Something struck her from behind. Alanna bit down on the scream. Something rolled her over. She looked up into those eyes, ones that had haunted her nightmares since she first saw them.

Chapter Sixteen

One Year Ago:

Alanna of Trebond dreamt that night:

"Good t'see you, lass." She recognized the warm voice, even over the howling wind. A bitter cold bit her hands, but for that voice she would ignore it.

Alanna of Trebond was standing on top of a peak, overlooking all of Tortall. She could see it as she would see a map, and Corus didn't look good. The palace radiated with three colors of magic. One yellow, one orange, and one storm-gray.

Someone put their arms around her waist, turning her around. "George," she breathed, looking up into his hazel eyes. He smiled sadly, then pulled her into a bear-hug. "Why didn't you come sooner--you promised!"

"I couldn't," he explained patiently, stroking her hair. Alanna was shocked to feel wetness in her hair. George was crying. "I was. . ." He let her go. Grim faced he turned from her.

"What, George?" Alanna asked gently, touching his heavily muscled arm. Even in death George was still the true King of Thieves.

"Detained," he said at last. "The newcomer? Kirasarra is what she makes us call her. She deals with the dead now. The only times I could get away was when she was gone, and that wasn't often. When she left, I went to get information. I wanted lots before I came to see you."

"What do you mean?" Alanna wanted to know, rubbing her freezing arms.

George turned back to her, grimfaced. "There's too much for you not t'know," he explained patiently. "I had to find all I could out before I came t'you. Those men that are workin' for Roger? They're not who they appear. I did some research . There were three Malven brothers. Three were disowned when Ralon raped a girl after leavin' the palace."

"I don't understand."

He shook his head gravely. "Roger's workin' with two of 'em! Nicholas and Dreke Coal. Neither one has a commoner's lilt! They're the other two Malven boys."

"Are you sure?" Alanna was shivering now, and not just from the cold.

George nodded. "Yes, lass, I'm sure. I went dream-walkin'. I'm sure alright." He took a step closer, rubbing his large hands along her arms. Alanna shivered gratefully. He pulled her close, tucking her head under his chin. She leaned against him, thanking the warmth that he gave her. "They're in it for reasons you won't expect. Nicholas is true to his word. He just wants to be nobility. But Dreke. . . His mind's guarded by some damn powerful spells. I can't see through them, even in his dreams. He's clouded in fog, lass."

"Fog?" Alanna wondered aloud. "Could the fog that's hiding him be a Gift?"

"Never heard of a storm-cloud Gift. But sure, it's possible. For that matter, look at Corus. . ." He pointed out across the mapscape below. Corus is radiating gray. It's not in a fog, is it?"

Alanna shook her head under his chin. "No, it's not. And when. . . when I looked in on Jon, he was radiating storm-cloud gray magic."

George looked down at her, looking grim. "So it's true. He's shielded by a storm Gift."

"But I thought--"

"Whatever you were about to say you thought, you thought wrong." Alanna and George turned, the girl squire still tucked under George's chin.

Kirasarra advanced on them, wearing a full length black cape made of fur over a long black satin clingy dress. "I thought I'd told you never to visit the mortals." she hissed, eyes flashing on George.

He held Alanna close to him, holding his ground. "You told us never to visit the mortal realms," George corrected. "I brought her here. You can't call this--" he waved a hand around him-- "the mortal realms."

Kirasarra glowed red with rage. "Well next time, don't do it at all," she spat.

"She has to know," George replied coolly, as though he argued with Goddess's all the time.

"You're ruining my plans!" Kirasarra screamed. Black filtered around her in another ring. Red rimmed her body and clothes, black shifting in an outline around the red. "Dark Riders!"

There was the sound of clattering hooves, neighs of horses, and then screams of men. Alanna screamed when they came into view. George held her to his side, his eyes wide with fear.

They were the same as the cloaked figure Alanna had seen in the forest a year before. They were robed in black cloaks, their hoods drawn up. They were all roughly the same height, seated on black horses with bat wings. The horses reared as one, black eyes rolling. They showed fangs, the same as the Dark Goddess's. And the men glared out from under their cloaks, and Alanna knew their eyes were red.

"Come here," Kirasarra ordered. One man rode forward, his horse slightly larger than the others and somehow familiar.

"Your most imperial majesty." Alanna knew the voice, but she couldn't remember it. The man climbed off his horse, knelt, bowed his head, and rested one arm across his knee. "What can the Dark Riders do for you?"

Kirasarra was fuming now. Puffs of red and black fell off of her and floated into the stormy air above. "Kill them," she hissed.

"As your most imperial majesty wishes," the man replied, standing and swinging himself back into the saddle. "Kill them!" he yelled, drawing a black sword and leveling it at Alanna and George.

Despite their peril, Alanna's breath was taken away by the sword. It shimmered black, its surfaces glimmering from the strange light cast all around. The hilt had a firm leather grip on it, and seated in the pommel was a shimmering red stone.

