Disclaimer: I own nothing; all things in this story beside the plot belong to Tamora Pierce

CHAPTER ONE

LEAVING

"How can you expect me to leave," asked lady Sandreline Fa Toren, almost screaming at her uncle.

"Because I wish to know that you are safe and away from here," His Grace Duke Vedris paced in his study, how can I make her understand, he wondered, she has to leave, for her own good, "You have to understand my dear, if anything were to happen to you I wouldn't be able to live with myself." She glared at him.

"Don't you think I feel the same way uncle? I want to stay here with you; I want to make sure that you don't fall ill as well." Sandry, as she preferred to be called, was in tears. "I don't want to leave you here among the dying, all alone, you need me."

"Of course I need you dear one," He said brushing her tears off her cheeks, "That is why you must go for above all else I need you to be safe. I need to know that you are well out of this, you have done more than enough already, please Sandry, please." Tears had begun to spring forth in his eyes as well. "I cannot lose you to this plague as well." He was speaking of his late lover, the dancer Yazmin Hebet, who had been one of the first to perish when the plague came to Summersea.

"But uncle. I couldn't stand losing you either." She was openly weeping now, unable to hold back the cascade of tears that threatened to overwhelm her. His Grace knew this would be difficult on her, he was asking her to give up the most permanent home she had ever had. She had only been back a year since her trip to Dancruan in Namorn, and now he was asking her to leave, possibly, when she did return, her old life would be in ruins. He understood why it was hard for her, but he also understood that she must leave. He could not let her be in danger.

"Enough," he said at last, after he got his own tears under control. "I'm sorry Sandry but I have made up my mind, I am not going to lose you as well, you will be leaving tomorrow, you and Briar and Tris and Daja," he named her foster sisters and brother. "As well as your students. I will not let you die." With that he stormed off to make final preparations for her departure. Sandry sank to the floor weeping. Her clothes remaining perfect, compliments to her power as a thread mage. Without warning the memory of the last plague she had been in came to her mind. She was sitting near her parents beds, their skin riddled with pockmarks, they were dead, then she was in a cold dark room with nothing to comfort her but a small nearly dead oil lamp. She hated the dark, back then she hated it so much she called on magic. Magic she was sure she did not have, only she did. It had called light into her silk thread, it kept her sane the long nights she was trapped.

Until finally Niklaren Goldeye came for her. He had said he was looking for treasure, only the treasure was hers, her life and magic. He brought her to Discipline at Winding Circle Temple in Emelan, where she met Lark and Rosethorn, the two women who ran Discipline Cottage. And also, her foster sisters, Trisana Chandler and Daja Kisubo, as well as her foster brother Briar Moss. As if they had heard her thoughts, which of course they had, her three foster siblings came in quietly to comfort her.

Tris was a fiery red head with a temper to match her sharp tongue. Her long red hair was done up in many braids. A weather mage, she had trapped the forces of hurricanes, volcanoes, tides, and even lightning storms in those braids. Perched on her shoulder was a glass dragon, called Chime, for her musical voice. Chime was perfectly clear unless she had just eaten something and now stood on Tris's shoulder, one clawed talon grasping a thick lightning braid. The lightning didn't seem to bother the dragon, why would it, lightning was her own life's blood.

Daja was a strong looking dark skinned girl, a trader she carried with her an ebony staff with a brass cap etched with markings, that told those, who knew how to read trader staffs of her life and deeds. Daja was a smith mage, she worked her power into the metal, she forged. On her hand she had living metal, metal that was able to live and grow. It had come about as part of a forest fire when her olds staffs brass cap had melted onto her hand in the heat of the flames, and was bonded to her by magic. Her long thin braids flapped as she sat down next to Sandry.

Briar had been a street rat and thief. He was a tall youth and had striking green eyes. On his hands existed flowery vine tattoo's which moved and grew just under his skin. The dyes he had used had been vegetable dyes, he had only wanted to hide his arrest tattoo's that he had previously had but hadn't known that the dyes would react ot his magic, green magic, and start to move and grow. The end result blotted out his jailhouse tattoo's as surely as if they had never been but the end result was far more conspicuous than his old tattoo's.

He sat on Sandry's other side and flung one arm around her shoulder. Tris sat on a stool close by.

Don't worry, Briar told her threw their magical bond, everything will be fine. We will always be with you.

I know, said Sandry, I just wish I didn't have to leave uncle. her tears were beginning to slow.

Do not worry saati, sent Daja, using the word for a non trader friend who was as dear to you as family, he will be fine, he's tough, no plague is going to get him. Sandry looked at her

You really think so?

I know so. Sandry began to looked up and groped in her pocket for her handkerchief, Tris held one out to her and began to wipe the tears from her face.

Like Briar said, 'don't worry.' As long as were together nothing will ever happen , that was Tris, who now joined the others on the floor, giving Sandry a hug as she sat.

Thank you, Sandry said, all of you, I know its not any easier for you.

"You got that right," Briar said out loud, standing and dusting off the seat of his pants. "Now come on we had best go pack and check on the others, they're probably not doing so good either." With that that the other three stood up and walked off to their rooms to finish packing.

Well what did you think, this is my first fan fiction, if you liked it please review, and I may consider writing more.