Disclaimer: see chap 1, duh!

a/n sorry for the delay, I was just being lazy in writing this chap, but I honestly was busy, seeing some of my friends off before they go to study abroad.

Briar and Torin were standing in the garden in the late afternoon, cultivating some leaves for tea. The tea leaves needed to be washed and dry before being made into teas. The plants were extremely numerous. It was a meditative and peaceful thing to do, cultivating leaves. Briar enjoyed the outdoors, and Lark had enlisted Torin to help Briar, so the young man could get some sun. Torin still smiled at the buzzing turtle that followed Briar everywhere. The magical turtle, Pinenut, walked around the garden, looking for tasty crickets or grubs to eat. He had finished his egg shell a few days ago and now looked very healthy and was ready to grow. At night instead of sleeping with Briar, it would settle down next to the shakkan tree, keeping the plant company.

"Briar!" Pinenut yelled through their link. "Something's wrong!"

Briar trusted the turtle because it was apart of him. "What is it Pinenut?" Briar asked, his face showing worry. His eyes narrowed, sensing that the information maybe be urgent. Pinenut took flight and hovered towards the door.

Briar and Torin followed, intrigued by the commotion Pinenut was causing. Briar walked faster when he heard the gate open, banging against the fence. He went through the cottage. Through the door came Lark and Rosethorn who also heard the gate swing open. All looked at each other, confused, but curious to the happenings. Someone knocked the cottage door and Briar opened it to see a soldier. On a second glance, he noticed that it was a Harrier. He unrolled a scroll and spoke. "Dedicate Lark, Dedicate Rosethorn, and Master Oakwood are requested to come to the citadel immediately. Signed, Duke Vedris IV."

Lark, Rosethorn, and Briar immediately went to their rooms and gathered materials they might need for anything that may arise. Briar checked his mage kit, making sure all of the portable herbs were ready to be used. Some already prepared salves and mixing powders rested in their compartments. He checked the knives, briefly pulling them out and slid them in their hilts. The orb that was on his table, he put in his bag, and another orb, meant to use for light, he fitted in his case carefully. He even had a box full of rocks made by his former student, Evvy, that provided different temperatures just in case he needed to heat or freeze something quickly and did not have any other means. When he figured that his case was fully stocked, he pulled the strap over his shoulder and rested the satchel on his hip. He donned his cloak, and closed it with his brooch and picked up his bamboo blade. He walked outside near the door, where the soldier was waiting, and mind called to the girls.

"Sandry," he called through the link "what is going on, we have a Harrier at the doorstep saying we need to come."

"We just found out that there has been an attempt on his son's life," Sandry replied. "Moonstream requested Lark and Rosethorn. My uncle assumed that I would want you, and the others."

Daja interrupted, "We're on our way; Frostpine too."

"We're going," Tris' replied as well, "What's going on?" she asked the question that was on everyone's mind.

Rosethorn's voice could be heard coming from her work room, "Torin, boy, you stay here till Saren gets back." She could be seen filling her mage kit with even more items from her opened door. "Let's go. Torin, stay here, don't go anywhere," she told the young man again. She then picked up a can and walked quickly to where Briar and Lark was. On an unspoken signal, the three went out the door with the Harrier leading them to their horses which he had brought with him. They mounted the borrowed horses, and the equestrians galloped as quickly as possible.

Briar leaned forward on his horse and rode alongside the courier. His mind, not focused on riding was in on the Sandry's explanation instead. "The duke's son just rode in pursued by pirates. His wounds look serious, and there is a plant poison no one recognizes in his system."

"Plant poison?" Briar asked in disbelief.

"Yes, that's why we need the plant mages," Sandry confirmed. "Crane should also be on his way. Last I heard he was in his greenhouse."

Daja, Tris, and Briar took the information in; each temporarily closed their links so that they can relay it to their former teachers.

Briar quickly looked over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of Lark and Rosethorn galloping right behind him. "Sandry says there has been an assassination attempt on Verdris' son."

Larks eyes widened while Rosethorn rode even harder. Briar slowed down, letting his teacher come up next to him while the courier rode ahead. "There is a plant poison in the heir's system. Moonstream and her healers don't recognize the poison, that's why we're needed."

Rosethorn nodded at the informant and quietly rode on. Her mind was going at a far much quicker pace. Already, she was sorting through all the known poisons she knew and had cures for. She also had a log in her mind on some poisons that had no cure and that they were even rarer. Who could have access to a poison that the highest temple healers hadn't even heard off, she thought.

The riders galloped passed the Mire and through the market, not stopping even once. People in the roads had to jump to the sides if they didn't want to get trodden over by the quick strong horses. The four weaved in and out of the foot traffic and the wagons. A few times, Briar almost had to stop because of a cart that was blocking the road; luckily many of the streets they were traveling through had wide lanes to allow access for others. A few quick minutes rushed by and the group met the guards at the Duke's citadel.