"Run," George instructed, shoving her behind him.

"No!" she yelled, trying to keep her balance. She was toppling on the edge of the peak. In seconds she would fall below to her doom. George drew a sword, and cast one last wild glance at her. She hadn't left him that time, and she wouldn't leave him this time either. He reached back, gave her a loving smile, and pushed her over the edge.

"I'll see you soon," he whispered, but she heard him clearly even as she fell. She crashed down, and pain rushed through her body.

"George? No, George, don't. Let me stay--I'll help."

Alanna woke with a start, surprised by her own voice. Gingerly, she looked around. Her head was pounding, and her stomach felt unnaturally weak.

"Alan? You're awake. Excellent." Duke Baird leaned over her, touching her temples with cool fingers. She felt magic snake into her, and calmness wash over her. "You just overreached. You'll be fine with a few more days of rest."

Alanna woke up with a start. She was sweating, and everything was dark. Blinking, she looked around. Where was the light? Even at night things were brighter than this. "Squire Alan."

The voice cracked through the dark like a whip. Light flared off to her left, and she tried to turn. Agony bit into her as she rolled onto her side; her wounds still ached. Gray light faded, and a ghostly aura appeared around a man. His back was to her, but she could see he was dressed in black with dirty-blond hair.

"Who's there?" Alanna called weakly. Where were the other patients? There was no one else here.

The man turned around, and his face came into full relief. "It is I, of course," he whispered, walking nearer. She saw his silver eyes. Dreke Coal. Instantly George's warning flashed in her mind. "But Dreke. . . His mind's guarded by some damn powerful spells. I can't see through them, even in his dreams. He's clouded in fog, lass."

She gulped. He smiled, kneeling down next to the bed he met her on eyelevel. "So, will you help me?"

"What d'you mean?" Alanna demanded, sweat building on her forehead as she fought the pain in her body.

"I mean, will you help me to overthrow Roger?"

"But why would you want to do that? You have nothing to gain if Roger is thrown off the throne after he gains it."

"I want revenge, sweetling," Dreke explained gently. "And besides, if you don't help me than all will know your secret." He straightened up. "The infamous Squire Alan of Trebond is really Alanna of Trebond, a run-away girl. Isn't that sweet?"

"How do you know?" Alanna snarled.

"I have my ways, sweetling," he whispered, turning his back to her.

"What have I got to do with getting rid of Roger?"

"Everything. If there is one person Roger is unsure of their standing, it is you. Once he thought you a pawn, now he doesn't know what you are. Too many times you have saved the Prince from his doings. Too many times have you defeated that which no one else saw. That is why I need you. Roger doesn't know what to do with you, sweetling. I could be a valuable asset. I no more want Roger king than you do. All I want is to make those who destroyed my life pay. I presume that fellow Cooper told you all?"

Alanna frowned. How did Dreke know about that?

"I want to make all of Malven pay. I want to make Ralon pay. And I want to make Roger pay."

"Why Roger? He had nothing to do with Ralon being disowned."

"But he had everything to do with something else." His face was cold as he turned back to her. "Lady Delia was once my lover. And Roger offered her a place to help him. She took it eagerly, just because she wanted power. Roger stole my life as much as my family did. He will pay as well."

"Why did you try to kill Jon if you don't care?"

"I wanted nothing more than to make Roger think I was on his side. Do not believe that I would have actually killed the Prince."

He's good, a voice in the corner of the room said. Faithful leapt up next to Alanna, eyeing Dreke suspiciously. He's thought this over. He knows what questions you will ask. But he is lying

Grimly, Alanna nodded her agreement. Dreke saw the cat, and knelt again, eyeing Faithful. "And I suppose this is your mage's cat? The one with purple eyes?" Light flared briefly, blinding Alanna, then Dreke straightened. "So it is true." He had gone very pale. "You really do have a cat with violet eyes." He whistled. "What do you say, then? Will you let me help you?"

"I thought I was helping you."

"It goes both ways," Dreke explained. "You help me, I help you. I want revenge, you want to get rid of Roger. You know how it works. So?"

Alanna glanced at Faithful. He caught her eyes and held them, saying, His words are warped, but I believe that you may help him. BUT--! he added when she started to speak to Dreke, I still think he is dangerous. Do not sink in too deep. You have your own set of problems--first and foremost being becoming a knight without your secret being spilt. After that it is protecting the Crown from Roger. And your duty to the Gods.

Alanna nodded. "Alright, if it really does go two ways," she told Dreke.

He clasped his hands, grinning. "Excellent." Fog colored magic shrouded her, and then everything blanked.

I know, it was fluff less. Sorry. But I have to do this. This is called plot. Fluff shall try to be included soon. Please Review! And I am SO, SO, SO sorry that I haven't written on this in forever. I really meant too. But then I sort of forgot what was happening and on top of everything else I had to reread this before I could work on it. SORRY!!!