The stables

Since she has such a tie to the animals, Daine can be found here with the animals.

The horses are all around, you cna find one to ride if you want,

Onua began to brush the horses, sweeping the hay out of thier manes and shinning thier coats. "Sweethearts, you are so tired aren't you?" She cooed gently brushing to an inner rhythm. the chestnut leaned into the brush, letting it scratch his side. "Silly!" Onua said gently slapping the side afectionatly. very few people saw this side of her. But her horses were her confidents her trusted friends. "You all are spoiled." She half growled, trying not to smile. A trill sounded behind her. she turned to see Kitten sandign in the doorway. "Why hello, where is Daine." Kittin cocked her head and peered around as if just noticing Daine wasn't right there beside her. She peered back, blinking, her black eyes clear against her scaly skin.

Alanna smiled at her friend and the young dragonet. "Hello, Ouna. How are you?" Turning to Kitten and said, "And hello to you too. Where is Daine?"

Kitten chittered angrily as if ask why she should know. Daine was her keeper not the other way round. Besides she was right behind her a second ago!

Alanna laughed. "Of course, Kitten." She bent down to scratch the dragonet under the chin, and picked her up. "How are you, Ouna?"

Ouna looked up, but continued brushing. "I'm doing fine Lioness, just fine. I'm around my horses, so nothing can go wrong!" She laughed deeply. "I'm hoping that this black stallion here isn't tryign to trow a shoe!" She admonished turning to look the horse in the face. He snorted and flicked his tail. "If he is....well, let's just hope the Queen's riders don't need to go riding off any time soon." She looked aprehensive. The strawberry mare next to the black stallion nickered lightly and press gently against the woman.

Alanna continued to scratch Kitten's chin. "Ouna, how many times have I told you to call me Alanna...?"

Ouna looked up sheepishly. "You're a knight, shouldn't I call you by your title?" theh she grinned slyly, "Unless you'd perfer Sir Alan? Sir Alanna? Carrot-top?" Kittin chittered along with Ouna's laugh.

"Alanna is fine, Ouna."

Ouna nodded, and finished grooming the horses. "I'll just be head in to lunch then. Kitten, Alanna, coming?" Kittin nodded and hopped out of Alanna's arms, runnig for the food.

Alanna laughed. "I'm coming. If I have to deal with one more staunch-ass conservative, I'm going to murder one of them... Preferably Lord Burchard of Stone Mountain."

Ouna pulled a face. "I only wish that they'd leave us alone. Maybe eattign privately will ge tthem off our tails. I'm tred of hearing: 'Now what do you do madam?' and then the inevitable curl of the lip and the quick excuse to go elsewhere as if I stink." She snorted, unfortunatly very simmilarly to the horses she took care of.

Alanna's own lips curled upwards, though not in a smirk. "I know what you mean."

((Watch your spelling, K?))

(K)

"Do they think less of you for your knighthood?" Ouna asked, think inwardly that no one should mess with the lioness, she had claws!

Alanna laughed. "Oh, they know better than to say that. They just like to call me names that not even the lowest flower seller should be called," she said, recalling some of her flower seller friends she had made while her husband was King of the Rogue.

Ouna scowled. She hated beign put down for no obvious reason. "Agreed, no one should have to suffer any names that are unearned. Think of Daine, what with her name revealing her birth out of Wedlock. But she's such a wonderful person, she hasn't earned that title."

Alanna nodded. "I certainly agree my friend. I certainly do..."

She smiled. "George showed me one of his ancestress's journals. Seems to me like I'm not the first female warrior in Corus to get a Cooper man to fall for her." She grinned. "Much less a Rogue." Anticipating her friend's confusion, she said, "Beka Cooper had a child by Rosto the Piper. Who happened to be the Rogue that built the Dancing Dove."

Ouna smiled. "We women have that way with people. Guys like warrior girls, they are fasinated by them, they can't figure you girls." She laughed deeply. "Beka, huh, she was a Dog correct?"

Alanna nodded. "Yes, she was. They called her Terrier, Bloodhound, and Mastiff. I did some reading on her in Jon's private library. Apparently, Beka saved the Crown Prince of Tortall when she was 17 or 18. I've also sent a message to Coram at Tortall to see if we have anything with her in there. I have a sneaking suspicion she is. I'm asking Myles too."

"Devolped a fancy for this Beka have you?" Ouna asked leanign against a post.

Alanna laughed again. "I was stuck at home over the winter. George got snowed in here at Corus. The children were at Olau with Myles and Eleni. So, I started reading. She's an interesting character, that's all I have to say."

Ouna nodded. "I like history because you accutally learn from it. I know ot to do this or that because Duke so and so or King whats-his-face did it and mess everything up. History is the best teacher! Plus th Beka sounds interesting, wonder, do I have any great relatives?"

Alanna nodded. "History and weapons were always my strong suit. Don't ask me on anything mathematical. I hate it. Alexander of Tirregan, before his whole traitor thing, was the best of our little group with mathematics. I'll see if I can pry George away from Beka's diaries again. This is the third time he's read them. I'll give you the first one. I've titled it Terrier. That was her nickname as a Puppy."

"Okay, but you're only helping me stay up all night in bed reading. May you suffer the consequenses!" Ouna mangaed to say stern for a bout 6 more seconds then nearly doubled over laughing. How she love beign friends with the Lioness!

Alanna said, "We'll make it a girls night in. Invite Daine, Thayet and maybe Miri and we'll stay up all night reading and laughing."

((Watch your spelling. Always check before you send it off, okay?))