I write more fast, because in a way, i'm watching teh story unfold too...and its fun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vedris, by the end of the day, had established that Sandry was nowhere in Emelan or Winding Circle.
"You sure you haven't seen her?" he asked Pasco, the boy's eyes wide. He shook his head, cowed by the force in the man's voice. Lark had agreed likewise, and Rosethorn had all but locked herself in the Greenhouse with Crane for three weeks working on a virus from Nemorn.
By the next day, he was sure that she wasn't in the surrounding countryside, visiting friends. Contacting both Tris and Daja by homing pidgeons, for they were too far away for mental contact, the answer came several days later.
Vedris held the letters in his hand. Both were hastily written, though securely tied on to the flying grey creatures. Both parchments all but screamed the same question that rolled in his mind: where were they?
Sandry and Briar were gone; they had virtually disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~~~~`
The same day that Daja and Tris' letters arrived in Emelan, Sandry and Briar were passing the river fifty miles north of Emelan. Crossing the rickety bridge, they saw the deep woods loom ahead of them.
"Sure is big," Briar said, staring at the trees.
Sandry sighed. "Should we try it, or simply go around?" she asked, the intimidating size worrying her.
"I think we should go around," Briar said. "It looks creepy."
"I agree." She shuddered. "Its been four, five days. Do you think they're after us yet?"
Briar shrugged. "Probably. But there are three directions away from Emelan, right? Not counting the water..."
Their horses drank the river water eagerly. "Don't worry," she said, more confidently than she felt, "he won't find us."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ho!" Briar called as they trotted into the dirt road. "Anyone here?"
A young woman, maybe a year older than Sandry, stepped out of a small cottage. "Hello?" she asked, waving some men over from a field. "Are you here to settle?" Her voice rose with excitement.
Sandry and Briar exchanged glances. "Yes."
"Oh, good!" The girl clapped her hands together. "Come talk to my fiance and brothers!" Waiting for them to dismount, she held out her hand. "My name is Emmie," she said, "And its wonderful to have someone to talk to again!" Lowering her voice confidentially, she whispered, "I was so lonely, the only other two women are my mother and another woman who is fifteen years older!"
Sandry giggled. "Then we can be friends?" The other nodded eagerly, her grey eyes cheerful.
Her older brother, by his similar eye color, shook Briar's hand. "Good to have you here." Waving to the fields, he sighed and ran his hand through his dark, straight hair with frustration. "We need help. That corn just doesn't want to grow!"
Briar winked to Sandry. "I guess I can help," he said, trying to keep amusement out of his voice.
"C'mon!" Emmie squealed. "You can stay with us tonight, and until we can help you make a house!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~`