Tortallanrider: Thanks! I'm going to write slightly longer ones from now on. I'm surprised there was such a thing as being short and NOT rushed. That felt like a nice complement. Yay. Oh, and about the "recite Jon's description?" I'd love to see that! That's really neat.
Drop Your Oboe: Oh, you give me too much credit! And of course you could use it for something, so long as my name's mentioned somewhere!
Buttons7: As you might see, I'm not doing that now. I know the prologue was practically plagiarized, but not this one. Or chapter 1.
And remember – I LOVE REVIEWS!
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Once again, Alanna went over the scene in her mind, as she packed her blanket up. It had all gone so wrong.
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"I am very disappointed in you, Alanna." Lord Alan of Trebond told his daughter. "You know you are a noble lady, correct? Noble ladies are expected to go to the convent, and learn the things noble ladies learn. Now, maybe other families would be lenient on this, but the Trebond blood is bluer than nearly all the families in Tortall. We are from the Book of Gold, and we are the noblest nobles there could ever be."
Alanna had been squirming in her chair through all of this, her face showing nothing other than her obvious discomfort.
Lord Alan stood and turned to look her in the eyes. "Never did it cross my mind that a true blooded one such as my own child would attempt to do otherwise. This cannot be stood for, Alanna. Running away, cutting your hair and dressing in boy's clothes, trying to pass as a commoner, and worst of all, trying to learn the fighting arts of men from a man? No ladies have ever done such a thing."
"I am furious. You do not deserve the name Trebond, my daughter, if you want to be common so badly. No! You are not my daughter, Alanna of Trebond, any longer. You, Alanna the Commoner, are to leave at once. Go. Never return."
Alanna bit her lip and ran out. She ran to her room, grabbed her little pocket money and a few essential things from her commoner friend Minara.
She ran to the stables. She didn't care what happened to her at her old home any more, because the Lord of Trebond would never bother with her again. She found the mare she knew as Firegem, and rode out at a quick pace. At last she let a tear escape. She would never have to worry about doing "noble" duties again, right? She should be happy.
But she knew the reason, and simply denied it. She didn't care if she never saw her father, Maude or Coram again. But she was just too young to give up her home, and her innocent brother. Deep inside, she would miss Trebond, and the chapter of her life that had made her who she was.
At last her daydream, or maybe nightmare, ended.
She shook her head, trying to clear it from her mind. It was like Maude had said. The past couldn't ever change. She could only move on to whatever was next for her, and make the best of that.
For days she had rode, and then slowly walked, the way to Corus. She knew that she could find work there, legal or no, and hoped it would be soon before she ran out of money from selling Firegem.
Finally, she had arrived. After trying to sleep that late night, she had woken up around midnight, and now she was ready to go into Corus and find herself a real bed to sleep in. She walked into Corus, a place which would have been visible even without the shine from the moon. Many of the houses had candles still on, leading her down a new path.
She was awed: at Trebond, nobody was up this late, but by now she was far enough in town that people of all walks were going places. She was so lost and amazed that she didn't notice the man trailing her, until she felt something brush the pockets in her worn breeches. She looked back to see a man walking just steps behind her, innocently looking at the moon. In all honesty, she had to admit the moon was worth looking at, but his face was unconvincing at best.
He noticed her glance. "It's a nice night, isn't it? I'm thinkin' of staying out 'ere just t'watch it." The man spoke with a distinct city accent, but he seemed to think about every word too. He still looked at the moon.
"Yes, I agree. It'd be even nicer for you if you gave me my money back," she told him lightly, but Alanna's glare was poisonous.
The man turned and grinned. "Not bad. Then again, I wasn't trying. Here you are. I promise it's all there." He tossed a little pouch to her. She was no fool, and counted the coins. They were all there, every last one. "I don't break promises," The man told her as she looked at him oddly.
"Why did you return it?" she asked him suspiciously. "I know a thief when they look me in the eye."
"It's no fun keepin' money that you been caught with, is it? And maybe we could say I have a little soft spot for young lasses like you." He said cheerily. "What might ye be doin' this late, may I ask?"
Alanna couldn't help smiling. This man was very friendly, and polite, too. "Honestly, I'm trying to find a place to stay the night."
"Are you? I know a place, if you don't mind. I'm a friend there, and I'm sure they'd give a lady a room to 'erself. It's called the Dancin' Dove. I'll get you in."
"Could you? I'd like that, if you stop calling me 'lady.' I'm just Alanna," she explained.
"Okay, 'just Alanna,'" the man said, startling a laugh out of the girl. "I'm just George, then. Follow me," George said, and at last she was on her way to a good night's sleep.
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I've said it before, I'll say it again: review! I hope you like it!