ARG! I'm gonna shoot this site! I've been trying for the past day to upload the next chapter, and it keeps telling me the document manager isn't working so I can't! Anyway, at least i finally managed it now. I want to tell you all that you are way too kind. I'm so giddy with delight over how nice your reviews are. Honestly, I never planned to update the story quite so often, but I'm feeling like I must now. Sorry again to those who were hoping for a B/T pairing, but as I explained, it just didn't work for me. And while this story IS a romance, it also has a separate plot as well, so I'm going to be trying to twine the two together now. Sorry to those who love all fluff, because I want this story to also have some seriousness to it. Extra note: babooshka, I have to ask you to update YOUR story soon, as well. You left it on a huge cliffhanger! Anyway, back to this story...
Part 5 - Private Musings
She wasn't sure how long she'd been holding her breath. Before her stood the most handsome young man she'd ever seen. Raven's wing black hair that brushed his ear lobes swept back to frame a tan face. His lean, strong body was taller than she remembered, but then, that was to be expected. He was clad in soft black leather boots and loose tan trousers with hints of jade and emerald threads sparkling throughout. To top it off was a flaxen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, a hint of jade embroidery along the neckline. Remembering the care she'd put into that shirt, Sandry knew there would be matching designs along the cuffs, although they were impossible to see just now. And just as she'd planned when she'd woven her magic into the outfit, the clothing had grown with the man.
Was this really Briar?
The unsure manner and hands protectively shoved into the pants pockets suggested otherwise. However, the depth in those wild eyes told her it was him.
Leaping out of her chair with a suppressed squeal, Sandry let loose her abandon and flung her arms around his shoulders in greeting. She felt his arms wrap around her waist in response as she squeezed him with joy.
"I wondered if you were ever going to return," she informed him teasingly, trying to hide her uncollected state.
Briar laughed into her hair, also trying to disguise what he was feeling. Uncomfortably enough, he was having unbrotherly thoughts about this girl that was supposed to be his foster-sister. It didn't help that she was presently pressing herself against him in what she no doubt considered a sister's embrace. By the Thief Gods, he'd never seen a woman so gorgeous as she'd appeared to him a moment ago: facing him in her chair, soft hair falling about her shoulders and cheeks flushed with excitement. Her peach riding gown with cream trim wasn't extravagantly fashioned, but he'd definitely noticed how perfectly it fit her. In sharp contrast to everything else were her piercing eyes, the vivid blue of the morning sky.
Pulling away to have another look at her, Briar gazed into those eyes now. "I tried to come back sooner. I ended up having to drag Rosethorn home," he joked with a grin.
The very image he'd just painted for her produced an eruption of mirth from Sandry. Anybody hauling Rosethorn around was a sight she'd pay good money to see. Moving back toward the table, Sandry indicated that Briar should pull up a chair alongside her own.
After the two had settled down, Sandry returned her attention to Pasco. "Pasco, this is Briar Moss. Briar this is Pasco Acalon," she introduced the two to each other. After they kindly shook hands, Pasco with a small look of awe on his face, she continued. "Pasco was a student of mine a couple of years back. He has ambient magic, like us, only his is dance magic. There is nothing else I can teach him, since I know little about dance magic, but we still visit," Sandry explained to Briar. He nodded his understanding.
"Pasco, Briar was one of my housemates at Discipline cottage in Winding Circle. He was part of what people like to call the--"
"Mage Quartet. You two and Trisana Chandler and Daja Kisubo, right?" Pasco cut in. He'd heard some stories about Sandry's other friends from her, but he'd never actually met any of them. Other stories he'd heard from other people about the quartet were amazing, though he knew Sandry didn't like to mention them, so he never had, either. Maybe it was foolish for him to be nervous about meeting another member of the Mage Quartet when he'd been close friends with Sandry for a couple years now, but he was nonetheless.
Sandry nodded, beaming. Then directing that smile toward Briar, she finished her explanation. "Briar has been gone for the last three years. But now he's back." That last line suggested that he go on to describe what he'd been doing those three years.
