The main part of the story is nearly over, but there will be several brief scenes to show the many changes that Alanna's new history will make. For anyone surprised by Thayet's new interest, I remind you that her original partner was a stubborn, contrary man that still had a bit of growing up to do before she accepted his hand in marriage.

Parts One and Two will be posted together, so don't be too frustrated with the ending of this chapter.

Lady Lioness
Chapter Sixteen: Part One

When Thayet happened to meet Thom in the hall in the afternoon, he was far different than the man she had spoken with just that very morning. He was close to grey with exhaustion, and the usual intensity of his violet eyes was subdued. He walked past her as if he could not see her, and only stopped when she gently tapped him on the shoulder.

"Thom, you look as if Death himself nearly met you," she chided, her voice even softer than her touch. When he didn't withdraw from the tap, she rested her entire hand against his shoulder. "You must ask your twin for healing before the ceremony. No matter your history, she will be pleased to help you."

"She'll need her energy," Thom said in a croak. "I don't deserve her help, Thayet. It's too much to explain, but I know my mother wouldn't be proud."

"Thom, forgiveness is never better than forewarning when the option is present." Her hand trailed down his arm, and that finally drew some light back into his eyes. "You love your sister and Roger both, I know, but your sister would never give an ultimatum."

"I don't have time for this talk, Thayet." Even as Thom said the words, he twined his fingers through hers. His grip was tighter than she might have preferred, but she wouldn't pull away when that little contact was bringing the light back to his eyes. "It's already too late." He didn't sound convinced, and that was all the chance she needed.

"Never." Gentleness hadn't worked, and neither had sympathy. That left the blunter approach. "You always have a choice, Thom of Trebond, and it's past time that you made one." She had expected the lecture to irritate him, but he was looking at her as if truer words would never be spoken. "I've already made my decision, you stubborn ass, and it's you. For all that you can be aggravating, and stubborn, and as unsteady as mercury, I like you. You're funny when you give yourself the chance, you're loyal in the worst of circumstances, and you're one of those people that can change the world if you like.

"You have so much magic, Thom. It's truly called the Gift for a reason. The gods chose you to wield your power, and to do it wisely."

Thom looked as if she had struck him, which wouldn't do as a final expression. Thayet's expression was far kinder when she closed the distance between them. "You're at a crossroads, I think, and you'll decide which path to take."

She didn't love him, or at least didn't love him yet, but she wanted him to succeed. She wanted him to choose Alanna, and for Thayet's own admiration and respect to be a bonus. Thayet didn't realize that she was absently toying with her hair, an old nervous habit. Thom did, and looked almost longingly at the ebony locks of hair moving over her cream-white skin.

Thom smiled at her, albeit crookedly, but the old fervor had returned to his gaze. "You've given me much to think about, Thayet, and maybe it won't be too late to win a little respect back."

"You have my respect, Thom." Thayet prayed that it would still be true after Thom's mysterious act. When he looked dubious, Thayet responded with daring. She leaned forward to kiss him, chastely, but his resulting dropped jaw when she stepped away proved that her action had breached the last of his defenses.

He fled soon after, beating a quick retreat, but Thayet stood in the corridor until Raoul and Buri came to collect her. Her guardswoman and best friend shook her head. "You would fall for the most stubborn man in Corus," Buri said, reading Thayet's expression as easily as always. "But you won't impress many people without all the trappings of a princess, so let's get you ready. Salma already has Alanna at the mercy of the curling iron."

Just as Buri had said, Alanna was patiently submitting to Salma's careful ministrations of curls and waves and pins as Salma tsked about a shortened lock of hair that had to be hidden with careful curling. The lady and the maid were chatting about Sir Gary's infatuation with Lady Cythera, and the strong likelihood that he would propose that very night. Alanna had a slight tinge to her expression that made Thayet expect that Alanna's 'guess' was far more than a wild supposition, but she kept her own counsel.

Alanna's gown for the night was trimmed with the darkest purple ribbon, a small break from mourning that brought out the color of her eyes. The square neckline showed her perpetual ember-charm to an advantage, and the full skirts easily hid Alanna's favorite soft-soled leather shoes.

Buri was wearing her usual uniform, all the better to compliment Raoul's no-nonsense approach to balls and grand occasions. The pair of them still refused to admit that they were a couple, but it was clear to anyone with eyes. Raoul and Buri drew attention wherever they went, between Raoul's popularity and the K'mir's infamous skill with a bow and with knives. They also drew the longing looks of matchmakers that were sure their next candidate would have snagged Sir Raoul of Goldenlake.

The palace might have been in a flurry of preparations for the ball, but the atmosphere in Alanna's chambers was relaxed until an unexpected visitor rapped on her window.

"George!" Alanna opened the window, prepared to be exasperated even before Numair Cooper followed George through her window. "What are you doing here? Why is Numair here?"

