Chapter Two

Not ANOTHER Sir Alanna!

There's Lorena, coming to yell at me, Kadi thought resignedly, wringing her sopping wet hair over the tub. She threw a robe over her naked body and rubbed down her wet curls with a towel.

Lorena knocked again, this time a little harder. "I'm coming!" Kadi snapped, shaking her sopping curls out of her face and over her shoulder. Kadi did up the ties on the front of her robe, and opened the door.

There stood King Jonathan.

"Oh," Kadi stuttered, ashamed for yelling--and for the fact she was only wearing a robe.

Jonathan smiled his heart throbbing smile. "Bad time?" he asked, his eyes lighting up with amusement. "I can always come back later if this isn't a good time. But we're taking a break right now, and I thought this would be a good time to see how you were."

"Yeah. . . um. . . sure. C'mon in." Kadi stepped aside as Jonathan came in, then closed the door. "I'll. . . uh. . . just get dressed." Kadi pointed helplessly at the privy off of her room.

Jonathan nodded and sat down in one of the armchairs. Kadi dashed into the privy, flinging her robe off and grabbing for a pair of breeches and a shirt.

Then she stopped, and put the shirt and breeches down. He can wait, she thought, frowning. I'm not going to fall in love with him. I already promised my heart to someone. If I'm not out there in two seconds, so what? Maybe he is King, but I'm not going to grovel at his feet. Does Sir Alanna grovel at his feet like stupid people? I bet she doesn't.

Slowly, Kadi picked her shirt and breeches back up, and slowly slid them on. She brushed out her hair and tied it back with a plain white ribbon. Kadi stared at myself in the mirror for a minute, curling her toes under. She chewed on her thumb, eyeing herself for a second longer.

Why am I doing this? Kadi wondered. I promised I wouldn't suck up to Jonathan. I have to marry him, for my family, but I won't let my heart fall to him. When he left, I promised my heart would belong to Him forever. And now I'm crushing on Jonathan!

Kadi let out a depressed moan, and went back into the main room. Jonathan stood up, a smile and something else dancing in his eyes. "Please, sit," he said, offering the chair next to him.

Kadi bit back an angry retort. This was her room. But it was his palace, she had to reason.

Reluctantly, she sat down on the offered chair, leaning back. She waited, wanting him to be the first to speak. As she did so, her eyes drifted over her room. It was the same as the rooms belonging to all the ladies' from the convent. It had a single person bed--suitors brought their ladies to their rooms, ladies never had men in their own for bedding--a table with a magic lamp on it, and paper. Kadi had a half finished letter on the table. At the end of her bed was a trunk full of her clothes. It lay open with things spilling onto the floor, mostly the frilly ends of dresses. There was a fireplace built into the outer wall, with a chair on either side of it--this was where she and Jonathan were currently seated. A low slung table sat between them, with the remains of Kadi's lunch on it. Various bits of assorted jewelry had been strewn across the mantle over the fire, and--Kadi was embarrassed to see--so had a breast-band and a pair of underwear.

"How're you feeling?" Jonathan asked at last, bringing Kadi back to reality.

"Fine thanks," she replied in what she hoped was a mild tone.

"Did you talk with Duke Baird?" he went on.

Kadi nodded. "He seems like a very kind man, the Duke."

"Glad to see you're alright. Is your horse well too?"

Kadi closed her eyes, trying not to roll them--that was rude. "Yes, Everglade's fine."

Jonathan drew a deep breath, as if thinking something important over. "Raoul said he had suspicions. . . about. . . about you being a Horse Whisperer. Did he mention that to you too?"

"Yes, he did. He told me their history. Is it really true that it's possible?" Without noticing, Kadi had slid to the front edge of her seat, and was leaning expectantly forward.

Jonathan smiled. "Yes, it's possible. But I'd advise you ask someone who has time to learn things like that. As of late I've had very little time to learn things about mysterious dead people." He smiled again, broadly. "Numair would be a good place to start. He's probably in the palace libraries from dawn until dusk."

"Raoul said he thought Numair was a bit eccentric."

Jonathan laughed, clasping his hands in his lap; leaning back. "Yes, I have to agree. Numair is a bit eccentric. But he's good at what he does all the same. That's why I hired him you know."

"Is he?" Kadi raised an accusing eyebrow. "And you think he'll know about the Horse Whisperers?"

"I wouldn't bet my whole kingdom on it," Jon began. "But I'd bet Corus."

Kadi tried hard to suppress the ensuing laugh, but she couldn't. Jonathan smiled, his face shadowed with another emotion Kadi could place. But the thought of what it might be scared her--scared her a great deal.

