the_lioness | (no subject)

(no subject)

Alanna jogs down an old hunting trail until she can block out enough noise to concentrate. There isn't time for a traditional fire, so once she's gathered enough wood and made a pile, she rapidly lights it with her Gift.

The flames burn purple, then orange, then purple again when she tosses the vervain over them and speaks the incantation.

"Jon," she mutters while she waits. "Jon, Jon, Jon."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Jon has been waiting by the fire impatiently, waiting for Alanna to contact him. As soon as he feels the first whisper of magic, he practically throws himself in front of the fire.

Alanna raises an eyebrow as his image forms in the flames.

"Careful, your highness. We don't need the royal visage singed on top of everything else."

It's good to see him, even like this.

Jonathan can't muster a smile, though his relief at seeing her in the flames is evident.

"Alanna. What's happening? What were you able to find?"

His voice is low and tense.

Only at certain key events in their lives has Alanna looked as serious as she does now: The Black City, the Tusaine War, his Ordeal, her Ordeal, the duel with Roger, Jon's coronation. He was there for each and every one.

Her expression should be telling.

"Ogres. Three of them, and Mandash dead. One said a man had led them there and promised him the fief if he disposed of the previous owner." Beat. "Jon, we were lured off. There's an army between us and the Swoop."

Jon's face goes completely white, though his expression doesn't change as his brain processes the information.

When he finally speaks, his voice is flat. "A trap. Somehow they knew Thayet, Roald and Kallie would be there." His lips tighten. "How many?"

"We were being watched," Alanna growls. "The Stormwings."

It's the only explanation for their behavior and what's happened since.

"Hundreds," she says, again, thinking of William's face as he reported.

Jon nods tightly. "The Black God take their filthy hides and whoever brought them back to our realms." He shakes his head. "I sent the troops on as soon as I heard from Numair, so they should be close."

His fists clench tightly in frustration, though his next words are very quiet. "I should be with them."

Alanna leans forward.

"What did Numair say? I planned on contacting him next."

She hates not knowing.

"Not much, unfortunately," Jon answers. "They were under siege, surrounded by the troops. Thank Mithros for Daine, though. She was able to use her Gift to get the numbers - 600 hundred by her count."

He leans forward, back like a taut string. "I'm not sure that knowledge matters much considering the rest of his message. There was a fog coming in off the sea containing dampening spells. It would keep anyone it touched with the Gift from using their powers." He grimaces. "I haven't had word from Numair since then. I can only imagine the fog has arrived."

"Dampening spells?" Alanna snaps, eyes narrowing. "Mithros. That explains the magic I could see. The fog's gone, but a working like that could linger."

She runs her fingers back through her hair, scratching her scalp.

"No one inside is powerful enough to help him."

It's becoming more and more obvious why she was lured away.

"Do you know of any way to break the dampening spells?" Jon asks tensely.

"Not from here," she admits with a frown. "And not alone. Together, Numair and I should be able to do something."

Which means she has to get within or at least near the castle walls.

"I have a plan. X is with me, from Milliways. I don't think you've met, but she's a formidable ally. We both have our security badges, Jon. They have a spell on them that will bring us back to Milliways from anywhere, in any world. I can get back to the Swoop through the bar."

"Mithros."

Jon feels a wave of relief roll through him. It's not a solution, but at least it evens the odds a bit.

"What else do you need?" Real question: What can I do?

Alanna looks over her shoulder, toward the others.

"I'll wait for the Own at the crossroads, brief them, and head back through Milliways. We'll need to attack from both sides, and we're still not sure what they are dealing with elsewhere."

Pausing to bite her dirty thumb, she turns back and studies her king.

"George, Adam and Raph will get them out if it comes to it. You know that, Jon," she says quietly. It's not an answer, but they both know there's little he can do from far away. Privately she's glad she doesn't have to worry about him, too.

Edited 2009-06-15 23:45 (UTC)

Jon nods tersely. "I know."

He opens his mouth to say something, but hesitates, stopping himself. When he opens his mouth again, his voice is quiet and resigned.

"Be careful, Lioness. And good hunting. Keep me informed as much as you can and if there is anything that can be done from here..."

"I will."

Knowing (and understanding) how hard it is for him to be absent from the fight, Alanna calls up a cheeky, confident smirk and nods.

"We'll rout them, your Highness. Never fear. The only thing that should concern you is your wife and son having far too much fun watching the raiders scurry for cover!"

Jon shakes his head and can't help but smile in return, appreciating her efforts.

"Let's hope. Though if Thayet doesn't kill at least 5 raiders, I don't want to face her mood."

Alanna laughs.

"I'd best leave her twice that many, then," she grins, but her expression soon sobers. "I'll contact you as soon as I'm able."

The goodbye sticks in her throat. Instead she raises her hand in a small wave and drops it to her sword hilt.

"I'll be waiting to hear from you."

Jon raises his hand in return and says quietly, "The Goddess be with you, Lioness." He lets his hand drop and without breaking their gaze, murmurs the words to end the spell.

He sits in front of the dying embers for a long time.

"And you, Jonathan," Alanna says after his image fades. "So mote it be."

Standing, she rolls her shoulders and makes a face at the resulting crack; sitting like that made her stiff. She extinguishes the fire, taking the time to do it properly, and indulges in a satisfying string of curses. That finished, she starts back up the hunting trail.

Time to get to work.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only