"I saw the both of us coming, lass, nothing else for it," George said grimly. "My Sight has yet to lead me wrong. I'll stay nice and out of sight, and Numair and I have practiced out some magic that not even Roger or your brother could find.

"Roger is making his move tonight, and I haven't the faintest idea what it'll be."

Numair was uncharacteristically serious as he nodded to Thayet, Buri, and Salma. "I know that I don't know enough magic yet, Alanna, but I couldn't leave you alone against Roger." He was diplomatic enough to leave 'and your brother' unsaid, even as everyone but Thayet winced.

"He might surprise us," Thayet defended. Buri held her tongue on how biased Thayet's opinion was likely to be. "He loves you, Alanna, and that could still win out over years of loyalty to Roger."

"I hope it does," Alanna murmured.

Little else was said before the start of the ball. The mood of the room had turned contemplative, and didn't lighten even when George wrapped his arms around her. It couldn't help when he looked as if they would never talk again.

Not even Raoul's ebullience at introducing several of his friends among the Bazhir could rid the group of the sense that something was wrong. The formal receiving line left many of them without escorts, which suited Alanna just fine. She was able size up the room, and to note the many couples and nobles that had taken her side.

Alanna was led to a fairly important table, again with Gary and Cythera. Alanna nudged at Gary's ankle under the table, smiling when he nodded once. He was one of the first parts of her push back against Roger, and with George worrying, she expected that she would need that push tonight. Alanna was seated well before Princess Thayet arrived, and was very pleased to notice that not even Princess Josiane's place at King Roger's right hand could distract the staring that Thayet attracted.

The dinner itself was rather forgettable, even with Roger's frequent staring, because everyone knew the primary attraction of such events was never the beautiful courses or the elaborate desserts. The true politics started when the dance floor was opened, and that night Roger's opening salvo was a dance with Princess Josiane. Roger's squire was on hand with refreshments, and most people would have said that Thom looked the same as always. Alanna was not most people, and she knew very well that her brother was doing poorly. Thom shouldn't be at the ball in such a state.

Before Roger had too much attention, and too much public opinion gained from his potential wedlock with a wealthy foreign princess, Alanna's first distraction came into play. Cythera had been given notice, but her excited agreement to Gary's proposal was entirely unfeigned. The pair of them instantly drew notice, of course, and the entire ball was ready to shift toward a congratulatory event for one of the realm's favorite knights and one of Corus's prettiest ladies.

Alanna did her best to not stare at the hangings, wondering which one George had chosen. Both George and Numair were present despite her strong objections, and so far they remained undiscovered. She could only hope that would continue to be the case.

Raoul asked her to dance, again, but she suspected it was to save Buri. Raoul also took a turn around the floor with Cythera, once he pried her away from Gary. Alanna danced with Gary to distract him, and both were stunned when Raoul made no move to slink away from the dance. It seemed that Raoul know there was some mischief in the air, and he knew to stay near Alanna or Thayet.

To Alanna's surprise, Thayet and Thom were dancing together and leaving Delia well to the side. It did explain why Thayet had defended her brother so readily, but Alanna couldn't help but wonder who was right about her quick-tempered brother.

Alanna had little time to wonder, as Roger had approached her yet again. His smile was pleasant, even when she knew about the ruins beneath it. "Dance with me, milady."

"I was waiting for a different partner, thank you," Alanna demurred.

"Your king insists." The tone of his voice had changed. For once, Alanna had the distinct impression that she was losing their subtle game, when she hadn't realized that they had started again. She relented, accepting his hand and following his lead out onto the ballroom floor.

"I imagine you think your stunt with Sir Gary was clever, Alanna."

"Stunt, your grace?" Alanna would not call him her king, and Roger knew it.

Roger's glare would have scared nearly anyone. Alanna had seen worse from him in just that week. "Don't be coy, Alanna, and don't imagine your friends are out of danger. My offer of marriage ends tonight, though the price has risen. I would advise you to take the queenship and the blood oath, Alanna, because I will win our contest."

If Roger was threatening her so badly, then she was doing well enough for him to lose control. "I am in mourning, Roger. I won't wed anyone for seven months yet."

"Spare me the formalities, Alanna." The pair of them paused for intricate footwork interspersed with whirling turns, but neither lost their place in the talk. "Don't force me to use the most inelegant of options when we have so many more civilized choices."

"Does Princess Josiane know that she's your backup bride, in case you can't have me?" Alanna asked, ignoring his threat in favor of her own.

"Inelegance it is, Alanna, but know that I attempted civility. Accept what little dignity you have left and marry me."

The last two words carried. Alanna couldn't put a hand to her ember-stone to check with Roger watching her so closely, but she knew she would see threads of orange magic carrying those words to every corner of the hall. Just as Alanna had predicted, she caught an enraged Copper Isles princess turning an unattractive shade of bone-white. That couldn't end well.

