Thanks to:
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Dru Dysis
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Tyson strolled down the busy street leading towards Bentworth's main marketplace. Warm breath steamed from his mouth in the cold, late morning air. The crowds bustled around him, seemingly unfazed by the chilly weather as they went about their shopping.
Arriving at a small crossway, Tyson turned off the main thoroughfare. Politely nodding at several shoppers who passed him by, he continued his brisk walk down the street.
Five minutes later, he was pushing open the door of one of the older shops on the street, a shop who's sign swaying in the breeze read "Branum's Fine Books & Supplies." Letting the door swing closed behind him, Tyson paused for a moment, letting the warmth and smell of the bookshop rush over him.
"Good day, Mr. McConty," a merry voice to his left said. Tyson opened his eyes and turned to see a white-haired gentleman approaching him. He had a large stack of books tucked under one arm, and beamed at him from behind spectacles balanced precariously on the end of his long nose.
Tyson smiled at the bookshop's owner. "Good day, Mr. Branum. I'm sorry I haven't been in for a while."
"Pshaw!" the older man said, setting his pile of books on the front desk. "Never you mind! Now tell me, what are you in search of today?"
Tyson smiled and shrugged. "Have you gotten anything new lately?"
The older man grinned. "There was that fascinating new romance novel by Celinda Wasking."
Tyson gave him an exaggerated look of horror. "Please, anything but that!"
Mr. Branum laughed. "Don't worry, I have plenty of things you'll be interested in. I just got some historical documents on the Ayorthain royal family, along with a short record of the Great War in Kulornia."
Tyson gave a sigh of relief. "Good. Something that could actually come in handy knowing someday."
Mr. Branum laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "There's a good lad. I know for a fact reading romance novels won't help you much in life."
Tyson grinned and thanked him, then left the man and started towards the rear of the bookshop. As he approached the history section, (admittedly the place he spent most of his time in the shop), he was surprised to see someone already there. No one had ever been there whenever Tyson had previously visited. Actually, he'd never before even met anyone who enjoyed reading about history.
Not wanting to disturb the person, Tyson peered around the corner of the aisle. His mouth dropped open slightly.
"Alanna?"
The girl slammed shut the incredibly thick book she'd been engrossed in, looking around in a slight panic. As soon as she spotted Tyson stepping around the corner, she gave a large sigh of relief. "Oh, it's just you."
"Who'd you think it was?"
She shook her head rather quickly. "No one."
It was clearly something she didn't want to talk about, so Tyson decided to change the subject. "What were you reading?"
Alanna looked embarrassed and moved to replace the volume back on the shelf. "Just some old book."
He intercepted it and, before she could react, quickly read the title. She shifted her weight uneasily.
Tyson looked back up at her. "Do you usually like to read things like this?"
She shrugged, giving a sheepish sort of grin. "My mother thinks I come in here to look at books on improving my stitchery or some other nonsense."
Tyson smiled. "It's just rather interesting, that's all."
"What is?"
"The fact that I read this same exact book only a few months ago."
Alanna looked at him oddly, her eyebrows raised. "You read "A History of Kyrrian Elves?"
Tyson shrugged. "What can I say? I love history, and always have, ever since I was a boy."
Alanna shook her head. "You don't seem the type."
"Neither do you," he pointed out.
Alanna grinned. "You've got me there."
She took the book back from him and rifled through its pages. "So, is it any good?"
He shrugged. "If you like biased authors."
She nodded. "The bit I read did make him seem rather prejudiced."
"Other than that though," Tyson said, "it was rather good. It was very thorough."
Alanna nodded thoughtfully. "I'll have to finish it then."
She set it back on the shelf. Tyson was confused. "Aren't you going to get it?"
"Well..." she paused. "I can't really get it right now."
"Why not?"
She rolled her eyes. "My mother wouldn't be too pleased with me."
"Is your mother here?" he asked. He didn't remember seeing her.
She hesitated. "Well, no."
"Then what's stopping you?"
Alanna shook her head. "It's complicated. My mother does not approve of my reading, especially books like this. There's bound to be mentions war or rebellions, which would be, and I quote, entirely inappropriate for a young woman of stature to know about'. I usually have my friend Sara bring a book or two whenever she comes to visit. My mother would never suspect her of smuggling things for me."
She took a breath. "So, anyway, I have to hide my reading, by only doing it in my room, or-"
"Leaving your house entirely," Tyson finished. "So that's why you had a book when I ran into you yesterday."
Alanna gave another sheepish smile. "The Time and Life of King Owen the Third."
