Chapter Thirteen: The Convent and the Palace

A week after Aly had decided to go to Corus, she was arriving in the City of Gods. Soon, she arrived at the convent. A footman helped Aly out of the carriage, and she gave a small shudder, as she remembered the last time she had been here.

[Flashback]

"Oh, I am going to miss the convent." Jane said as she waved good bye to some of her friends in other carriages.

"I'm not," Aly said. "Once that carriage gets here, I am climbing in and never coming back."

"There are so many great memories here." Jane continued as if she hadn't heard Aly. "All the friends I've made, besting you in needlework, in penmanship, in etiquette, in dancing, and of course there are all those times when the young boys training to be sorcerers would always flirt with me and never flirt with you."

"You're right, Jane, there are so many good memories here." Aly said. "Like the time I let ten mice loose in your rooms, or the three frogs in your bed. Then there are the countless times I filled a bucket with mud, and rigged it to fall on your head when you opened the door. Oh! AND the time I got you distracted, then placed that big spider on top of your food at supper."

"I just don't know what the younger girls will do without me to guide them."

"If they're smart, they will be celebrating the fact they never have to listen to you again." Aly mocked.

Jane glared at Aly. "You are a barbarian, Alianne of Blue Harbor."

"Yeah, I am. But you know, I might outgrow that one day. However, you will never stop being a worthless and poor excuse for human flesh."

[End of Flashback]

She shivered. Now, Jane of Trebond was her sister-in-law, married to someone that Aly couldn't remember the name of, and didn't care enough to find out. She had vowed to never come back, and now she was coming on her own free will.

Thom was in the middle of his last lesson before the convent broke for lunch, and the Daughters refused to pull him out. They did, however, show Aly to Thom's rooms, and promise to inform him she was there after his class. They also promised to bring lunch for the two of them in his rooms.

"Mother? What are you two doing here?" Thom asked as he walked in.

"I'm here to see you before I go to Alanna in the capital."

"Why are you going to Corus? Does father know?"

"Relax, your secret is still safe." Aly said, "I am going back to court, because I miss court, and I miss my friends there."

"How long are you staying in court?" Thom asked.

"I am going to be buying housing" Aly said. "I'm not sure when I will be returning to Trebond."

Thom looked at his mother. "Is everything alright with you and father?"

"We had a small argument about a week ago, but it is over."

"How small?"

"That is none of your concern." Aly said. "Now, why don't you tell me what you have been up to?"

Aly smiled as she ate dinner with Thom in his rooms. There had been a few times where she wondered if she had done the right thing by helping with the switch. After hearing Thom talk about all the classes he was taking and how much he enjoyed it, there was no question that she had made the right choice. Thom loved the life he was leading, and when the Daughters handed him over to the Mithran priests, she knew he would enjoy that too.

"So Thom, I'll be staying here for a few days. I would love to meet all your friends."

Thom avoided his mother's gaze.

"Thom?" Aly asked, frowning. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing." Thom said quickly.

Aly studied her son closely for a moment. "Something's wrong, I can tell," she said. "What is it?"

"I told you, it's nothing!" Thom all but snapped.

Then it dawned on Aly. "Thom...have you made any friends?"

"So, how is Maude?" Thom said.

"She's fine." Aly said. "Now, answer my question."

"And father? Is he well?"

"Thomas, you are purposely avoiding my question." Aly said sternly. "Have you made any friends here?" Aly put her fingers under Thom's chin and forced him to look up at her. She saw the answer to her question in his eyes.

"Thom, everyone needs friends...especially mages. They do such dangerous work, and not everyone will like their experiments. They need people to do experiments with and to just have fun with."

"The Daughters keep us boys busy getting us ready for the cloister." Thom said. "We don't have much time to socialize."

"Is it that you're not given time...or that you don't take advantage of the time?"

"Mother, I have work to do." Thom said. "It's been a wonderful afternoon, but perhaps you should go to the rooms the Daughters are providing for you while you stay here." he got up, and held the door open. Aly knew a dismissal when she saw one.

"Very well." Aly said, getting up. "I can't begrudge you for wanting to get your work done. Your father isn't paying for you to laze about all day." She stepped out into the hall "Thom, think about what I said." she said.

Thom didn't say anything. He merely nodded, and shut the door.

Aly spent the next few days worrying about Thom. She knew she had hit a sore spot when she talked about friends. He made up some excuse or another, making it where he couldn't eat with her, so she ate alone. Once or twice, she had gone to the Dining Hall, and Thom had avoided her gaze completely. She also saw he didn't talk to anyone, and no one talked to him.

The day she left, she was a little surprised to find Thom came out to say good-bye to her. She noticed him walk out as she was talking with the First Daughter, who Aly remembered from her days at the convent. This woman had been in Jane's crowd, so the only relationship Aly had with her was a pranker/prankee relationship.

