Three days later, they headed for home. Alanna, George, and Coram were joined by two Bazhir shamans from the budding university who wished to meet in person with their new Voice of the Tribes.

Four hours into their journey, they encountered a group of five hillmen going the other way on the road. The two groups eyed each other warily, and George recognized the spark of greed in their eyes as the hillmen looked at the travelers' fine horses and full saddlebags. The hillmen also took in their many weapons on display and the arm cuffs that marked the two Bazhir as mages.

The two groups were forced by the road's narrowness to pass too close for anyone's comfort, but the hillmen ultimately decided it wasn't worth it to pick this particular fight.

As soon as the two groups were well clear of each other, George let out a gasp and dropped something, causing them all to halt. He was sweating profusely and staring at his hand. On the ground next to him lay a large curved blade with an ornate jeweled hilt.

"That blade," George rasped. "I've never felt anything like it. I didn't know just holdin' an object could do such harm."

"Where did it come from?" Alanna asked.

"They would of robbed us if they thought they could get away with it. I just gave 'em a taste of their own tonic. A little last hurrah before I give it all up completely," he said, then dropped his voice. "And I felt it callin' to me. That sometimes happens with my sight, but this felt different. More from outside of me than in."

Alanna slid off her horse and called up her gift before very gingerly picking up the sword. Her eyes went wide as she hefted it. "Items can be imbued with evil, as this one certainly is," she said.

One of the Bazhir shamans took it from her, while the other refused to touch it. "Let the desert have it," the man said. "Such objects are better off lost to men."

They took the sword a little ways off the road and buried it.

Coram tried in vain to catch Alanna's or George's eye as they remounted and started off again. He wanted to give them a look that expressed his thoughts on George's return to thievery. But both thief and lady were looking back in the sword's direction; George felt its pull and Alanna wondered why something about it felt familiar. Both couldn't help searching for landmarks to identify the spot.


The rest of their journey was mercifully uneventful. Before they knew it, they were riding up to Myles' home in the city where George was staying.

"Rispah!" Alanna said, jumping off her horse in delight to greet her friend who was waiting at the door.

Rispah smiled wide and returned Alanna's hug. "I still want to call you 'Ella.'"

"How about 'cousin' instead?" Alanna asked.

"You actually managed it!" Rispah said to George, as he walked up behind Alanna. "I wasn't sure this lass could be tamed."

"Oh, trust me, she can't, but she's agreed to have me along for the ride," George said.

Rispah laughed in appreciation before spotting Coram. "And who's this you've brought along?"

"This is Coram," Alanna said. "He's had the misfortune of looking after me for most of my life."

"Indeed," Coram said. "And who do I have the pleasure of addressing?"

"This is Rispah, George's cousin," Alanna introduced.

"Her own misfortune," George quipped.

"Well then, at least the Rogue's got one thing going for him," Coram said, bowing over her hand.

Rispah smiled coyly before inviting them in.

Alanna and Coram stayed only briefly at Myles' home before continuing to the palace, but not before promising to return that evening for dinner.


Alanna tried hard to think of something to tell Thom to repay him for his little joke about the betrothal, but she couldn't come up with anything he wouldn't see right through.

"There's my favorite financial bargaining chip!" Thom greeted her when he saw her. "You didn't scare him away, did you?"

"No, although not for lack of trying," Alanna replied. "And I should have known it was a trick as soon as I read the bit about Trebond needing the money. We don't need the money, and when did you last look at Trebond's ledgers?"

Thom laughed. "You fell for it then? Excellent! And it wasn't entirely a trick."

"That makes it all the worse," Alanna said flatly.

"Sorry, sister dear. I couldn't resist. You truly want this, though?" he asked seriously.

Alanna nodded slowly. "I'm still processing what it all means, but I do."

"Excellent!" Thom repeated. "I'm happy for you then."


The following day, she visited Duke Baird, who looked relieved to see her and put her immediately back to work.

"I assure you, I'm feeling fine," Jonathan said exasperatedly when she knocked on his door.

"You really are abusive to the man who does these when I'm not around, aren't you?" she asked when he opened the door.

