Mage Windtruth was staring out the window at the open ground. Though dirt covered a lot of the fields, patches of green were coming in. Their plan was working he mused. We need more plant mages.

Windtruth was scrying the wind. It was the same vision he had earlier. There were clouded images of blades. Daja and Tris were on their knees, hands tied behind their backs. The soldiers were about to cut their throats when a shaft of lightening came down in the form of a bird, hitting the swords and instantly killing two soldiers. Windtruth was satisfied that he had made the right choice. He sighed and tucked his arms into his sleeves.

A man in a dark military uniform came up behind the mage and saluted, "Sir! The mages are detained."

"Good," Windtruth replied, not bothering to turn around.

"The plant mage is locked with the other plant mages," the soldier reported, "the smith and the weather witch are locked in their coffins."

"Did you give them the poison?" Windtruth asked.

"Yes sir," the soldier replied. "But sir, I don't understand why we can't just cut their throats; it would make things a lot easier wouldn't it?"

Mage Windtruth turned around, "You dare question a mage?" he said with steel in his voice.

"No sir," the soldier stammered.

"Good," Windtruth turned back around. "And Lady Sandrilene?"

"She is sleeping in her quarters," the soldier reported, clearly not wanting to be there anymore. "We gave her the tea as per your request."

Mage Windtruth nodded, "Go bury the other two."

"Yes sir, right away," the soldier said. He saluted and turned away. As soon as he turned the corner in the hallway, he let out a sigh of relief.

"Idiots," Windtruth muttered to himself. He took a step back from the window and walked down the hall in the opposite direction.

A sharp pain jabbed into Daja shoulder. She opened her eyes but it was still dark. She blinked a few times but the darkness remained. She moved her arm, instantly hitting something. She was lying down. Lifting her hands, she hit her knuckles again.

"Curses," Daja muttered, "I'm stuck in a box."

She felt her surroundings. It wasn't a very big box. The air pressed down on her, for a second, Daja panicked; her heart rate suddenly spiking. "It's a coffin."

Daja pounded the invisible lid. "They must have buried me alive!"

She tried to pull into her magic. "Deep breathes," Daja coached. Daja closed her eyes and counted to seven. She tried holding her breath for seven counts but panic hit her again.

"Dammit! LET ME OUT!" Daja screamed pounding on the lid.

She caught a glimmer out of the corner of her eye.

"Ok old girl, deep breathes now."

The glimmer was coming out of the corner of the box. She turned her head and stared at the speckle of light. It was magic. She traced the magic thread and it connected to her shoulder where she noticed was tingling. The thread pulsed. Daja closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Daja pushed forward against the lid with all her might. Her muscles cramped.

"ACK! LET ME OUT!" Daja screamed again.

"DAJA?" Tris yelled. "HELP!"

"TRIS!" Daja yelled back. "Where are you? I'm stuck in a box!"

"UGH! Me too!" Tris pushed against the lid of the box. "I can't access my magic!" Tris tried pushing again.

BOOM BOOM BOOM

"Daja? What's going on?"

"I'm trying to kick the damn box open!"

Tris tried kicking her box but there wasn't enough room to get in a good kick. She scrapped her knees for her trouble. "UGH! When I get out of here they're going to pay. First a boat, now this?"

Daja tried kicking again but couldn't get enough force behind it. She flexed her core and calmed down her breathing. She placed her hand on the lid and slowly pressed. The wood creaked in rebellion, but Daja could feel the wood give way. "Just a little more!"

Years of working with heavy equipment forged Daja's muscles into tight cords of strength. Daja strained more knowing that the wood was cracking. Dust trickled in, getting in her eyes and nose. Daja closed her eyes and let out a breath through her nose, much like a bull would right before it charged. The cover cracked and like a loud whip, snapped open.

Daja sat up and looked around. It was a dark room, cold, and Daja could hear water dripping. Next to her was another box. The dirt on the box jumped up every time Tris banged on the lid.

"Tris hold on; I'm coming." Daja jumped out of her box. She took too steps and a sharp pain ran up her calf. Daja tripped and landed on Tris' box. "OOMPH!" The box became silent. Daja clung on Tris' box, clutching her calf. What a time to have a cramped leg!

"Daja," Tris screamed "Get me out of here!"

Daja let out a sharp short breath. "Keep your hair in a bun, I'm coming!" Daja stretched her leg out as straight as she can. She gritted her teeth and dug her nails into the wood. Finally the pain subsided. Daja tucked her legs underneath here and kneeled by Tris' box.

"Tris," Daja said, "I can't access my magic, so we're going to have to break open your box. So keep calm ok? You need to relax."

"Are you in the reality as me?" Tris yelled, her voice slightly muffled by the lid. "I am stuck in this Living Circle be damned box. Get me out of here now!"

Daja sighed and glanced around the room looking for something that may provide leverage to open the box. Her knees and toes were scabbed and her knuckles were freeing bleeding, leaving drops of blood on the wooden box.

Daja jerked her head towards to door. "Be quiet! Someone is coming," Daja hissed. Daja quickly slinked in the corner by the door.

Daja closed her eyes and focused on the sounds coming from behind the door. Daja could hear two sets of foot steps. They weren't far from the door.

There was a jingling of keys as one of the soldiers stepped up to the door. "I can never get the right key," said the soldier who was struggling with the lock.

"Try that one," The other soldier said, "I marked it with an X."

"Clever clever," replied the other soldier.

"Who shall we bury first?" the clever voice said.

"The Trader gives me the creeps," the first soldier said, a slight shiver ran up his spine. "Let do her first."

Daja balled up her hands, trying to contain her anger. The door finally open and the two men pushed in a cart, conveniently sized for the coffins. Daja quickly stepped behind the last soldier and slammed her fist in his temple. He fell down with so much force he hit the other side of his head on the ground.

"What the..." the first soldier started to say, half turned around but Daja's arms were already locked around his knees. She lifted and the soldier fell back, the wind knocked out of him. Before he could rise, Daja straddled his chest and gave him a good knock on his temple. Daja quickly got up and closed the door. Daja took a quick look over the soldiers and the cart. Luckily the cart had a pry bar and a couple of shovels. It dawned on her that they were planning on burying her and Tris alive. She opened the box with the pry bar.

"Took you long enough," Tris said "Where were Briar and Sandry?

Daja shook her head. "I don't know, but let's get out of here." Daja walked over to the two soldiers who were unconscious. She began undressing them. "Come on Tris, help me out."

Tris looked wearily at Daja and sensed her plan. "I don't think their uniforms are going to fit me."

"You'll be fine," Daja said without looking up, her soldier undressed and she was fastening the buttons on her shirt. "Hurry!"

With a great sigh, Tris undressed the soldier. By the time she was done Daja already had her soldier in the box and was closing the lid. Unsurprisingly Daja did not look out of place in her uniform. She gave Tris a wink, grabbed the keys and swords. She tossed a sword at Tris. "Let's go."

Tris gave a big sigh. All Tris could do was jog after Daja.