limits."

"Promise me you'll never try magic you don't have. No parent should ever have to burry their child. Promise me you won't put me through that."

"Alanna is in more danger than I am, mother."

"Promise me, Thomas Alan of Trebond!"

Thom winced at the use of his full name. "I promise."

"Good," Aly said. "Now, go on out to the horses. I'm sure Coram has them ready by now."

Thom nodded, and left.

Unlike her husband, who had returned to his library as soon as he had finished instructing Maude and Coram, Aly saw her children off with the rest of the household. Coram, Maude, Alanna, and Thom waved as they left. Aly closed her eyes and sent a prayer to the Great Mother Goddess.

Please protect them both, great mother. Help Thom keep his promise to me. Help Alanna to see the path laid out for her. Keep them both safe from whatever dangers they cross. I can not handle loosing either of them.

"So mote it be." she whispered, tears blurring her vision. She looked at the road. Coram, Maude, Alanna, and Thom were too far away to be seen now. The servants had returned to their duties.

I am sorry this is so short, but it is just a filler chapter and I felt it was important to show Aly seeing Alanna and Thom off.

Review Reply

none: Thanks! And I am glad you can't wait to find out what I do with Alan, because that means you will keep coming back to read the later chapters to find out what happens.

DomLuver: Thanks! Yes, there are going to be MANY more chapters...this story is planned to go through Lioness Rampant, and maybe even farther, I haven't decided yet.

zropin: There will be Aly/Gareth later in the story, because Alan was really cold as a father in the books, and I am sticking to that, but there will be flashbacks in the story where Aly finds some qualities she likes and even loves about Alan, so look for those!

Merkaba7734: Thanks!

The Shang Kudarung: Yes, Aly will change things in this story, but most are going to be small details here and there, so you have to keep your eyes open or you WILL miss them.

Kate of Carlay: The cogs are turning in the right direction if they are going where I think they are going. My mother had gotten things out of me that way too, and she did it after catching my uncle successfully do it!

brezzybrez: Thanks!

elf warrior princess: Nope, she didn't die! Thanks I am glad you think that was a great chapter.

dares to dream: Thanks! I am glad you liked this disclaimer! It took me and three friends to come up with that, so I am glad you liked it. On to the story: Thanks! And I laughed at the comment about Alanna screaming as I wrote it too...I think it is because the book talks about her being so afraid of her gift when she is younger.

LittleMissGiggles'94': You have not seen the end of the promise ring, let me put it that way ;) but I will be sticking to TP's books a lot.

imokit: Thanks!

a happy camper: This story is focused mainly on Aly, which is why I put the first nine chapters in about Aly BEFORE the twins. Keep reading and reviewing to get more!

ShadowMoonDancer: I don't give away secrets like what you wanted to know. So, I get to hold you in suspense, and you get to keep reading to find out what happens next! (insert evil laugh here)