"Not abusive," Jonathan said with a grin." It's just that I know my body well enough to know that these examinations are useless unless, of course, they're an excuse to see you."

He ushered her in and embraced her. "Congratulations, Alanna," he whispered.

"Yes, they did so well! No one could question their fitness to be shamans. You should have seen the looks on some of the men's faces!"

Jonathan grimaced. "I heard their thoughts on the matter in great detail immediately after. You really don't want to know what went through some of their minds. But I meant congratulations on your betrothal...unless you've changed your mind and wish to marry me instead?"

"Alas, I think I'll stick with George," Alanna said. "Now stick out your tongue and say 'ah.'"

As had become their custom, Alanna stayed to talk well past the exam.

"Coram still doesn't approve, but I think Rispah might help with that," Alanna said as they both sat down.

Jonathan laughed. "She always was quite the charmer."

"Coram…" he said thoughtfully. "Alanna, what is he doing next?"

"Honestly, we haven't talked about it. After the wedding, it might be best if he goes back to managing Tortall while he gets used to the idea of George and me together. Why do you ask?"

"Might I offer him a position, at least for a time? I need a new manservant."

"Don't you have a whole slate of people better trained for such a position?" Alanna asked.

"Yes, but this is someone who would attend me during my more sensitive meetings - much like your old responsibilities as my squire. It has to be someone I can trust implicitly, and it would help immensely if it was someone who understood my role as Voice of the Tribes."

"I see," Alanna said, nodding approvingly. "I'll ask him, but I'm sure he would be honored."


Wedding planning was more of a hassle than Alanna had realized. First, she thought doing a joint wedding with Myles and Eleni would be best. Unfortunately, Eleni had already invited people who would have recognized her as Ella, so that was out.

Their own guest list had similar complications. Part of George's pardon included strict rules about no longer consorting with thieves, so most of his friends were unwelcome. And Alanna had to make sure she was inviting Alanna's friends, not Ella's or Alan's.

Finally, they settled on Myles, Eleni, Rispah, Jon, Thom, Coram, Anabella, Gary, and Raoul.

"You said you wanted small," Jonathan said when they told him their list.

"So we did. I somehow forgot that agreeing to get married meant dealing with all this fussy nonsense," Alanna said with a sigh. "At least we'll have nothing to hide with that group. That will be a relief"

"It will," Jonathan agreed. "In fact, have I mentioned how nice it is to be able to spend time with both of you without having to sneak around or pretend that I am someone else? Don't get me wrong, I value everything I learned as Johnny in the city, but this is nice too," he said, gesturing to the palace garden where they were having tea.

"I still have to remind myself that it's alright every time I walk through the palace gate with no disguise," George said as he nodded.

Alanna nodded as well. "I still get a rush every time I introduce myself as "Alanna of Trebond."

"I hope you feel that same way when you add 'Olau' to your name," George said with a wink, earning a smile from Alanna.

"I'm jealous of you both," Jonathan said, watching their exchange wistfully.

"Both of us?" Alanna asked.

"Not like that. I mean I'm jealous that you've both found someone you love, and you aren't stuck in the courtship game," Jonathan said.

Alanna suddenly perked up with a mischievous smile. "But that's it, Jon! That's the solution to everything. You should marry George!"

George raised an eyebrow, "Should he?"

"Yes! You would make an excellent queen, and the conservatives would be so distracted by the two of you that no one would care if I slipped into the Chamber and became a knight."

"Why would I be queen?" George asked. "I have more experience being king than he does, and he's prettier."

"Well, I can't argue with you there," Jon said.

"Then it's settled," Alanna said. "You, King George and Queen Jonathan, will rule the kingdom whilst I, your devoted knight Sir Alanna, defend you from all adversaries."

"What do you say, George?" Jonathan asked, extending his hand. "Will you be mine?"

"It's a beautiful dream," George said. "There's just one problem; my new pa said I had to marry a redhead."

"Ah," Jon said with his hand dramatically over his heart. "Two rejections in a row. I must be losing my edge."

Alanna sighed and looked up at George, "I guess you're stuck with me then."

"I guess so," George said, wrapping a possessive arm around her.

They exchanged smiles and barely suppressed laughs before moving on to other topics.