Sandry, Tris, Daja, and Briar were crowded around the breakfast table of Discipline eating. Niko had called Rosenthorn and Lark outside. The kids had now learned to never try and eavesdrop on private conversations.
Sandry sat in her chair in deep thought occasionally having a bite of porridge twiddling with a piece of silk.
Daja did the same but tossed a small piece of metal between her hands. It was hot metal but to Daja it felt welcoming.
Tris looked out the window across from her seat and watched the waves come in.
Briar studied plants before him, smelling, touching, and holding them.
When they heard the door they hurriedly stopped what they were doing and ate more of their breakfast. To there surprise not only did Rosethorn, Lark, and Niko come in but Frostpine and a tall man with black hair followed inside.
"Children this is Master Salmalin from Tortall. Numair this is-"Niko announced.
"Let me guess who they are. The boy is Briar, the redhead is Tris, the one with the light brown hair is Daja, and the one with dark hair is Sandry?" Numair guessed.
"Excuse me Master Salmalin but I am afraid you are incorrect. I am Sandry and that is Daja." Sandry politely pointed out.
"Right, I'll eventually get the hang of it."
Fifteen minutes later Lark, Rosethorn, Numair, Niko, Frostpine, and the kids were seated in the living room. Daja and Sandry sat side by side on the floor while Tris sat in between Numair and Niko on the couch. Briar sat at the edge of another couch next to Rosethorn.
"Back in Tortall we are celebrating the sixth year of a magic school called GSSM. It is-"Numair began.
"What does GSSM stand for?" Briar interrupted.
""Don't interrupt it isn't polite." Sandry scolded. "Please continue."
"Thank you. It is a school for mages in Tortall to attend. My wife thought it would be good to take some students from elsewhere for a year of study. You four have been chosen." Numair Salmalin finished.
Briar's first thought, however was not that they could attend the school, "What does GSSM stand for and will there be plants?"
"GSSM stands for Gifts, Sights, and Special Magic." Niko answered for Numair.
The long discussion following lasted until noon. Numair, Frostpine, and Niko stayed for lunch.
It took Briar to hear about the different plants, Daja to hear about the smith, Tris to hear about the study of waves, and Sandry to hear her friends agree on going to convince them all. It turned out that Frostpine, Niko, Lark, and Rosethorn were going to come as well. They were on there way to Tortall in two days.