Disclaimer:
I do not own any of the characters in this chapter. They all belong
to Tamora Pierce, and her alone.
Chapter One - Homecoming
By: Kyani
The morning sun shone hot and bright, lighting the world and heating the thatched roofs of houses in the city of Summersea. Many a folk were out and about, hanging out washing; sweeping mats; tending to small bright gardens. People swarmed to and from Market Square like ants in a busy hill, purchasing and trading goods in the separate stalls of each vendor. Goods sold in Summersea's market came from Yanjing in the east to the Endless Ocean in the far west, and the market itself was filled with people not only with the pale skin of those in Emelan and the south, but with the medium to dark brown skins from the eastern half of the world to the black-skinned natives of the North. Summersea's market was a place to be, aye, but the true attraction of the city belonged to the citadel.
The Duke's Citadel towered above the buildings in the city, the stone structure housing the most important of the high ranking in Emelan: The Duke, ruler from Summersea and host of Winding Circle Temple. On this particular day, a pair of Winding Circle Dedicates from Air, Earth, Fire, and Water Temples were meeting in that very palace with Duke Vedris IV, to discuss a matter serious at hand. Large groups of bandits were joining together and launching attacks on smaller villages along the mainland, and making their way steadily toward Summersea. And the closer they came, the greater their numbers became. The villages didn't stand a half a chance, not with the new weapon these bandits carried with them and the disease reeking on each person. The Duke and the Dedicates were searching for a way to both stop the disease and this new weaponry.
Dedicate Lark of Discipline Cottage in Winding Circle was one of the Earth Dedicate representatives at the meeting, leaving her student, Comas, to the teachings of a traveling stitch-witch from Lightsbridge University.
Lark's former student, the fourteen-year-old Lady Sandrilene fa Toren, and Sandry's own student, twelve-year-old Pasco Acalon, roamed the market. Sandry carried a nicely woven, sturdy basket over one arm, and with her empty hand, she reached forward to select a clay pot, decorated with little designs of flower buds on bright green creepers. "He'll like that," she said decidedly, and handed the seller four copper coins. Hesitating, the girl handed the pot to Pasco, judging her basket to be too full with little gifts and trinkets for those who lived at Discipline when she had. "Come, Pasco," she said to the boy, who favored her with a smile.
"Yes, lady," he answered cheerfully, but he didn't move quite yet. Sandry paused, then looked back for him. Her student was staring intently at a small box with the lid open, two small, carved dancers turning slowly in circles as music drifted from the enclosed space. His dark eyes widened in awe of the music box, and Sandry smiled.
Looking to the vendor, she asked quietly to avoid Pasco's hearing, "How much for your musical box?" He smirked and named a price far too high for such a trinket. But Sandry had learned to bargain from her foster-sister Trisana, who handled all the money between the four ambient mages Daja, Briar, Sandry and Tris. She offered a price more to her liking, and the shopkeeper shook his head. Once more, Sandry offered an amount, and finally, the man nodded. Satisfied, Sandry added an extra two coppers to the decided price, and requested that the man send someone to deliver it to Discipline Cottage later that day. He nodded abruptly and turned to a new customer and Sandry to her student. "Come, Pasco," she said gently. "It's time to go back to Discipline."
Lark returned later that evening, and smiled at Sandry's worried look. "You look exhausted," Sandry protested against Lark's assurances that she was fine.
"Maybe a little tired," Lark admitted. "But nothing to worry about. Hello, Pasco."
Pasco nodded and ducked a short bow. "'Lo, Dedicate. Lady, what's for supper?"
Sandry grinned at him. "Stew. Again. For our first night back." Lark smiled at her as she headed to the stove with a bowl, and Pasco followed immediately.
Dinner was a quiet time, and Sandry was lost in her thoughts when something she hadn't heard for close to a year and missed terribly happened.
Sandry.
Her spoon dropped with a clatter, and her eyes opened wide. Lark looked up, concerned. "Sandry? What's the matter?"
"It's Briar."
--
Sandry, Briar Moss mind-called. He was within range of Discipline now, and was smiling as he felt the thread-like shadow in his mind that was his housemate Sandry. He felt her shock, surprise, and obvious joy all at once, and smiled to himself.
Briar! Where are you? Was her excited reply, and Briar's smile broadened into a grin.
