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“Why not?” His voice was as relaxed and careless as hers. If only he would let go of her hand!
“Because—well, because you know me better. I have other plans.”
“You’re not even curious?” He refused to look away. She had never noticed before how much green was in his hazel eyes, or how long his lashes were.
She had to pull her hand away, even if it was rude. “No,” she said flatly. This conversation was far too personal! “I’m not curious at all.”
Faithful, who had been sleeping on the windowsill, yawned and stretched.
“Quite right,” Alanna told her cat. Nervously she gathered up the package containing the shirt and belt. “I’ve got to go,” she announced.
He gathered up his sword belt. “I’ll just go with you as far as the Temple District. You’re carryin’ valuables, remember, and even I don’t trust my folk completely. Good swordsman you are, but you might be outnumbered.” He grinned as he fastened the belt around his hard waist. “Besides, one of your attackers may be a wrestler.”
Alanna made a face at him, relieved he was talking sensibly once more. “Thanks, I love having my nose rubbed in my weakness.”
George tucked the second, unopened package into his shirt front. “You’d worry me if you didn’t have some weaknesses, little one,” he informed her. “We’ll take the back stairs.”
It was fun to walk through the Lower City with him, talking about the upcoming celebrations while Faithful dashed off after real or imaginary prey. It was so late that no one was out to see them. Her hands were full with Jon’s gift, and she knew anyone would think twice about attacking a man who moved with such muscular grace. Also, sometimes it was pleasant just to be with George, to relax and to forget about being a noble, about the Ordeal, about being a girl fighting to win a knight’s shield. George just let her be who she was.
“Hm?” she asked, realizing his last remark had been a question.
“I said, are things with the Tusaine nobles so serious? The rogues in Tusaine think it’s all just a court storm, but they admit they don’t know their nobles as well as we.” George’s teeth flashed in a grin.
“Serious enough, I think,” she admitted. “Anything you learn will help.”
“Then I’ll do my best.” They had reached the edge of the Temple District. George could leave her there safely: the District was patrolled by warriors of different faiths, and the rest of the Palace Way was in full view of the Royal Guard.
The thief pulled her into the shade of a large tree, where they couldn’t be seen by anyone passing by, and drew the small package out of his shirt front. “This is from me to Jon. Be sure you give it to him in private. You don’t want folk askin’ questions about the giver.”
Alanna tucked the gift into the large bundle, juggling it all with difficulty. She looked up at her friend accusingly. “George, did you—”
He laughed merrily. “Oh, you mistrustin’ child! No, I did not steal it. I had it made special for Jon. It’s quite pretty, even if I did have to pay for it myself.” He looked around, checked to see if anyone was coming, then suddenly tilted her face up with one hand. “Alanna,” he whispered, “I’m takin’ advantage of you now, because I may never catch you with your hands full again.” He kissed her softly and carefully. Alanna trembled, too shocked to do anything but let it happen.
“There.” George released her. “Think over what I said about love.”
“Pigs might fly,” she snapped, her voice shaking. “I should have stabbed you!”
He chuckled infuriatingly. “No. I won’t let you stab me and ruin our friendship. Will you be afraid to face me again after this?”
Alanna felt herself turning beet red. This was too much! “I’m afraid of no one, George Cooper,” she yelled. “Especially not you!”
“Until next time, then.” He saluted her and headed back down to the city, whistling. Faithful rubbed against Alanna’s ankles, purring.
“Where were you when I needed you?” she asked him bitterly. “As a chaperone you aren’t much.”
I’m not a chaperone, the cat replied. Besides, I didn’t want to interrupt. You seemed to be enjoying yourself.
There was no way of replying to such obvious silliness. Alanna turned and walked quickly—very quickly—back to the palace.
Although Alanna later remembered very little of the daylight celebrations in honor of Jonathan’s nineteenth birthday, she remembered the ball that night vividly. That was when she met Delia of Eldorne for the first time.
She had been sitting in a window seat, bored and miserable, when Gary found her. She hated parties, and normally the only way she attended one was when she was pouring drinks and serving food as a squire. Tonight, however, servants waited on the guests, and as Jonathan’s squire she had been practically ordered to attend. She considered it a useless exercise. She couldn’t converse with strangers easily, and she certainly couldn’t flirt with the ladies as her friends did! She was busy calculating an escape when Gary, magnificent in brown velvet, discovered her hiding place. “I know you hate social events, but you’ll never get used to them this way.”
“I don’t have to get used to them,” Alanna retorted. “If I get my shield, I’m riding off to adventures.”
“Nonsense!” Her friend grinned. “Come out of your shell. There are plenty of noblewomen who’d like to meet the prince’s squire, especially since June.”
“I’m only fifteen,” Alanna replied automatically. “I’m too young for girls.”
Gary smoothed his new mustache. “You’re never too young for girls. Come on. I’ll introduce you to the newest arrival. She just came yesterday, and Mithros!” He whistled his approval, adding smugly, “I got to meet her first.” He clamped a hand around Alanna’s arm and levered her out of her seat, walking her out onto the floor. It was either walk or be dragged; Alanna sometimes wondered if Gary knew his own strength.
She saw the trouble spot immediately: Jonathan stood at the center of a cluster of knights. He was talking to someone hidden from Alanna’s view. The young men moved out of Gary’s way, spotting Alanna and grinning. Squire Alan’s reluctance to meet young ladies was palace legend.
Jonathan saw them and smiled, beckoning them forward. “Gary, you found him. Alan, come here.”
A royal command was a royal command. Alanna moved up to stand beside the prince, but she wasn’t happy about it.
Seated at the center of the cluster of men was a lovely girl with chestnut-colored hair. Alanna lifted an eyebrow. Most maidens at Court wore pale colors or whites, but this one was wearing a low-cut green silk dress. Well, the color did emphasize her bright green eyes as a lighter color would not.
Jonathan was bowing to the vision. “Lady Delia of Eldorne, I’d like you to meet my personal squire, Alan of Trebond.”
Alanna bowed and found herself presented with a dainty white hand. Blushing slightly, she brushed it with her lips. Never was she more aware of her real sex than at moments like these! She looked up into Delia’s face, noting the pert little nose and full red lips. She’s a beauty, all right, Alanna realized. And she knows it.
“Alan of Trebond,” Delia murmured, her voice light and throaty. “I’ve heard of you, haven’t I?” She tapped her rosy mouth with her fan, delicate dark brow carefully arched. Then she laughed merrily. “The ‘Squire’s squire!’ And you beat that dreadful knight from Tusaine. I think that’s thrilling!”
Alanna bowed politely. “It was nothing, Lady Delia,” she murmured.
“Oh, but you’re being modest. I’m sure no Tortallan thinks it was ‘nothing’—do you, gentlemen?” Delia asked the bristlingly jealous knights around her. Alanna knew very well that at the moment her friends were wishing they had beaten Dain, and that she was far, far away. In that Alanna was one with them. She didn’t like Delia, and she wanted to leave. “Do you dance, Alan of Trebond?” Delia asked now.
Jonathan, grinning wickedly, replied, “Of course he knows how to dance. He learned the
steps as a page, as did we all.” Alanna promptly resolved to put something soft and squishy in her friend’s bed—very soon.
“And he was always stepping on someone’s feet,” Raoul muttered.
Delia placed her hand on Alanna’s arm, rising gracefully from her chair. “I’m sure he dances beautifully now.” She laughed.
