"Yes, um…sir." Neal frowned. "Am I supposed to call you sir?"

Alanna gave a wry smile. "If I was male, then yes. I suppose you still could, but it's…"

"Bland?"

"Exactly."

"How about Sir Alanna?"

"I only use that for formal occasions."

"And winding up the conservatives," pointed out Neal. He grinned cheekily at her. "I've heard about the council meetings from my father."

Alanna rolled her eyes. "Just you wait until Roald makes the mistake of naming you chief healer and you have to go to council meetings."

"I resent that!" exclaimed Neal. "I'm a perfectly capable healer, I'll have you know." He saw her raised eyebrow. "Well I will be when you've finished with me."

Alanna laughed. "That brings us right back to our little problem." She bit her lip as she thought.

"Lady Alanna?"

"Yes?"

"No, I mean should I call you Lady Alanna?"

"Oh." Alanna pulled a face. "You should be able to guess what I think of that."

"But you answered to it."

"I was busy thinking."

Neal decided to change the subject and grinned. "How about 'my Lady'?"

"I don't think there's anything worse."

"My most beauteous and delicate Lady?"

"Apparently I was wrong."

"How about knight-mistress?"

"Are you deliberately trying to wind me up?"

"Of course not, my mistress."

"Shut it, Nealan, you know what that implies."

Neal scowled. "Don't call me that."

"Well then, don't call me that."

They were silent for several minutes until Neal suggested "Why don't I call you 'Lioness'?"

Alanna shook her head. "No, that's my war name. I don't like getting called that every day."

Neal looked thoughtful. "I want a war name."

Alanna raised an eyebrow. "Somehow, I don't think 'the Daffodil' or 'Meathead' would really put fear into the enemies' hearts."

Neal glared at her. "How did you know about that?"

Alanna grinned at him. "I have my sources."

Ten minutes later, Alanna announced "I've got it."

"What?"

"You can call me Alanna."

"Alanna what?"

Alanna scowled. "Just Alanna."

Neal swallowed. "I can't call you that!"

"It's my name, it's meant to be used."

"I know, milady, and it's a very pretty name, but-" Neal stopped, realising that it sounded like he was flirting with her. "Um…I'm sorry, milady, I didn't mean to imply…"

Alanna grinned as he squirmed. "Apology accepted…so long as you stop calling me 'milady'."

"But I can't call you by your name, it shows a lack of respect."

"No, it doesn't, and don't argue with me. Now say my name."

Neal shook his head.

"Neal…"

He shook his head again.

"Squire Nealan, I order you to say my name."

Neal gulped. "A-Alanna."

"There. Now was that hard?"

"Yes."

"Nealan…"

"No."

"Good." Alanna gave a satisfied smirk. "Trust me Neal, I have plenty of other ways of making you respect me."

Neal shuddered. He didn't know what she meant, but whatever it was, it was sure to be painful.