Hi peoples. Ok, this is my first fanfic so please show some mercy. The story is that Sandry, Briar, Daja, and Tris go to Ninver, where Tris' family is because Sandry's cousin (I know, another cousin) wants her to be in her wedding. So Tris meets her family who didn't want her, but what will they do when they realize that Tris could be rich? Please read until the end, I promise that the story will get more interesting. R &R
Disclaimer: I am not Tamora Pierce, therefore Sandry, Daja, Briar, Tris, Darra Chandler, and any other character in the COM is not mine. Their Tamora Pierce's characters, got it?
This is set a few months after the Will of the Empress.
In Ninver, Caphen, Darra Chandler smiled proudly as she watched her daughter, Bella being fitted for her wedding gown. Her only daughter, betrothed to a nobleman. Darra barely noticed her smile widening into a greedy grin, Bella's marriage would mean so many good deals for her family, bringing the Chandler family to a new level.
Bella stepped out from behind a screen, having changed out of her wedding gown and into a less elaborate dress. "Mama," she whined, "That stupid maid ripped my sleeve again." She lifted her arm to show a slight tear. "I want a new maid." Despite the teaer on her dress, and the scowl on her face, Bella was still stunning. Of course, a merchant girl had to be stunning to capture a noble man.
"Of course dear." Darra replied, anything for her only daughter. No, not my only daughter, Darra thought trying and failing to suppress bad memories, there was another one. Trisana, Darra's younger sister. Trisana was a failure, attracting demons wherever she went. Darra shuddered as she remembered the miserable girl, plump and ugly, scowling all the time, thunder striking wherever she went. No, she would never regret giving the girl to the temples.
"Ma'am" Darra looked around to see a timid new maid at her side, "There are visitors here who request your presence."
Darra frowned, it was very late at night, who could be calling at this hour. "Do I know them?"
"No ma'am," the maid replied. "Truthfully, they look like poor travelers that probably need a place to stay tonight. One of their party is hurt."
Darra drew herself to her full height, her gray eyes stormy. "This isn't a poor house. I'm not going to feed and house every beggar that comes this way. Send them away."
"Well ma'am," the maid shrunk under her mistresses glare, "It's just that they said Baron George sent them this way. They have his signet ring."
Bella perked up instantly, hearing her betrothed's name. (a/n ugh….is that how you spell betrothed's?) He had returned to his fief to deal with some problems, and should have already returned. "Come on Mama, let's just go see them." She begged, knowing her mother would do as she said.
"Fine," Darra wiped her hands on her practical skirts, and walked with her daughter to the sitting room.
She stopped abruptly in the doorway, seeing three sopping wet, muddy strangers sitting on her expensive furniture. Their clothes looked worn and gave the impression that the strangers probably didn't have enough money to pay for an inn. Darra was barely able to control her anger as she and Bella settled into two armchairs and watched the strangers ruin her furniture. Angrily, she met the eyes of one stranger, with cornflower blue eyes and a button nose, sitting as proudly as if this was her sitting room. I'll teach her to act so proudly before her betters Darra decided. Her eyes swept over the other two, sharp eyes catching the double "x" hidden underneath tattoos on the young man's hands. A thief, Darra knew, observing him with untrusting eyes, he looked tense, watching the third member of their party carefully. Darra followed his eyes to find a young girl in tunic and leggings who looked to be unconscious. A trader! A Trader in her house. Darra stood up ready to order the bedraggled travelers out of her home, Baron George's word or not. (a/n: know who the travelers are? You should….. ok, back to the story.)
"Wait, madam, please, just spare me a few moments of your time." The blue-eyed girl spoke, her capchen accented with emelanese. When the girl noticed that Darra was still going to eject them from her home, she produced a ring and a gold astrel.
"For your time." The girl told her. "and that is George's signet ring. He told us that we could find someone to help my friend here."
Darra fingered the coin. "Fine, you have my attention. Give me a good reason why we should put up with you."
"And give me any information you might have about George." Bella added anxiously.
"All right." Sandry, the girl, took a deep breath and began, with occasional help from the boy.
Darra listened as the girl explained that she and her family had traveled from Emelan because her cousin had requested her presence in Ninver for her wedding. The four, the last member of their group was coming, had set off and reached Capchen safely. However, a few miles away, they had come across a traveler that was being attacked by bandits. They had, naturally, gone to help him. Unfortunately, the man's guards had been killed and their trader friend had been hurt. The man, George, had given them his signet ring and told the girl and the thief to ride ahead with the trader. He had told them that they would find help here and a place to stay. George and the fourth member of their family had been unhurt, but their horses had been harmed. They were on their way.