"I better go," Jonathan said after a moment, standing up. Kadi rose too, remembering that it was rude to sit in a rulers presence. "I think you should talk to Numair--and if you want, I think you should also ask Sir Alanna for some sword lessons. She wouldn't mind, and I get the feeling you wish you could be a knight too."

"Oh yes!" Kadi breathed, before she could stop herself.

"I thought as much. I'll see you later then."

Kadi showed Jonathan to the door, and then returned to her chair. What have I done? she wondered, burying her face in her hands. I can't fall in love with him. But I recognize the feeling in my chest. It's tight, and it hurts. But I promised! I won't break my promise, no matter how gorgeous Jonathan is. He was too. He loved me. He was my everything. . . but is He even still alive? He was there during the end of the war at Maren. He could be dead for all I know. . . Yet I pledged my heart, and I will keep it there--even if I have to suffer.

Her mind made up, Kadi got up. She wiped tears from her face; tears she hadn't even known where there.

Kadi pulled on her boots, and left her room behind. It had been her dream ever since she had heard of Sir Alanna, to learn to fight as well. And now she was going to ask Sir Alanna herself to teach her that.

Kadi's heart hammered in her ears as she neared the practice courts. A few squires whooped at her as she walked by--Kadi was a beautiful girl after all. She was skinny, with broad hips and a well formed chest. Her face was curved and smooth, with hazel eyes and her curly black hair. Her legs were long and muscled from her years of riding. And Kadi bore a scar across her right breast; one only her true love would ever see, and only she knew why it was there.

Kadi smiled at the squires, her charming smile, the one that made birds turn to stare at her. And in fact, one of the squires--a skinny one with a thin face--fell over backwards, off the fence, in a dead faint.

Kadi smirked to herself, and continued for the practice courts. She stepped inside, and the smell of sweat and blood filled her nostrils. She gagged for a minute, trying to understand how men found air to breathe among the sweat and blood and dirt and grease. Someone stepped away from the wall near her. "You'll learn eventually," he said, handing her handkerchief. Kadi put this over her nose, breathing deeply. "Sir Gareth of Naxen--the Younger," he introduced himself.

Kadi held out her hand, and to her surprise, Sir Gareth shook it firmly instead of kissing it. "Call me Gary though, or I'll have your head for treason," he warned. "And you're Kadina of Reliem, if I'm not mistaken."

"You're not," Kadi informed him. "I prefer Kadi though."

"Duly noted," Gary replied, letting her hand drop and leading her back to where he was standing. He introduced her to a few knights along the wall, but Kadi forgot their names before she even shook their hands. "So, do we have another Sir Alanna, as my King thinks we may?"

Kadi smiled, glad that Jonathan didn't think her just another lady. "That is for Sir Alanna to tell me sir," Kadi replied. She couldn't get her tongue around calling him Gary. It seemed so. . . unsirly.

"Gary," he growled kindly. "Well, if you want to learn to fight, watch this--it's our best fight in the palace." He gestured towards the two on the court.

One was a short and stocky redhead, bearing a sword with a bluish blade. The other was a tall man with graying hair, his sword a thick, two-handed weapon. "Is that--?" Kadi asked.

Beside her, Gary nodded, smiling. "Sir Alanna of Trebond and Olau, and Duke Gareth of Naxen the older--my father."

Sir Alanna blocked a downward sweep from Duke Gareth, and cut up and under. Duke Gareth blocked it, stumbling backwards. Sir Alanna drove downwards, snaked around his sword, and sent it flying. She pushed the tip of her sword against the Duke's throat. "I win," she croaked, wiping sweat from her face. She sheathed her sword, gasping for breath.

Duke Gareth rose, breathing just as heavily. "That you do, Alanna. And to think we ever doubted you, just for being a girl." He fetched his sword and sheathed it, then shook Sir Alanna's hand. "Well fought. Now I'd better get back to work."

"Any of you scallywag's got the nerve to fight me?" Sir Alanna challenged, waving her sword at the assembled knights. "Just stand and watch the Duke get flattened, but won't fight me yourself? Oh, c'mon Gary, fight me. C'mon, you sucker! Or are you too afraid that everyone'll think you a coward?"

She advanced on Gary, her eyes looking up at him, but they wielded more power than Gary's downward glance on the stocky Lady Knight. "I don't believe we've met," she said, stopping in front of Gary. "Who's your friend."

"Oh," Gary said. "Alanna, may I present Lady Kadina of Reliem. She prefers Kadi."

"That's nice," Sir Alanna said dismissively. "But what is she doing in the practice courts?"

