A few mornings later, Daja sat in her room, contemplating her plight. She now saw what the girls had meant about Ifan, it saddened her, but also made her angry at herself. What in the world was she going to do? Should she break it off right now? He had only done it four times, was that enough to judge by? She sighed, very confused. What was there to do? She could tell Sandry, she would know what to do, but telling one part of the circle was like telling the rest, and she did not relish the thought of Tris or Briar knowing her problem, especially Briar. She shuddered. No, that would never do. She considered telling Lark or Frostpine, but was not so sure about it. Would they tell anyone? Though if she told Lark, Lark would surely tell Frostpine. The bell rang, and she jumped a foot in the air, how had it gotten so late? She quickly got up from her bed, and sprinted out the door.
Dedicate Frostpine contemplated what Crane had just told him. This had to be stopped. Though Daja was Thirteen already, Frostpine was still her teacher, and the closest thing she had to a father. As she came through the door to the forge, he sat a bit straighter, she couldn't suspect anything, or she might take offense. That was defiantly the last thing he wanted.
"Hello Daja."
"Oh, Hello Ifan."
"How are you?"
"Absolutly Wonderful!"
Oh my, she thought, I must have picked up one of Briars habits if he believes that one.
"That's great Daja, Shall we?"
Tentativly, she took the offered arm. They strolled in the outskirts of the orchards, and then began to weave through the loom houses. When they had reached the fire temples, Daja began to get nervous, should she simply tell him it was done now? Her problem was solved when she saw Frostpine walking up the road twoards them. She was not sure whether this was good or bad, but it certainly banished all questions from her mind.
"Good evening Daja, who is this?"
"Hello Frostpine, this is Ifan, from the Fire Temple."
Frostpine raised his eyebrows, she winced, he could be as bad a Rosethorn when he wanted to be. Right now, she supposed he was sizing the novice up. Ifan seemed to have gone quiet, which surprised her.
"So Ifan, how long have you been at Winding Circle?"
"Just over a year sir."
"Where are you staying?"
"In the dorms for Novices."
Daja was now amused, Frostpine seemed to be solving all of her problems without knowing it. She was very glad she was not under that level gaze.
"Do you plan to be initiated?"
"I do."
"Who do you study with?"
"Dedicate Brushfire."
"I meant in your freetime."
She snickered inside, though her face was perfectly calm. It would never do to let her teacher or Ifan know that she was enjoying this. By now, he had dropped her arm, and was ticking of people on his fingers. Most of them Daja did not know, but some she did. Frostpine continued to drill Ifan until the bell that marked dinner had been rung. Daja breathed a sigh of relief, and ran to discipline.
Daja was glad to be setting off for home. She and Frostpine had clean the forge, and now she was filthy. She was also glad that she no longer had to deal with Ifan. Whistling, she continued on, heart set on a nice long bath before her dinner.
*.**
Happy days! Done with that little ditty, now, on to the big picture!!!!
Dedicate Frostpine contemplated what Crane had just told him. This had to be stopped. Though Daja was Thirteen already, Frostpine was still her teacher, and the closest thing she had to a father. As she came through the door to the forge, he sat a bit straighter, she couldn't suspect anything, or she might take offense. That was defiantly the last thing he wanted.
"Hello Daja."
"Oh, Hello Ifan."
"How are you?"
"Absolutly Wonderful!"
Oh my, she thought, I must have picked up one of Briars habits if he believes that one.
"That's great Daja, Shall we?"
Tentativly, she took the offered arm. They strolled in the outskirts of the orchards, and then began to weave through the loom houses. When they had reached the fire temples, Daja began to get nervous, should she simply tell him it was done now? Her problem was solved when she saw Frostpine walking up the road twoards them. She was not sure whether this was good or bad, but it certainly banished all questions from her mind.
"Good evening Daja, who is this?"
"Hello Frostpine, this is Ifan, from the Fire Temple."
Frostpine raised his eyebrows, she winced, he could be as bad a Rosethorn when he wanted to be. Right now, she supposed he was sizing the novice up. Ifan seemed to have gone quiet, which surprised her.
"So Ifan, how long have you been at Winding Circle?"
"Just over a year sir."
"Where are you staying?"
"In the dorms for Novices."
Daja was now amused, Frostpine seemed to be solving all of her problems without knowing it. She was very glad she was not under that level gaze.
"Do you plan to be initiated?"
"I do."
"Who do you study with?"
"Dedicate Brushfire."
"I meant in your freetime."
She snickered inside, though her face was perfectly calm. It would never do to let her teacher or Ifan know that she was enjoying this. By now, he had dropped her arm, and was ticking of people on his fingers. Most of them Daja did not know, but some she did. Frostpine continued to drill Ifan until the bell that marked dinner had been rung. Daja breathed a sigh of relief, and ran to discipline.
Daja was glad to be setting off for home. She and Frostpine had clean the forge, and now she was filthy. She was also glad that she no longer had to deal with Ifan. Whistling, she continued on, heart set on a nice long bath before her dinner.
*.**
Happy days! Done with that little ditty, now, on to the big picture!!!!