Rosethorn kneeled in the dirt, weeding a patch of bright blue flowers hoping to get this patch done before the sun set. They had roundish shaped petals, in Lark's opinion, the prettiest in the garden. She was about to pull out a weed when she saw one of the flowers was a darker blue, with red thorns up and down its stem. Not knowing what it was at first glance, she dug it and brought into the workshop to put it into a pot.
She studied it, wracked her brains, and studied some more but was not able to figure out what it was. The thought of asking Crane what it was occurred to her, but she shoved it away quickly with a smile. Rosethorn was sure she had just momentarily forgotten what it was.
Finally she opened one of the lower cupboards and pulled out a dust covered, old, and slightly musty smelling book. It was entitled, Flowers of the World. She flicked through the pages, spreading dust everywhere, looking for a flower that looked like, or was similar to, the one that was sitting on the desk in front of her, emitting happiness to be noticed and looked after.
"Can't find the name of a certain flower, Rosethorn?" Crane's voice drifted in from the doorway.
He stepped in and peered at the flower.
"What are you doing here?" Rosethorn demanded, shutting the book quickly and putting her arm over the title.
"I never thought the day would come when I would find you not knowing the name of a flower," he said smugly.
"Just so you know, I have had to look up many flowers over the past years," Rosethorn admitted, unashamed, "I'm just very secretive."
"Well, you don't seem to be very secretive now," he said, leaning against the doorway, his brown eyes resting on the unknown blue flower. The flower seemed to have pride at not being known.
"I was, until you came in," Rosethorn retorted and opened up the book again, making very sure Crane could see it was called Flowers of the World.
"Well, if you must know, I came here to ask you what that," he pointed at the flower, "is called."
The flower didn't seem happy at being called "that". Rosethorn smiled at it and it perked up again.
Rosethorn turned and looked at him, her chin resting on one hand, smirking, "You came to ask me about a flower?"
"Yes, I did," Crane replied sharply, "and if neither of us know what it is, I suggest we get researching."
"Alright then," Rosethorn said and started flipping through pages of the book. Crane stood in the doorway a little longer, waiting to see if there was anything else she had to say, before leaving.
***
Rosethorn opened her eyes and rubbed her cheek where the open book had left a large red mark. Briar was shaking her shoulders.
"Wake up Rosethorn. Lark has made oatmeal for breakfast," he said.
"Does she ever make anything else?" She stood up, brushing her short chestnut hair out of her face, and followed Briar out of her workroom.
She looked around outside and was surprised to see the blue flower with red thorns popping up all over the place.
She blinked her eyes, but the flowers were still there. She rubbed her eyes and continued into the kitchen where Lark was serving oatmeal, it was maple flavored this time, and it seemed, to Rosethorn, especially gooey.
"How late were you up?" Lark asked.
"I don't know," she said and started eating her oatmeal.
Briar had disappeared into his room and just then reappeared holding his Shakkan.
"Um, Rosethorn, do you know what this flower is? I found it this morning when I woke up. My Shakkan was complaining a bit, I think they've grown fond of each other though. It's a happy little plant," he said and tickled the petals.
The flower happily opened its petals more. The Shakkan did seem to like it as well.
"Another one! They're popping up all over the place," Rosethorn glared at the flower that you could almost hear whimper. A hummingbird fluttered in through the open window, saw the people, and then quickly flew out.
"Oh, a hummingbird, did you see that?" Sandry said excitedly.
Rosethorn finished her oatmeal and proceeded back to her workshop when Crane burst in.
"They're everywhere!" He said frustrated, the quickly straightened up and glared at everyone. He walked into Rosethorn's workroom.
Briar cleared his place and quickly followed.
"We have to find its pollinator, where its come from, whether or not it's a combination of various other breeds of plants, and if it is, what they are. It would also be nice to find its uses. If it has any," Crane said.
"So you're sure it's a new breed?" Rosethorn asked peering at the little plant.
"You and I are among the strongest plant mages in the world Rosethorn. If we cannot find out its breed, then do really expect someone else to?" He asked her.
