Deceptions of Alianne.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. I own nothing. At all.

Summary: Aly soon learns that "If you've a story, make sure it's a whole one, with details close to hand. It's the difference between a successful lie and getting caught."

Authors note: Just a random piece I wrote one night.

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Alianne of Pirates Swoop was in need of some excitement. Her Ma, infamous among the conservatives, The Lioness, never failed to express her disapproval of Ay's interests. The interest of spy work in particular.

Deception was something that Aly was born with, it came naturally to her. It was such a shame that her mother disapproved of it. Aly thought this was very self centered and contradictory, hadn't her own mother deceived the entire court for some eight years? Life sure wasn't fun sometimes.

A sure source of fun would be to flirt, but that was a problem within itself. Who to flirt with? There were no squires about; they had all left with their Knight Masters.

With a sigh, Aly realized that there would be no point in paying the stable hand a visit either. She'd tired of his dreary attitude quite quickly.

Her godmother, Queen Thayet, had given Aly a book to read as a gift. Aly quickly grew tiresome of the book. Advice to Young Noblewomen had no useful advice in it. No helpful advice, either.

"No maiden ever suffered from keeping a suitor at arms length away," Aly read aloud. Then how would you manage to have any fun? Life wasn't about keeping people at an arms length away, it was about enjoying yourself.

Aly quickly put the book back on top of the ever growing pile of boring and utterly useless books accumulating on a library table. The book was just a reminder of all the fun she could, but wasn't, having at the moment and a poor reminder at that.

She could have spent the time doing something much more purposeful, such as flirting and making the mouths of defenseless squire's water when they caught a glimpse of her.

Tugging an emerald coloured book from the bottom of the pile, Aly caused the entire stack of books to topple over, though Aly didn't so much as blink. She certainly didn't bother to pick up the fallen books.

Opening the book a quarter of the way through, Aly began to read the all too familiar hand writing of her Da. "If you've a story, make sure it's a whole one, with details close to hand. It's the difference between a successful lie and getting caught."

Aly thought over this very carefully. She could do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted, so long as she had a backing story to cover her. Starting today she would do what she wanted when she wanted too.

Right now, Aly felt like developing her skills as an agent of the field, do develop her skills she would. Beginning by reading a book her mother frowned upon.

A Handbook for the Royal Intelligence Services was also written by her own Pa and found in their very own library. Aly hurried to the mirror, reapplying some lip and face rouge. She combed her hair, but made sure it didn't look too perfectly combed.

She hurried back to the shelves and quickly found the book she was interested in. Should her mother catch her, she'd have a good explanation as to why she had the book. An excuse mother would disapprove of, Aly thought slyly.

The information, the sheer knowledge as well as the tips inside the book made it priceless. Aly was certain no other ex-Rogue had written down so much information for a spy. Of course Aly knew a majority of the books content already. She had learnt this information at her fathers' knee.

She wished nothing more than to become an agent of the field, but being a noblewoman as well as being the only and eldest daughter, the chances of this happening was slim. But that wouldn't stop Aly from devouring all the knowledge in the subject that she came across.

The thump of footsteps in the hallway warned Aly to close the book. Very quickly Aly gathered some books from around her and held them in her arms, which turned out to be a wise idea.

Just moments before the door to the library slowly creaked open, Aly had began to shelf the books which were currently in her arms.

Alanna the Lioness made her way into the room and took and lowered herself into a chair, feeling sore. Watching her daughter curiously, she asked, "Why, my daughter, are you shelving books?"

"Punishment work from Maude," Aly said without faltering. It was true enough that Maude gave out these types of punishments to Aly often enough for this to be true.

Alanna sighed at her only daughter. "What have you done this time?"

"Flirting with the stable hand again, is all," Aly lied. She turned around to face her mother with a grin. "Nothing wrong with having some fun." She then held up a mirror to check her reflection. "Messed up my face rouge too. Shame really, the colour of the lip paint looked very nice and I have no more left." Then sighed for effect.

Alanna sighed than began the ever long and familiar 'kisses are not party favors' speech. Aly had always wondered why the only time she conversed with her mother was while she was being scolded. Or lectured.

Aly responded with the customary, "Yes Ma. No Ma. Who else will take the responsibility to have and enjoy themselves, then Ma?"

Alanna scowled and left the room.

So once again, Da is rightAly thought with a wicked grin. When you have a story make sure it's a whole one – with details close to hand.

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