A/N: I just wanted to thank everyone for being patient with me and for all the great comments! I really appreciate all the comments, corrections, suggestions and such. I love hearing from you and what you have to say. And sorry about the short chapter, if I start on the next part then it would be super long.
Chapter 8
"Wonderful!" Briar laughed as some of the people ran away from me. This time, the people thought that was an insane woman who was trying to curse them. I crept over to him in a menacing way, still in character, teasing him. Briar laughed again, causing me to break character and laugh. I sat down on the small little stone wall next to Briar and nudged him with my elbow.
"Thanks a lot, now I broke my character." I laughed and sat back, taking a deep breath.
"Let's try something else," Briar stood up and motioned me back to where I had been. "In those rags, try to convince someone that you are royalty." I grinned; Briar knew how much I loved to be challenged. Soon I had convinced some young boys that I was a countess from another country. Their parents didn't believe them, but once I spoke to them, they immediately bowed and curtsied to me, while I looked down on them like they were dirt. The people soon left and I caught sight of Briar trying not to laugh.
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I smiled as the sun kissed my skin. It was a wonderful feeling, up on the roof with the wind blowing through my hair and the sun warming my skin. "Ti! Where are you?" I heard Briar calling from below. I peered over the roof and saw him under me. I flipped over the edge of the roof and hung there for a moment before letting go and landing behind him. "Oh, there you are!" He started to run with his mage kit under his arm.
"Briar! Briar! What is it? What's going on?" I called, lengthening my running stride to catch up with him. I saw people hurrying towards the outer wall, but Briar led me towards the stables. He saddled a mare quickly with a light saddle and handed me the reins and a bag with some papers in it.
"Get to town and find Sandry and send these by bird to Tris at Lightsbridge, tell them we need them back here as fast as possible." He said before smacking the horse on the rump, causing her to jump forward and out of the stables.
I rode the horse with out of Winding Circle as fast as she could carry me. It took me a while before I made it to Summersea. The guards looked at me oddly as I slowed the horse and trotted towards the palace where Sandry was. I saw one of the servants outside and I asked where she was. The directed me to the gardens in the back, but didn't seem happy when I ran back there.
"Sandry!" I called, running through the garden and Sandry standing up looking in her direction. "Sandry, Briar sent me, he wants you to get back to Winding Circle as fast as possible." I said, stopping and catching my breath. Sandry led me to a small room, poured me a glass of water and made me sit.
"What's going on?" She asked as I took a large gulp of water.
"I don't know, but Briar wants you back at Winding Circle as fast as possible." Sandry nodded, "I have to leave soon, and I have to go send this to Tris now." I stood and sat the empty glass on the table. "Thanks, but I really need to go, Briar seemed really freaked out." Sandry nodded and watched me as I left.
I rode to the Mews, where the birds used for the city goers were kept. The man gave me a bit of a hard time, saying that falcons usually aren't used for delivering messages. I told him that it was dreadfully important and I needed that fastest bird to deliver the message. Finally the man agreed and helped me tie the papers to the bird's leg. He sent the bird off and I watched it as flew to the north and Lightsbridge. I paid the man and thanked him before leaving. I rode the mare back to Winding Circle at a slower pace; trying to let her relax since I had rode her so hard earlier.
When I got back to Winding Circle, I took the mare back to the stables and gave her a good rub down, covered her with a blanket and gave her fresh water and some warm mash. When I was absolutely sure that she was fine and wouldn't get sick, I left the stables and went to find Briar, he had some explaining to do. I walked to Discipline and opened the door, calling for him. No one answered me and I looked through the whole cottage without finding anyone. Finally I saw a note on the table addressed to me. I picked it up and opened it, reading the messy handwriting.
Ti,
We're onto of the wall, when you get back come up with us. Bring your flute!
Briar
I put the note down and took off running out of the cottage. I ran from the front door and started towards the wall. I had been at Discipline for about six months and now knew my way around so well that I could walk to half the places in my sleep. I ran up the stairs and came out on the wall. Eventually I found Briar and grabbed him.
"What's going on?" I asked, trying to catch my breath.
"We're under attack," he pointed out into the harbor where my eyes fell on four ships sailing towards us. My eyes opened wide in horror as I realized what ships I was looking at.