The guard took the sweat soaked mounts and another pair led them up to the castle. Upon entering they were greeted by some of the servants that occupied the large home. Briar was offered a water skin, he took it, thanked the maid who had brought it and drank its contents thirstily. He handed the skin back to the young lady, who quickly disappeared with the rest of the empty skins that the others had given back. Another man came out dressed in a crisp blue uniform and a few stitches on his upper right arm that signified that he was a corporal. He greeted the guests and led them down the hallway to the guest rooms where the Duke's son was staying at.

"Sandry," Briar called out through his link. "We're here." Briar felt Sandry relax slightly through his link with her, although there was still quite a bit of worry in her system.

"Good," Sandry replied. "The others should be here shortly, please wait for them before coming in. Rosethorn and Lark will be escorted to this room."

Briar when reached an intersection in the hallway was led to a waiting room where there were a rich abundance of soft couches and a tray of fruits. Briar sat down, setting his sword against his chair, ready to be grabbed at a moments notice. He was a bit edgy; assassins just don't attack everyday, especially one as unimportant as the Duke's eldest son. Many considered the Duke's son as a puppet. He was easily manipulated and was only after the inheritance. The Duke could not disown his son; he never did anything wrong, at least outright. Sandry though would be a better Duchess for she did care for the people and for many years lived with her people.

She had an inheritance elsewhere in which she gave it up to the people who ran her home. Still she had her land; she was the daughter of a Count. The Empress had accepted her case some years ago. Where she did not need to be in attendance to rule her land, she had appointed the people who took care of the land whenever her parents were gone to run her father's county. She still was of noble blood, so therefore, would remain rich, a part of the taxes going into her account. The land title still had her name on it, but it was run by her advisors.

The door opened, interrupting Briar's thoughts. He smiled as his sisters swept in. They too looked travel weary and had dirty smudges everywhere. Their clothes remained clean, crisp, and contained nice fragrance, compliments of Sandry's superb thread work. Frostpine, Niko, and Crane had joined the other mages in the room where the Duke's son was staying in. Daja's snake had wrapped herself around Daja's staff again; it was beginning to be one of its favorite perches. Chime however, flew around the room, content on exploring the shiny objects.

Sandry came in and took her sisters in a big hug. Her cat, a natural predator to birds and turtles came bouncing in, intent on her prey. However, her preys were magical like she, and easily evaded all of the cat's advances.

The four sat down on the couches and waited for Sandry's explanation. Sandry sat down and out of habit, smoothed out her skirt and adjusted her finely made petticoat. A servant came in with a tray of sandwiches and tea. Sandry, as well as the others, thanked the kind servant who left them quickly and closed the drawing room, leaving them to their private conversation.

When each had eaten their share of sandwiches and had a bit of tea to wet their palette, they all looked up at Sandry, expecting a reason for their visits.

"Sandry," Daja asked, "What has happened?"

"The son of the Duke, Fransten," Sandry began, holding her cup of tea. "He just died."

Suddenly without giving the other three a chance to absorb the news, the doors opened dramatically, making everyone jump to the sound of the doorknobs banging against the unprotected wall. The Duchess of Zhentree, entered, her make up a mess, and hair out of order.

The guard outside the door, looked in apologetically, and closed the banged doors. The lock clicked, and became the signal to Duchess Emiliania's tears to flow.

Sandry looked at the Duchess from her chair, and set her tea cup aside. She gracefully got up and walked the short distance over to the distraught girl. The Duchess was young, only a few years older than Briar and his siblings, her parents dying recently, her father few years ago and her mother during the fall season. She no longer mourned. She did not know how to run a duchy and had left it to her father's advisors to smoothly run the place. Her father's advisors knew that she had no skill when it came to ruling, and are continuing to rule the duchy on her behalf. She needed to marry soon as was apart of her culture. Her land being so far away, most of the topographers didn't even bother mapping her duchy and grouping it in the Namorn Empire.

"We're all going to die," she wailed. "The assassins are going to kill us all, and I'm next!!!"

Briar rolled his eyes at the pampered girl. All she does all day is play with her dresses and run around like there is no care in the world. Even I'm more responsible than she is, Briar thought as he played with a corner of his cloak. Daja and Tris stared at the young women, no emotion on their faces. Sandry's cat had decided to help Sandry calm the distressed miss and rub it self against Duchess Emiliania's fragile ankles. The young woman was surprised and looked down at the white cat, which looked up adoringly, reassuring her that everything was going to be alright.

