Magical Illusions
Disclaimer; I do not own any of the characters created by Tamora Pierce, though it would be nice if I did.
Briar Moss sighed. It was good to be back in Emelan, even for only the short stay he would be here for. His black hair rustled in the warm breeze that played from off the sea, and he grinned. Just thinking about the elements reminded him of Trisana Chandler, his red haired, fiery tempered foster-sister. She would be here too, any day now. From his spot on the roof, the sixteen-year-old could see the entire layout of Winding Circle Temple. It was built like a shallow bowl, like an auditorium. The former thief swung down from the roof.
Briar's one hundred-and-forty-six-year-old shakkan tree sat on his windowsill, cheerfully pulling sunlight into its roots. Briar grinned; even a plant mage such as him never tired of watching, listening and merely being around plants. Suddenly, a voice from down the stairs called through the house. "Hello? Is anyone here? Get down here, I need help with my things." Briar remained smiling and darted out the door and down the steps. It was most definitely Tris.
Tris smiled as Briar tumbled down the stairs. Her copper braids were, for once, combed back out of her face and pulled into a single horsetail. She dropped her bag and hugged Briar tightly. She hadn't seen her foster brother in a year and a half, and she realized now that she had missed him. "Daja's right behind," she said breathlessly. "Not anymore, she's now." said Daja from behind the two. Briar raced to hug her as well. The tall, brown skinned Trader grinned at him. "You grew." She informed him, stuffing
a bag into his hand
Within a few hours, the mages and their students were assembled around the dining table for their midday meal. "When's Sandry goin' ta be back?" asked Briar through a mouthful of bread. Tris moaned. "You'd think after a year and a half he'd learn table manners." she commented to no one in particular. "You'd think after a year and a half you'd learn manners." He retorted, taking a massive gulp of water from his mug.
Daja sighed. "Thank you, kaqs" she said, using a rude term for "non-Trader." Although they were as close as siblings were, she still called her foster siblings by that word, a sort of reminder of the way they had felt about each other after first meeting. "Now that we have this established, may I ask why we are here again? True, I missed Discipline well enough, but why are we back?" Lark smiled softly. She was Sandry's teacher, a threadmage and the gentlest person any of the teen aged mages had ever met.
"Actually," said Rosethorn, the blunter of the two dedicates, and Briar's teacher. "Winding Circle needs all of you. You are, of course, some of the strongest mages in the kingdom, even if you are the most troublesome." "What Rosethorn means," said Lark, with a pointed glance at the other woman, who was busying herself with her food. "Is that there is someone who has been thieving. Not items, but magic." Rosethorn gulped water and spoke again. "No, that's not what I meant."
Lark glared at her, a rare occurrence for such a kind person. Briar noted this through his thoughts. Odd, how could anyone steal magic? Before coming to Winding Circle, he had been a thief. The best he ever managed to steal had been a fancy necklace off of a wealthy looking merchant woman. Ah well, no matter. When Sandry got back, his entire family would be home again, and he couldn't be more pleased.
A/N: This is my first fanfic. I hope that everyone enjoys it. It will be continued, but for right now this is what I have. Please read and review. Thank you!