"You assume to much. Did the idea occur to you that this plant may be from a place we don't know of and maybe the people there know what it is? I suggest we try to find where it came from. I'll ask Tris for the most recent wind directions. If it does not come from some unknown place, then we may look at the idea that it is a new breed," Rosethorn told him, then she added, "If it is a new breed, I get to name it."
Crane glared, "For your information, we both discovered it about the same time, I'm afraid we shall have to name it together."
Briar spoke up, "So, what should I do today?"
***
"It says here long flowers, like this one, usually have HUMMINGBIRDS as pollinators!" Rosethorn insisted, pointed at a page in a book and glaring stubbornly at Crane.
"Yes, yes, but as you can see, this flower also has blue coloration, indicating that BEES should pollinate it!" Crane demanded, slamming his hand on the book.
Rosethorn grabbed the flower and shoved it in Crane's face, "smell! If you notice, it does NOT smell very strongly!"
Crane looked quite surprised for a second, then he took the flower, his eyes meeting hers, "Its not sturdy enough for a bird to land on, if you notice." Rosethorn had still not let go of the flower.
As she stared up at him she was very aware of his fingers brushing against hers, she could feel her heart pounding and she whispered lamely purely for the sake of needing something to say to break the silence, "but it doesn't have a strong smell…" her voice trailed off.
Suddenly Crane leaned over and kissed her, his lips pressing gently against hers for a second, then he turned away, embarrassed. There was an awkward silence.
Briar walked into Crane's workroom, he stopped, aware of the silence and that for some reason Rosethorn and Crane weren't arguing and seemed quite busy in there own work.
Crane had the oddest expression on his face, like he was trying to look noble, but not succeeded. Briar quickly placed the supplies Rosethorn had asked for and then left, feeling confused.
***
Rosethorn was leaning over a map of the world, which was spread out on the table in Discipline Cottage. Tris was drawing on the map, with a blue marker, the latest wind currents.
Once Tris was finished she triumphantly put the lid back on the marker and explained it the Rosethorn, who took it over to Briar. They studied the currents that were coming into Summersea, and where they were coming from, to find out where the flower might have come from.
"Alright Briar, the winds are coming into Summersea from three places, Duires Tu, Austria, and Kodaikanal. You're job is to find information on the flowers in Austria, and I'll research the other two," Rosethorn told the boy.
She scanned the bookshelves. "Here's the book you'll use." She placed a book on the table in front of Briar that was at least four inches thick.
"Oh, and thank-you Tris for the map," she pulled down a few more books for the two places she would be researching.
Briar stared at the huge book and slowly opened it and started flipping through the pages looking for the section on Austria's flowers.
"There is a table of contents, just so you know Briar," Rosethorn told the boy scanning the page in one of the other books she had taken off the bookshelf.
After a few minutes Briar spoke again, "Uh, Rosethorn, there ain't nothing in here on flowers of Austria."
Rosethorn glanced at the cover of his book, it read, Austria's Government.
"Oh, well I saw the Austria and assumed…" She stood up and started looking at the bookshelves again. She then pulled down a book 5 ½ inches thick. It was titled The Many Flower Varieties in Austria.
Briar took it from her and staggered slightly under the weight, raising his eyebrows. He set it down on the floor grumbling, "I hate books."
Tris, hearing Briar say that, told him brightly, "I love to read! I'll do it for you!"
"No, that's all right Tris, but I need Briar to do this," Rosethorn told Tris, Briar had looked happy for a moment slouched down and opened the book to its Table Of Contents, which by itself was ten pages.
Sandry looked at Briar pittying. She was doing some embroidery. This time it was of a little dog panting. Above it was the words Little Bear. Tris glanced at it from her book that she was reading, "Aww, you made Little Bear. That is really good!"
Sandry smiled with the praise, "Thanks, earlier today I saw him sit in this pose, he looked cute so I thought I'd embroider it."
There was a thud as Briar opened to page 2591.