With her face still tear streaked, she reached down and picked up the cat. The cat meowed as the duchess clumsily picked her up and tried to carry her. As she fully stood up, the cat slipped from her clutch and fell to the ground. Luckily it was high enough for Snowsilk to flip over and land on all fours. Duchess Emiliania walked over to one of the couches and sat down with a plop.

She breathed a large sigh, and made herself a cup of tea while munching on one of the sandwiches. Everyone sat there looking at her, while she chewed unladylike.

"Looks like a zoo in here," she said, attempting to make a joke after dropping the feline.

"They're our familiars," Sandry kindly explained.

"Only wizards had familiars," Emiliania said with much ignorance. "You're wizards now, Briar?" the young lady said using his common name.

"There is no such thing as a wizard," Tris said sounding annoyed by the interruption.

Emiliania waved her hand, "So what do you do?"

"We are ambient mages," Daja replied. "We use our magic that coincides with our areas of specialty. In my case it is smith magic."

"So you are wizards," Emiliania concluded.

Everyone gave a great sigh. "No we are not," Briar said. Tris had given up and opened one of her books that she carried with her in her kit. "Wizards are fairy tales, like dragons and sprites and things."

"You are a wizard," Emiliania said trying to conclude the conversation she knew she was losing. She dramatically waved her hand in a last effort to prove her point. "You can do magic like nobody else. You make love potions, and sleep potions."

"That's stuff in fairy tales," Briar interrupted before she could continue.

"I was hoping you'd make me a potion," Emiliania admitted.

"For what?" Briar asked.

"I have to find a husband soon," Emiliania said while twirling her hair. She had a pout on her face that was unbecoming of her. She shyly looked down at the ground, her lips moved slowly. "My mother suggested you. I was hoping you'd make a love potion and drink it."

Briar looked as surprised as everyone else in the room. Tris stared with her mouth partially opened, a look of shocked shown on her face. Daja was staring at the Duchess as well, she was calmer, but a look of interest was on her face. Everyone finally broke the spell and uttered one word, in unison, everyone asked, "WHY?!"

It was Emiliania's turn to look surprised. "Ambient mages are highly regarded in Zhentree, though they are very rare."

The young mages, all shrugged, too caught up in the surprise of Briar's marriage proposal, they forgot all about the recent death of the Duke's eldest son. Everyone still stared in shock; even the familiars looked at the Duchess as though she wasn't right in the head.

"Plant mages are even more so because they are rare," Emiliania further explained. "Mother went through the graduates of universities to look for possible candidates to be the next duke. We have very few in our little duchy so we need to look elsewhere. Since ambient magic is looked upon so highly, we have many charlatans who impersonate and do magic tricks."

She looked directly at Briar, "Mother said you were the only one with a degree from Lightsbridge AND a credential from a circle temple. Well there were a few others who were nobles and would be likely, but Mother said it would be best to have a plant mage as a husband due to the high vegetation near my home and our heavy dependency on many of our products. Not only are you highly qualified, you would provide my family with a direct connection to the Empress' cousin," she nodded towards Sandry, "and the highly respected Duke of Emelan.""

"I can't marry you," Briar said, shaking his self out of shock. Pinenut buzzed lightly and landed in Briar's lap, showing his support.

The other girls all nodded their heads when the Duchess looked at each in turn. Briar wasn't ready for marriage yet, although many people his age were getting married and starting to have families of their own. Briar was just getting comfortable with the idea of having a family and sisters; marriage was too far away in his life.

The Duchess looked less than happy. This was the second time Briar and his siblings had denied her something. They were going on a record and the stories of them being extraordinary seemed true. They didn't bend to her wishes like everyone else did.

"You should come to my duchy and see for yourself," Emiliania politely invited them. "It will give you time to think about my offer..."

She wasn't able to finish her sentence, the tea cup in her hand slipped and shattered against the stone floor. Her hand fell down by her side, limp and lifeless as the color drained from her complexion. Her eyes lethargically closed, and her breathing slowed to almost non-existent. The others in the room rushed to her side.

Briar looked at her and checked her pulse, faint but still ticking. Daja went out and spoke with one of the guards. He sprinted down the hallway towards the room where the great mages were working. The other guard ran in, followed by the Duchess' personal guards who were also standing guard.

Rosethorn came sprinting out of the room when the messenger guard told her the news. Emiliania was not dead yet, and still, may be saved. She walked in and three kneeling by the Duchess gave her room to work. She took the pulse like Briar did and checked her temperature by placing the back of her hand on Emiliania's forehead. Rosethorn opened one of Emiliania's eyelids and saw them move. The head healer at the citadel also came in and poured her magic into the duchess' comatose body. The healer looked at Rosethorn.

"It is poison," the healer said, confirming Rosethorn's fear.