Read Online Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce - Free Book Online

yesterday,” Francis pointed out.
    â€œIt’s time we dealt with him,” Alex added in his soft voice. “He forgets his place.”
    â€œI’ll teach it to him,” Raoul growled.
    â€œHe forgot the lesson you taught him yesterday,” Gary reminded him.
    Raoul smiled coldly. “This time I’ll make sure he knows what the lesson’s about.”
    â€œYou’re forgetting something.” They all looked at Jonathan. “Alan won’t admit Ralon hit him. He wants to fight Ralon himself.”
    â€œHe can’t,” Raoul protested. “He’s just a little guy. And he doesn’t know how to fight!”
    â€œHe’s got courage,” Alex said.
    â€œCourage!” Raoul bellowed. “That coward almost kills him and—”
    â€œHush!” Jonathan ordered. “Listen. We must be sure. Gary—see if anyone at the stables knows what happened. Perhaps Alan will tell me something. And remember—we have to do it his way. He’d be ashamed if he thought we were fighting his battles.”
    The others nodded in agreement, and the group split up.

    â€œHow do you feel?” the Prince asked.
    Alanna struggled to sit up. “Miserable, Highness,” she admitted.
    â€œPoor little man. He really whipped you, didn’t he?”
    â€œNobody whipped me. I fell.”
    He grinned. “Deny it all you want. We both know you had a fight with Ralon and you lost.”
    She stuck her chin out stubbornly. “I fell. Your Highness.”
    Jonathan patted her shoulder. “You’re pluck to the backbone, young Trebond. Get some sleep.”

    Gary found Stefan immediately. The hostler nodded as the young nobleman climbed into his hayloft. “I thought perhaps one o’ ye would be comin’ around. What lie is Master Alan tellin’?”
    Gary made a face. “He says he fell down.”
    Stefan spat. “Oh, aye, he fell. O’ course, Master Ralon helped him fall, several times. Poor li’l tyke didn’t have a chance.” He chuckled. “But he got Master Malven a good ’un in th’ nuts t’ start.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you stop them?” Gary wanted to know.
    Stefan shook his head. “It’s th’ rules—we don’t mess in th’ nobles’ fights. But I’ll say this—if Ralon ever comes back from th’ City wiv a full purse, George’ll have all our ears. George likes Master Alan.”
    â€œLet George do what he wants.” Then Gary frowned. “What do you mean, he’ll have your ears?”
    Stefan’s eyes were calm. “George has a collection. One slip an’ he warns ye. Two, an’ he takes an ear—fer his collection. Three mistakes—” Stefan shrugged. “He takes t’other ear an’ all that’s attached. George likes things done right.”

    The next afternoon Raoul beat Ralon thoroughly. Ralon broke the code and informed Duke Gareth. From then on Jonathan’s friends left any room Ralon entered. Raoul watched Ralon all the time, just waiting for his chance.
    Ralon couldn’t take revenge on Raoul, or Gary, or the Prince. Instead he found an easier victim.
    â€œYou told your friends!” he hissed when he caught Alanna in the library alone one day. He blacked her other eye and split her lip again. Four days later he caught her once more. This time Alanna used a few tricks Coram had taught her. She bloodied Ralon’s nose.
    Ralon broke her arm.
    Each talk she had with Duke Gareth was worse than the last one. Once again she faced him, this time with one arm in a sling.
    â€œI fell down, your Grace,” she said, her face straight.
    â€œMithros, boy—can’t you think of a better excuse?”
    She scuffed a foot. “This one works so well, sir. It—it has tradition behind it.”
    Gareth scowled at her. “It certainly does. I’ve heard it from every page