Chapter 6

Thom, Jonathan, and Alanna tied up their horses outside the Inn of the Dancing Dove. Alanna dismounted before anyone could help her. She removed her riding gloves and Thom held the door for them.

"Thom! Johnny!" a cry went up from the people inside. Alanna glanced at Jonathan.

"Jo-" she began.

"I'll explain later," Thom replied. He led the way over to a throne-like chair. The man sitting in it was tall and roughly seven years Alanna's senior. His eyes were hazel and his hair was brown. His nose was too large for good looks, but other than that, he was handsome. His skin was tanned, giving a golden shine to his hair. When the man smiled, Alanna saw that his teeth were gleaming white. He looked friendly enough.

"Thom! Johnny!" the man exclaimed, standing and coming over to them. He hugged Thom and Jonathan, and then looked at Alanna. "And who've ye brought this time?"

"George, this is my twin sister, Alanna. Alanna, this is my friend George Cooper," Thom introduced. George kissed Alanna's hand, keeping his eyes on hers. She blushed.

"Welcome t' th' Dancin' Dove, milady. I'm honored t' meet Thom's twin sister. I'm George Cooper, th' King of Thieves, th' Rogue," George said. Alanna smiled.

"A king?" she asked and curtsied. "The honor is all mine, your majesty." George laughed and hit Thom on the arm.

"I like yer sister, Thom!" George said. Thom frowned and rubbed his arm.

"Join the club," he muttered. Alanna put her arm around Thom's shoulder.

"Thom never mentioned you in his letters to me. But I suppose I know why," Alanna remarked.

"Please, sit down," George said. He knocked a man from his chair, making room for Alanna right beside him. Alanna sat down. Jonathan and Thom found seats and pulled the chairs over. Eyes on Alanna, George bellowed, "Solom! Solom, ye old drunkard, where are ye?" A small, chubby man scurried over and bowed.

"What can I help ye with yer majesty?" he asked.

"Get my friends whatever tickles their fancy," George replied. "What would ye like, milady?"

"It's Alanna. And an ale would be wonderful," she told Solom.

"Ale?" Thom squeaked. "Alanna, you're a lady!"

"And ladies don't drink ale?" Alanna inquired, gesturing to all the women in the inn with glasses of ale.

"If the lady wants ale, let her have ale!" George told Thom.

"A lemonade please, Solom," Thom sighed.

"And an ale for me as well," Jonathan put in.

"Anythin' for ye, yer majesty?" Solom asked.

"Give me what th' lady's havin'," he replied. Alanna smiled at George. Solom bowed and scurried off again. "How long have ye been in Corus, Alanna?"

"Oh, only a few days," she replied. "My presentation was last night."

"A proper court lady, are ye?" George asked. "An honor t' have ye in th' Dove."

"Please," Alanna replied, making a face. "If it were up to me, I would be close to knighthood at this point."

"You're a liar!" Thom accused. "When Coram told you women couldn't be knights, you forgot about it!"

"Well, what else would I do? Masquerade as a boy for some eight years?" Alanna demanded.

"I guess not," Thom said, turning crimson.

"Besides, I can learn swordsmanship and knight things as a lady, can't I? There isn't anything written that says I can't," Alanna told him. She glanced at Jonathan, who nodded in affirmation.

"Maybe we should not talk about this," George remarked. "It seems t' be a sore spot for ye two."

"Where ever did you get that idea, George?" Alanna wondered, shooting an icy glare at her twin.

"By the gods, Alanna! Leave me be!" Thom yelled. "You've been nothing but trouble since you got here!"

"What do you mean?" she demanded.

"Once you came, my friends all started going on about you! No one can think of anything else now that you're here! And it's not fair! Sometimes I wish you weren't my twin!" he replied.

"You're so selfish, Thom. You never wanted to share the glory. You always wanted to keep it all for yourself. Now you can't even handle that I've taken some of your attention. Well, guess what, Thom? Get used to it. Because I'm staying in Corus whether you like it or not," Alanna hissed. "You know what else, Thom? Being a knight isn't going to get you the glory you want. The only way you could ever get the glory you seek is if I were a boy!"

"I wish you were a boy! Then I could've gone to the City of the Gods and become a mage and you could've been the knight!" Thom snapped.

"I wanted to be a knight! But if I had suggested switching places, you wouldn't have agreed, you coward," Alanna retorted.

"I'd rather be a coward than a soft noble lady!" Alanna gasped in fury.

"How dare you?" she asked. "You may be the boy and taller than I am, but I can still best you in anything!"

"Oh, really?" Thom snorted.

"Yes, really! Don't test me, Thom! I've changed in six years," she said.

"I'll say. You're not my sister anymore."

His words stung Alanna. What did he mean? She was the same Alanna she had always been. Nothing had changed.

"What do you mean? I haven't changed!"

"Yes, you have! You never used to flirt with boys! You never used to care about what others thought about you, and now you care what that… Delia thinks of you more than you care about your own brother!"

"I was ten, boys weren't a concern!"

"You never used to want to wear dresses!"

"I got used to it!"

"The only thing that hasn't changed is your temper." Alanna swore and a violet fire appeared in her hand. She shot it at Thom, closing his mouth.

"How dare you talk to me like that, Thom of Trebond! I'm your sister, and you're jealous of me. Apologize or else I'll show everyone here that I'm stronger than you!" Alanna was fuming. George put a hand on her shoulder.

"Lass, now is not th' time for this," he whispered. Alanna spun on him, and met his eyes. George's hazel eyes were serious, and Alanna softened just looking into them. He was so handsome once you got past his nose.

"I think we had better go," Jonathan murmured. "Alanna, can you please take the magic off of your brother?"

"No," Alanna snapped. "His mouth is better shut."

Author's Note- some way to meet George, eh? And I got to write a scene with Alanna's temper. Those are always fun. REVIEW.