Characters' reactions to other characters may be dramatically different, as before, and the characters' reactions are not my own.
Lady Lioness: Chapter Fourteen
After the previous day's events, Alanna didn't make even a token protest when Coram fetched her new bodyguard from the Lower City. George was far too conspicuous for Duke Roger's imminent coronation, even if he didn't have all of Corus's Rogues to look after. Coram had his post with the Guard, but after the previous events, he was entirely in favor of extra protection than he and Sir Myles could provide. Myles, Coram, and George all wanted measures taken to keep Alanna safe. The three of them together had appointed her new bodyguard.
For the first and perhaps only time of her life, Alanna was happy to have embroidery to distract herself. Raoul had written that he would reach Corus in the next few days, so she was planning to present him with the silken handkerchief as a gift. She was monogramming it with an elaborate 'A' that Sister Yvette wouldn't be able to fault, and she was also ignoring the other occupant of her plain little sitting room. The two matched armchairs were plush, for all that they were a dingy shade of blue, and the little fire in the brazier kept her from feeling any chill.
Some of George's court had guessed that the black-haired girl with violet eyes was also George's latest noble friend, but for the rest, she was popular as both 'Aly' and 'Lady Alanna.' She had grown used to the casual way that thieves and flower-sellers would tease Aly and joke with Lady Alanna, but not one member of the Court of Thieves had outright propositioned her. They also hadn't called her 'kitten.'
If Liam Ironarm called her by that silly nickname one more time, she was going to punch him, Shang Dragon or not.
Before he had the opportunity, Salma rapped at the sitting room's door. "There isn't enough room for more visitors here, lady, but you've a guest waiting in the receiving room near the stables. Guests, as it happens, but Sir Raoul is the only one you would know."
Alanna let her embroidery fall to the side of her chair without hesitation. "Let's go add to my guard for the coronation, shall we?" Alanna was too excited to hold Liam's earlier offer against him. He probably had expected a warmer reception, with his looks and with that reputation, but he hadn't been interested in her. Perhaps he had liked her looks well enough, but he couldn't have known enough about her within four minutes to know that he'd want her as a temporary lover.
Liam didn't answer, but from his smile, he didn't hold her earlier reticence against her. "George will be happy to know you've another ally within the palace, Alanna. Neither of us expects a direct affront, but we don't want Roger sneaking a proposal by you."
Alanna scowled in remembrance. Roger's proposal had happened just two nights before, and she never would forget seeing George covered in his own blood. She also would never forgive the duke, soon to be the king. If Roger had meant to intimidate her, he had failed. George had been the first to say that he would die before having her accept an offer she wouldn't want, and she couldn't do anything but believe him. "Quite. As a matter of fact, should he ask me again—"
"I imagine you'd be quite a bit more frank," a very familiar voice said from his place in an alcove. Thom stepped into the light with a much more sympathetic expression than she had grown used to seeing in her three months in the palace. "Hello, sister."
Her brother had been waiting for her. She supposed the entire palace had known of Raoul's arrival, with his recent fame, so it was no great surprise that Thom would know where to intercept her. The surprise was that he would care to do so. "Hello, Thom. I haven't changed my mind, if that's what you wanted to know."
"That isn't it," Thom said dismissively, but without the heat she would have expected. "Roger didn't tell me he was going to propose to you." Even with the newfound sympathy, Thom's irritation with his knightmaster still won out.
"I don't blame you, Thom, and I don't blame you for what came after. I suppose he told you what his men did to my friend?" Alanna's tone was deceptively mild, but Thom knew the signs of her temper, even when her temper was mostly under control.
"Afterward, yes. I don't like that it came to bloodhed between the two of you, Alanna."
"I didn't draw blood, Thom, but I imagine that the point has been made. His grace and I simply have a disagreement in philosophy." Alanna was very conscious of Liam's continued interest in the conversation, but she would have responded the same even with no one else present.
"That's what they call it now?" Thom turned away, but she could see the clenching of his jaw. "Alanna, this is dangerous. You need to stop."
"I don't know what you mean, Thom." Alanna was too used to the game with Roger, so it was all too easy to keep her voice pleasant. "Like any Tortallan, I will be loyal to my king."
