After the wedding, Alanna and George spent three weeks at Fief Olau. They explored the castle and grounds, and Alanna showed George the ruins where she found Lightning. They met with the people and learned more about the workings of the place they would one day govern. But most of all, they enjoyed each other's company as newlyweds and spent hours planning and dreaming about what lay ahead.
Two days after their return, Alanna found herself back at the top of a familiar staircase and was familiarly unhappy about it.
"Let's get this over with," she whispered to George as the herald called out, "Lord George and Lady Alanna of Olau."
This time, she resisted the urge to stare at Jonathan as they descended, but she couldn't help but take a few moments to look at the beautiful blond woman sitting next to him. George was strong and steady beside her. She knew he was a little bit nervous, but he was used to being the center of attention.
The whole ballroom stared at George. An older nobleman marrying a commoner wasn't unheard of, but a powerful Lord like Myles adopting a commoner was an oddity indeed. The meaner and gossipier among them clearly hoped that this newcomer would be a disaster for their perverse entertainment.
But George stood as tall and regal as any noble and executed a flawless bow when they reached the thrones, and Alanna curtsied at his side.
"Congratulations on your matrimony. May your union be blessed," the Queen said gently.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," George responded. Then it was over.
Thom, Gary, and Raoul came to greet them after, and at least they didn't need to pretend to be meeting George for the first time as they had previously had to do with Alanna.
Jonathan came over next with the blonde woman by his side. "Princess Josiane, may I present Lady Alanna and Lord George? Lady Alanna has served as my healer for many months now, and I had the pleasure of meeting George when Myles first adopted him."
"Pleasure to meet you," Josiane said. Her eyes sized up Alanna quickly, then moved back to George. She gave him a politely expectant look and extended a hand.
George hesitated for a moment, then kissed her hand and said, "The pleasure's all mine, Your Highness. Would you care to dance?"
She bobbed a shallow curtsy and followed him out to the floor.
Jonathan and Alanna exchanged a look then followed at a safe distance.
"Did he practice this one?" Jonathan asked as he tried to both dance with Alanna and watch George and Josiane.
"Not much," Alanna said as she tried to do the same.
They saw George mess up quite a few steps from what glimpses they could catch, but he covered it relatively well with sheer flourish and bravado. Josianne's courtly mask remained firmly in place throughout.
"Are you serious about her?" Alanna asked.
"Maybe," Jonathan said. "She certainly meets the requirements."
"Do you love her?"
"I don't feel like I really know her. She's the perfect courtier and never drops her guard. Quite the opposite of the last woman I courted."
Alanna laughed softly, then winced as she saw George way overdo a spin causing Josiane to execute a very impressive correction to stay balanced. She looked shocked in the moment but quickly schooled her features back to a bland smile.
"She is definitely not me, that's for sure."
George next danced twice with Alanna and once with Annabella, but after that, Raoul showed him how to keep food in his hand to have a consistent excuse not to ask the curious woman circling to dance.
When they returned to Corus, Alanna settled back into her healing routine at the palace. She found that she still had plenty of time on her hands, so she began healing with Eleni again too.
George worked closely with Myles, primarily on his various business operations, but occasionally Myles would task him with finding some information or other. George enjoyed these tasks immensely, and he and Myles continued to bond over their love of a good challenge.
One day as George was leaving the marketplace, one of the ugliest men he had ever seen hailed him on the road.
"Lord George, might I have a moment of your time? I've been eager to meet you," the man said.
"I don't believe we've been introduced," George replied.
"The name's Claw. We would have met by now had you not changed your...profession," the man said. "And I believe we had a mutual friend in Alan of Trebond. Will you let me take you somewhere quieter and buy you a drink?"
George knew he should probably move along, but now he was intrigued. "You'll understand that I have a healthy suspicion of quieter places, but how about we have a little chat over there?" he said, tilting his head toward a low wall just far enough off the road that they wouldn't be overheard.
Claw sat and made himself comfortable while George remained standing.
"I'm a rogue in the court," Claw began. "My focus is the garden district. Some men like easy targets, but not me. I understand how the nobles and merchants think, so I can outsmart them. I wanted to understand you too, so I found out everything I could about you while you were in Port Caynn. Interesting company you kept."
"Plottin' to take my throne?"
"Of course. But then you disappeared, and next thing I hear, you're a noble. I have to salute your brilliant long con. Befriending those pages and squires while your mother seduced Sir Myles - this was, what? Eight years in the making? And then I suppose you used your past friendship with the dead Trebond lout to nail his sister. I am truly in awe."
George hid his shock behind a smirk as Claw continued.
"There's an undeniable symmetry to you and me. I used to be a noble. I was a page myself until that Trebond bastard humiliated me. I always wondered where he learned to fight dirty. Guess now I know. Personally, I think I make a better thief than a noble, and if I had stuck around, I might have met his same fate, so ultimately you did me a favor."
"Happy to be of service," George said.
"But I have plans, my friend, plans that could put even your brilliant work to shame."
"Do tell," George said.
Claw laughed. "Have more faith in me than that! I don't spill that easily. And I bet right now you're content to enjoy your spoils - play noble, plumb that noble wench, spend those newfound riches. But if I know your type as well as I think I do, you'll get bored. You'll need a new game to play. And then you and I can help each other."
"Well, you've just got me figured right out, haven't you?" George said.
Claw smirked. "You know my name, so you can find me if you want to. And I'm good for that drink anytime."
"I'll remember that," George said.
"Good day, my lord," Claw said with an exaggerated bow and took his leave.
Mind reeling, George quickened his pace as he headed for the palace.
Myles was teaching a class, and Alanna was apparently doing house calls because George couldn't find her. He knocked on Jonathan's door on a whim and was surprised when the prince actually came to the door.
"He insulted Alanna twice, and you didn't so much as take an ear?" Jonathan asked after George relayed his strange conversation.
"Aye, I wanted to, but this could be serious. What could 'put my elaborate con to shame?'"
"He could be all talk. He certainly was back when we were pages. I always disliked him, even before he started tormenting Alanna."
"Mayhap," George said, "but then why recruit me?"
Jonathan shrugged. "It sounds like you played the situation right. I guess we'll just wait and see. Think Alanna would mind if I sent Raoul to beat him again?