"Well, mostly Rosethorn and I just wandered South to any place that needed our help. Of course, there was a terrible drought in many places, especially in the Sotat city of Chammur. We spent quite some time there, helping out the farmers; and I also found myself a student," he smirked at the irony. "Her name is Evumeimei -- Evvy -- and she has stone magic. As we began traveling more to the East, we visited Yanjing for some time. Yanjing was Evvy's original home, so she decided to stay there when we left. I guess her magic was in quite a large demand, so Rosethorn and I were leaving her there with a good place to stay and a promising future. Most of the past three years I've spent traveling rather than in one place, though."
Sandry felt a twinge of jealousy upon hearing that last statement. She'd spent the last three years tending to her uncle, never once leaving Emelan. What she wouldn't give for the chance to see more of the world! Yet, at the same time, Vedris meant too much to her. Healers had kept telling him that he'd never survive a third heart attack, though he'd miraculously done just that a few months ago. Now his heart was so weak that chances were he wouldn't live long enough to worry about another heart attack. Blinking back tears before they had a chance to properly wet her eyes, Sandry did her best to mask her thoughts. She wanted this to be a happy reunion.
Briar noticed the pained look that flashed across Sandry's face, but felt it would be best not to ask her about it. Not only did he not want to discuss it in front of this Pasco, but he could tell that she was trying to hide her feelings.
Oddly enough, Pasco also seemed to sense that Briar and Sandry should be alone, because he suddenly jumped up from his chair. "Sorry, milady, Briar," he nodded respectively to each, "but I really should be going. Dance magic or no, Mama still wants all of us in the courtyard for sword practice two bells after the midday." He bowed again to Sandry, waved a final farewell and trotted out of the restaurant and down the street. Sandry's laughter trailed after him, causing Briar to give her a questioning look.
"What's so amusing?"
"His family. Practically every relative he has is a harrier for my uncle. His mother sort of acts as "clan superior," and nobody dares cross her. All the younger members of the family have regular weapon practices, including Pasco, even if he has no plans of following the family tradition. I guess I just find his reverence -- bordering on fear -- of his mother funny," Sandry explained.
Briar also found amusement in this, but then added, "Are you telling me that you don't try to rule the Citadel the same way?"
She laughed again, although a note of sorrow had entered the sound this time. "I guess I do, especially Uncle." There was a long, awkward silence. Briar knew where Sandry's thoughts were heading, but decided that if she wanted to talk about it, she would have to initiate the subject. When she did actually begin to speak again, he was rather shocked; as good as she was at listening to other people's problems, Sandry rarely ever voiced her own.
"He hasn't long left, you know. The healers never expected him to make it this long. Sometimes I think I'm the only reason he's still holding on." At this point, Sandry gave way to her weeping. Briar again pulled her into his arms, lightly brushing her hair for comfort. There was nothing he could say that wouldn't be stupid. "I just.. I wish he would let go if that's what he truly wants. I want him to be happy, but lately all he has is his pain. There's nothing I can do for him but assure him that I'll take good care of the land until his son takes up the throne. What's worse, though, is that lately he's been hinting that he might choose me as his successor."
It was all Briar could do to hide his shock at this admission. Sandry, ruler of Emelan?
"I know it's assumed that his position should go to the next person in line. But that retched son and daughter-in-law of his only want the power. They'll do nothing for Emelan. Uncle knows he's legally allowed to appoint anyone he wants as the next ruler, but nobody outside of the Citadel will expect it. What if there's a rebellion when people hear that a teenage girl, who's not even the true heir, is their sovereign? I don't think I could deal with that, sending out officials to guard me against my own people? Hurting those I should be protecting just to ensure my own safety? Oh, Briar!"
He simply continued to hold her, wishing there was something -- anything -- he could do to ease her frustration and torment. He felt her slight body trembling in emotional agony as she soaked his shoulder. Her crying was now reduced to silent sobs, but he wasn't fooled into believing she felt any less miserable.
Slowly getting herself under control, Sandry lifted her head from Briar's shoulder and gave him her best thank-you smile. It was a pathetic attempt, but the best she could muster just then. "This isn't exactly the welcome home I would have liked to have given you, but I don't suppose we can change that now."
"No need to apologize," he assured her. Standing up and pushing in his chair, Briar offered his arm to her.
Happy to move on from the depressing conversation, Sandry hastily wiped beneath both eyes and placed her hand upon the outstretched arm, once again noticing his size and strength as she used it to help herself stand up. "Say, how did you ever know I was here, anyway?" she wondered.