Thom's time with Roger had sharpened his perception. "But Roger will never be your king." This time, Thom's disappointment was with her, and it stung that he still would take his knightmaster's side in everything. "I'm sorry, Alanna, but he will be the rightful king by the third bell."
"And you will remain his loyal squire. I won't ask you to go against him, Thom." She already knew what her brother's answer would be.
To her surprise, instead of insisting that he would never betray Roger, he pulled her into an embrace. "I know, sister mine." There was some odd inflection to 'mine,' a gravelly sound that made her want to reach for her ember pendant even with her brother in the way, but the strange sound didn't return. "I hope you can forgive me."
"Thom?" She pulled away, the better to attempt reading his expression. Once, her twin had been an open book.
Her brother stepped back, no discernible expression on his face. He was trying to keep calm, but she knew him. His left hand was curled into a fist, a sure sign that he was upset. "I'll see you at the coronation, Alanna."
Liam let out a low whistle as Thom vanished around a corner. "Little wonder George called in a favor, milady. I thought you were just the latest noble pet of his."
"I'm sure that I don't know what you mean," Alanna said coolly, already resuming her walk to the receiving chamber.
"They're not all so toothsome, of course, those nobles George takes on for a lark. The last noble he took on was a potbellied old scholar of a knight twice George's age at the least."
Alanna's glare made the Shang Dragon take an involuntary step away. Later, she would learn that it was because of the Gift that had flared up around her at the insult to a dear friend. "That scholar would be my adopted father, Sir Myles of Olau."
Liam looked taken aback, and perhaps a little apologetic, but she had nothing else to say until she saw her friend silhouetted against one of the receiving room's windows. "Raoul!" she yelled, ignoring decorum in favor of running over to him.
"Alanna!" He picked her up bodily and spun her around so quickly that her petticoats fluttered away to show quite a bit of ankle. Raoul's hands were as gentle as he was, and just as big, when he carefully set her back on the floor. "You're quite the legend among the Bazhir, I'm afraid. The past Voice of the Bazhir was a good friend of Sir Myles, of course, so as soon as Sir Myles adopted somebody, they wanted to know about you."
"The Voice?" she asked.
"I don't know if I can describe what the Voice is like, but it's like you're nothing and everything at the same time when you see him. I let the Voice see you, through my eyes, and his approval's enough." Raoul's tone might be light, but the look in his eyes was serious. "The Bazhir call you a lioness, Alanna, and they would fight for you if you asked."
Her friend was an entirely new shade, tanned from his time living in the deserts, and there was a new peace to him as well. She blushed faintly at the words, but she was almost used to the way that people would rally around her without any request on her part. "I've missed you, Raoul."
"I liked having your letters, Alanna, and the part where you kept Gary out of trouble. I never did manage to make that happen, but—look at me talking to you and ignoring my guests," Raoul said, nodding to the two women Alanna hadn't even noticed.
One was a solid woman with her hair braided tightly away from her face, and with an old wariness to her eyes that made Alanna think of Trebond's townspeople after another attack by bandits. The other woman, bathed in sunlight and wearing a battered, clean dress of homespun linen, was beautiful enough that Alanna couldn't help but stare. The woman's skin was white as lilies, but her hair was the complete opposite, and fell into luxurious waves of black even fresh after riding horseback to reach the palace. The brilliantly hazel eyes and perfect red lips were enough to make Alanna feel something like self-consciousness, but that faded when the woman chuckled quietly.
"My mother was prettier," the woman said, and even her voice was beautiful with a teasing lilt that felt nothing like mockery. "I appealed to Sir Raoul for an escort before Sarain's situation became untenable, and my mother was very pleased to see me go safely."
Raoul cleared his throat. "Sorry, Alanna, she has that effect on just about everybody. Anyway. Lady Alanna of Trebond and Olau, Lioness of the Bazhir tribes, may I introduce Princess Thayet jian Wilima, Duchess of Cama and Thanhyien, called 'Thayet the Peerless,' and her peerless bodyguard, Buriram Tourakom of the K'miri Hau Ma."
Alanna had a quick enough temper to be generous so soon after Liam's ill-fated remark about Myles. "I also should introduce Liam Ironarm."
"The Shang Dragon," Raoul said, with a new sharpness to his eyes that had replaced an absent-minded acceptance. "George found us on our way in to say that he wanted Alanna looked after, but I hadn't realized we were quite so serious."