We're in Emelan, he told her, and we've almost reached Summersea.
When will you be home? Briar didn't miss the tang of longing in her mind-voice, and was surprised to feel a longing for her and his other housemates as well. It had been too long. Is Rosethorn with you?
Of course, Briar answered, not wanting to explore that feeling any deeper. Is Lark with you? Hold her arm, will you, and I'll connect her with Rosethorn.
Briar turned to his teacher, the Earth Dedicate Rosethorn, who was looking at him without expression, unlike Briar's student Evvy, who was staring at him curiously from the other side. Directing his horse closer to Rosethorn, he reached out for her and she immediately grasped his fingers. Lark...? She asked hesitantly, and Briar felt her presence in his mind, a powerful rope of green stretching on for eternity. Lark. And Sandry.
Where are you? Came Lark's answer, and her fleecy mind-voice was shaking. When will you be home?
We are almost at Summersea, as Briar has told Sandry. We should reach Discipline by the first bell after noon tomorrow. Lark was Rosethorne's closest friend, and how could they be apart for so long? It must have been hard on her, Briar realized, being away from Lark for such a time. Even when we were in the city, less than a half hour's ride away, she missed Lark so terribly…
The
next morning, Pasco rose with the sun and stepped into the kitchen.
He was surprised to see Sandry already up and about, holding the
token that would let her in to the temple bathhouse. Smiling at him,
Sandry motioned Pasco closer. "Come," she told him. "We want to
be ready for Rosethorn and Briar. And Evvy too."
" Who's
Evvy?" Pasco asked curiously, as he grabbed a robe and followed her
out. "And I'm finally going to meet Briar and Dedicate
Rosethorn?"
"Yes," Sandry replied. "Hurry along."
Bathing didn't take long, but Sandry insisted that Pasco clean every part of his body, behind his ears, his neck, everything. She bustled them back to the house, and after Pasco had dressed and was, busily stirring porridge on the cottage's stove, he was surprised to glance to Lark's workroom to see the door open and Sandry inside, straightening the skirts on a lovely dress he hadn't seen her wear before. A light, sky blue in color, the bodice laced to halfway up her back, and the shoulders were a sleeveless strap on either side, connecting on the front to hold up the rest. The full skirt was divided for riding, unlike the billowing breeches she normally preferred, and two white petticoats showed at the lower side, where the skirts pulled up to a bow at her knee. The girl ran her fingers through her long hair, drying it quickly, and it fell like a light, feathery blanket over her shoulders and down her back. Pasco caught his breath. His teacher looked amazing.
Finally, Sandry turned away from the window and came out from the workroom where she had set up her cot, and smiled brightly at Pasco. What was he thinking? Mentally, he hit himself. She always looked amazing!
"Dedicate Lark just went outside," he mumbled, not looking at her. "She'll be back in soon for breakfast."
As if on cue, Lark walked in, wearing a sunny yellow dress and a hat to match it. "Rosie and Briar are bound to be back sooner than the first bell after noon," she said absently. "We should eat fast and tidy up a bit." Dinner went slow for all three residents. All were nervous and antsy. Everyone had something on his or her mind and talk was scarce. At half bell after noon, Lark and Sandry cleared the table while Pasco began to wash them. Before quarter bell before one bell, the dishes and table were cleared and cleaned. With nothing left to do but wait, Sandry paced while Lark attempted to continue to teach Pasco spinning but neither person could stay focused. When one bell sounded though the quiet Winding Circle Temple, signaling the beginning of the rest period, Sandry ran to a bench near the gate to Summersea. She had just caught her breathe and sat on the bench when three horses appeared on the road. "BRIAR!" Briar looked up at me from his horse and grinned. Sandry leapt up and ran towards the riders, happiness coursing though her petite body. Briar reached down and pulled her up onto his horse. "We've missed you so much," Sandry, told Briar while wrapping her arms around his waist. "And guess what tomorrow is?" Sandry felt Briar stiffen for a moment before relaxing.
"My birthday, isn't it?" Sandry nodded against his back and she smiled for him. "Well, I guess I'll have to, you know, get myself ready for a party. Why aren't you with the duke?"
