I don't own anything!

Sandry placed one foot in the stirrup and using her leg muscles, propelled her other leg over the horse. Stroking her wide-legged black pants, she smoothed any wrinkles and set the cloth the way it should be, and turned her attention to her loose fitting blouse. It was sky blue, and had a tighter undershirt underneath. She spun to look at her two faithful guards, Kwaben and Oama, and nodded when she saw that they were also mounted on their horses. They exited the stable, pausing only to greet the stable master. The day was still young, and Sandry wanted to get Yazmín's school as quickly as possible.

As they exited the Duke's Citadel, Sandry was roused from her speculations by the sound of an approaching horseman. She shrugged it off- messengers were always going in and out of the Citadel, and Kwaben and Oama could handle any inquisitive people- and continued to ponder Pasco's problem. He still had trouble controlling his powers when he got angry, and he found he was now able to work his magic with a simple hand gesture. His newest temper tantrum had put another dancer through the wall.

Sandry frowned. He was getting stronger, that was for sure, and his powers were expanding and changing, like all ambient mage's powers do. However, no-one had ever heard of dance-magic before, so Sandry and Pasco's dance teacher (and future mistress of the Citadel) had to constantly create new and innovative ways to control Pasco's magic.

Sandry was so lost in her thoughts she didn't notice that the messenger leaving the Citadel never passed the slower moving group. At least, not right away. Curious, she spun around to find a smirking Briar and a pair of very uneasy guards. A smile spread across her face before she could stop it, and indicated that Briar ride next to her.

Your guards don't seem to like me much, commented Briar nonchalantly through their magic.

Sandry snorted. I wonder why? She replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. You are a famous ex-thief, who still carries blades upon his person. How many do you have on you now, five?

Nah, only three. Sandry stared at him in shock. Oh ok, I have seven, but who's counting? He replied, flashing Sandry a grin. She chuckled, and concentrated on the road in front of her.

They had to move through the early market crowd to reach the school, and Sandry wanted to get through without causing a commotion. She could always just order Kwaben and Oama to force their way through the crowd so she could reach in time, but Sandry hated nobles who asserted their power by abusing people of lower rank. Also, by going through the crowd slower she could greet the merchants she knew.

Briar watched Sandry with awe as she navigated the crowd. Where ever they turned, Sandry always had a comment or compliment for each merchant they passed, and smile for anyone fortunate enough to look at her. Her smiles brightened the area, and Briar had to wonder if it was just him who thought that, but immediately banished that thought when he saw the other's expressions. They were comfortable with the noble and replied to her comments with answers of their own, at ease with the young noble, and when she smiled at them their faces lit up with respect and adoration.

Even though Sandry would never admit it, Briar could see that she had the hearts of the people, something Franzen, the Duke's heir, could never attain.

They reached at the school later than Sandry wanted, and she flew up the stairs to Pasco's regular practice room. The door was closed and Sandry can hear thumps and grunts from the other side of the door. She opened the door cautiously and immediately felt the magical barrier she had placed for Yazmín's use.

"No, no, no! You do not point your foot like that, you point it like this!" Sandry smiled as she saw Yazmín manipulating her student's foot so that the arch was just the way she wanted. Pasco's arms were pinwheeling as he attempted to keep his balance as 'the little monster', as he affectionately called her, held his leg in a vise-like grip, hauling it above his head as she set him in the pose.

"There, that's perfect." Satisfied, she stepped back, releasing Pasco as she did so. Surprised by his lack of support, he collapsed on the floor, startling a laugh from Sandry. Pasco glared at his young teacher and deepened his scowl as he saw he had an audience.

Sandry gave her magic a little push, allowing her and her guards through, Briar trailing after them. "I see that you started without me." She commented as she approached Yazmín, giving her student a dirty look as a string of expletives erupted from him mouth.

Yazmín whacked the upside of Pasco's head and berated him. "What have I told you about using foul language when in the presence of a lady?"

"If she's a lady, I'm a goat." He retorted, earning a glare from Sandry. She looked at his breeches calmly, ordering the threads to weave together. Pasco cursed as he saw his pants rearranging itself into a skirt, and pulled frantically at his breeches, failing miserably to unweave the skirt. He scowled at his smirking teacher.

Yazmín chuckled and looked at Sandry. "Thanks, he needed that. All I could do is hit him, but that kills brain cells and he can't afford to lose any more of those, can he?"

Sandry shook her head, grinning. "No, he can't. I guess you just have to find other places to hit him." She looked at Briar, and wicked smile spread across her face. "Briar, tell Pasco what happens when he's rude."

Briar stood in front of the squirming Pasco- Sandry had yet to undo her magic, and Pasco was very uncomfortable in the tight skirt- a mischievous glint in his grey-green eyes. Almost casually, he twirled one of his seven daggers in his hand. Spinning it so that the blade faced Pasco, he threw the dagger into the air, catching it by the blade and throwing it again. Sandry was mesmerized by the spinning blade, and noticed with smug pleasure, so was Pasco. He even looked a little scared.