"I was in town," Liam said self-effacingly, with a good-natured shrug that made Alanna like the man more. "Good to see you again, Raoul. You've been working on speed?"
"I'm still no match for you, Liam." Raoul slapped Liam's shoulder in a universal male version of hello. "From what I hear, if you want any competition that isn't George, you should pick up a sword and go visit Lady Alanna here. Gary said that she's beating him one bout in two, and he was the best aside from Alex of Tirragen to come out of Sklaw's training for years."
Liam glanced at Alanna with a new appreciation. "Is that so? I apologize for earlier assumptions, milady, but you do keep your secrets."
Alanna glanced to the two women for their reactions. Thayet was curious, but Buri looked approving. "From what little I've heard, you'll need to defend yourself," the K'mir woman said.
"I wouldn't go so far as to say that." Alanna toyed with her ember pendant, scanning for magic and finding no trace. "You'll be pleased to hear that his grace and I are getting along, Raoul. He even saw fit to propose to me two days ago."
Raoul needed a visible effort to keep his composure. "Did he now. You refused, I would imagine, since you announce a proposal instead of a marriage?"
"I am still in mourning." Alanna might have continued in that vein for longer, but the coronation was coming up all too soon. "Mistress Tourakom, Princess Thayet, would you care to freshen up before the coronation? It begins in two bells, and I am sure my maid would be happy to work with someone that isn't dressed entirely in black."
That was how Alanna ended up getting ready for a grand fete with other women for the first time in her life. She enjoyed the unexpected camaraderie, and within half of an hour Thayet had gone from an intimidating paragon of womanliness to the sharp-humored woman that had already dismissed all titles. Thayet borrowed one of the dresses Alanna had inherited from her mother, a dark green gown that would never have looked so well with Alanna's hair, while Buri (as she preferred to be called) stayed with her own outfit. Buri chatted with Liam while Thayet bathed the last traces of dirt and grime from her person, and the two of them quickly made friends speaking about weapons and fighting and terrain.
When it came time for the coronation, Raoul in his vibrant green and gold livery was the one to escort Alanna to the coronation. She wore her fourth-best black dress, but also wore black pearl eardrops that George had given her as a present. (He had included a full bill of sale with the pearls, with his mother listed as the purchaser.) Liam trailed along behind them, effortlessly fitting in with the nobles in their finery as he remained in his simpler dress.
Buri took a position with the rest of the palace guards when Thayet made her entrance to the Hall of Kings without an escort. The world-weary herald nearly stammered as he announced Thayet with her full titles, and even Roger looked surprised to find a princess of such caliber at his coronation. His reaction was much what Alanna had expected, blandly charming, but she found Thom's reaction much more amusing.
Her brother had nearly swallowed his tongue when he saw Thayet, by the starstruck look on his face. That expression was mirrored by nearly every man in the hall and several of the ladies, but Alanna only had eyes for her brother's shock.
The coronation proceeded just as Alanna had expected, and she saw nearly nothing worth remembering. Roger had left no flaws in his guard, and the men nearest to him were very apparently devoted to his safety. Thom was on hand throughout the ceremony, leaving Alanna with a focal point to study. There had been something very odd in her exchange with Thom earlier, though she couldn't imagine what it had been.
She puzzled on that through the afternoon, even as Raoul invited her to meet with Gary in the library. The three of them chatted about the latest political situation in Carthak, but only Alanna knew that Ozorne was prematurely satisfied to hear of Arram Draper's death at the hands of Tortall. She trusted Raoul and Gary, but the secret of Numair Cooper's true identity was best kept to only a few people. Even Marek thought that Numair was another slave rescued from Carthak by George's quiet influence on Carthaki politics, and that was deemed a fine solution by Eleni and Numair both.
Gary escorted Cythera to the ball, and the two of them were nearly impossible at dinner. Alanna and Raoul spent all of the meal talking to each other, as Gary and Cythera had little use for anyone else. Thayet had been led to the high table, but a fast bit of maneuvering on her part had made it impossible to seat her near Roger. She modestly took the seat beside Thom's, saying that she could not possibly usurp the king's own squire on such a day. Roger had that small trace of irritation visible, that he had not successfully controlled a situation, but Thom's response was nearly comical. Her coldly self-assured brother acted like a gawky teenager in response to Thayet's polite questions, and it made Alanna pleased beyond measure to know that such things as awkwardness hadn't been lost to Roger's glib charm.
