Here is the next chapter. It is kind of short, but I couldn't type anymore because I have to leave now.

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Alanna quickly snuck back into the palace after her secret meeting with Leland. She found her way into the servant sleeping and living quarters quickly.

She found she was thinking about how much fun it was for her to learn how to use the many weapons that Leland had.

As she thought of all of this she wasn't watching where she was going. When she neared her rooms she ran into someone hard and fell over.

When she picked herself up off the ground she was ready to yell at the person who had run into her. "What do you think you are doing, running around on the dead….Thom?" Alanna started.

"Sister, what in the world are you doing out of your room? You told me you were going to retire for the night hours ago," Thom asked suddenly confused as he recognized his twin sister.

"It doesn't matter what I am doing. I would like to know what you are doing. And what is with those books that you are carrying. They must weigh at least ten pounds," Alanna ranted as she sized up the items Thom was carrying with him.

"Well if you promise you won't tell…" at Alanna's pointed look he continued. "I will tell you once we get back to your rooms. But only if you tell me what you are doing out tonight too.

"Fine, let's go before anyone else sees us," Alanna said as she looked around the hallway nervously.

When the two twins entered Alanna's room she looked around quickly. Coming to the conclusion that she had not left any of her knives or other weapons laying around she let Thom in the rest of the way.

"Well" Thom started, "I am out because I am reading these books. No one else knows so you can not tell anyone that I am doing it. I think that slaves' learning to read in Carthack is illegal."

"I won't tell your secret if you won't tell anyone mine," Alanna told Thom. When Thom nodded his head vigorously she continued, "I was out in the city…"

"What in the blazes were you doing out there? I thought that your collar was set so you couldn't leave the university grounds," Thom pondered.

"Well, someone I know changed it for me. I can only get into the city. I was running an errand for him once and he changed it," Alanna sat on the bed and started to take off her shoes.

"Do you think that he could take off the charm permanently? I mean if he could than we could get out of here so fast. And then we could go back to Tortall even." Thom crowed happily.

"I do not think he would do that for me, or you. He only left my collar as it was because he owed me a debt for risking going out into the city," Alanna said dejectedly while Thom's expression sunk.

"Would you know what he said as he lengthened the collar radius? If you did I could duplicate the spell or incantation or something," Thom was pacing around the room. "I have been looking for a way to get rid of my collar since I found the library. I have searched tome after tome. Everywhere I Look it says that it is a secret that most families take to the grave with them. They only pass it on to some of their children."

"He said something I did not understand. It was like a different language or something. I don't know," Alanna was getting exasperated.

"Okay then. Would you explain to me why you were out in the city then. I would like to know," Thom stopped pacing in defeat.

"Well, when I delivered the package that Arram gave me I met someone that promised that they would teach me to use some different kinds of weapons better. That is honestly were I went tonight," Alanna confessed.

"It figures. That certainly sounds like one of the stupid plans you would follow out. How long have you been meeting this guy that teaches you these fighting techniques? And are you sure that you are safe with him," Thom demanded.

"Yes I am. He may not be the most respectable person in all of Carthack, but he is always nice to me," Alanna informed Thom. "He even gave me some of his old knives so that I could practice while I was staying at the university or he was out doing something and couldn't train with me.

"If you think you know what you are doing than I will not stop you. But Alanna please be careful. I need your help to get out of here. I don't think that I could find a way out of here without you," Thom said walking towards the door. "I will see you in the morning sister. Please stay out of trouble until then."

"Bye Thom, I will see you in the morning," Alanna called after him as he closed her door and went to his own room.

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A/N: I will be going to a family reunion for the next week or so. I will not have much time to write so I am not quite sure when the next chapter will be out. I will try to get it done fast for you.

As always I would like to thank all of my reviewers from the last chapter, and remind everyone that has read this chapter to review. Just give me one more minute of you time and leave me a little note. I will make me happy.

Thank You

ColossalSky