"Well," Darra said at the end of their tale. "That is quite a tale. But I refuse to allow a thief and a trader sleep in my home. It's unheard of!"
Bella frowned and leaned over to whisper in her mother's ear. "Please Mama, give them a place to sleep for one night. A good deed always starts a good marriage."
The frown remained on Darra's face, "What would your father say if he were hear, defending a thief and a trader?"
"Please madam," Sandry pleaded. "Fifteen gold astrels if you allow us to spend the night and send for a healer. We'll leave the next morning."
Darra's eyebrows shot up, fifteen gold astrels could feeed a poor man and his family for half a year. "Fourty gold astrels." She demanded, if these strangers were so direly in need of a place to stay, they would pay. And, Darra thought with a smile, the money would go towards making her daughter's wedding even grander.
"Twenty five."
"Thirty five," Darra haggled, "Take it, or sleep in the streets tonight."
Sandry looked at the boy, Briar for advice. I only have twenty five gold astrels she told him through their magical connection. But Daja needs to be seen to.
Give her what you have right now Briar counseled. And you can give her the rest tomorrow when you reach your town house. Stupid merchants he muttered.
Sandry hid a smile and told the woman, "I'm afraid I only have twenty five gold astrels, which is enough to pay for a good, licensed, healer." Here, she looked pointedly at Darra, "And I'll pay you the rest tomorrow. You have my word that when I reach my lodgings tomorrow, I will send the money to you. I swear by all the gods."
"Fine, but you will pay me forty five gold astrels total."
Briar winced at the price, but Sandry replied carelessly, "It's a deal."
"And…" Darra added, "You pay for my furniture that you have ruined."
"Well", Sandry replied with a smug smile, "That can be fixed easily." And the mud and water began to slide of the furniture, leaving them as clean as before, a testimony to Sandry's thread magic.
Darra jumped back in shock.
"I'm Sandry," the girl curtseyed gracefully her eyes mischevious though tired, "That's Briar Moss"- he bowed, "And our sister Daja Kisubo" she gestured towards the unconscious figure.
"I'm Darra Chandler, and this is my daughter, Bella Chandler, Baron George's betrothed." Darra noted how both strangers had widened their eyes in shock. Little did she know that they were conversing behind their surprised eyes.
Chandler? Sandry asked. Oh gods, the Chandlers of Ninver.
Briar's mind voice was equally shocked, Tris' mother is named Darra. She's going to murder us.
This is such a mess. Sandry stated, trying to keep fear from creeping into her mind voice.
I guess we'll have to stay here. Briar told her reluctantly, Daja needs medical attention and George'll probably bring her here. I pity us, dear sister.
Ever the player, aren't we, Briar? Sandry asked.
Well, I'm not going to let my talents go to waste. Briar replied, I think the woman wants her money Sandry.
Indeed, Darra Chandler was looking impatient.
Sandry sighed and produced the money, handing it over.
Action instantly took place, a maid was sent out to find a healer, and Sandry and Briar were led to their rooms. After they saw that Daja was being seen to, the exhausted brother and sister toppled onto their respective beds and fell asleep instantly.
Sandry blinked sleepily hearing someone knocking on her door. Was it morning already? Yanking the door open to stop the incessant banging, she found a maid at her door.
"Mistress Darra says that the fourth member of your group has arrived. I'm to lead you to the sitting room." Sandry groaned, Tris would probably be shooting lightning in every direction. But she followed the servant adjusting her dress and telling it to stop wrinkling.
She met Briar on the way, looking equally worried and afraid.
The maid threw open the door to the sitting room, and Sandry caught sight of Bella hugging George. But she skidded to a stop before she took another step. Poor Briar, however, even more tired than his foster sister walked straight into Darra Chandler, who resembled a statue with her figure tense in shock. The woman was staring at the newcomer in shock, stormy gray eyes meeting stormy gray eyes. "Trisana?" Darra asked the stranger who was now throwing off lightning sparks, "I told the dedicates that I never wanted to see you again."
Foolish woman Sandry thought to Briar scornfully. Darra Chandler seemed to be oblivious to the wind that was now blowing decorative figures into the air. That was, until she was knocked into unconciousness by a portrait of Tris' grandfather.
Great entrance Tris Briar told her drily.
So, what did you think? R&R