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Briar just stared at Sandry. "A baby?"
She nodded, eyes as wide as plates. Grabbing his hand, she placed it on her stomach. "Look with your magic."
He obediantly complied. Inside her belly, a small glowing white orb, laced with rose pink shimmers, pulsed gently but steadily. Gasping, the boy's jaw dropped.
Sandry was nearly in tears. "What am i going to do?" Her voice trembled slightly. "Uncle is making me leave in four days! Briar, hes awful! And what will i do when i have my baby only eight months after the marriage?"
Briar, still with his hand on her stomach and their child, looked at her. Her eyes were pleading, but she refused to meet his glance. "Sandry, do you want to go away with me?" His voice, though hopeful, was entirely sure of itself.
She looked away, drawing back. "I dont want to force you to do anything. Its what you want right now, too. I can always manage, love."
He grasped her shoulders. "Sandry, right now I am asking you. I truly want to be with you, no matter what happens. And it seems like to do that is to...well, get away."
Finally looking up, Sandry stared into his eyes searchingly. "What about your mastery?"
Crossing his arms, Briar grinned. "What about yours?"
Sandry stuck her tongue out at him, as she had when they had first met at the age of ten. "Are you sure about this?" she demanded, her blue eyes worried. "As I said, I dont want to force you."
"Oh, stop it Sandry." Drawing her closer, the young man kissed her. "Don't worry, everything will be fine." The poor girl, now carrying another life, burst into tears.
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Sandry, a leather satchel looped over her arm, snuck out of the castle and down to the stables. She had taken two plain dresses, one nice one, a warm cloak, blankets, and her small but ample savings. At the last minute, she added bundles of wool, cotton, a few bunches of silk...and her old green spindle.
Briar met her, their two sturdy horses saddled already, with his own pack. Sandry held another small sack, filled with food wheedled from the cook, and they set off silently down the road. Where they headed, they didnt know. All they could hope for was a small, growing village that needed to be populated...at a distance from Emelan.
But first, to Winding Circle.
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