~~~~~~~~~
"Sandry!" Lark yelled. "Your Uncle is here to collect you!"
The girl groaned. This last month had been so wonderful, away from the court and its stuffy habits. She regretted having to return to the endless balls, tea hours, and simpering suitors whom she just wanted to slap.
Briar looked up from stuffing a few shirts into a carrying sack. "Did Niko say I could go too?" he asked, his green eyes hopeful.
Smiling, she nodded. They ran out to their horses, loading clothes and supplies on the saddlehooks. The Duke of Emelan frowned, his lined face creasing in disapproval. "Sandry, you cannot just run away like this. Irresponsible behavior is what ruins a good mind."
The girl patted her Uncle's hand, apologizing. Some semblance of the old Duke, the smiling friendly man, surfaced in his strained face. Since that heart attack, his demeanor had been more and more crotchety and anger-laced. But he truly loved his niece, no matter what happened.
Watch your step, Briar, Sandry warned. He's feeling more...touchy today.
Dont worry, everything will be okay. he replied, trying to believe his own reassurances. What if the Duke hated him, or married her off to someone else? He would never admit it to Sandry, but he was afraid of the future and the obstacles they would have to overcome.
They waved farewell to Lark, Pasco, and Rosethorn, and rode on to Emelan.
~~~~~~~~~~~``
Sandry sighed. "My warm greetings, Rolein ra Sardin," she said blandly, disgusted by the gutless wimp standing before her. Repressing her urge to groan with disgust, she offered her hand for him to kiss.
After seventeen dances with similar partners, Sandry wanted to scream! This was horrible...Uncle seemed truly determined this time. Briar? Help me, please? she begged.
The boy, who had been standing quietly in the corner, stood up quickly and walked over to his secret love. "Would you like to dance?" he asked aloud, for the sake of the ninnies gathered around her. She nodded, her blue eyes sparking with humor.
He was dressed finely, she noted, with white silk shirt embroidered with fine gold thread, under a scarlet and gold brocade tunic and russet pants. Did Lark deck you out in finery, in secret? she asked.
Briar shook his head. Rosethorn! he silently exclaimed. Would you beileve it? She guessed...he added sheepishly. Lark too. He gestured to her nearly matching gown, a deep red also stitched with gold. Didn't she tell you to wear that, too? She planned this out carefully.
I know. But they didn't bother us, at least. Sandry paused. Would you like to take a walk? she asked mischivously, her bare shoulders twitching teasingly.
Sure. He grinned, and she smiled impishly back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
uncles going to be pissed, verrrrry soon. hes being hardass right now, because he's sick and stuff. some people asked about his out of character-ness, and its because he's not doing so well.