Circle of Magic

Disclaimer: Obviously I am not Tamora Pierce nor do I hold any claims to the Circle of Magic series or characters. Sabel, the city on water and all Seratanian related items and terms are a creation of my own imagination and therefore are mine.

Note: Seratanian terms and their definitions can be found on the bottom of the chapters in the order they are used.

Quiet Stormwinds - The City on Water

In the coastal city of Celtion, off the shore of the island Cretale of the kingdom Seratos

Standing near the lapping waters, Trisana squinted out at the horizon. Even from a distance of thirty miles, she could almost make out the walls of the cliff face that made up the back end of the island. Glancing around, she made sure no one was nearby. Slipping off her spectacles, she took but a breath of a moment to easily fall into her power. The gentle sea breeze suddenly became her own personal telescope, bringing the detail of the cliff face into sharp and life-size perspective.

Straining a bit, Trisana called for a breeze deeper out, drawing it towards her with a tender please. It swiftly came, across the crescent island, over the stretch of water, and settled around her now slender body, brushing against her in an almost affectionate way. Smiling, she teased the breeze between her fingers, taking what the warm wind had carried; images from the island her and her friends were about to visit. Boats on a lake, a city floating on water, a peaceful coast, busy streets, someone handcrafting a boat. Snatches of conversations played against her ears along with the sound of sanding from the boat crafter.

Trisana allowed the breeze to return to its playful wanderings, bringing her mind back to her immediate surroundings. She blinked fuzzy vision for a moment, trying to clear her eyesight of random flashes of colour before sliding her specs back on. The threads of power tying her to her three close friends started to hum gently; they were just as excited as she to get to the island, and they were headed towards her at a rapid pace.

Pivoting on her heels, she spun in the sand to see three figures, non-surprising engaged in a race with loud laughter and whoops. Daja, the first to reach her, skidded to a stop, barely breathing heavy and black braids of hair swinging wildly. Trisana, about to greet her, took an easy step to the side as Briar lunged, aimed to tackle her. Instead he flew into the sand while Sandry puffed up to Daja and Trisana.

The three girls simply stared at one another for a moment, then Sandry drew them both into a hug as Briar stood, brushing sand from his pants. After a long moment, Trisana pulled free of Sandry's grip and said tartly, "Yes, very nice to see you all again too, but is there really such a need to wrinkle my clothes?" It was the first meeting of the four in over three years, and Sandry paused to study them all, Trisana last.

"Looks like I've got some tailoring to do!" Sandry said, attention completely on Trisana to the point that Daja and Briar also turned to look at her.

The stares from her three closest friends caused her to blush and snap, "What is it!?"

Briar broke into a huge grin and said, "Well look at that! Our widdle Tris grew up and filled out properly!"

Blushing more fiercely, Trisana punched Briar's arm with enough force to make him wince. He grimaced and muttered under his breath, rubbing his smarting arm as he dejectedly stepped out of Trisana's reach.

"Shut up," she muttered as Sandry mentally sized her up, thinking about colours and designs to better suit her now slim form. Now feeling extremely self conscious, Trisana attempted to cross her arms over the loudest point of her body's maturity, sheepishly noting that she had filled out much stronger than Daja or Sandry.

Briar, from a safe distance, stifled a chuckle and said, "You can admire your… big achievements later. Let's get going! We set sail to Cretale in a few minutes!" With that he took off down the shore, heading for the docks nearby. Daja, always competitive with Briar, sped after him as Sandry and Trisana set their own easy walking pace, the redhead fighting her fierce blushing.

Trisana leaned towards Sandry and murmured, "You know, even from here I could beat 'em both." Sandry shot her a playful yet challenging grin, which surprisingly Trisana returned. Through their steady link, Sandry could feel Trisana's power rise as the wind around her behaved like a building storm. A blink of an eye later, and Sandry was staring at a swirl of sand, Trisana gone down the shore.

Using the breezes around her, Trisana flew with the wind, blowing past Briar and Daja both in a streak of clothes and violent red hair. The two racers slowed, then stopped, watching as the blur that was Trisana reached the docks, paused, and moved within shouting range.

"Slow!" Trisana chided them and Daja and Briar started running again, Sandry sticking with her walk.

Eventually Sandry reached the panting, bent with hands on knees racers, Trisana the obvious winner, and tsked them all, "Childish, wasting your energy on racing!"

Her smile was wide as Briar huffed, "Ch-childish? Who was the one who wanted to race to Tris in the first place? Daja, do you remember?" The black Trader girl just smiled as Sandry used Briar's unbalanced position to push him over, knocking him on his seat easily. Behind Sandry, someone cleared their throat and the three girls whirled around in surprise.

