In the Hand of the Goddess Read Online Free Page B

think this is something we will all want to see. Ambassador Mikal? Lady Aenne? My lady?”
    The queen and Lady Aenne nodded as Mikal said dryly, “It should be an interesting entertainment.”
    Servants were sent to prepare the largest of the indoor courts, while Duke Gareth’s personal man-servant, Timon, went to Alanna’s quarters for Lightning.Everyone moved down to the court, Myles and Roger walking with the young men surrounding Alanna. Myles was upset and made no effort to pretend he wasn’t.
    â€œAre you going to throw away everything ?” he demanded furiously. “He’s a head taller than you are!”
    Alanna shrugged. “Nearly everyone I fence with is.” She accepted Lightning from Timon and buckled it on as Faithful yowled at her feet. Finally she picked the cat up and perched him on her shoulder. She had made the discovery that her pet’s meowing actually sounded like talk to her, and she wanted to hear what he had to say now.
    Let the foreigner be stupid , he advised. It shouldn’t be hard. And don’t get yourself killed!
    â€œAre you listening to me?” Myles demanded. “This isn’t the time to play hero!”
    Jon rested a hand on Alanna’s free shoulder. “Don’t be so upset, Myles. Haven’t you seen Alan fence? I have—in the Black City.”
    The memory of Alan’s and Jon’s strange adventure a year before—of the curse removed from the Black City and of thousands of proud Bazhir tribesmen kneeling in the streets of Persopolis—silenced Myles for a moment, but no longer.
    â€œDain is a practiced knight! It isn’t the same!”
    â€œDo you hear Father protesting?” Gary asked. “He’s been teaching Alan and Alex privately for months now. Besides, you’ve got to trust Jonathan’s judgment sometime. He doesn’t try to get his friends killed.”
    Alex dropped back to talk with Duke Roger. “What do you think will happen?” the Duke asked his one-time squire. A smile crossed Alex’s dark, secret face. “I think Dain of Melor is in for a large surprise.”
    Roger shook his head, disbelieving. “Surely you don’t mean to say Alan is as good as— well, you, for example.”
    â€œBut I do. Alan’s as good as I am. Someday he may be better.”
    Roger had no chance to pursue this further since they had arrived at the fencing gallery. Far below ground level, it was cool even in this hot weather. Torches in brackets on the walls threw light into all corners. Along one wall three rows of benches were set off from the main floor by a low rail. The courtiers sat down in a rustle of silks, Roger placing himself and Ambassador Mikal just behind the king and queen.
    At one end of the floor Dain was removing his boots and stretching himself, joking with hisfriends. On the other side a quiet Alanna watched Dain, ignoring her friends’ talk. The Tusaine wasn’t nervous—good for him. She would teach him how to be nervous.
    Handing Faithful to Myles, she stripped off her own shoes and put on the tan fencing gloves Timon was holding for her. She didn’t know that she was grinning recklessly, a merciless look in her violet eyes. Jonathan watched her thoughtfully. If he weren’t so angry with Dain, he might feel sorry for the other knight. He knew what Alanna could do when she was forced to it.
    Duke Gareth joined them. He bent down by Alanna as she began her stretching exercises. “Don’t forget to let him tire himself out while you get his measure. I know the type. He’ll try to make you angry with insults. Don’t let that happen—keep your head. You’re good, Alan, but you aren’t the best.”
    Alanna grinned impishly up at him. “No, sir. You are.”
    The Duke of Naxen slapped her lightly on the shoulder. “Don’t be pert. And do be careful.”
    Jonathan smiled. “Don’t