Alanna spent three days in hiding, discussing her options with Coram, Faithful, and Maude, who had initially helped Thom and Alanna orchestrate their switch. Nothing seemed especially appealing.
On the fourth day, Alanna received a welcome surprise when George rode in. After some difficulty convincing Coram to let him through the door, he burst in and embraced Alanna.
"Well, Lass, you're not dead on some battlefield, so I'll count my blessings."
"I've missed you!" Alanna replied. "You have no idea how good it is to see you!"
She sighed deeply and motioned for him to take a seat next to her. "Did Jon tell you everything?"
"He did. Have you made any decisions about what you'll do next?"
"None," Alanna said.
"Well, I've come up with three options for you," George said brightly.
"The first," he continued, taking her hand and looking warmly into her eyes, "is for you to wed-"
"No!" Alanna said, pulling her hand back. "Don't you dare ask me to marry you!"
George recoiled as if slapped, and the hurt was evident on his face.
"Oh, no, goddess, no, I didn't mean it like that," she said, putting a hand on his arm. "It's just that you would be the fourth man to offer to marry me this week. Jonathan, Raoul, even Myles hinted that he would marry me if I got desperate. I don't mean to sound ungrateful to you or any of them, but marriage can't be my only hope for a future."
George softened. "The difference, Lass, is that they offered to marry you because they're nobles, and that's the only way they know how to help a lady. They wanted to do you a kindness. I was askin' for purely selfish reasons. But, we'll take that option off the table for now."
She rolled her eyes but smiled gratefully at him all the same.
"The second option," he began with a too-wide grin.
"Nothing illegal."
"Ah, well then, you'll just have to choose the third. Come back to the city as mother's apprentice."
George left the same day, sensing that Coram may not tolerate him as an overnight visitor. Alanna was sad to see him go, but now she had a plan that would allow her to see him again soon.
Thom arrived the next day, as did a courier from the palace with the few belongings she had left there.
"Well, the ruse lasted five years. That's five years longer than I thought it would," Thom remarked as they sat together in what had been Alanna's childhood bedroom. "I am sorry. I spent the first three years expecting just this news, but as soon as the Prince accepted you…Bah! What can I do for you?"
"I was hoping you would keep lying for me," Alanna responded. "Just a slightly different lie this time."
"So I'm supposed to say that you're stuck paralyzed in this very room while in reality, you'll be an apprentice healer to the thief's mother in Corus, all the while keeping an eye on your prince and hoping against hope for an opportunity to convince the king to take you back?"
"Yes."
"I like it. You're following in my magical footsteps after all. You know you'll be giving up the advantages of being a noble?"
"At least for a time, yes. I don't see this being permanent."
"What will you call yourself?"
Alanna thought for a moment and then smiled, "Annabella."
"Hmmm...that may be a little too noble sounding."
"Just 'Ella' then. Ella...Smythesson," she said with a sudden inspiration.. "I'll be Coram's niece or something. That way, it won't be odd if we correspond or he comes to visit."
"That… should work. Come here and turn around."
Alanna sneezed several times as Thom began stroking her hair. When he was done, he walked her over to a mirror.
Her previously flaming red hair was now a deep chestnut, the same shade as Coram's.
"It's an illusion spell," Thom explained. "You can undo it with your gift anytime you want."
"It's perfect," Alanna said, switching her hair color from brown to red several times in quick succession.
"Well, Alanna, Alan, Ella, whoever you are, you do know what day it is, don't you?"
"May the 10th," she said with a sad smile.
"Happy sixteenth birthday, sister mine!" he said, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "At least it will be a memorable one."
"Happy sixteenth birthday, brother dear!" she replied. "I hope all of your future birthdays are far less memorable than this one."
Along with her things, the pack from the palace contained a box full of the almond cakes she and Jonathan had often complained of missing while they were away from the palace.
That night she had a quiet birthday celebration with her twin, her cat, and the two people who had raised her. She had loved ones, almond cakes, and a plan. Suddenly the future didn't seem so hopeless after all.
