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After Daja, Tris, Pasco, and Niko had left, she felt a deep, hollow pain in her chest. There was something missing in their peaceful, agrarian life.
"Old friends," she murmured to herself. "I miss them. This just isn't right, Briar."
"I know how you feel," he replied. "They
Briar hugged her around her large waist. "I miss them too," he told her. "But they'll be back when the baby is born..." He paused. "And we still have to test for Mastery. They'll be getting theirs next year...and Daja told me the Masters were worried that we have disappeared...do you know they waited for us?"
"What?"
"They waited for us, to get their rank. They thought it wouldn't have been right unless the whole circle was promoted."
Sandry gasped. "Tris didn't tell me!"
"She didn't either, Niko did."
"Then," his wife told him, hands on stomach, "I better hurry with this child and return, otherwise the other two will search us down."
Briar grinned, patting her hair gently. "Don't rush, lovey. We have all the time in the world." She smiled up at him, and hugged him around the waist as tightly as her belly would permit.
The discussion was stopped abruptly as Weslay ran in, holding the hand of a girl. "Everyone!" he yelled. "Me'n Messila are going to be married!"
~~~~~~~~
Three months later, the troupe returned for the birth of Sandry and Briar's baby. Warned ahead of time to come early, they still arrived only one day before Sandry fell to her knees in the cabin and gasped, contractions coming faster at each moment. "Now I know why it's called labor," she moaned.
Anitra bustled in, clean cloths and rags in a basket. For hours, Briar held her sweaty hand as she breathed in and out, as her hand tightened in pain, and until a baby girl was delivered an hour before dawn.
"Its a daughter," Anitra said, washing the squalling child and handing it to Sandry, whose hair was darkened by sweat. "Here you go."
Briar stood nervously behind her, twitching. Sandry smiled down at the tiny armful, grinning as it squirmed. "She's so lovely," she whispered. "What shall we call her?"
"Something...fitting."
Sandry hesitated. "How about Shemonah?
Her husband smiled. "She Monah. Small circle." Grinning, he ruffled Sandry's hair and the baby's downy locks. "Perfect for our latest addition, seeing that she has that pink light thing happening inside her." His hand cradled the baby's tiny head and Shemonah sighed and fell promptly asleep.
"Besides," Briar added, "Monah is also a monetary term. She can be rich."
"Oh, you," Sandry nudged him. Staring at the sleeping girl, she smiled. "You know, I didn't actually believe she would really be here until she began to cry."
Her husband blinked several times. "She's ours," he said, his voice trailing wonderingly. Sandry reached back with one hand and gripped his, feeling the bliss in his tense form. "She's really ours. Our little girl." The little girl twisted around slightly, her pink skin a stark contrast to her curling brown hair.
A knock sounded at the door. "Can we come in?" Pasco whined. "Teacher Sandry, we want to see the new baby!"
Briar yelled for them to come in. "And close the door, its a bit drafty at this time of winter!" He walked a few steps towards them, but refused to release Sandry's tired hand for the rest of the long day.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Niko," Sandry asked the next morning, "What shall we do about our Mastery?"
The older man's grey brow furrowed as he thought. "After all is settled, all of you-" he glared at Daja and Tris, who looked away innocently- "shall finally speak to the anxious old Masters."
"Do you think we're ready?" Briar demanded, his face tense, though his hold on the sleeping child grew no less gentle.
"Are we ready?" Daja repeated softly, her expression no less doubting than the plant mage's.
Niko sighed. "Sometimes, when young students are surrounded by greatness, it is difficult to recognize one's own genius. As is the case with the four of you, the best of your generation, it was nearly impossible." The man glared fiercely at all of them with his piercing black eyes.
"Thanks, Niko," Tris whispered. The others nodded also, touched by his rare sentimental compliment.
"But most of all, you-" he pointed to the Circle- "must not only see your worth as a group, but each member's individual merit. I am proud, of all you young mages, and am pleased with the opportunity to watch you grow into your magic and social power."
"Now," he added, staring at the stunned group. "When are you going to go for your Masteries? All of you..."
They looked around, mindspeaking for several moments while Niko waited. "I think," Daja piped up, "We shall go- all of us- when Shemonah is old enough to travel safely."
Sandry looked up, hugging the baby. "Yes. Also, is there anyway-" she hesitated- "for me to see Uncle?" Biting her lip, she confessed, "I really do miss him, Niko, and i know that you all haven't been mentioning him on purpose."
The greatmage cleared his throat uncomfortably, exchanging an almost imperceptible glance with Pasco. "Later, wait until the baby is old enough."
"Shall we plan?" Tris asked. Daja nodded, draped over the loft with her arms dangling. "All right, Briar, Sandry. How old is old enough?" She tenderly touched the baby's hand, even her steely grey eyes softened by the tiny child.
"A few months?" Sandry asked.
"All right. We shall come for you, and arrange the meeting with the Masters in Emelan. Is that okay, Sandry?" Niko suggested. "This way you can see Vedris..."
"And I can visit you all too," Pasco put in. "I won't be there otherwise. How else could I see all of you turn into Masters?"
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