Ermm…sorry bout this one…it's my first ever…esp. the TP type. Sorry if it sucks. Tell me: luvlylin@bellsouth.net I don't care what you say, be mean, be nice, whatevah.

Disclaimer: not mine, etc.

Ermm…

"spoken."

'thought'

::silly mindspeak thing::



oh, btw, I've only read the first 2 books of COM, and that was a/b a year ago, and I threw them away (oops) so, sorry if I get it wrong. I prolly will. I couldn't remember the city where the whole Allana thing took place, and as I have none of those books either, I couldn't look it up. Here we go! I'll finish this soon…either tonite or tomorrow before school, sorry I left in such an awkward place. Kinda odd, aint it?



Sandry looked up. 'I was raised in this kind of environment,' she thought. She glanced over at her silent companion. ::Briar.:: She wanted to speak to him. She didn't want anyone else to hear.

::What Sandry?:: Briar was tired and a little annoyed. All he wanted to do was to go into town and meet a few rogues…that was the life he had been brought up for.

::Briar, would you mind if we went into town first? I'm not sure I really want to go in the castle::

::What's the matter, Bag? Finally afraid someone won't be in awe of you?:: Although he wouldn't admit it, Briar was in awe of Sandry, himself.

::N,no, it's not that…it's just shudder I think this was in my dream…::

::And what dream would that be?::

::The one where I died.:: Sandry's mind-voice was almost a whisper. Briar could feel fear radiating from her slender form. She had grown taller over the years, though he himself had grown even more. They were 16 and 17 years old. Almost full mages. Almost. And that was why they were here. For some odd reason, Niko had decided that Briar and Sandry had to suddenly leave Discipline and come all the way to (whatever the city is where the Alanna books take place, in Tortall), a rough city where the duo would find chances to hone their skills, and become truly masters of their craft. Niko was here, somewhere, they supposed, though he wouldn't want to interfere much with their training, as they should be preparing for life outside Winding Circle, as true mages.

Briar thought for a minute before answering Sandry. ::Sure thing. Let's go explore, shall we?::

In the Marketplace.

Sandry wasn't too sure about this part of town. It looked like a place Briar would be at home in, but not her, a gentlewoman of noble kin. She glanced furtively around, and sidled up a little closer to Briar.

"I'm not sure about this, Briar…are you sure this is safe?"

"Look Sandry, I'm not exactly sure where we are…I've been trying to find Main Street, but I think we've lost it…we'll have to wander around some more."

Sandry sighed in agreement. She was worried about the leering stares of some of these men. She knew her dress fit nicely…perfectly, as a matter of fact. She had fixed it that way. But unfortunately, the snug dress wasn't fit for this part of town, where whores ran around in cropped off dresses, and men saw women as only a horse; free to straddle.

"Hey there, sweetie, care to take a ride around the park with me?" A foul smelling man had sidled up to Sandry. She whipped her head around, desperately looking for Briar to help her…but he had somehow gotten lost in the sea of alcoholics and murderers.

::Briar!:: Sandry mind-yelled. ::HELP ME!::

The man leered closer, attempting to paw the front of her dress. Sandry could smell the stench of alcohol on his breath as he moved closer.

"Get away," she muttered through clenched teeth. "Now."

"Not a chance sweetie…let's have a tumble, shall we? Care for a poke? Heeheehee…."

Sandry's temper began to get the better of her. With all of her might, she thrust a magical thread towards the leering beast. The honey blonde thread snaked around the man's throat. He clutched at it, pawing desperately, trying to breathe. His pals noticed his asphyxiation. They rushed over. Sandry, fixed on her suffocating victim, was seemingly unaware of the four men rushing behind her.

"Bitch! Get her magic off o' him! Whore!"

Sandry turned around at the foul language. A tall brunette who looked like he hadn't bathed for weeks drew back a well-muscled arm. Sandry's light body whirled around in protest of the assault on her cheek. Briar scoured the crowds for Sandry. How had they become separated? He wondered.

