Drop Your Oboe: I know, I haven't quite perfected the city speech, yet. But I'm pretty sure that Coram's accent is much worse than George's, so at least I'm right there, I think.
Epobbp: I just did, as you can see. So there!
Darling1357: Thank you! People like you make my day.
I'm not quite sure if I'll enjoy writing this, for some reason. Oh, well! Here it is!
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Alanna woke up, feeling refreshed. Even with the noise from downstairs last night, she was able to ignore it, and got a good sleep for the first time in a few days. On the small table by her bed was a small glass of lemonade. On the floor was her bag, in precisely the same position and with all of her things. Next to her lemonade was a note from George, telling her about some places in Corus she would like to know, and promising that the lemonade was free. She tucked it away with her things, making a mental reminder to thank him if she saw him again.
After dressing in her shirt and breeches again, she set out, making her way through the crowd downstairs as quickly as possible. Now that she knew where some places were, she should stay a while to get some supplies other than the basics: she still had the same two pairs of clothing she had taken with her, and needed some other things too.
She quickly found a place to buy clothing. With her hair cut short, she passed as a boy and was able to get comfy breeches rather than being forced to buy skirts. After a little more shopping for other things, she had much less money, but knew it was necessary. At last she came back to the Dancing Dove, with a new objective set on her mind; she wanted to find George. Maybe, just maybe, he could find her a good job for an orphan girl, and a place to stay in Corus. She liked the city and was considering finding a way to stay there.
Entering the Dancing Dove, she ran to her temporary room, dropped off her things, left and locked the door. She went down the narrow stairway, and found George sitting at a nearby table. She walked up to the man quietly.
"Alanna! Hello," George said, grinning when he saw her. "Can we talk somewhere?"
"I was about to ask the same thing," she replied, and followed him up the stairs and through a doorway she hadn't noticed before. Inside was a collection of books, a desk, and a few seats. She guessed this was a study.
"I was wondering," she began, "if you knew a place I could stay in Corus, and a job I could do. It's a nice place, even if it is big, and thanks to your note I know where I can get things," she finished. George looked a bit astonished.
"Well, that makes my day. It fits right in with what I was wantin' t'ask you. I've been watchin' you, lass, and I think you fit the bill for a job I need to fill. This inn 'ere is the place that The Rogue, all the people that live by their wits, meet. It's also the place where the King of the Rogue rules his people. I'm the King of the Rogue right now. What I need is an friend, somebody unknown, who might have the right kind of mind and attitude t'learn to fight with weapons, and who takes notice of their surroundings. Maybe they could have the Gift to help them 'round some hard tasks. They would need to be somebody who doesn't seem like the kind of person to be good at that sort of thing, perhaps young, or maybe a girl. Do y'catch my drift?" He had his back turned all this time, and finally looked back to see Alanna staring at him.
"No. I won't turn you in, or tell about you, I promise, but you can't make me into a thief. I have my honor."
"The Rogue are the most honorable thieves there are. They live by a code. Please, I really do need a friend to help me keep the order 'round here."
"No, I can't. Thanks for helping me so very much, but I won't go astray from the law. Honor is important to me."
"Honor, you say?" He hesitated. "Is it because you're a lady? You came in noble clothing, lass, even if it was torn and mud-splashed a bit."
"I'm no lady!" Alanna shouted at him, suddenly furious. "And I don't want to be one, ever! I'm just me, a commoner, but I still have my pride."
George's eyebrows were raised. "Okay, then. I won't force you to go against your will. I won't leave you stranded, either; I'll help you find something. But I just want you to know that the Rogue would take in anybody, even a disgraced lady."
Alanna sighed, trying to calm down. Here she was, yelling at a man who had helped her out with no reason for doing so. She should know better. "I'm sorry, I just can't. But thank you. Thank you, thank you, and thank you."
"You're welcome, lass. You can stay another night or two. I'll look around for somewhere you can help, and I'll tell you if I find something you might be interested in." His voice was the kindest she had heard in her life. Nobody had ever been that nice to her.
She got up to leave. Halfway out the door, she remembered something. "George? Why me?"
He smiled. "I have the Gift. It lets me know who to trust, and who I should meet. And I've found ignorin' it won't help me. That's why, lass. I'll see you soon."
She left thinking, both about the answer he had given her, and the answer she had given him.
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Well? I really don't like that chapter for some reason. It felt like I was being mean to both Alanna and George. R-E-V-I-E-W!