"Your boat is loaded and ready ta sail," spoke a young man. He was in his early twenties, with well tanned skin, short cut black hair, and dressed like a sailor of Seratos. Soft tan fabric formed his shorts and over vest, the sleeves of the white shirt underneath rolled up past his elbows, and bare feet were the typical wear of most Seratos sailors. He also wore a white piece of clothe tied around his right bicep, marking his status as a sailor. He ranked a simple Cretale ferryman, carrying small loads of people or on occasion supplies from the mainland port to the island.

Briar stood as Sandry offered a small curtsey to the sailor, "Thank you, sir, we are ready to depart at any time."

The sailor nodded, smiled, and said, "Right then, just follow me. By the way, my name is Teron the ferryman." He began to walk up the dock, to move down a few docks to his boat. Waiting in his boat were four oarsmen, the yellow armbands marking them as such.

The group paused to admire the slender craft, built long and narrow to easily glide over the waters and smoothly part waves. Teron helped Sandry into his boat as Briar and Daja stepped on themselves, Trisana studying the woodwork as she waited. The boat was made from a light colour wood, the upper outside trim painted a darker brown with designs carved all along the trim. A blink of the eyes showed her the glowing silver runes carved in the trim, every other design. Signs for smooth water, easy sailing, protection, and a bunch of others Trisana did not have the time to study.

Teron brought her attention from his boat, offering a hand to help her into the gently rocking boat. She shook her head no, using one of the breezes around her to steady the boat as she stepped down. Situating herself next to Sandry, Teron then easily leapt into the back of the boat, by the slim rudder. Making one last check with his eyes to make sure all was well, he shouted something in Seratanian to the four oarsmen, and in one fluid motion the boat slid forward.

The group of friends fell into easy conversation, doing some catching up as a bag in between Trisana's feet started to wiggle. She reached down to free the clasp and a soft sound of ringing glass greeted her ears. Yawning widely, a small sleek creature made of glass crawled from the bag, blinking up at Trisana.

Gently the redhead scooped up the winged creature into her arms and said to the other three as they fell silent at the sight of the living glass, "This is Chime, a glass dragon." Briar, seated across from Trisana, reached a hand forward for the dragon to inspect and Chime showed her obvious dislike for water travel by vomiting amber glass into Briar's waiting palm.

"… Oh, well I see she doesn't like me," Briar said, disgruntled and tilting his hand to drop the slightly warm swirl of glass dragon bile. Trisana's hand shot forward, catching the amber glass before it shattered on the boat's floor, and slipped the glass into a pocket.

"Don't do that, I can sell that," she said when Briar gave her a questioning look.

He made a disgusted face, leaning back as he responded, "Sell it? Do people even know where it came from?"

"Not exactly, but they do think it's a pretty piece," she sniffed, trying to soothe the seasick Chime.

Briar grinned and said, "Ooh, you trickster."

"I don't know what you are talking about. I don't sell her dung either," Trisana said with a straight face, but something mischievous glinted in her grey eyes. Briar's grin grew in size when Sandry grimaced at the thought of dung, even glass dung, and Daja asked to inspect some of Chime's handiwork.

A few minutes later, the group had fallen back into conversation, Trisana's attention turning to watch the island as the boat glided around it, seeking the mile wide passage into the cove between the island tips.

Conversation slowed, then stopped as the level of the island lowered, almost to the point that the inside of the crescent could be seen. A moment later and the cove opened up. The four ambient mages all gasped at the wonderful sight, even Trisana whom had glimpsed it already. The large cove was filled with a constantly changing floating city made up of boats of all shapes and sizes. With a little thought Trisana could see the extravagant silver glow of hundreds of mages' handiwork, to protect the entire city from harsh weather and to keep the waters as calm as possible.

Her storm grey eyes traveled to the point where their boat would enter the cove, and paused. On a tip of the crescent island was the boat crafter she had seen on the wind, busy with smoothing the bottom of the craft. As their boat sailed past the busy figure, Teron called out to the person in Seratanian greeting, "S'casa, Sabel!" The boat crafter stopped, stood straight, and turned.

Briar and the other two girls were now also watching the boat crafter out of curiosity, but when the person turned, Trisana bit her lower lip and Briar let out a low whistle. The boat crafter was slender, of average height, and had tanned skin like the boaters steering their craft. Obviously a native of the island, more smooth skin showed than was covered by soft blue clothe, and long golden hair that shimmered in the fading light of dusk was kept out of the face with a bandana tied over the top.

What struck Trisana the most were the eyes. The distance from their moving boat and the upturned craft was only a few yards, so she could easily make out the colour of the boat crafter's eyes. They were a vibrant red-purple shade, perfectly matching the fiery skies above.

"S'casa, Teron! Bringing in visitors?" Sabel called back, lightly leaning against her handiwork.

"'Cha, they'll probably stay at the Dragon of the Waters Inn," he replied, steering the boat to sail into the cove.

"Aah, de'cha's inn. I'll run home and let him know," she said, and with that dashed away along the island, heading for the floating city of Schalace.