"There is a mage from Lightsbridge here, a stitch-witch, and she's taken a great liking to Comas. He wants to study more, to become an academic mage, as well as ambient. He wants to learn everything to know from books about weaving and thread magic, so she's going to take him with her when she leaves this afternoon. Pasco is staying in my old room, and I've laid down a cot in Lark's workroom. We thought you might give your Evvy your room as well, and you can bed in Rosethorn's workroom." He didn't answer, and she froze. "Is that… alright?"
Briar took one hand off the reins to pat her hands around his waist. "Of course it is," he told her, and that little voice in her head told her. "There's something more to that then he's saying. I'll ponder on that tonight."
They reached the cottage and Sandry slid off the back of the horse. As soon as she had let go of his waist, she missed his warmth. Cursing at the short ride before mental kicking her self.
Briar stopped his horse at the top of a small hill, and Evvy stopped hers beside him. "There it is," he said quietly, hearing Rosethorn on his other side. Winding Circle Temple stretched out before them, the tower stretching up the center, the same as always. It was a familiar sight, and a welcome one.
Discipline Cottage lay out along another path, smoke rising from the chimney, and the trees and garden around it looking the same as always. Briar and Rosethorn turned their horses down that road, and picked up their pace. It was good to be back. Briar hadn't realized how much he'd missed Sandry, with her sympathetic ear and her willingness to help him with even the most tedious of chores. He closed his eyes and – what was he doing? He missed the other girls, too, of course. Daja and Tris, and Lark. And Niko and Frostpine. Even Crane. But why did Sandry seem to stand out the most in his mind?
Because no matter how much you brushed her off when you first came to Discipline, she was always there when you needed her. Because she always offered advice when you were out of choices. Because she was always sweet and nice, and nothing ever broke her charm, answered a nagging little voice in his head. Briar pushed that voice away. Most likely she wouldn't even be at the cottage when he got there. Most likely, she was in the citadel, with her uncle, the Duke. Most likely –
"BRIAR!" Briar looked up, and grinned. Sandry leaped up from a small bench set into the trees, and ran towards them. They were still a ways away from the cottage, so with Evvy looking on with an arched eyebrow, Briar reached down and pulled his housemate up behind him. "We've missed you so much," Sandry said to him, wrapping her arms around his waist to keep from falling off. "And guess what tomorrow is?"
Briar stilled completely as he felt her grip around his waist, and forced himself to think. He thought, and suddenly, his grin broadened. "My birthday, isn't it?" He felt Sandry nod against his back, and he could feel the warmth of her smile. "Well, I guess I'll have to, you know, get myself ready for a party. Why aren't you with the duke?"
"There is a mage from Lightsbridge here, a stitch-witch, and she's taken a great liking to Comas. He wants to study more, to become an academic mage, as well as ambient. He wants to learn everything to know from books about weaving and thread magic, so she's going to take him with her when she leaves this afternoon. Pasco is staying in my old room, and I've laid down a cot in Lark's workroom. We thought you might give your Evvy your room as well, and you can bed in Rosethorne's workroom." He didn't answer, and she froze. "Is that… alright?"
Briar took one hand off the reins to pat her hands around his waist. "Of course it is," he told her, and that little voice in his head told him, that's what you've missed about Sandry. She's always prepared, and always thinks ahead.
The reached the cottage, and Sandry slid off the back of the horse. As soon as her hands left his waist, Briar regretted the short ride. Mentally, he kicked himself. "What am I thinking?"
I'm going to end the chapter here, and another chapter all depends on reviews. So please review, and tell me what you think three
Kya
Hey Guys, this is PotterChickiedey. You're probley wondering why Kya's story is on my account. Well as those of you who follow her stories know, she isn't going to continue this story and I had some ideas for it. So I asked her, and you can ask her if you want, if I could take over the story and she agreed. So I'm taking it over. Any chapters from this point on are my creation using her start. Also, I need a Beta good in spelling and grammar. If you're interested, send me a review, message, or email. Thanks.
(A/N I went back and corrected mistakes I found and added the lunch and Sandry's point of view. I already have ideas for the next chapter. Still need that beta so anyone who wants to please let me know. For those of you who sent me a review and was not logged in, this is for you.
Thanks guys for the reviews. I will update within the next week if I can. If not, look for a chapter the week after. I will be busy for the next couple of days but I'm going to get that chapter done, I solemnly promise. Thanks again.
PotterChickiedey)