Tyson leaned against a bookshelf. "Now, is that one any good? I've heard the author was one of King Owens best friends."
Alanna shrugged. "It wasn't what I'd call a masterpiece, but it was very imformative. Of course, Owen's good qualities were indefinitely more highlighted than his bad, but that's understandable."
"Are you saying that a king should be made to look better than he is?"
Alanna smiled, and shook her head. "No, of course not. I was merely pointing out the fact that if the author had tried to make Owen look anything less than perfect, there was always the chance that he could be beheaded. After all, King Owen was not exactly the most congenial of leaders."
Tyson grimaced and shook his head. "That he was not. Wasn't he the one who started a war with Kulornia just because its ambassador had accidentally mispronounced his name?"
Alanna gave a sardonic laugh. "That's right. The war went on for almost a year before Owen's councilors convinced him to give it up."
"I wonder how they did that," Tyson said. "I didn't imagine him as the type that gives up too easily."
"Me neither," Alanna replied running her hand along the spines of the many books lined up on the shelf in front of her, apparently scanning the titles for something interesting sounding.
She reached the end of the row and sighed, looking back at him. "I'd better get going. The pr-" She looked flustered. "I mean, someone will be looking for me."
"Who?" Tyson asked, trying to appear unconcerned. Had she almost said...no, it couldn't be.
Alanna flushed. "Oh, just someone who's staying with my family and I for a while."
He frowned and crossed his arms. "Alanna, who is it?"
She sighed. Reluctantly she opened her mouth to respond. Before she could say anything, a familiar voice interrupted.
"Alanna, there you are!"
As the owner to the voice appeared around the corner of the bookshelf, all of Tyson's suspicions were confirmed. He could only sigh, deep and resigned, as the man went to stand beside Alanna.
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Alanna groaned inwardly. Well, there went keeping Prince Daniel a secret! Not that it would have worked much longer.
She pasted a smile on her lips and turned to face the prince. To her surprise, he was not looking at her, but was staring at Tyson.
Alanna glanced back at Tyson. His arms were still crossed, his face completely unreadable.
An awkward silence grew. Alanna cleared her throat. "Well," she said nervously. "Shall I introduce you-"
"We know each other," Tyson said, a bit shortly. Alanna merely nodded. The tension here was almost too much for her. She could almost feel the animosity radiating between them.
Alanna looked back at the prince. He still hadn't said anything.
"Perhaps we'd best be going then," she said, turning back to Tyson.
He nodded, focusing his attention back on her and giving a tight smile. "It was pleasure to see you again."
"The pleasure was all mine."
With an awkward wave, she turned and followed the prince out of the bookshop. Just outside, Daniel's bodyguard, Matthew waited, trying to appear inconspicuous as he watched all the passing shoppers with a careful eye. He fell in behind his employer as the prince strode quickly by, somehow knowing not to question his actions.
Alanna hurried to keep up with the young man's long steps. "Your Highness, if you don't mind my asking, how do you know Lord McConty?"
The prince frowned, and replied shortly, "I'd rather not talk about him, if you don't mind."
Alanna raised her eyebrow, a bit put off by his sharp reply. "Of course, Your Highness."
Perhaps he had sensed the sarcasm in her voice; but he slowed his step slightly. He glanced over at her and gave her an apologetic smile. "Please, call me Daniel."
Alanna nodded, accepting his unspoken apology. "Certainly."
They arrived at the coach, which was waiting down the street a bit. As the footman hurried to open the door for them, Daniel abruptly turned to her. "How long have you known him?"
She was caught slightly off guard. "Who? The Duke?"
"Yes," he answered impatiently, holding out his arm to assist her into the coach.
Alanna shrugged confusedly, taking his arm as she climbed in. "I don't know, a couple of months perhaps."
He followed her inside, seating himself as the door closed. He crossed him arms and stared out of his window, a frown marring his features.
"Is there anywhere else you'd like to visit?" she asked politely, still trying to play the part of a gracious hostess.
He shook his head. "No thank you. I think I'd like to return to your manor, if you don't mind. I feel a bit lightheaded."
"Of course," Alanna replied. She wasn't surprised. Undoubtedly he'd been on dozens of these "tours." Alanna herself would never have agreed to it if her mother had not suggested it at dinner the night before, in the presence of both Prince Daniel and his bodyguard.
She sighed, then leaned out the open window and instructed the driver to head for home.
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Well, there you go! I know it's not very good, and not up to my usual standard (at least I think so), but I decided to post it anyway! So please review and feel free to give me any kind of advice!