Winding Circle Temple, Emelan

Prologue

Climbing up the wooden ladder with the ease of someone who has done it many times before, Trisana Chandler made it to the top of Discipline Cottage as gracefully as her many layered gown would allow. The breeze and smell of the fresh thatch reaching her sensitive nose was as real as if she were actually standing there herself.

"You don't have to go you know Coppercurls," said a grey-green eyed boy. His gaze fixed on her steadily in contrast to the lazy way he comfortably straddled the roof with his back pressed against the chimney. Her steely grey eyes behind her spectacles looked out over Winding Circle. It was a clear and bright spring day, the plants from Rosethorn's garden swaying to the melodies of the world around them. The world he made.

"Yes I do," the girl said plunking herself down beside him. "I've made up my mind and no one, not even you Briar Moss can stop me."

He shrugged as he turned his gaze towards the same direction as her and said, "Wasn't trying to. Just making sure that you haven't chickening out like a kid."

The sun shone down on the pair highlighting and warming the tops of their heads, one black - cut short and tossled as if the boy had just woken up that way and the other fiery red; her naturally wild and curly contained under a scarf. She would miss having such easy access to the Earth's elements as she was used to now a days; but where she was going, the power would have made her stick out more than just her red hair alone ever would.

"I'm going to miss you all," Tris whispered. "But I have to do this."

Briar was silent for a moment and then replied, "I know, but just remember – you always have a place with us whether you have a mage license or not. This is your home."

Tris woke just after sunrise. She called to the winds, those that had been in her service for many years and had been with her on her travels drifted through the windows, never far from their mistress and helped her carry her luggage through the windows.

Sandry, Daja, and Briar all waited downstairs for her. Sandry making a special trip from Duke's Citadel to see her foster sister off and Daja coming home after working all night on a commissioned project at the forge.

Sandry hugged her red headed sister tightly, not wanting to let her go before stepping back, "I made sure to pack extra gowns for any parties you decide to attend while away, at least I hope you attend some. You will won't you? I also packed specially spelled gowns that may accidentally get ruined during one of your experiments," said the noble woman. Her cornflower blue eyes were shining a bit too brightly but Tris could see that her sister was trying very hard not to cry. "Write to us at least once a month and come home during the holidays."

"I will," said Tris. "And thank you."

"Frostpine wanted to wish you safe travels, to study hard and to – " Daja blushed. "to find yourself a man, or woman, while away."

Tris blushed. "I am not doing anything of the sort! I will be there to study and that is that."

Daja cracked a smile. "I know, it's just his way of saying to also enjoy yourself and have a bit of fun while away. Now get going you money grubbing merchant girl. Show those kaqs what a mage really is." Daja's use of the Trader word for non-Traders, though an insult, made Tris smile.

She nodded and hugged her sister before getting on to the Trader Caravan. She would be riding with Tenth Caravan Idaram, Polyam and her mother gilav Chandrisa already exchanging pleasantries with the others had come out to her house to specially pick her up and accompany her to where the rest of their caravan waited, just outside of Summersea. She looked forward to long conversations with the Caravan's mimander, a word for Trader mage, on his specialty with earth tremors and mudslides. The group slowly began their trek north towards the caravan and then to Karang, where Lightsbridge University, and Tris's new home for the next few years, would be.