Author's Note- at my last check, I had 100 reviews. Thank you so much for that! I'm so glad people are enjoying this enough to review it.

Chapter 18

"Sitting here counting the hours/Waiting for the sun to kiss the sea/Paralyzed by the fragrance of flowers/They remind me of you and me." –Seven Days Without You, Teddy Geiger, UNDERAGE THINKING

"Welcome t' th' Wanderin' Bard," the man welcome them from behind the bar. "What can I d'ye for?"

"We need… two rooms," Alanna replied.

"Two?" the man asked.

"Both with two beds," Alanna responded, lest he think she was with Raoul, or gods forbid it, Coram.

"Let me see what I've- Mithros!" The man caught sight of something on Alanna. She was sure it was the ring on her left hand. She cursed herself for not leaving her gloves on. Everyone knew about her ring. And everyone knew that the heir to Tortall was engaged to Sir Alanna of Olau, the Lioness. She made a mental note to leave the ring off when she walked around.

"Is it really ye?" the man asked.

"If you mean is she really Sir Alanna of Olay, th' Lioness, then yes," Coram snapped. "She is not here t' be treated like a lily-footed noble just because she's t' be queen someday!"

"Its an honor t' meet Sir Myles' heir," the man said. "I'm Winfield, owner of th' Bard." Rose hid a smile while Coram turned pink. "But I didn't know ye were betrothed t' th' heir."

"Its not something she wishes to advertise," Raoul told Winfield. "Now, sir, if you could give us our rooms, we're quite tired." Winfield wasn't about to argue with a knight as big as Raoul was. Especially when the stocky, petite redhead beside him was one of the greatest swordsmen in the Eastern Lands. Winfield nodded and produced keys. Rose took one while Raoul took the other. Winfield directed them to their chambers and informed them that dinner was to be served at 6, and that food went fast.

As Alanna walked through the common room, she noticed a redheaded man watching her with blue-green eyes. His face was pock marked and ruddy, and he was muscular. Alanna met his eyes, searching for if he was friend or foe. His eyes were unreadable, and he simply raised his glass to her slightly.

"Come, Alanna. I want to nap," Rose said. "You can come back soon." Alanna tore her eyes from the man and followed Rose to their room.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Immediately after she unpacked, Alanna went back to the common room. The man was still in his same seat. He beckoned Alanna to him, and she sat. Winfield hurried over and asked what she wanted to drink. She ordered lemonade, because she wanted to be at her wits with this strange, guarded man. She noted that he carried no weapons. The only people who didn't carry them were fools or those with no use for them. Winfield brought her lemonade back. Alanna watched the man across from her as she took a sip.

"Why do you keep staring at me?" she asked, getting straight to the point.

"Because I've heard a lot about you," he replied, eyes still guarded and blue-green. Alanna made a face.

"I want to go somewhere where no one's heard of me," she admitted. "You may know about me, but who are you?"

"If I tell you, you'll know much about me as well," he replied.

"But are you going to tell me anyway?"

"Maybe."

"I'm Sir Alanna of Olau. Also known as the Lioness, and I'm the first lady knight in over a century, as well as the future queen of Tortall."

"I know who you are."

"All of that?"

"Yes."

"How did you know about that last part?"

"I've seen pictures of that ring you have on your finger." Alanna fiddled with the gorgeous ring on her finger. "It will be hard to fight with that rock on your hand."

"I plan on taking it off," she snapped. The man's eyes danced.

"Good. I knew you were a better fighter than that."

"Who are you?"

"Liam Ironarm."

"The Shang Dragon!"

"Well… yes."

"Goddess bless, everyone knows who you are!"

"I could say the same about you."

"Why are you here?" Liam shrugged.

"Why are you?"

"There's a tournament Sir Raoul of Goldenlake and I have entered in."

"And what about your other friends?"

"Rose needed an adventure and Coram is my guard."

"You need a guard?"

"He and my mother insist. And he's one of my best friends."

"I see."

"And I have this map…"

"A map?"

"Yes. My father wants me to bring it to someone."

"I see."

"Yes. I got it from a sorceress, who told me to give it to the headman of my Bazhir tribe, who told me to keep it."

"And you brought it to your scholar father to see if he could read it?"

"You know too much about me, Liam Ironarm. Am I your hobby?"

"I make a point of knowing local gossip. Makes me blend in better." He smiled and Alanna's heart fell. His smile reminded her of Jonathan's. And the way his eyes danced made her think of Jonathan, too. Even the way he spoke to her, like an equal, made her think of her betrothed. Only, Jonathan was proper in his speech, and Liam had the commoner lilt.

"I should go," Alanna said. "Raoul wanted to go for a ride. I hope to meet you again."

"I hope so. I enjoy talking with you, Alanna of Olau."

"Just Alanna, please."

"Alanna. A lovely name."

"Thank you. My mother is Eliena."

"Another lovely name."

"Thank you."

"Lovely names for lovely women."

"Excuse me." Alanna blushed and hurried to find Raoul.

He had no right to say that to her. She was betrothed, Bright Mithros! But, it was still nice to be told that she was lovely.

Author's Note- NO, Liam and Alanna are not and WILL NOT be together. YES, the map that leads them to the Dominion Jewel. And, yes, I WOULD like reviews thank you.