"SANDRY! SANDRY!" Briar's voice screamed for his friend. He listened for her, with his mind. He could feel agony…his cheek began to hurt too. He suddenly glimpsed her thin frame backed against a wall. Briar ran over to Sandry, pushing through the mass of people, who, it seemed, were all intent on watching the assault.

"SANDRY!" Briar again yelled, as he finally pushed through the crowd. He could see her. She had her arms covering her head. She screamed as the brute drew a knife out. One of her attacker's friends held her arms behind her back, pinning them, and straining her taunt shoulders. The first man leered at her, whispering, "You'll be mine. Little flower…" he drew the knife slowly down her right arm, causing her to gasp in pain. By that time, Briar had calmed his breathing enough to draw up his magic. The smaller of the vile men, a short, pudgy drunk, screamed as a nearby vine grew out of control, twisting around his ankles, slithering up his trunk like a snake, twining around his wrists. A similar fate came two more of the attackers. That left only two: one holding Sandry in place, as the instigator cut at her tender flesh. With no time left to coax plants to grow, Briar flung his raw power at the man holding her arms back. Sandry fell to the ground with a sickening thud. The only able bodied thug left turned to see Briar preparing for the next wave of power. He turned on Briar, slamming his fist into the young man's left eye. Briar stood shocked, unable to move, blood quickly filling his field of vision. Sandry whimpered as the man grabbed her injured arm. With a quick flick of his wrist, Sandry's left wrist splintered, her slender bones unable to withstand the assault. Sandry, although dazed, attempted to form a coherent thought. When she was finally able to concentrate, she used the last of her magic, and threaded it into her attacker. At the same moment, Briar shook his head clear, squinting through his one good eye, aiming a terrifying jolt of green fire into the man's gut. With the duo's assault perfectly timed as it was, he fell to the ground, thoroughly dazed.

Briar took two loping steps over to Sandry's limp body. It had been too much for her, she had passed out from exhaustion and pain. Briar tenderly lifted her slim frame off the dirty ground, being mindful to her injuries. 'She really ought to eat more,' he thought to himself, smiling a bit as he glanced at her beautiful face. When he looked up, the crowd had dissipated, as a fight was a common, almost hourly occurrence here. The tall plant boy, carrying his precious friend, meandered through the streets, trying hard to find a healer's house.

Street where George's Mother lives

Spying the sign of a healer, Briar rushed through the gate, stopping only when he came to the door. The sudden jostling disturbed Sandry, she briefly opened her eyes to plead with Briar to stop the painful movements.

As Briar knocked loudly at the wooden door, it suddenly opened, revealing an aged, but kind-looking woman.

"Please," Briar pleaded, looking up at her with his one good eye, "can you help her?"

The woman motioned them to come inside, moved by the boy's earnest plea, and look of utter desperation.

"Lay her on the couch," she instructed, flicking her wrist in the direction of a well worn but clean couch in the center of the room. "What is your name, boy?" The healer looked at his desperate face.

"Briar, Briar Moss, of Emelan."

"And her name?"

"Sandraleine fa Toren…Sandry, that's what we call her."

"Good." The woman probed gently at Sandry's various injuries, trying to discern which ones needed attention first. As the gentle fingers picked up Sandry's broken wrist, she groaned in semi-conscious protest. Briar rushed over to comfort her, smoothing her silky hair out of her eyes.

"Aah, and what happened to her, lad?"

"She was attacked, on the lower side of town…I'm not sure what happened, we got separated…and I heard her scream…" Briar's distraught voice trailed off miserably.

"No worries, lad, I'll have her bandaged up soon. I fear I cannot use my magic on her, she keeps refusing it…"

"no…you won't be able to magic her out of this one…we aren't sure what really happened, but for some reason her aura refuses magic…well, healing magic, anyway." Briar stared into Sandry's now open eyes. She still had refused to let any tears fall. 'She's so strong…none of the girls in Sotat could withstand all that…'

A few hours later, the healer woman pronounced Sandry as doctored as she would be, for now at least. Briar thanked the woman profusely, ashamed that he could offer her no money in return for her services.

