446 HE

[the_lioness]

True to his word, Jonathan sent a formal escort ahead to the garrison along the eastern curve of the Southern Wall. Alanna accepted their company without complaint, and they returned the favor by leaving her to her thoughts as they crossed the mountains via a long-established trade route.

Most of the time, she felt more alone than not.

She missed Raph, and Goddess knew she worried about him. And yet, for the first time since galloping away from Olau in a fit of pride, doubt and restless energy, Alanna felt her path come into focus and began to relax; with the unconscious easing of tension came clarity of mind and purpose.

Indulging her guilt was ultimately selfish. It wasn't an easy conclusion to reach, not when she felt so responsible. But she'd sworn an oath to everything and everyone she cared about. That was real; that was what mattered. It was time she stopped being so rigid and realized that in life, certain outcomes are unavoidable.

Irreparable.

She'd chosen her way with open eyes and a clear mind. She'd choose it again. Allowing regret to continue infecting parts of her life made no sense.

Alanna had grown sick of her own stubbornness.

Milliways and Thom were part of their past now; accepting that (letting go) made the world she’d always known seem like a much bigger place.

~ ~ ~

"I hope you've been enjoying our lovely city," said King Armal, motioning to a page for more wine.

Alanna smiled and answered honestly. "I have, Your Highness. The tours you arranged have been most interesting. Especially the organization of your guilds. I'm certain my king and queen will enjoy hearing of them."

Tyra was a fascinating city. Furthermore, she genuinely liked its ruler. Rumors of his simple nature had been greatly exaggerated, in her opinion. There was a sharp, if still inexperienced, mind behind his warm eyes. Someday soon, he would grow into his title.

The king looked pleased by her comments. "As we've enjoyed hearing of your great deeds, Lioness."

"Not all stories you might hear about me are true," she cautioned, an amused laugh making the words less harsh than they might have been otherwise. "As you can see, I'm not ten feet tall. More's the pity.”

Further down the table, the Gallan ambassador, a man of average height, average looks and average intelligence, saw the opening for which he'd been waiting all week. "How disappointing," he drawled, oozing affected charm. Alanna wanted to tell him he'd never be as good at it as Duke Roger. "But I suppose there must be some exaggeration. Really, several of the stories are too fantastic to believe!”

“Any one in particular, Ambassador Colbern?" Alanna smiled blandly and broke off a piece of bread, surprised to find she was enjoying herself. Finally, battle had been declared. "I'd be happy to set the record straight."

"The Dominion Jewel," the man answered, all polite curiosity. "One hears so very many different versions."

Alanna contrived to look surprised. Raising her eyebrows, she nodded thoughtfully and put down both knife and bread, then licked a spot of honey flavored butter off her thumb. "Very well." A glance at the king for permission, and she began: "The journey to the Roof of the World was not an easy one, but it was nothing compared to what awaited me there."

Over the years, Alanna had picked up storytelling techniques from the Bazhir and any number of people she met in her travels; telling a tale successfully was its own kind of spell. By the time she described waking up in the inn with her hands bandaged and the Jewel under her pillow, she had the ear of almost everyone in the hall.

Ambassador Colbern eyed her with open distaste. Ambassador Nestor, emissary from Tortall, worked to hide a smile.

The king clapped his hands together and nodded his approval. “Wonderful. The bards are not wholly wrong, then. And we Tyrans can only be happy King Jonathan was able to spare his champion.”

"Of course, there are those who think the Jewel rightfully belongs to Tyra," Colbern put in on the heels of the compliment, voice shrill.

Temper, temper Alanna thought, and almost laughed at the irony. His remark froze all talk and motion at their end of the hall; perhaps others joined her in suspecting the man had truly meant Galla. Alanna pressed her fingernails into her palm to keep her voice even, and countered, "Then they don't know its history terribly well, Ambassador.”

The king seemed to tense.

“It completed its task here and moved on. Tyra thrives. To bring it back would be folly,” she finished.

When Colbern would have answered, the king held up a hand to stay him. "Why do you say that, Lioness?”

"Well," she said, "my reasons are twofold. Stealing the Dominion Jewel and putting it to ill use results in misery. The good Ambassador from Galla need only look to his own country's history and Giamo the Tyrant’s legacy to know that.”

“Even if it's used with good intention?” Armal asked.

“Even so. By virtue of its theft, it becomes misbegotten gains. The taint is irreversible."

The king looked thoughtful. "You mentioned a second reason?”

“Yes," Alanna replied. "Yes I did." Knowing that the next words she uttered would be the most important of the evening, she purposefully directed them at Colbern. "The first reason is made irrelevant by the second. It’s tied to Tortall now. In order to bring it back, the thief would have to go through me and pry it from King Jonathan's fingers. I assure you that neither of us has any intention of letting that happen.”

She wondered, briefly, if that had been too much; but it had to be said. Even so, Jon would be disgruntled if she started a diplomatic incident. He'd get that look on his face, like he smelled something bad, and go all stiff and formal...

“I see,” the king said at length. Another motion of his hand kept Colbern from angrily interjecting. "I wonder why Old Chitral gave it to you. No offense meant, of course. I find myself fascinated by destiny."

Yes. Destiny. Exactly that, Colbern, you weasel. Alanna shook her head. “No offense taken, Your Highness.” She grinned. "I think my stubbornness amused him. He made the Jewel, and it finds its way back to him from time to time. I think it goes to whom and what he deems worthy.”

“Then,” the king nodded, "I suspect you are correct. It would be foolish to dishonor that choice.”

Ambassador Colbern looked as if he'd swallowed a particularly pungent fish whole. Alanna acknowledged the king's words with a respectful nod and resumed her meal, though her stomach was far too fluttery for true hunger. She'd done it. She'd made the king think past Colbern's lies. The Gallan menace was checked for the moment and swords hadn't even been drawn. Maybe she'd get the hang of diplomacy after all.

She smiled wolfishly at Colbern.

Then again, maybe not.