Alanna missed George when it was time for dancing. 'Aly' had done several country dances with George at the Dancing Dove, when they stacked tables and chairs to leave room at the center, and it felt like the careful rhythm of sparring against a close friend. Raoul was sweet, but he hated balls and fancy occasions, and he thought of her as his little sister. There wasn't any passion to the dancing. Alanna danced with him before dismissing him to the library, and a brief chat with Liam and Buri left the K'mir free to escape the formal dance. Buri had decided that Liam would be protection enough when Thayet was waltzing in the arms of a very strong mage.
Thom and Thayet danced together only twice, but Alanna saw Roger's reactions. He was frustrated to see Thayet's affect on Thom, but also looked angry that Thayet had cut him twice when he moved to offer her a dance. Once she had politely insisted that her feet were tired after the long journey there, and once she had already accepted Thom's offer. Thayet did accept Roger's third request for a dance, but Roger had already deemed Thayet an unsuitable candidate for his affections.
Alanna found Thom at the edge of the ballroom, watching rather wistfully as Duke Baird danced with Thayet to one of the trickier patterns. "Did you recognize mother's dress, Thom?"
"I knew it looked familiar, but it's been years," Thom said. For once, he wasn't on his guard. "I miss her, Alanna. She'd always send the best care packages, even if she never visited."
"Father hated court, Thom," Alanna reminded him. "She loved father too much to stay here, and she never was strong enough for the ride." Marinie had been, once, but the birth of her twins had nearly taken her life. Everyone felt lucky that the lady of Trebond had only been left with weakness of her legs.
"I know. It's just something I told myself so that I could be angry instead of sad. Anger is stronger." Thom looked as if he didn't believe his own words."
"There's nothing weak in mourning, Thom. I'll admit that a full year feels like too much, sometimes, but there's an old-fashioned sort of honor in saying how important she was, and how much she'll be missed."
They never had talked about her mother in the stilted teas and the few conversations in the hallway. The moment had never been right. "I wish we were on the same side, Alanna, but we're not. Even with mother's death. You could do something to help her, and I was too afraid to see her die."
The confession seemed to be all that Thom had needed to pour out everything he had been holding away from her for years. "You're a healer, Alanna, so I don't think you'll ever understand what it's like to have so much Gift and no good outlet. I can already transmute the elements, and I've done the written examinations for my mastery. I've kept that quiet, but as soon as I'm knighted, I can stop the pretense of being a fighter and become a great mage. I already have my trial planned out, for what I can do, and I can finally stop people from laughing at me." Thom scowled for a long moment, as if recounting every instance of laughter.
"You would've been the better knight," he finished unexpectedly. "You've always worked, even when you hated it, and I know I was a laughingstock all through being a page. I was until Roger chose me, and he saved me." Thom looked as if he couldn't stand to not be believed. "He chose me, Alanna, out of everybody, and he made me special. I wasn't just one of forty or even one of two."
Alanna tried to hold it back, but it hurt that her brother would give so many reasons instead of staying with her. "I wouldn't mind still being one of two, Thom, the way that we were before."
"It can't go back to the way it was," Thom said, but he sounded hesitant.
"It could be better." Alanna knew it was risky, when Roger was such an influence, but Thom was her brother. "I love you, Thom, and nothing could change that."
Instead of looking relieved, Thom looked suspicious. Alanna looked away, not wanting to see that old guilty expression that meant that Thom had done exactly what his accuser had said. "You shouldn't, sister mine."
"That's not how love works, Thom." Alanna stood, feeling very alone even with her brother just two feet away. "I'm sorry you don't feel the same."
When Alanna walked away, Thom made no move to stop her or to tell her she was wrong.
She made her excuses to Myles, who looked entirely too knowing, and politely demurred Baird's offer of a checkup. Alanna suspected she did look ill, but it wasn't with anything that magic could cure. When she finally reached her rooms, Salma took one look before ordering Alanna into a hot bath and then into bed, but it wasn't anything that could be fixed with comfort or sleep.
Thom wasn't going to stay a neutral party in her little battles with Roger. Thom was going to be fighting against her.