A/N: Does anyone know what the name of the country is where COM takes place? I'm not sure if it's Emelan or something else. And if it is Emelan, are the Emalenese or Emalenish or what? If you know the answer, please leave a review that tells me. Thanks! Now . . . back to the story
Everyone in the room stared at her in stunned silence.
"Wha . . . What do you mean? What happened?" Daja's voice was shocked.
"The Duke commands that we accompany the ambassador to Tortall."
There was a long pause.
"That's it?" Sandry's voice was incredulous. "That's all? The way you were acting, I thought we had been attacked by pirates again, or something, but this . . . this will be fun!" The other two chorused agreement, and even Rosethorn looked confused as to why this was such a problem for Lark.
"No, it won't." They gaped as a tear trickled down Lark's cheek and fell to the floor. "I've never even left the country! Now they are forcing us to pack up and leave within five days, and go on a two-week ocean voyage, without a good reason? I hate surprises like this. And I don't like water! It's too wet, and deep, and . . ." She stopped and sniffed. "Who will look after Little Bear? And Discipline? And Rosie, your plants can't go without being cared for. I'll just have to stay!"
"Lark." Rosethorn's voice made Lark look at her. "Be serious! This is the chance of a lifetime! To go to a different country, study their magic . . . and think of all the different styles of clothing they'd have over there! I would think you'd be overjoyed! And don't worry about my plants or Little Bear. I bet Frostpine wouldn't mind looking after the dog, and I'll get Crane to take care of my plants."
This statement made all of them stare wordlessly at her.
"We may not be friends, but he understands plants, and he's honest if it kills him," Rosethorn said crossly. "And I do not want my tomatoes cared for by some novice!"
"I guess it could be kind of fun. I just wish it wasn't over water." Lark's voice quivered.
"I know that once you get on a ship, you'll have too much to do to think about the water," Briar remarked.
"You'll love the feeling of skimming over the waves," Daja promised. She could hardly contain her happiness. She was going to be on a ship again!
"Okay." Lark sat up straight and squared her shoulders. "I'll go.
She was immediately buried underneath the body of three teenagers as they all tried to hug her.
***
Daja stood at the prow of the Waveskimmer, the ship on which the delegation traveled. Closing her eyes, she sighed in bliss as the salt spray blew in her face. This is what I've been missing, she thought. I can't believe it's been almost five years since I've traveled across the ocean!
"Enjoying the breeze?" Briar moved beside her, the wind tousling his hair.
"You have no idea," she said happily.
Briar grinned. "I'd say the Trader is right at home."
Daja glanced sidelong at him. "And I'd say the Thief-boy needs to find someone else to talk to. I'm busy."
"I'm hurt. I thought you always wanted to talk to me!"
"Sorry to kill your dreams. Go find Sandry. She always talks."
"Okay, but are you sure? I mean, you are missi --" Daja answered him by shoving him away.
"I give!" Briar held up his hands in mock surrender as he sauntered away to find Sandry.
Hey, Sandry! he called through their link.
Yes? she answered him.
Where are you? I can't think of anything to do, and Daj' said you would probably let me talk to you, so . . .
I'm in the aft cabin, she told him.
***
Briar entered the cabin to find her sitting at a lap-loom. He groaned. "Don't you ever get tired of all those threads?" he asked.
"Do you ever get tired of plants?" Sandry retorted.
"Well . . . no," he admitted.
"There's your answer!" She shot him a triumphant look.
"Don't you have anything interesting for me to do?" Briar asked plaintively. "I'm really bored. I'm not sure I like the idea of being so far from anything green."
"There are plants in the sea, you know." Sandry was preoccupied with her loom, and was unaware of the impact her comment made on the boy. Briar gawked at her.
"Bu . . . But how can they survive if they're underwater? They'd drown!"
"I don't really know. Tris mentioned it to me once when she was studying last year." Sandry paused at her weaving and looked up at him. "I wish Tris were here with us. It just doesn't feel right, going without her."
"You know Lark and Rosethorn talked to Niko. She doesn't want to come. She's having fun right back in Emelan," Briar comforted her.
"I still don't like it." Sandry shook the hair out of her eyes and bent over her loom again.
Now Briar had something to do. "I'll talk to you later, okay, Sandry?"
"Sure." She had fallen back into the familiar glow of her power.
Briar exited the room, making for the deck. When he reached it, he sat in a comfortable chair and began his meditation breathing. Dropping into the core of his magic, he saw everything with a silver glint, a result of his magical vision. He fell down past the deck of the ship, plummeting past the metal hull. Water washed around him as he fell. He shuddered. Water was fine for people like Tris, but he'd take good solid earth any day!
Reaching farther, he came to the end of his magical length. I didn't realize all this water went so deep, he thought. Extending a small tendril, he shot back to the surface and looked for his shakkan. Old and wise, the miniature tree had reserves of power far beyond his own. Asking permission and getting it, Briar tapped the plant's magic.
Now, with his extended reach of magic, he was able to reach the bottom. To his immense surprise, there were plants down there. He stretched out another tendril and fastened to the plants. What are you? he asked them, then settled down for a long conversation.