Chapter 5. I know, I know, what took me so long? I don't know, just haven't got around to writing. Sorry guys! Anyway, I just finished Trickster's Queen (Great Book!) and was inspired to update. So here's chapter five. To answer a few questions... As I was first starting to write this story, after typing 'Nond' like twenty times, I realized that it sounded way to familiar to be just from SotL. Then I was like "Paxton!" and I remember than he was Joren's knightmaster. Not to worry, Paxton will fit in said story, I haven't forgotten! (yet) As for Francis not being so bright... well this chapter will deal with that. So enough said, enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: The characters, places, and many of the events in this story belong toTamora Pierce and come from her book Alanna: The First Adventure, in the Song of the Lioness series.


Francis watched attentively as the horse and rider trotted easily around the riding ring. In just two weeks, Alan and Yonder had become quite used to each other.

"Alright Alan, bring him to a stop right in front of me." Francis called to his friend.

Francis saw Alan's distinct red head bobble in a nod as he turned the gelding back towards the stable gate upon which Francis sat.

"I think we've finally come to understand one another, he and I," Alan called cheerfully as he and his horse neared the stables. It was true, in just two Sunday lessons, Yonder seemed to have come to realize that the lump on his back was the one giving the orders.

Alan pulled on the reins about ten feet from the stable, but Yonder ignored the tug and kept up his trot, heading strait for Francis. As Alan desperately pulled on the reins for Yonder to stop, Francis quickly abandoned the stable gate.

Stubbornly, Yonder kept walking until he bumped his head gently into the gate, opening it, much to his delight. Alan gave one more giant tug and Yonder finally realized that his rider wanted him to stop.

Alan reddened with embarrassment and anger, "Why won't he listen to me? He understands everything I tell him, except stop!"

Francis shrugged, "He has a hard mouth. Getting him to stop is always going to be difficult. All I can say is to pull hard and make sure he gets the command." He sidled over to the big creature and patted him delicately on the neck. "He's a good one, just not the brightest torch in the castle."

Alan snorted in response and dismounted. "I don't doubt that," The younger boy patted his horse idly, looking at their surroundings. The palace bells rang, signaling the noon meal.

Alan grinned, "You know I may actually be getting used to this place. I haven't jumped at a bell in three days."

Francis nodded. To him the bells were actually more of a comfort than a bother. They were always constant and reliable. They represented order and Francis always preferred to have a routine.

Alan shifted from foot to foot awkwardly. He ran a hand through his fiery hair. "Look Francis, I just wanted to thank you for helping me out. Someday, I'll find a way to repay you." He stuck out a sweaty hand, which Francis readily clasped. Alan wasn't one to ask for help and he hated even more to receive it. Allowing Francis to help him with Yonder had been a bit of a reach for him.

"I don't doubt that you will," Francis assured his proud little friend, "Let's go eat."

Francis and Alan quickly made their way to the mess, not wanting to get stuck at the end of a very long line waiting for food. Much to their delight, they, along with Alex who looked suspiciously like he had just woken up, arrived first. They each grabbed a tray and stood before the serving maids.

"Good afternoon, Mistress Taylor," Francis said politely to the woman in charge. Francis had learned early on in his training that if you treated the serving women decently, they were more than happy to give you a little extra ladle of whatever was being served. Today it happened to be roasted chicken, his favorite.

"Lord Francis, it's always good to see you!" Mistress Taylor exclaimed a little louder than he would have liked. He felt his face turn bright red as he accepted his meal with a quiet thank-you and moved on to the bread line, Alan not far behind. Francis could tell that Alan was trying to contain a fit of laughter.

In front of him, Alex turned around and winked.

"Quite the ladies man, aren't we Milord," he said, a smile playing on the edge of his lips.

"Shut it Alex," he mumbled quietly as the other boy turned around. He knew he would never have the nerve to speak his mind to someone's face, not even to one of his best friends.

The normal bread server for the noon meal seemed to be absent, much to Francis' delight. He didn't want a repeat of what had just happened now that the hall was filled to the brim with boys who had come for the meal. In her stead was a much younger maiden, no older than Francis himself. She had honey colored hair and rich brown eyes. Immediately, Francis's heart began to quicken its pace as it always did when he was around pretty girls.

"Hello," he said, wincing as his voice squeaked out much higher than its normal tone.

He hoped that the girl had not noticed, but the way she coughed and used her hand to cover a smile told him otherwise. His already red face burned with embarrassment.

"Afternoon, Sir," she replied dutifully in a melodic voice. She slapped a piece of bread onto his plate.

"You thank," Francis said quickly, stumbling over his tongue, "Yank to," he tried again, failing miserably. Giving up, he walked away quickly, almost walking straight into Alex's back. Shaking his head at his stupidity, he stopped to wait for Alan, a safe distance away from the sight of his utter humiliation.

"Hello," Alan grumbled to girl serving the bread, clearly wanting to get away with his food and eat. The serving maiden looked up and smiled.

"Good afternoon, Master..."

"Alan," Alan finished for her.

"Good afternoon, Master Alan, would you like some bread?" She asked staring at Francis' friend with a look in her eyes that said she clearly liked what she saw. Francis shook his head. If even serving maids could prefer little red-headed boys like Alan over him, how would he ever find a girl for himself?