"Oh," he smirked, "really I was just looking for a good place to have my midday meal."
"And so you haven't eaten yet?"
He looked down at his stomach in mock concern. "I'm afraid not."
"How about we get something to eat at the Citadel then?" she suggested with a giggle, expressing without the actual words how grateful she was for his friendship and listening.
Part 5 - Private Musings
She wasn't sure how long she'd been holding her breath. Before her stood the most handsome young man she'd ever seen. Raven's wing black hair that brushed his ear lobes swept back to frame a tan face. His lean, strong body was taller than she remembered, but then, that was to be expected. He was clad in soft black leather boots and loose tan trousers with hints of jade and emerald threads sparkling throughout. To top it off was a flaxen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, a hint of jade embroidery along the neckline. Remembering the care she'd put into that shirt, Sandry knew there would be matching designs along the cuffs, although they were impossible to see just now. And just as she'd planned when she'd woven her magic into the outfit, the clothing had grown with the man.
Was this really Briar?
The unsure manner and hands protectively shoved into the pants pockets suggested otherwise. However, the depth in those wild eyes told her it was him.
Leaping out of her chair with a suppressed squeal, Sandry let loose her abandon and flung her arms around his shoulders in greeting. She felt his arms wrap around her waist in response as she squeezed him with joy.
"I wondered if you were ever going to return," she informed him teasingly, trying to hide her uncollected state.
Briar laughed into her hair, also trying to disguise what he was feeling. Uncomfortably enough, he was having unbrotherly thoughts about this girl that was supposed to be his foster-sister. It didn't help that she was presently pressing herself against him in what she no doubt considered a sister's embrace. By the Thief Gods, he'd never seen a woman so gorgeous as she'd appeared to him a moment ago: facing him in her chair, soft hair falling about her shoulders and cheeks flushed with excitement. Her peach riding gown with cream trim wasn't extravagantly fashioned, but he'd definitely noticed how perfectly it fit her. In sharp contrast to everything else were her piercing eyes, the vivid blue of the morning sky.
Pulling away to have another look at her, Briar gazed into those eyes now. "I tried to come back sooner. I ended up having to drag Rosethorn home," he joked with a grin.
The very image he'd just painted for her produced an eruption of mirth from Sandry. Anybody hauling Rosethorn around was a sight she'd pay good money to see. Moving back toward the table, Sandry indicated that Briar should pull up a chair alongside her own.
After the two had settled down, Sandry returned her attention to Pasco. "Pasco, this is Briar Moss. Briar this is Pasco Acalon," she introduced the two to each other. After they kindly shook hands, Pasco with a small look of awe on his face, she continued. "Pasco was a student of mine a couple of years back. He has ambient magic, like us, only his is dance magic. There is nothing else I can teach him, since I know little about dance magic, but we still visit," Sandry explained to Briar. He nodded his understanding.
"Pasco, Briar was one of my housemates at Discipline cottage in Winding Circle. He was part of what people like to call the--"
"Mage Quartet. You two and Trisana Chandler and Daja Kisubo, right?" Pasco cut in. He'd heard some stories about Sandry's other friends from her, but he'd never actually met any of them. Other stories he'd heard from other people about the quartet were amazing, though he knew Sandry didn't like to mention them, so he never had, either. Maybe it was foolish for him to be nervous about meeting another member of the Mage Quartet when he'd been close friends with Sandry for a couple years now, but he was nonetheless.
Sandry nodded, beaming. Then directing that smile toward Briar, she finished her explanation. "Briar has been gone for the last three years. But now he's back." That last line suggested that he go on to describe what he'd been doing those three years.
"Well, mostly Rosethorn and I just wandered South to any place that needed our help. Of course, there was a terrible drought in many places, especially in the Sotat city of Chammur. We spent quite some time there, helping out the farmers; and I also found myself a student," he smirked at the irony. "Her name is Evumeimei -- Evvy -- and she has stone magic. As we began traveling more to the East, we visited Yanjing for some time. Yanjing was Evvy's original home, so she decided to stay there when we left. I guess her magic was in quite a large demand, so Rosethorn and I were leaving her there with a good place to stay and a promising future. Most of the past three years I've spent traveling rather than in one place, though."
