Takes place right after Neal becomes Alanna's squire, and they are on the road to Pirate's Swoop.
"What's wrong?" asked Alanna, as she studied her new squire. They had already been on the road for an hour, and Alanna was only just waking up enough to realise that her squire was frowning and oddly silent.
Neal looked up, surprised, and shook his head before looking back down.
"I hope you don't think I'm having second thoughts, I should have warned you that I'm not much of a morning person."
Her squire shook his head again and mumbled incoherently.
"We've got to spend the next four years together; you might as well tell me what's wrong."
Neal turned his head to look at her again. "It's just something silly, you don't need to worry."
Alanna snorted. "I'm not worrying. But sometimes it helps to talk."
Sensing that she wasn't about to leave him alone anytime soon, Neal slumped in his saddle. "I think Kel's mad at me," he told her, his voice barely audible above the horse's hooves.
Alanna shifted in her saddle, uncomfortable at the topic that had been brought up. Why did I have to ask? "Raoul's an old friend of mine. He'll take good care of Kel," she said awkwardly.
Neal bristled. "Kel can take care of herself!"
"I didn't mean it like that. You're putting words in my mouth, Queenscove," Alanna snapped. Neal flinched at the tone of her voice and Alanna immediately regretted it. George would laugh, she thought. It hasn't even been a full morning and he's terrified of me. "Continue," she ordered.
Neal looked as though he'd rather do anything but keep on talking. He fixed his gaze on his saddle. "I've never seen her mad at me before, but she has every right to be. Dreams die so hard, and she's wanted to be your squire for so long. She's not even allowed to meet you, and now her best friend is your squire." He paused. "I feel like I've stolen you from her."
Alanna frowned as she thought. "Firstly, I am a human being, and not an object that is able to be owned or stolen by anyone." Neal managed a faint smile before she continued. "Secondly, I think Kel has known for a long time why she can't be my squire."
Neal sighed. "I know…I just don't want her to be mad at me forever." He gave a wry smile. "I'd miss ignoring her telling me to eat my vegetables."
A wolfish grin spread over Alanna's face. "You don't like vegetables?"
Neal shuddered and shook his head vehemently as Alanna laughed. "You just made a big mistake by telling me that."
Neal looked horrified.
Remember that for future blackmail, Alanna told herself. Baird told me he's stubborn. Clearing her throat, she spoke again. "I think she was just shocked. You should let her have some time to get used to the idea."
Neal looked slightly relieved. "I know you would have preferred Kel too," he said softly.
Alanna looked uncomfortable again. "I won't insult you by lying, Neal. I would have liked Kel to be my squire. But just like Kel, I can understand why she can't be. And don't go thinking that you haven't earned this in your own right. You have. I'm not just taking you because you're her best friend or anything. It's also important that you learn how to heal. Does that settle all your questions?"
Neal nodded. "Thanks. And…I'm sorry." Alanna knew what he meant without asking. "I just wish you could tell Kel everything you've told me too."
"I know," replied Alanna. "I think I've known for a while that she can't be my squire, and I'll even admit that I can see that it makes sense, but what really hurts is that I can't even talk to her." She noticed Neal staring. "What – surely you knew that Jon won't let me near her?"
"No, I know that," blurted Neal. "I'm just surprised because everybody knows about your temper, it's legendary, but I just never realised that you're human enough to get hurt like everybody else does." His eyes widened and he clamped a hand over his mouth, horrified by what he had said and expecting a 'legendary' outburst from his new knight-mistress.
To his complete surprise, Alanna threw back her head and roared with laughter.
He scowled. "It's not funny."
Alanna wiped her streaming eyes as she continued to chuckle.
Neal decided that he needed to change the subject. "What were you going to say before?"
Alanna waited until she could talk without laughing. "Just that I would have liked to be able to meet her. Be able to talk to her and help her – not with my Gift, but with little things like strengthening her arms and shoulders, and how to fight with different weapons against larger opponents. I think having another female to talk about women's things would've helped her too, things like becoming a woman, and her first crush, and-"
Neal sat bolt upright. "What?! Kel's never had a crush!"
Alanna raised her eyebrows. "How would you know?"
"She just…she wouldn't."
"But you don't know for sure."
"Yes… well, no, but she would've told me – I'm her best friend."
"You know how much she had to lose if she got involved with any of the boys."
"Well, yes, but she still would have told me. Everybody knows if I like one of the Court ladies."
Alanna rolled her eyes. Men. "What if it was one of your friends?"
Neal didn't look quite so sure of himself. "But I'm her best friend."
Alanna looked thoughtful. "And what if it was you?"
"Me?"
"Well it could've been. Would she have told you then?"
Neal sat in stunned silence.
"Surely it wouldn't be terrible if it was."
"No…I don't know," he answered honestly. "But she should have given us a chance at least."
"I was only hypothesizing."
"How long does a girl's first crush last?"
"I don't know, it's not like all girls are the same!" she replied indignantly.
"About two days?" guessed Neal.
"Two days?!"
"Well I thought it was a reasonable guess. Mine was two hours."
Alanna rolled her eyes again. Typical, she thought.Men. "Whoever it was, she'll probably be over it by now." She saw the look on his face and added "And don't even think about confronting her about any of it. A girl's crush, especially her first one, is a very sensitive thing."
He looked at her thoughtfully and opened his mouth.
"Don't even think about asking me that."
He blushed and changed the subject with a grin. "I'm hungry."
"We'll stop to water the horses at the stream in about an hour." She laughed as his stomach growled. "We, however, can eat as we ride." She pulled out a pair of carrots and two apples from her saddlebags and threw one of each to him.
He looked confused. "Are these for the horses?"
She laughed again. "No, they're for you." She bit into her carrot with a loud crunch. "They're nice and fresh and juicy."
Neal glared at her. "That's not fair!"
She smiled sweetly at him. "They're good for you. Now eat."