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BACswimma, Aly-Of-Tortall 13, Kiley 1 09, Lady Knight Jocelyn, LadyKnightOpal, Rogue-Storm-Rampant, Shang Leopard, bloodsucker13, destinystar105, half-demon priestess, henrychick, addicted2TPierce, LadyReaderofBooks, kittylitious, Dragonfly257, Lilly Romanov, Jezebel Montgomery, Lady Leopard, Faia Sakura, LadyPirate13, gaya2081, Tamora Pierce Junior, Lady Kale, Kate of Carlay, fox-siren, PeytonPaigePatriciaHalliwell, Mickeygee, Ally-Marty, ILoveCockatiels, qtktkat, stxs, KlutzyQT, BeckyScarlett, Head-in-the-Clouds, Moon-Goddessxx, and inktounge58
For the Story alert

And again to: bloodsucker13, LadyKnightOpal, Gallan Princess, dares to dream, Lady Knight Jocelyn, destinystar105, Dragonfly257, Lady Leopard, ILoveCockatiels, Litara, Tamora Pierce Junior, Lilly Romanov, LadyPirate13, PeytonPaigePatriciaHalliwell, fox-siren, kittylitious, Aly-Of-Tortall, qtktkat, KlutzyQT, fakebrit and to Kiley 1 09
For the favorite story!

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George's eyes were hard. "We will fight, but there is no honour."

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We stayed for a long time at the inn, lost in our own thoughts. George figured that this had been happening for a long time and that there was no reason we shouldn't have some fun before returning to the castle. I agreed with him but I wasn't in the mood to dance, at all.

Jonathan and Lilia on the other hand decided to make what time they could of the moments when they didn't have to be at the palace, they were dancing with others from the Dancing Dove, they couldn't dance formally, that would give their position away, it was quite entertaining to watch the future king and queen dancing around with drunks, not caring that they had officially lost all their authority with me. The fast beat of the music made them step up the pace and they were really good, if not also terribly informal and very... interesting... to watch.

Alex had one arm about me and sat sipping his alcoholic drink beside me, I too had mine in my hands, we watched with amusement the prince and princess of the realm.

William on the other hand was discussing something with the bartender and Gary was talking to yet another man.

Raoul sat drinking with us and I had lost track of Thom. I look around to see if I could spot him, I saw him sitting with a brown-haired lady of George's court, she was on his lap. I almost gagged right there.

Alex saw me move uncomfortably and looked in the direction I had been, he let out a muffled laugh and elbowed Raoul, he snorted into his drink.

I rolled my eyes at their childish attitude but looked away from Thom immediately, he's my brother after all!

Alex somehow managed to get me to dance and the evening whisked away.

George showed us tricks and how to roll dies whilst we shared stories of adventures.

"How exactly did you get to Maren?"

William and I exchanged amused glances and I smiled, diving into my story.

"I slipped past the guards on duty at the palace, with the help from Lilia." I winked at her. "And I ran, ran for a long time, until my legs could run no more. I had no clue where I was headed, I just wanted to put distance between me and the convent. I finally collapsed into a heap on the ground, it was icy and cold, I didn't think I'd make it. I was half dead when a handsome-"

"--very handsome" William interjected.

"when a somewhat handsome young--"

"and naive."

"Are you done?" I splutter. He laughs and nods. "when a young and naive young boy found me in the snow. He took me with him as he boarded a ship, without bothering to ask whether I wanted to come." I said accusingly, staring at Will who smiled sheepishly and looked away innocently.

"When we got off we were in Maren, I was sicker and colder and much worse than when I had left but still grateful. The Maren court allows both commoners and women to train so long as they buy their own equipment. Will so graciously lent me some money, coming from a rich family who didn't care about its uses." Will smiled.

"So I trained with them, I never dropped out, I became the second Lady Knight in Maren for a long time, none of the other girls ever completed. They were allowed to try, but most couldn't. Then, I was ordered from his majesty of Maren to come here with some other knights to work on the Maren treaty, they told me I was welcome to stay so long as you wanted me, for those who settled down in Tortall he wished well. That was his plan, if any settled down it would make for a stronger treaty."

"He gave away his knights?"

"They have a good deal."

"But we have heard that most die in training." Raoul said interested.

"They do, the training is hard to say the least, but the ones who pass stay alive for a long time. His majesty sends some into every country. Keeps the ties stronger and he can get information when necessary."

"So they're spies." Jon accused.

"No. They can just relay information faster than messengers.'

"How?" I knew that would get Lilia's attention.

"That's for us to know." I said, a small smile flickering upon my face.

"And then we came here." William concluded the tale.

"Nothing fancy, nothing special." I said, because after all, it wasn't.

"Will you tell us tales of what you did?" Gary asked.

William grinned mischievously; "one day, one day. Alanna has an armful of very interesting ones."

I gasped; "you wouldn't!"

"Try me."

I pursed my lips; 'I've got plenty of things about to you too." I shot.

He smiled, "all the better."

I shook my head, he will always be the same.

"We had beat be going up to the castle, we have work to do if what we heard was true." Jonathan sighed resignedly.

Everybody nodded their agreement reluctantly. None of us really wanted to go though, we set upon a time, not too much later that we would go back to the castle at. We listened to more stories from George and then some from his friends. We laughed a lot, it was good to know that we could all still laugh as friends. And friends they all now where too. My friends from the palace had now met George and my friends from the rogue, they had instantly liked each other. I smiled to myself, two different worlds, blending as one.

"Thom also happened to really hit it off with the brown-head. All too soon we had to leave.

We said our goodbyes, promised to visit soon and headed for the door.

Raoul stopped short.

"Where's Thom?"

We looked around the tavern, "over there." Pointed Lilia, she burst into giggles. I followed her finger, it pointed towards a brown head leading an an orange one into the stairway that brought to the rooms of the inn.

I smiled wryly. That had to be Thom. On the brink of war, of eminent danger, only my brother could get laid.

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Haha, I found that funny.

Hope you like it!

Review!

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xxTunstall Chickxx

5/07/08