The words also seemed to be some kind of cue, because there was a wild yell behind her that didn't sound at all surprised, and a shout from Raoul. Alanna spun, finding her hands free from Roger's grasp, but knew she was too late to pull back the massive magic that one of the Bazhir delegation was aiming directly at Raoul's heart.

The entire hall seemed to yell "no!" at once, but one person had taken action. In that moment, the would-be murderer fell to the ground with his arms held closely against his body, and both legs kicking together against invisible bonds. A second after that, his yelling abruptly ceased. Raoul was unharmed, but his assailant was going nowhere.

Eleni Cooper cleared her throat politely, holding a partially-unraveled handkerchief in her hand. "I believe that our shaman has just experienced one of the more womanly magics," she said clearly. Eleni's voice carried without any magic, and she had the bearing of a queen as the entire hall turned to her. "Sir Gareth of Naxen, please take this man into custody. From the insignia on his sleeve, I gather that this man was once the shaman of the Bloody Hawk tribe."

Gary stepped forward, his expression looking as though it had been carved from stone. "Akhnan ibn Nazzir. You are under arrest for the attempted murder of Sir Raoul of Goldenlake, for the murder of the Bloody Hawk tribe, and for the murder of Sir Gareth the Elder of Naxen."

That threw the entire hall into a stir, but Gary was ready. With Raoul following, Gary lifted Nazzir off the floor to personally deliver the shaman to a Tortallan jail. Cythera went back to her table after meeting Gary's eyes, and the lady looked perfectly content to freshen her cosmetics with no company whatsoever.

Less than a minute later, Eleni's magic prevented Princess Josiane from coming within one hundred feet of Alanna. The princess had been holding an axe she had taken from one of the decorative suits of armor, and looked as if she had meant to use it. As Alanna had said, the princess had expected to be the recipient of Roger's offer. This time, Eleni followed as Coram and another guard gently took the axe from Josiane before taking her from the hall.

Alanna believed that was two points to her side of things, as she and Roger were forever playing their little game. She deliberately turned back to her king, offering a shallow curtsy that wouldn't satisfy a knight. "Shall we dance, your majesty?"

Roger didn't take her hand. Instead, he opened a fist to reveal a tiny doll in her perfect likeness. Its dress was an exact replica for her own gown, down to the purple edging at the hems and neckline, and the tiny features of the face all matched her own. Even the hair was in a decent approximation of her own style, and there was no mistaking the red hair as anything but her own.

Alanna's hand was touching the short lock of her own hair before she realized that she had moved. "Thom," she whispered.

Roger's smile would put a Carthaki viper to shame. "Indeed, Lady Alanna. Your hair and Thom's blood together make this bit of focus powerful indeed, and there is no need to worry that we will be interrupted. Your allies have left you, and you would be a fool to think Myles knows to interfered. The rest of the room will only see us dancing."

Alanna didn't know what magic he had worked to isolate her from all her allies, and she had only read about focuses in her studies with Numair. He studied nearly every type of magic, even those kinds that no sane person would think to practice. Numair had said that you could never trust what an opponent would and wouldn't do, and he had been right.

"It will come to a contest of wills," Alanna said weakly, knowing that she wouldn't win against a piece of herself in such an image. Roger had done nothing, she knew, so the creeping feeling of defeat was only part of her own imagination. "I'll be of no more use as a queen than a simulacra."

"The focus will not be a permanent measure," Roger chided gently, as if she were a child. "It will be the extreme example only. I'm sure that we will come to an agreement in time, and if you were clever you would not force me to prove just what this little doll can do to you. I like the fire in your eyes, Alanna, and would not be satisfied with only a life-size doll. Surely you can realize that the safety of your friends is paramount compared to paltry things such as freedom."

"You already tried to have Raoul murdered."

"I would have settled for a maiming," Roger replied smoothly. "It was an experiment, really, but wedding you will work closely enough. Had a Bazhir killed their precious pet, it would have driven the nation to war, and wartime kings are always remembered fondly. Just think of Jasson before me."

Alanna could see the madness in his eyes behind his veneer of civility more clearly than ever. "You would kill thousands for your own vanity?"

"I would destroy every last man, woman, and child of the Bazhir as the start of a legacy. You have delayed too long to hope that all of your little friends can live, Alanna, and every hesitation will only increase the count of bodies and funerals." Roger toyed absently with the focus, and despite his words his tone remained reasonable and even charming. "Marry me, Alanna."

"Why do you want me so badly?" she asked, finally asking the question that had distracted her for weeks on end. "Josiane would have suited you, for all that she was as mad as you!"

Roger's eyes narrowed as his smile turned vicious. "You'll regret those words, Alanna." He squeezed the red-haired doll in his hand with murder in his eyes, but Alanna felt nothing.

Across the ballroom, and beyond the small pocket of area that Roger had marked away from notice, Thom screamed and fell to the ground.