Alanna The First Adventure - By Tamora Pierce Page 0,34
time—but a real horse would be worth it. She was tired of riding palace horses, and Chubby was getting old. The pony deserved a rest.
She knew very little about horse buying. With such a large purchase, Alanna wanted an expert opinion. Who could she ask? With wrestling in the afternoons as her worst subject, it meant she could take free time only in the morning. Coram had guard duty in the morning, so that let him out. Also, Coram didn’t know about George, and Alanna didn’t want him to know. For some reason, she suspected the old soldier would not approve of the thief. Gary was also unavailable—he was restricted to the palace for one of his numerous pranks.
She nibbled her thumb. Who could she introduce to George?
Alanna needed two steps to match one of Jonathan’s. This made the walk into the city brisk, but their pace was suited to the crisp fall day. Alanna watched her friend, thinking. The Prince, just fifteen in August, was growing again. Already he measured five feet seven inches. His voice was beginning to boom and crack, too, just as Gary’s and Raoul’s had last year. Soon Alanna would have to start faking the voice change herself. We’re all growing up, she thought, and sighed.
Jonathan heard the sigh and looked down at her. “I’m glad to help pick your horse,” he commented, “but why all the secrecy? You never told me you had relatives in the city.”
Alanna made a face. “I had to tell Duke Gareth something. You see, the man we’re meeting—he’s not a relative. He’s a friend. Thanks for coming with me, Jonathan.”
He tousled her hair. “I’d do anything to get out of Reports in Council. It’s the spring planting today—that always puts me to sleep.”
Alanna led him into the Dancing Dove. Old Solom was asleep on one of his tables. Alanna roused him with a friendly slap on the back.
“Wake up, you old drunk. Is George around?”
Solom peered at her. “Why, it’s Master Alan. But not Master Gary?”
“Master Gary won’t be around till Midwinter Festival,” she told him.
“At his tricks again, eh?” Solom shook his white head with appreciation. “He be a lively one. I’ll get his Majesty.” He hobbled up the stairs.
Jonathan was looking around. “’His Majesty’?” he whispered. “And how does this man know Gary?”
“Oh, Gary comes with me all the time.” Alanna avoided the other question by following Solom. Jonathan had no choice but to go along.
George was finishing breakfast when the innkeeper showed them in. Staring at Jonathan, he rose. Finally he bowed, his grin mocking. “Solom, go back to sleep,” he ordered. When the older man was out of earshot, the thief murmured, “Your Highness—I’m honored.” He looked sharply at Alanna. “And it seems I’ve misjudged you once again, youngling. I’ll not do that a third time, be assured.”
Alanna turned pink. “I just brought him along for fun,” she muttered.
“What’s going on?” Jonathan wanted to know, fixing Alanna with a bright eye.
“You didn’t tell him?” George asked.
Alanna shook her head. “Prince Jonathan, this is my friend, George.”
“Alan’s not tellin’ you that my work doesn’t always mean stayin’ right with the law,” George explained. “But come, lads. You’ll be wantin’ to see the beast.”
He led them down another stair to a door that opened behind the inn. Seeing Alanna’s curious look, George said, “It pays to have at least two doors—even three.” He pointed to the roof. Two shuttered windows looked out over the roof of the one-story kitchen. A ladder was even placed against the kitchen wall to make it easier to reach George’s rooms.
“Aren’t you worried about thieves?” Jonathan asked. When his companions broke out laughing, the Prince frowned thoughtfully.
“So Gary kissed Lady Roxanne?” George inquired. “I’d’ve kissed a sweeter armful, myself.”
“It was a bet,” Alanna explained.
“For ten nobles, I’d still have kissed someone prettier,” George replied.
“How’d you know about that bet?” Jonathan wanted to know. “It was a secret.”
“I’ve friends in the palace,” George said. “There isn’t much you can keep from your servants, Highness.”
Jonathan opened his mouth to ask something else, but Alanna distracted George with a burst of questions about her friends at the Dancing Dove. So the Prince kept quiet through the short walk, thinking an idea through.
They turned into a small alley. George stopped and unlocked a tall gate. They entered a stableyard, George locking the gate behind them.
Alanna gasped. Her eye had been caught by a beautiful young mare. The horse’s coat was gold, offset by a flowing white