Don't scare him too bad, cautioned Sandry. Briar shot her a grin, still flipping the blade. Catching it by the handle, he placed the dagger against Pasco's neck and applied slight pressure. Pasco stared back at Briar defiantly, and announced, "Sandry would never let you hurt me. Right, Lady Sandry?" He turned his dark eyes to her blue ones, pleading.

She laughed, and gesturing to her student addressed Yazmín. "See? He just needed the right motivation to remember I am a lady." She then ordered the threads in Pasco's breeches to reweave themselves into their proper shape. "Have you meditated yet?"

Resigned, Pasco hung his head as he answered. "Not yet, Lady Sandry. Yazmín wanted to fix my form while we waited." Sandry nodded her head wisely, and raising her arms she simultaneously raised the magical barriers placed in the room, effectively cutting out any other sounds from outside the room.

Pasco crossed his legs as he folded himself on the floor. His mouth twitched as he remembered his first meditation sessions with Sandry, when he couldn't keep still. He fell into the familiar breathing pattern and immediately went into the core of his magic. Gathering any loose strands, pulled them into him and concentrated on keeping them there.

He cracked open an eye when he felt his magic was properly ordered. Sandry was still deep into her meditation, and Pasco knew from experience that she would not awake up for a little while again.

He studied his teacher, the familiar attraction he felt for her arising. He knew he hid his affections from her well- she had no inkling that being so close to her drove his senses mad, and he planned on keeping it that way. He knew that there was no chance that a mere harrier like him can ever have a chance with a noble like her. Even though she was no normal noble, and he no normal harrier, and that kept him going. Because even though in normal circumstances they would never have a chance, their circumstances can't be called normal.

He felt a pair of eyes on him, and he looked away from the peaceful face of his teacher, and looked around the room. Sandry's guards were at their normal post by the door, and Yazmín was also in meditation. Pasco skimmed past them, and his eyes rested on the young man who came with Sandry.

His guard was immediately up- the casual and comfortable way the man handled his daggers indicated long years of practice and skill, and Pasco knew that he was dangerous. Who is he? Pasco wondered, as he glared at the man and the man's grey-green eyes hardened as he glared in return. There was an amount of hostility in his glare that shocked Pasco with its intensity, and he backtracked. This man had come in with Sandry, who had never before brought anyone but her Uncle to their sessions, and the familiar way they acted around each other…

Pasco almost choked as the truth hit him. Sandry had called him Briar- the only male in the famous circle of young mages that Sandry was a part of. He looked at the man in a new light, and realized how close he came to being skewered- Briar had grown up in the slums of Hajara, the toughest province in the country.

But if Briar was just a brother to Sandry, why the hostile glare? Unless…Pasco shook his head. No, Briar could not have seen the way he was looking at Sandry, and even if he did, why the enmity? Why did the almost possessive looks he give Sandry suggest something else was going on between them?

Realization hit him like a bucket of cold water. Floored, he looked at Sandry then at Briar, whose smirk confirmed his revelation. Before he could consider this new development, Sandry opened her blue eyes and stood up, ready to begin his class.

Briar sank into his meditation easily, but found himself distracted by Sandry's student. He was fidgeting ever-so-slightly and annoying Briar. His eyes popped open, and he turned his gaze to the fidgety young man.

Pasco was staring at Sandry, a look of worship on his face. He glared at the man, whose dark eyes were still trained on his Sandry, and sensing his glare, looked up at Briar. He glared in return, his dark eyes transforming from the smoldering orbs they were a moment before to hold a look of defiance. Then his eyes widened as he realized who Briar was, and then his expression turned one into utter shock. His eyes flicked to Sandry, then back to him, and Briar couldn't help but smirk as Pasco finally realized the truth about their relationship.

Sandry chose that moment to come out of her mediation, and to start Pasco's class. She looked at Briar and gave him a gentle smile, and Briar couldn't help but smile back. Overtaken by the urge to prove to Pasco that Sandry really was his, Briar looped an arm around Sandry's waist and tenderly placed a kiss on her soft lips. He felt her smile against his mouth, and he pulled her closer so he could deepen the kiss.

He heard a disgusted noise and, releasing Sandry, turned to see Pasco scowling at him. His hands were stiffened into claws at his side, and his very posture told Briar that he was barely constraining himself. Briar found he was freeing his wrist blades, and relaxed his arms so that he could better respond if Pasco did decide to attack him.

Shaking himself, Pasco calmed himself down, and turned to Sandry, a carefree smile on his face. "Ready to start?" He asked, his voice and tone cheery.

Sandry never even noticed the animosity between the two men.

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