Chapter 7: In Which an Emergency Meeting is Called

The next day found Alanna strolling through the streets of Corus on her way to the Dancing Dove where she was supposed to meet up with Rispah.

"Hum de dum… la de dah," she sang to herself as she walked along, moseying her way past the silk vendors and looking enviously at the daggers from Raven armory. It wasn't often that she felt this free. From the age of ten, she had been struggling between the conflicts of being a lady but also being a warrior. Now, she seemed to have friends that accepted her for being both, and that was wonderful.

Her singing was soon cut off by a hand at her waist. Turning around, she saw George.

"Heyla lass," was his greeting, "You did well last night."

Alanna beamed then looked closer at George. "I thought I saw you in the crowd, but I couldn't be sure! Ha!"

George laughed. "Where are you bound, lass?"

Alanna smiled inwardly. He hadn't said anything since the kiss, but he let it be known with small words like "lass" that he cared for her.

"I'm headed over to the Dove," she answered. "Care to tag along?"

"Do I ever?" George responded, grinning. He fell in line to walk with her and they made their leisurely way over to the Dancing Dove. Her, the noble lady, and he, the king of thieves.

"Where on earth is she?" Rispah asked finally after two hours of waiting for her friend Sarah to show up.

"When did you last see her?" asked Alanna, puzzled, trying to get to the crux of the matter.

"Yesterday afternoon," was Rispah's reply. "She said she was working last night cleaning the unused rooms in the northwest wing."

Alanna went white. "I am such an idiot!" she snapped. "Sorry Rispah, but this is important. What did you say?" she asked, gritting her teeth for the answer she knew was to come.

"Well, she was supposed to clean and then we were supposed to meet up today and go shopping…"

"No, I meant the part about where!" Alanna snapped, eyes blazing. Suddenly it all came clear to her- Roger and Alex slipping off in that direction, and the prince complaining to Gary in her hearing that Delia had left sometime in the middle of the night from his rooms.

Rispah just opened her mouth and shut it again. Alanna supposed that it was probably because Rispah had never seen her in army-general mode. George had seen it many times however, and gestured for Alanna to follow him into his rooms, apologizing to Rispah as they went.

They would need to call an emergency meeting with Thom, and do it soon. Who knew what was afoot. But the three of them together: Lady Warrior, Mage, and Thief… they were sure to find something.

A/N: Okay, so this was a bit of a filler chapter, but it had to be done. It will get interesting very soon. I hope you liked it, and please leave a review on the way out!

Lady Mage