"Please have any letters or progress reports regarding Thomas sent to the palace." Aly was telling her. "My husband is a very busy scholar, and I am going to the palace to see my other son, Alan."

"Of course, Lady Alianne" Aly saw the disapproval in the woman's eyes. If her husband remained at Trebond, that is where Aly needed to be according to the rules of society. Aly ignored it. Alan was not your typical lord husband, and she was not your typical lady wife. Besides, the queen had all but ordered her to come, and Alan didn't like court.

When Aly was done talking with the Daughter, Thom escorted her to the waiting carriage.

"Tell Alan hello for me." Thom said.

"I will," Aly said. "Keep in touch with me."

Thom nodded.

"Remember, send all letters to the palace."

"I'll remember." Thom said.

"Alan will want to hear from you too, you know." Aly said, "Make sure you write to him too."

"I will." Thom said. He did his best to help Aly into the carriage, but the footman did most the work, since Aly was taller than her son. She arranged her skirts, and Thom placed a hand on the carriage door.

"Safe journey to the capital, mother." Thom wished.

"Thank you. Shall I write to you to let you know I arrived safely? I planned to write your father and let him know." Aly said. "Good luck with your studies. I am very proud of you."

"Thank you, and yes, I would like to know you are safe, and how Alan is doing with his studies."

"I'll have him write to you and include it with my letter." Aly promised. Thom nodded one last time, and closed the carriage door. Aly blew a kiss to her son as the carriage took off with a jolt. She turned in her seat, and stuck her head out of the carriage window. Thom was standing there, watching her. She stuck out a hand, and waved good-bye. Thom lifted his hand, and waved back.

(The Palace of Tortall)

Alanna sat in the middle of Sir Myles' history class, when Timon, Duke Gareth's manservant came to the classroom, and bowed.

"My apologies for disrupting your class, Sir Myles," Timon said. "His Grace asked me to bring Alan of Trebond to him as soon as possible."

Alanna glanced at Jon, Gary, Raoul, and Alex. Gary and Jon both mouthed, 'What did you do?' She shrugged.

"Go on, Alan, don't keep his Grace waiting." Myles said.

Alanna nodded, and walked out of the classroom. Before leaving, she shot Jon, Gary, Raoul, and Alex one more look, and saw they were all watching her with huge eyes. Ralon sat in one desk, smiling to himself.

What lies did Ralon tell Duke Gareth about me? She thought. She motioned to Jon to look at Ralon, he did, and tapped Raoul's shoulder, who tapped Gary's, who tapped Alex's. They all got a dark look on their faces.

"Alan, I suggest you hurry along now." Myles said.

Alanna bowed, "Yes, Sir Myles."

Alanna arrived at Duke Gareth's office door and right before knocking on the door, stopped. Was that...laughter? She listened closely. It was! Duke Gareth was laughing in there...and there was someone else in the office, from the sound of another laugh...and the second laugh was feminine!

Alanna silently contemplated the possibilities. Gary had said that his mother had been dead for a few years, so the woman couldn't be Duke Gareth's wife...maybe the queen? She was his sister after all…maybe they were reliving childhood memories.

There was only one way she would find out, and she had to see the duke anyway. She knocked on the door.

Review Replu

ShadowMoonDancer: You will have to keep reading to find out if I kill of Alan or not. I am glad you like it

The Shang Kudarung: Thanks!

mwahahahaha: Thanks

LittleMissGiggles'94': This chapter answered your question. Yes, Gareth was in that chapter

TwilightPrincess2008: You're right, hsitorically it would not be acceptable for a proper woman to be at court without a male. But when did I ever say Aly was a proper woman?

inktongue: You'll find out when Alan dies (or even if he dies)

Kate of Carlay: Thanks!

Lady Light: I really hadn't thought of Alan as dull...I had thought him more as smart because he knew he couldn't win...but I looked at that sectionafter I got your review, and you are right.

brezzybrez: I am glad you liked it!

Litara: I am glad you liked it. Yes, there is a rift there, you will learn a little more about that in later chapters. As to your question on Aly telling Duke Gareth Alanna's secret...I can't tell you, it is part of the plot

Merkaba7734: Yep, Aly is coming to the palace

dares to dream: Glad you liked it

Lady Zarobiti: Thanks! Glad you liked it!

elf warrior princess: Thanks!

zropin:You'll have to wait to see the reaction Gareth has to Aly

Lady Loepard: Thanks! You'll see how Alanna deals with her mother and Gareth's courtship in a few chapters

a happy camper: If you get any ideas, let them come my way, I love using ideas. I am glad you liked it.

performer001: thanks!

Sara Jane: I am glad you liked it!