The Song Of The Lioness Quartet - In The Hand Of The Goddess Part 25

Suddenly a large orange cloud formed around the Duke. The watching n.o.bles gasped and moved away as the cloud expanded, reaching for Alanna and for Jonathan and for King Roald beside Jonathan. Alanna saw the danger to the two men and forgot her own.

"The G.o.ddess!" she yelled, leaping forward. Lightning struck the cloud, slicing it open to find Roger at its heart. The orange ma.s.s flared, blinding everyone watching. Alanna felt Lightning quiver. Roger screamed; and she struck again, harder. The sword cut even deeper this time as Alanna opened her eyes, blinking to clear her vision.

Roger stood, trying to pull her sword out of his body. A deep cut in his shoulder was bleeding fiercely. The Duke stared wonderingly at Alanna as he slowly fell to the floor. Alanna jerked Lightning free of him, swaying over Roger's body, shaking with rage, fear and exhaustion.

She looked up. Everyone in the chamber-even Jonathan, even Thom-stared at her with some kind of horror. For a minute she was afraid of herself.

She had killed the King's nephew. She had killed her greatest enemy, the most powerful sorcerer in the Eastern Lands.

EPILOGUE.

ARE you sure you won't change your mind?" Jonathan asked, taking her hand. The winter breeze whipped color into his cheeks, making his eyes seem bluer than ever. "I really feel I don't know 'Sir Alanna' at all."

Alanna smiled and shook her head. "I need to be alone; well, not exactly alone," she admitted, grinning at the bundled-up Coram. "I need to get away from Court for a while and just think."

"If you're still feeling bad about Roger, you shouldn't," Gary said tartly. "You did what had to be done."

"I know. But I've been planning this journey for a long time, and now I have more reason than ever to take it. I'll sort out Roger and being a lady knight and what I want to do with my life, and then I'll come back." She looked around, making sure that her saddlebags, as well as those on the pack mule, were secure. She glanced up at her worried escort-Jonathan, Gary, Raoul and George-and smiled at them. "Truly I will. I couldn't stay away long."

Gary tapped the miserable-looking Raoul on the shoulder. "Say goodbye, Raoul," he said, glancing meaningfully at Jon.

Raoul took one of Alanna's hands in a grip that hurt. "I'm like Jonathan; I just don't feel I know 'Sir Alanna,'" he complained. "Look out for her, Coram."

"I will that." The burly manservant nodded.

Alanna leaned over and kissed Raoul on the cheek. "This 'Sir Alanna' you keep talking about is just Alan with the truth being told," she told him. "I haven't changed. Stay out of trouble, Raoul."

Gary was next, giving her a brief but strong hug. "If you stay away too long, we'll come looking for you," he threatened. "Safe journey, Alanna." He drew Raoul off a little way, leaving Alanna to talk with Jonathan and George in peace. "Remember the thieves' sign I taught you," George warned. "And if trouble threatens, use it!" Alanna hugged him, blinking back stinging tears. "I'm going to miss you, old friend," she whispered.

George's eyes were overbright as he smiled at her. "So much more reason for you to return to me, after you've thought through all that needs thinkin'. Go with my love, Alanna." Clucking to his mare, he caught up with Gary and Raoul.

Jonathan tried to smile in his turn. "And so it's just you and me again, Lady Knight. Well, you and me and Faithful," he acknowledged the cat, who sat blinking in his cup on Moonlight's saddle. Suddenly he reached over and hugged her tightly, holding her for long moments. He kissed her fiercely before letting her go. "You're riding south?"

Alanna nodded. "I want to spend the rest of this winter being warm," she told him. "I'll write; you know I will."

He lifted her face, looking into her violet eyes. "When you come home, all this will have blown over," he said. "And no one will be happier to see you than I." He looked over at Coram, who was waiting by the City Gates. "Take care of her, Coram Smythesson!"

Alanna's old friend looked surprised. "And here I thought the best part of ridin' with a knight was that she would be the one lookin' after me."

Alanna exchanged one last look with her Prince before riding out the gate. Before her stretched the Great Road South, its broad expanse clear of snow and ice. It was almost warm for the first day of New Year; she was dressed comfortably; she had a good horse and Faithful with her and Coram at her side.

Roger's death was bad, she thought, but life could be much, much worse. Perhaps I'll live and be happy after all.

She let out a whoop of sheer exuberance and kicked Moonlight into a gallop. "C'mon, Coram!" she cried, galloping past him. "Let's go find an adventure!"