Chapter Fourteen
(Back where Delia and Roger were talking)
"Roger is there anywhere that we can finish this conversation in private?" Lady Delia asked
"We can go into my rooms"
"Can't Alanna walk in on us?"
"Hmm…you have a point. What about your rooms?"
"Sure. Shall I find Alex?"
"No need, there he is… Sir Alexander!"
Alex looked around. Roger waved him over
"Yeah?"
"Lady Delia's room in 30 minutes"
"Why?"
"Just be there!"
"Yes, your grace"
"Now if you'll excuse me for a minute?"
Both of them nodded and Roger walked off.
"Alanna, you wanted to speak to me?"
"Could you two give us some privacy?
Jen and Elspeth walked off
"Have a seat Roger" Alanna said
"Wow, this is big"
"Don't joke with me Roger"
"Ok, what did you want to say to me?"
"I don't want you talking to Delia. She is a no good, spoiled rotten brat."
"Alanna, she can't be all that bad. Do you think you might be overreacting?"
"I am not overreacting. She is a spoiled brat. Anything she is involved in is bound to end in evil. At the convent, she was nicknamed the Queen of all that is evil"
"And who gave her that name?"
"Me" Alanna mumbled
"Sorry? I missed that"
"It was me"
"I thought so"
"Look, I don't know what evil plot she is planning, but I don't want you to let her pull you in. I'd hate to see something happen to you"
"I promise, I won't let her pull me into anything alright"
"I guess…"
"Good, now, I have a meeting to get to so, I'll see you in a bit."
"A meeting? With who?"
"Alex"
"Oh, he's ok then"
"I'm glad you like him. he and I go all the way back to when he was my squire."
"I didn't mean…I'm sorry."
"It's alright. Don't take me so seriously all the time"
"Ok have a good meeting then."
"I will."
Delia's room
"So what's the matter with your wife, Roger?"
"It's like you said convent rivalry."
"Good, so on to business, how are we going to get rid of Jon…and by the way what would I get from all this?"
"I'll do my best to make you a queen Delia."
"If you plan to kill Alanna, count me in for that mission. That girl drove me crazy with all her talk of becoming a knight and how…"
"No, I was not going to kill Alanna, she is far too powerful, I need her for her magic"
"What about Gary and Raoul?" Alex asked
"Leave them to me" Roger said
"Your grace, they are my friends" Alex said "Let them live, I beg of you…and promise me Elspeth will be kept safe"
"Nothing will happen to the girl"
"What about Garry and Raoul?"
"It depends on who's side they choose"
"They'll choose the crown's side. They took an oath"
"So did you" Roger pointed out
"What if Alanna finds out?" Alex asked as an attempt to change the subject
"Do you plan to tell anyone you are planning to commit treason?"
"No!"
"Delia?"
"Of course not"
"I won't tell them, so how do you think she will find out?"
"I'm not sure. Elspeth said Alanna is very clever, what if…"
"Stop with all the 'what if' statements Alex, you are giving me a headache"
"Yes sir."
"Are we going to kill there majesties as well?"
"Eventually… but really if we get rid of Jon the rest should take care of its self. Now if that is all I have a class to teach." Roger said
In Elspeth's room
"So where is Jen?"
"Oh, she's with her fiancé, did you hear he wants her to go to Tusaine for the next thirteen months."
"Jen has got to hate that idea."
"Yeah luckily I think he got talked out of it."
"So does she like him?"
"I can't tell she was so furious. I could of sworn I heard her curse"
"And she says I need to work on anger management?"
"Els?"
Elspeth turned around.
"Oh, hi Alex"
"Baby…can we talk?"
"Sure, talk"
"Um…in private?"
"Anything you have to say, you can say in front of Alanna"
"Ok…pack your bags"
"What! Why?"
"No reason. I just think things would be better if we stay in Tirragen until we got married…maybe longer"
"Alex, what aren't you telling me?"
"What makes you think there is something I'm not telling you?"
Oh…only six years in the convent with Alanna"
"That's right" Alanna said proudly "Wait a second! You're blaming me?"
"Yes"
"Ok, just checking"
"Alex, tell me what is going on before you go back to Tirragen without a fiancée"
"Is that a threat or a promise?"
"Both"
"Ok then. Alanna, you should really go now"
"I have no reason to leave"
"Roger is with Delia in her rooms"
"Excuse me. I have to save my husband from the Queen of all that is evil"
"Why don't you guys like Delia?"
"Convent rivalry" Alanna and Elspeth said at the same time
"Ok then…Do you plan to tell me or Roger what this rivalry is?"
"I wasn't…were you Els?"
"No…no I don't think I was"
"Fine…Alanna, Roger was looking for you"
"I'm gone"
Alanna closed the door behind her then held her ear to the door
"Now Alex, tell me why we have to leave Corus"
"Roger is mad at me. He can make both of us regret the day we met him when he's mad"
"That's it? You want us to flee because Roger is mad? You're a knight!"
"But he's a duke…and a sorcerer"
"Alex, you just have to toughen up and deal with Roger"
"But Els…"
"No! Now, I don't want to hear another word on the matter…am I understood?"