Trisana's grey eyes watched her until she was beyond sight due to the plant life, then she turned to Briar as he asked, "Deh'sha?"

"No, de'cha. It's Seratanian for father," she corrected him. He quirked an eyebrow at her, and she huffed, "I learned some a bit before we came."

At this Teron said, "It's nice ta have a visitor who knows a bit of our language, te'shii." Trisana, who was not one to be flattered, gave a small grin at the title.

"So, that girl we just saw, her dad owns the inn we're going to? She lives there?" Briar asked, and sharply Sandry elbowed him.

"Whatever ludicrous thoughts are playing through your head, mister, just remember we're linked to you and we can feel just about everything you feel," she muttered darkly, and Briar grinned sheepishly. Silently Trisana was grateful she could better keep her thoughts and feelings to herself, and she turned her gaze to watch the city on the water.

"We should be at the inn soon," Teron announced to the group.

The four ambient mages clambered off of Teron's boat and onto the largest boat building in the cove. They paused to peer upwards at the amazing four-story floating establishment, complete with a wide front deck they now stood upon.

Teron's oarsmen gently unloaded their bags, and Teron said, "Itka, te'shii, that we cannot help you and your friends ta check in, but I have a delivery ta make. Zeit!" Trisana returned the farewell, the last of their things were unloaded, and the boat that had brought them into the floating city sailed away, Teron's Seratanian cries fading into the sounds of the city.

When Trisana turned to face the entrance, there stood the boat crafter with a lean, middle-aged man. The man had rugged yet handsome features, blonde from his short shaggy hair to his beard and intense blue eyes. There was a strong resemblance between him and the somewhat shorter boat crafter beside him.

"Greetings!" he said in a deep, booming voice, "my daughter told me we'd have guests today. Welcome ta the Dragon of the Waters, the finest hotel on land or sea!" Sandry curtsied to the man as Daja nodded her head.

"We will need four rooms, on the same floor if you can, sir," Briar stated, and the man grinned.

"Of course, the entire third floor is clear. Sabel!" His voice took on a commanding tone as he barked orders at his daughter, "help our guests out and show them ta their rooms!"

"'Cha, de'cha," Sabel responded in a low tone, shuffling towards the group. She took a moment as she walked to glance at everyone, but when her eyes met Trisana, the redhead quickly looked away, fighting the desire to bite her lip again.

This is odd for me she thought as she picked up the only bag she brought; Chime had perched on one of Daja's broad shoulders, looking unsteady still from the first boat ride. Sabel's dark eyes fell on the glass dragon, and she said, "Oh, what a curious creature." Daja grinned at her.

"Yeah, her name is Chime… She doesn't really like boat rides," the trader girl replied. Sabel returned the grin as she gathered a few bags to carry, then turned to lead the way into the floating inn.

"Whoah there, Tris, you're sparking a bit," Briar pointed out as he bent to pick up his shakkan. When he had turned to head into the lodge behind the others, Trisana checked herself. Was that… jealousy?

Sabel directed Sandry and Briar to their rooms first before turning her attention to Daja and Trisana. The pleasantly wide hallway swayed gently from side to side as the boat rocked, softly enough for Chime's liking, whom purred her content with a light ring. The boat maker smiled as she put a hand out for the glass dragon to investigate, giggling when the dragon stretched out her clear slender neck to be stroked. Daja smiled back at the native girl for a long moment until Trisana cleared her throat, reminding Sabel of her current job.

"Here's this room," Sabel said, gesturing towards the door on her left. Nodding her comprehension, Daja entered the room with her bags and Chime, leaving Trisana alone out in the hallway with Sabel. The girl's now dark blue gaze slid in the redhead's direction, that smile still playing on her soft lips. They were silent until Trisana cleared her throat again, averting her stormy grey eyes.

"Oh, itka! Your room is here," Sabel finally spoke, brushing past Trisana to the door behind her. Opening it, Sabel motioned into the room and the redhead silently obliged. "Hey, I heard Teron call you te'shii. What's your name?" the boat crafter asked. Her voice was light with a kind of joy and mischievousness only innocence could provide.

Trisana paused, turning to really study this island girl before she answered, "Trisana. You're Sabel, correct?"

The smile on the Seratanian's face widened. "'Cha!"

As Sabel moved out into the hall beyond the room's door, Trisana added in a softer voice, "Your tafte is coming along nicely, Ta'kiche." Surprised, Sabel turned to look at Trisana, but the mage had already closed her door quietly.

Random Seratanian terms

S'casa - Good sailing! (A typical Seratanian greeting, like hello)

'cha - Yes

de'cha - Father

te'shii - A high form of respect for females in Seratanian

itka - Sorry

Zeit - Good winds (Seratanian goodbye)

tafte - Seratanian style light boats (What Sabel was crafting on the island tip)

Ta'kiche - Boat crafter of the free range kind, building for one's "right to sail." A very personal thing for traditional Seratanians.