Gary grinned. "She wishes to learn the ways of a sword, Alanna. With you as her teacher. And, if you think not to, you should see her ride. Better than you could do any day of the week, month, or year."

Sir Alanna sheathed her sword, and looked Kadi up and down. Kadi managed to hide a smile at the fact the knight was a good inch or two shorter than she. "Can you ride as well as Gary claims?"

"Better," Gary said before Kadi could say anything.

Kadi felt like pointing out Gary had never actually seen her ride. But she didn't. Instead she said, "I think."

Sir Alanna smiled darkly. "I'll teach you a sword, if you teach me to ride the way you can. I can ride--yes. But if you can ride better. I'll teach you. You teach me. That's the offer. Deal?" Sir Alanna held out her hand.

"Deal." Kadi took it, and found that the knight had a callused palm. "You won't regret it, Sir Alanna."

"Alanna," the knight barked, grabbing Gary's arm and pulling him out onto the practice courts. "Your first lesson, Kadi. Watch everything I do while fighting. Understood?"

"Oh, yes!" Kadi exclaimed, nodding.

Alanna pulled out her sword, and jabbed at Gary with it. "Get ready, you lazy oaf!" she taunted. With a sigh, and--Kadi was pretty sure--a bit of eye-rolling, Gary unsheathed his sword. "Alright. Watch and learn, Kadi."

The fight was a quick one. Alanna danced around on her feet, bouncing from attack to attack; her offense always up. Gary parried for his life's worth, but the Lady Knight was faster than he, and broke in. Alanna pushed the tip of her sword against Gary's throat. "On your knees," she demanded, smiling broadly.

"Do I--"

"Yes!" Alanna, prodded him with the toe of her boot, and Gary got down on his knees, his hands over his head. "That's better. Alright, get up." She sheathed her sword and made her way over to Kadi. "See that? The first lesson. Have enough endurance to be faster, stronger, and braver than your opponent. Not easy. But incredibly important.

"Now, we go for a ride, get to know each other, and you teach me a few good ol' tricks. Got it?"

Kadi nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Alanna."

Mithros, they're touchy about names around here! Kadi thought.

"D'you mind if I invite Thayet too? She knows some interesting riding of her own. K'miri trick riding."

"Hey!" Gary had joined the two again, and was cradling a wounded hand. "That's not fair! I wanted someone to feel sorry for me when I returned to my rooms, all beaten and bedraggled."

"Ha!" Alanna chuckled. "Thayet, feeling sorry for you?"

"She told you, didn't she?" Gary asked, making a face.

"Told me?" Alanna asked incredulously. "Told me that she tortured you to within an inch of your life? That you were this--" she held her thumb and first finger barely a millimeter apart, "--close to taking her to bed. And then she left you? Yeah, of course she told me. What in Mithros's name did you expect?"

Gary hung his head, shaking it from side to side. Then he looked Kadi straight in the eye, and said, "You know, Kadi. You get within an inch of doing what you want. And when you don't get it, you ladies all go and gossip to all your little friends. And then the whole palace knows that you were this close to sleeping with someone--and the knights all laugh!"

Alanna rolled her violet eyes. "Gary's such a child," she informed Kadi, thumping the bigger knight on the back. "You'll get used to it though. So, how about that riding lesson? And a bit of talking. You can get to know me; me to know you." Alanna took Kadi by the arm and steered her out of the practice courts. "So, I hear you're from Maren."

Kadi, who was able to breathe now, took Gary's handkerchief away from her face, and put it in her pocket. Then she said, "Yes, I'm from Maren. We came about two years back."

"Pretty quick to get a fief. You have some alliance of sorts with the King's family?"

"As a matter of fact. My father, Lord Hason, came from Tortall originally. He says his father knew King Roald pretty well."

"Did you have any lover in Maren?" Alanna asked.

Kadi could almost feel the color drain from her face. She looked away, pretending to admire a rose. "N-no."

Kadi felt Alanna's eyes on the back of her head. "Kadi," she said warningly. "Did you ever have a lover in Maren? I don't mind if you don't want to answer, but don't lie."

Of course you didn't have a lover in Maren, you silly girl! Kadi yelled at herself. You were barely fourteen! What use had you with a lover? All lovers' want is to take your virginity from you. To make you "unpure".

"No." Kadi's voice was stronger, and she turned to meet Alanna's eyes, feeling defiant. "No, I had no lover in Maren. Though sometimes I wish I did. . ."

Please R-E-V-I-E-W!!! Thanks for read-y-ing! Hope you like it! Next chapter there will be some glimpses of Kadi's mysterious "Him".