In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce

want to know. Yes, it’s been three days. Why did you use your Gift? You were still glowing when we found you.”
    Alanna rubbed her head; “I had to find Thor, and there wasn’t any light. And then—” Her throat was suddenly tight, and her eyes burned with tears. “I helped him sleep. The Dark God came.” She looked up at Jonathan. “Have they found Jem Tanner?”
    The prince shook his head. “He’s vanished. Thor was innocent?”
    Taking time for sips of water, Alanna told her friend what had happened. When she finished, the prince strode angrily around the tent.
    â€œTreachery!” he snapped. “Merciful Mother, we should have guessed!” He sat down, suddenlydejected. “And we can’t do anything about it. My father’s instructions remain the same. He’s even thinking of giving the right bank to Tusaine.”
    â€œIf they’re given the right bank, they won’t stop till they have the entire valley,” Alanna said frankly.
    Jonathan nodded. “But no one can convince my father of that. He takes being called ‘The Peacemaker’ very seriously.”
    â€œHe did establish peace after the Old King’s conquests,” Alanna said fairly.
    â€œYes, but this time he’s wrong!” Jonathan growled. He brooded for a few moments before smiling and taking her hand. “Look at me. You’re not awake five minutes and I’m burdening you with my problems. Mithros, I’m glad you’re all right!”
    Alanna squeezed his hand. “Thank you for taking care of me, Jon.”
    He reached over to brush a strand of hair away from her face. Suddenly he was very close. Alanna discovered she was afraid to breathe. Carefully, almost timidly, Jonathan kissed her mouth.
    Someone’s coming , Faithful remarked.
    Myles entered the tent to find a very pale Jonathan picking up a book as his very red squire drank from a water bottle. His hazel eyes flicked from Jon toAlanna, and Alanna wondered once again how much Myles knew, or guessed, about her identity.
    â€œIt’s time you came to,” Myles remarked, his quiet voice even. “Do you realize you’ve been asleep for three days?”

    Using so much of her Gift when she was hurt had undermined Alanna’s strength to a degree she couldn’t believe possible. Duke Roger ordered her away from any fighting, leaving her to fret every time Jonathan was gone. It wasn’t that she thought Raoul’s squire, Douglass, couldn’t look after the prince in battle; she was just convinced he couldn’t do it as well as she could. But Duke Roger had taken an interest in her welfare, and Jonathan, Myles, and Duke Baird sided with him: She was in no condition to fight. Privately Alanna knew they were right: Her arm would ache for months to come, and she continued to have dizzy spells. Just lighting a candle by using her Gift was more than she could manage.
    Her search for something to do led her up and down the river. Finally she returned to the healers’ tents; although she couldn’t use her Gift, she could hold basins, bandage wounds, and undertake countless little tasks during those long June days after hersixteenth birthday. Jonathan often came for her there and stayed, talking to the men and doing some healing of his own.
    Sometimes the healers shooed her away, particularly if Duke Baird noticed she was tiring. She tried the weapons-smiths then. These gruff men would ignore her except to shove a pair of bellows or an extra set of tongs into her good hand, motioning for her to make herself useful. She mended swords, spears, knives, and armor, learning how to put a keen edge on a blade and how to keep a fire at the same heat for an hour or more. She would never be as adept as Coram, who had taught her the basics of the blacksmith’s art, but she would always be able to keep her equipment in good working order.
    She also signed on as a