Disclaimer: as much as I love these characters, they aren't mine. They're all Tamora's. Takes place after Will Of The Empress.

Briar stretched out on his bed, glad to finally be back home. Well, not my home, he thought ruefully. It's Daja's; I'm just living here. But Lakik's teeth, it was nice. It even had a perfect place for him and each of his foster sisters. Briar and his foster sisters are not like normal eighteen year olds. They each went though ordeals that matured them beyond their eighteen years, and knitted them closer together. Though, thought Briar, you wouldn't have known it a couple of months ago.

He, Daja and Tris each went their different ways, leaving Sandry alone at their home at Winding Circle. As they returned, they were at odds with each other, Mila knows why. Then that whole drama-whoa did I just say drama? Thought Briar to himself, chuckling. I think I have three too many girls in my head! This last thought was projected to all his foster sisters, and was glorified by a snort from Daja, an indignant harrumph from Sandry, and Tris-well she just ignored him. Briar chuckled to himself again, and with a groan got off his pallet on the floor to check on his shakkan.

Sandry walked into his room just then, holding her mage's kit. Most people would mistake her kit as a sewing basket, but everyone knows not to touch her kit. Too many bad things can happen to someone if they touch a mage's kit. However, Briar groaned.

"Sandry! We only returned today. Do you really have to make me new clothes?" Sandry was a stitch witch, and the only one Briar knew that can weave magic. Each of his sisters had their affinity; Tris was a whiz with weather, Daja was a metal mage, and Briar, well, he had a way with plants.

"Of course!" retorted Sandry, pulling out her measuring tape. "We are going to see Uncle tomorrow and I want you all to look your best." Sandry's Uncle was the Duke of Emelan, and she was his favorite niece. There were even rumors that he was going to name her his heir. She had a mischievous grin on her face as she continued. "Plus, Lexa will be there."

Briar groaned again. Lexa was a kitchen maid who followed Briar everywhere like a wounded puppy dog ever since she has set her eyes on him. He was a handsome young man, well toned and tanned from working in the garden often, with a blade of a nose.

After Sandry left, Briar noticed she looked slightly different. Did she have a little extra shine in her eyes? He mused. He has never before noticed what a beautiful blue her eyes were. Her hair also seemed to have a bit of extra luster in it. Maybe it's because we are back home, thought Briar, shrugging the thoughts off. He turned to his shakkan and noticed that it sprouted a few extra buds. Scolding it gently, he nipped the buds off quickly and efficiently.

However, he could not get the picture of Sandry sashaying hips out of his head.


Sandry grinned to herself as she walked out of Briar's room. She loved teasing him about Lexa, and brought her up every time she could. She even had the perfect outfit for him; a brown breeches with his boots, with a cream colored shirt and forest green overcoat. It'll go perfectly with his grey-green eyes. His lovely green eyes, that seemed to have lingered on her a moment longer than usual today. How odd.

"Daja!! Guess what! We are visiting Uncle tomorrow!" crowed Sandry as she walked into Daja's room. She saw Daja sitting on her bed, her back towards her. Instantly concerned, Sandry moved to her saati, placing her mages kit behind her. Ever since Daja left Rizu, she smiled less often. Daja was cradling a small picture she kept of Rizu, and as Sandry sat beside her, she hurriedly wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Aww Daj' honey, I know." Sandry said, enveloping Daja in her small arms. Daja cried in her shoulder for a little while. When she finally calmed down, she sat up, wiping her tears and smiling weakly.

"I thought I was done crying over her. Guess I was wrong." Said Daja, her smile wavering. "Does it ever get any easier?"

"Well, I honestly would not know." Answered Sandry, shrugging her shoulders. "But I do know that Rizu would not want you crying over her like this. She would want you to continue with your life, never forgetting her, but never regretting her either." She got up and grabbed her mage's kit, sensing that Daja needed time alone. Opening their connection she continued, You know I'm always here for you if you ever need to talk. Daja only nodded and stared blankly at the wall.

As Sandry climbed the stairs to go to Tris' room, she couldn't help but think, could I ever love someone so much that I couldn't even be myself when they leave? A quick picture of Briar smiling at her appeared, but she banished the thought before she projected it to her siblings. Sometimes, it was a pain having three others sharing your thoughts.