Chapter 11

Alanna knocked on Duke Roger's door later that day. The door opened and Alanna saw Delia sitting in front of Roger.

"Ah, Lady Alanna," Roger remarked, getting to his feet. "Welcome." Alanna dipped a curtsy.

"I have to make this brief, your Grace. I am meeting someone in their rooms," Alanna told him. Roger raised his eyebrows and Delia frowned. She knew that "someone" was Jonathan. She stood.

"If you will excuse me, your Grace, Alanna," Delia said, curtsying to Roger. "I have someone to go." She left the room, and headed for the royal wing.

"What did your Grace want to speak with me about?" Alanna asked Roger. He smiled and sat back down.

"I just wanted to see how strong a Gift you possessed. I'm sure the Mirthran priests didn't teach you everything," he replied. Alanna nodded.

"They didn't want to teach me anything, at first." She smirked. "I talked them around." Roger laughed musically.

"I have no doubt you did. Now, if you please, I know your brother has healing magic. I have this paper cut, can you heal it?" Roger held out the palm of his hand, revealing a long, shallow cut across his palm.

"Too easy," Alanna snorted. She walked over and pressed her fingers to the center of the cut. She called on her violet fire and healed it right up. Roger smiled.

"Very good. Now, I want you to turn this cloak into a log," he instructed, placing an old, ratty cloak before her. Alanna sighed and shot a stream of violet fire to the cloak. It tried to hold its shape, but Alanna focused harder and it turned into a log. She used the violet fire to put the log in the fireplace. "You have excellent control."

"If I learned one thing about my magic," Alanna remarked, "it was that I need to be able to control it, otherwise it gets out of hand. Is that all, your Grace? Because I really must be going." Roger nodded.

"That's all." Alanna curtsied and left the room. She walked down the halls in the direction of Jonathan's chambers. When she reached the door, it was open a crack. She heard a familiar voice speaking to Jonathan, but she couldn't make out the words. Alanna looked through the crack and saw the back of a head- a head with brown hair. It could be any woman in Court. Many of them are brunettes, Alanna thought, but she had a feeling it was one particular brunette.

She watched as the brunette's face drew closer to Jonathan's until her lips were pressed against his own. Alanna gasped in fury and burst in. She swore colorfully, making the prince and the woman break apart. Alanna's heart sank to see that the woman was Delia, and she was smirking. Jonathan looked shocked.

"Alanna?" he asked.

"Yes, Alanna," she snapped. "I'm surprised you remember, your highness." She curtsied mockingly. "Excuse me for assuming anything after last night, your highness. It must have been my mistake." She turned snapping violet eyes onto the woman she had thought was her friend. "If I ever see you again, Delia of Eldorne, it will be too soon!" She stalked out of the room and to her own.

She burst into her rooms and slammed the door behind her. Her eyes burned with tears as she collapsed onto the bed. She buried her face in the pillow, sobbing. Why are you crying over him? A voice asked. He's not worth crying over. But Alanna still cried. Someone knocked on her door. She sat up and wiped her eyes.

"Who is it?" she asked, fighting to keep her voice even.

"I've a message for you, my lady," a voice replied.

"Come in," she instructed. The servant walked in and handed her an envelope. With a bow, he left and shut the door. Alanna tore open the letter.

Alanna- I didn't get a chance to tell you this before. If you ever need to send me a message, send it through the hostler Stefan. He's one of my men, and will see the letter gets to me as soon as possible. –George

Alanna smiled. The message couldn't have come at a better time. She went to her desk and sat down. She grabbed a sheet of paper and a quill. She dipped the feather in the inkwell and wrote:

Dear George,

I want to come see you. Can you have a room for me at the Dancing Dove by tonight? I need to get out of the palace. Personal matters, I'll explain later. I just received your note. Thank you very much for telling me, it came at the perfect time.

Alanna

She puzzled briefly over her closing. She obviously couldn't write "love"; she hadn't known him that long. "Sincerely" seemed too formal, "your friend" too casual, and "yours truly" didn't sounds right to her. She settled for simply writing her name. Alanna folded the note and sealed with wax. She rose and made her way to the stables.

Stefan took the note. "When d'ye want it there?"

"The sooner the better. I'd like for it to be in his hands within the hour," Alanna replied. "But, I know that's unreasonable." Stefan shook his head.

"Nay, milady. I can have it in his hands in ten minutes," he replied.

"If I'm going to be using this enough, you might as well call me Alanna," she told him. Stefan smiled.

"Aye, Alanna. Yer brother said th' same thin' when he started seen' his majesty more often," he replied.

"You call George 'his majesty'?" Alanna asked, surprised. Stefan nodded.

"Aye, that we d'. He's th' kin', ain't he?" Stefan replied.

"I suppose so…" Alanna said. "I have to go before I'm missed." She rolled her eyes. "If I'm missed."

"I'll send his reply when I get it," Stefan called after her.

"Thank you!"

Alanna froze when she entered her rooms. She remembered that Jonathan was Thom's knight-master. Now she couldn't see Thom while he was with Jonathan… She swore. I never should have kissed him, she thought. I should've known this would happen.

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Soon after, Alanna received a reply from George.

Alanna- there are no open rooms at the Dove. Unless you want to stay in my room, I can't get you a room of your own for three days. Sorry. –George

Alanna stared at the beginning of the second sentence. Unless you want to stay in my room… Unless you want to stay in my room… Unless you want to stay in my room… Could she? The Dancing Dove wasn't the palace. She didn't know anyone there who could accuse her of sleeping with him. And, despite George's "profession", Alanna was almost certain he was an honorable man. He wouldn't pressure her to sleep with him. Especially not when he knew her brother and so many others at the palace so well. He knew that if Alanna were to share his bed and she were to get pregnant, the Lord Provost would be on him before he knew what was happening. And she did have that charm that Cythera and Fiona had gotten her once boys had started to notice her. Alanna took a sheet of paper.

George- I'll be there at nine tonight. I'll share your room. No need to reply. –Alanna

She hoped he wouldn't withdraw his offer. She really needed to get out.

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George- I'll be there at nine tonight. I'll share your room. No need to reply. –Alanna

"Mithros," George whispered. He checked the time. It was four in the afternoon. Alanna would be in his room in five hours.

Just thinking about it sent his heart racing. There was something very casual about the way she had written it that made him wonder how many men's rooms she had shared.

Author's Note- ooh, intrigue! LOL. Have you all heard of the new TP book coming out in October, TERRIER, I think its called? Well, I preordered it yesterday. It looks good! It's about one of George's ancestors. REIVEW, please.