Sandry felt a twinge of jealousy upon hearing that last statement. She'd spent the last three years tending to her uncle, never once leaving Emelan. What she wouldn't give for the chance to see more of the world! Yet, at the same time, Vedris meant too much to her. Healers had kept telling him that he'd never survive a third heart attack, though he'd miraculously done just that a few months ago. Now his heart was so weak that chances were he wouldn't live long enough to worry about another heart attack. Blinking back tears before they had a chance to properly wet her eyes, Sandry did her best to mask her thoughts. She wanted this to be a happy reunion.
Briar noticed the pained look that flashed across Sandry's face, but felt it would be best not to ask her about it. Not only did he not want to discuss it in front of this Pasco, but he could tell that she was trying to hide her feelings.
Oddly enough, Pasco also seemed to sense that Briar and Sandry should be alone, because he suddenly jumped up from his chair. "Sorry, milady, Briar," he nodded respectively to each, "but I really should be going. Dance magic or no, Mama still wants all of us in the courtyard for sword practice two bells after the midday." He bowed again to Sandry, waved a final farewell and trotted out of the restaurant and down the street. Sandry's laughter trailed after him, causing Briar to give her a questioning look.
"What's so amusing?"
"His family. Practically every relative he has is a harrier for my uncle. His mother sort of acts as "clan superior," and nobody dares cross her. All the younger members of the family have regular weapon practices, including Pasco, even if he has no plans of following the family tradition. I guess I just find his reverence -- bordering on fear -- of his mother funny," Sandry explained.
Briar also found amusement in this, but then added, "Are you telling me that you don't try to rule the Citadel the same way?"
She laughed again, although a note of sorrow had entered the sound this time. "I guess I do, especially Uncle." There was a long, awkward silence. Briar knew where Sandry's thoughts were heading, but decided that if she wanted to talk about it, she would have to initiate the subject. When she did actually begin to speak again, he was rather shocked; as good as she was at listening to other people's problems, Sandry rarely ever voiced her own.
"He hasn't long left, you know. The healers never expected him to make it this long. Sometimes I think I'm the only reason he's still holding on." At this point, Sandry gave way to her weeping. Briar again pulled her into his arms, lightly brushing her hair for comfort. There was nothing he could say that wouldn't be stupid. "I just.. I wish he would let go if that's what he truly wants. I want him to be happy, but lately all he has is his pain. There's nothing I can do for him but assure him that I'll take good care of the land until his son takes up the throne. What's worse, though, is that lately he's been hinting that he might choose me as his successor."
It was all Briar could do to hide his shock at this admission. Sandry, ruler of Emelan?
"I know it's assumed that his position should go to the next person in line. But that retched son and daughter-in-law of his only want the power. They'll do nothing for Emelan. Uncle knows he's legally allowed to appoint anyone he wants as the next ruler, but nobody outside of the Citadel will expect it. What if there's a rebellion when people hear that a teenage girl, who's not even the true heir, is their sovereign? I don't think I could deal with that, sending out officials to guard me against my own people? Hurting those I should be protecting just to ensure my own safety? Oh, Briar!"
He simply continued to hold her, wishing there was something -- anything -- he could do to ease her frustration and torment. He felt her slight body trembling in emotional agony as she soaked his shoulder. Her crying was now reduced to silent sobs, but he wasn't fooled into believing she felt any less miserable.
Slowly getting herself under control, Sandry lifted her head from Briar's shoulder and gave him her best thank-you smile. It was a pathetic attempt, but the best she could muster just then. "This isn't exactly the welcome home I would have liked to have given you, but I don't suppose we can change that now."
"No need to apologize," he assured her. Standing up and pushing in his chair, Briar offered his arm to her.
Happy to move on from the depressing conversation, Sandry hastily wiped beneath both eyes and placed her hand upon the outstretched arm, once again noticing his size and strength as she used it to help herself stand up. "Say, how did you ever know I was here, anyway?" she wondered.
"Oh," he smirked, "really I was just looking for a good place to have my midday meal."
"And so you haven't eaten yet?"
He looked down at his stomach in mock concern. "I'm afraid not."
"How about we get something to eat at the Citadel then?" she suggested with a giggle, expressing without the actual words how grateful she was for his friendship and listening.