"I apologize…but, if you will give me your address, or some way of reaching you, I will send it as soon as we get home…"

The kind woman smiled gently.

"Send it to Pirate's Swoop, address it to George. That's all, simply George. He will know to send it to me."

"Thank you so much…but I have one more favor to ask you…could you tell me the best way to get back to Emelan?

"Of course…head north. You will eventually run into either a mountain or Winding Circle. If, by chance, you run into Winding Circle, try looking for Nicklaren Goldeye…he will be able to help you."

"Thank you…Niko was our teacher…We know him well…I wish I could stay and talk with you, but I must get Sandry back home." And with a few final parting farewells, Sandry and Briar set off to find their horses, tethered at the edge of the city. (AN I know Sandry didn't say much..just assume she isn't feeling well, ko?)

Briar and Sandry had been traveling almost a week now. They were almost halfway home. It had taken them only one week to come down to Tortall, but, as Sandry couldn't ride for very long, and Briar didn't want to push her, the pair's pace was slow.

"Briar?"

"Yes Sandry?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"I'm just…well….for helping me…and taking me to the healers….and well….just, thank you, I guess. Yes, thank you."

"Sandry, I…err…your welcome, emm…yes, your welcome." After that painful conversation, the two traveled in almost complete silence for two more days.

End of first week.

Briar and Sandry were seated around their campfire for the night, Sandry gingerly stirring the soup with her right hand, her upper arm protesting at the movement. The knife cut had injured the muscle greatly, and this was one of the first things Sandry had done with her right arm for the whole journey back home. Briar turned to Sandry.

"What are you going to tell them? We're almost in range to mindspeak, they'll be wondering why we're back…"

"I'm not sure yet Briar. I guess the truth. What a novel idea, eh Thief boy?"

Briar chuckled at her teasing. Sandry hadn't been in very good spirits the whole journey back. 'I guess she's getting better…that's a good thing!'

"Oh ho! And you mean to tell me you've never lied in your life?"

"Well….no…ermm…a few times….but nothing serious…"

"Nope, Lady, a lie's a lie…no two bones about it…"

The gentle bantering stopped. Sandry glanced up at Briar, startled to find him staring at her so intensely. He quickly averted his gaze. 'she's beautiful…why haven't I seen it before? Even with her perfect ivory skin bandaged up, she's still beautiful!'

(AN…I'm skipping the rest of the journey for a while…yes, I'm lazy.)

At Discipline

Briar and Sandry had cut themselves off from Tris and Daja. Sandry had explained her need to explain this in person, and she knew they wouldn't quit pestering her if she just told them to wait. Sandry took one last glance over at Briar before boldly knocking on the locked door. Tris answered it.

"BRIAR! SANDRY! Why are you two here? Aren't you supposed to be in Tortall?" Tris hadn't yet noticed Sandry's bandaged body, or Briar's diminishing black eye. At the sound of Tris, Daja came sprinting to the door. She gasped in surprise.

"Sandy! Goddess of all, what happened to you? You look…terrible! And Briar! Is that a black eye?"

Tris noticed the two's injuries at that point.

"Mithros, Minoss, and Shakith! What happened?"

"Can we come in?" Sandry asked with a kind smile. Tris and Daja stood aside, mouths agape. The quartet moved into the main room, attracting Lark and Rosethorn on their way. Briar and Sandry were bombarded with a plethora of questions. They calmly explained what had happened, Daja and Tris shuddering at the thought of Sandry being attacked, Lark appalled at what her former student had gone through, and Rosethorn fuming over the lurid men of Tortall. When the two had finished with their tale, Lark moved towards Sandry to inspect her various cuts and scrapes and bruises and broken bones. She clucked in sympathy as Sandry grimaced with pain. Her wrist was still very broken, and her right arm had not yet healed from the deep knife cut. Rosethorn went to the cabinet of her herbs and plants, looking for the right combination to soothe her battered body.