Alan looked puzzled, "This is the bread line, isn't it?" he asked.

"Of course, here you are. I'm Clara, by the way." she said as she placed three pieces of bread onto Alan's plate. Alan got away from the bread line as quickly as possible.

"That was odd," he said as he met up with Francis. He heard laughter behind him and turned to discover that Alex had been watching the bread maiden flirt with Alan as well.

"Odd? My Alan, you must be as blind as a bat, that girl was all over you." Alex said as they made their way to the table where they sat with the others at meals.

"What?" Alan asked, turning red.

"She was pouring on the charm thicker than my mother pours on her perfume!" Alex replied.

"No," Alan shook his vigorously, turning to Francis.

"She was," he admitted quietly.

They sat down and began to eat, however Alan looked as though he had lost his appetite.

"What's the matter Alan, you look as if you're upset about it! Girls," Alex said leaning towards him, "Are a wonderful thing."

Alan shook his head as he played with the food in front of him, never meeting Alex's gaze. "I'm not interested in girls." He said sternly. "I want to be a knight and I won't let anyone distract me. Besides, I'm too young for girls."

"My dear Alan," said Gary who was sitting down next to the younger boy. "Did my ears deceive me, or did I hear you say that you were too young for girls. You are never too young for girls."

Francis ate his lunch in silence as the others eagerly told Alan the wonders of women. He didn't have anything to say. In fact, he'd never even kissed a girl.

After the meal, Francis told the others that he was not feeling very well and slunk to his off to his room.

For a while, he attempted to work on his math, but he found himself too distracted and decided to take a nap.


He and Alan we standing in the middle of a lake, their feet floating on the warm water's surface. Alan was looking intently at blue clouds in a white sky.

"I always wanted to fly." He told Francis.

Francis nodded, "Me too," They stood there in comfortable silence for a time, watching the clouds go by.

"Why did you steal Clara, the bread server Alan?" Francis asked his friend.

"I didn't," was Alan's quiet reply. He never tore his eyes away from the clouds above.

"Yes you did!" Francis cried as he threw a wild punch at his friend.

Alan shielded his head with his arms as Francis threw more and more blows, though none of them seemed to hit. "I didn't steal her, I swear Francis." He gasped.

Francis stopped immediately, hearing the pleading in his friend's voice. "I'm sorry I doubted you Alan." He looked at the water beneath his feet.

"Love is a strange thing," the younger boy said wisely, "I'd rather not get involved. I don't like girls."

Ralon of Malven appeared behind Francis suddenly and gave him a push. "Ask him the truth," he whispered in Francis' ear before sinking into the water.

Francis was thrown forward and his leg swung out, kicking Alan between the legs.

"Ouch," Alan said before sitting down comfortably on the water.

"I'm awfully sorry, Alan, Ralon made me do it," Francis said sitting down beside his friend.

"I know," Alan said, this time looking into the depths of the lake. "It didn't hurt me like it would hurt any of the others boys though, do you know why Francis?"

Francis shook his head, embarrassed because he somehow felt he should know the answer.

"Because I'm really a ..." Alan began, but Francis never heard the rest. The air was filled with the baying of a pack of dogs and the whisper of winds. Suddenly, a hand reached up from the water and pulled Francis into the darkness of the depths of the lake.

"Gainel!" A painfully loud, yet beautiful voice cried from all around him.

"I'm not Gainel," Francis called, surprised that he could still breath.

"Yes sister," a softer, deep voice returned.

"What are you doing, why are you showing this boy such things? I command you to stop before all is lost." The woman's loud voice bellowed.

Francis wondered who was talking to Gainel, the Dream King.

"I've shown him nothing. I make dreams from only what is already in his mind. Now please leave. Dreams are my kingdom and my kingdom alone. Let the poor mortal rest in peace." Gainel said.

The woman made a noise that sounded oddly like a snort before Francis found himself in the mathematics classroom.

"Mathematics class is not the place for me to rest in peace," Francis muttered. He made his way to a desk in the back row and sat down as the deep peals of laugher that had followed his response slowly faded away.

"Francis!" Everyone called in greeting. Francis grinned and waved in return.

"It's good that you've arrived Francis," Master Hornswort said jovially, "I'll need your help to teach the others."

"Yes," Alex cheered, "He's the brightest in the class!"

Francis looked beside him to see Jon leaning over to whisper to Gary.

"I heard that Master Hornswort has told Francis everything he knows and has nothing left to teach him!" Jon whispered fiercely.

Francis grinned happily. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around to find that it belonged to Alan.

"But have you been paying attention?" The younger boy asked, his purple eyes holding Francis' blue ones.

Francis shot up like a bolt of lightening, breathing heavily. The supper bell began to ring as he discovered he was not in the mathematics room, but his own bed. He ran his hands through his sweaty blond hair as he tried to steady his breath. Looking over at the math problems on his desk, he sighed. He had learned nothing about math from his dream. He had, however, learned something much more important from it.

Alan was a girl.


So, how was it? Was the dream part too confusing? Let me know what you think in a review! Thanks!