Hello again! I want to thank everybody for the reviews I've been getting [I always do thank everyone, but you guys are so great that I have to keep doing it!], especially those of you who have reviewed multiple times such as The Dreaded Rainbow Man, babooshka, Galadriel Greenleaf, LizDarcy, Larzdinn, Dragon Girl Revlis, jiana weasley, and Sandry16. You are all so nice and encouraging for me with this story. I also want to thank ShimmerShadowGlimmerDust for putting me on your favorite stories list! I'm so flattered! Here now is part 7. In case anyone missed it, remember to check back on part 6, since it is now the full version. So now onto the story and, since I realized the other day that I don't have one, my disclaimer...
DISCLAIMER: Most of these characters belong to Tamora Pierce. For those that do, you know who they are, and TAMMY knows who they are, so there is no point in naming them all. The point is, I don't own them and I'm not making money off of them. The plot is mine, the writing is mine. That's it.
Part 7 - Rogue Magic
Tris looked up from her cot when she heard Briar and Sandry enter the infirmary. She couldn't catch the words, but saw that Briar was panting out information to a disconcerted Novice wearing the colors of the Water Temple. It was easy enough to tell that Briar was distressed with the way he had Sandry's hand gripped in one of his and was using the other in an animated explanation. Sandry looked just as upset as Briar, but Tris could tell that she was trying to hide it. When the confused Novice only shook her head, Briar's brow frowned with impatience and he begin scanning the room for someone else to talk to. Tris waved him over when she caught his eye. Briar started across the space between them in due haste with Sandry in tow. Tris noticed now that the noble looked uncomfortable and embarrassed, but the concern was still on her face.
"Tris, thank goodness we found someone with brains. These Water Dedicates don't know anything..." Briar trailed off, taking a moment to gasp for breath, then continued. "Do you know where Lark is?"
"She went into an office somewhere in the back of the infirmary to talk with some healers. Something's wrong with Daja... I think they said her temperature was close to a hundred and five degrees, and her skin temperature is even hotter." She stopped when she noticed the lines of worry deepen on each of her friends' faces. "Why are you two here?"
Neither of them wanted to say anything; Briar because he wasn't exactly sure what was wrong with Sandry to begin with, and Sandry because she felt her troubles were unimportant compared to the apparent threat to Daja's life. Eventually it was Sandry that decided to speak, knowing that Tris would become angry if no one answered her.
"Well, I'm not exactly sure why, but I was having trouble with my magic... I mean, it's really not bad. Nobody got hurt or anything. We just thought Lark might be able to help." Sandry broke off there, feeling more stupid with each word. What did a little loss of control over her magic mean when Daja was sick?
But Tris shot a sharp look at her friend when she heard those words. "Trouble with your magic? How so?"
Sandry blushed. "It just did some things I didn't ask it to do... destroyed some clothes, nothing too bad."
That's when Tris noticed the ruins of a shirt that Briar was wearing. Her first thought was that yes, Sandry was obviously having trouble with her magic. Tris's second thought was what had Sandry and Briar been doing to leave his shirt in pieces. However, she didn't want to voice the latter and decided acknowledging the first was pointless. Instead, Tris considered how Sandry had described what had happened: it just did some things I didn't ask it to do.
Something about that reminded Tris of her own little episode earlier at Discipline. She'd been drying the dishes when perspiration had started to build up on her forehead. It was a fairly cool day, so she had thought it strange that she should be sweating, but simply brushed the annoyance away. Then small air currents had began flitting about her. At first, Tris had been relieved, thinking that the moving air would help with the sweat; however, as if to spite her, the perspiration had persisted even as the drafts had grown stronger. So strong in fact, that they had pushed her around and threw her off balance until she had finally been forced off her feet and onto the floor. By that point, Tris had realized that she wasn't sweating from heat, but from exhaustion the same way she did when she used too much of her magic. And the only way those air currents could have formed inside the closed cottage was by her own magic. It was as if her magic had stirred up the air even though she didn't ask it to.
Of course, she hadn't told any of that to Lark or Daja. Tris would rather die than admit that she couldn't keep a hold of her magic after seven years of teaching with the famous Niklaren Goldeye. She wasn't the dangerous, inexperienced little girl anymore.
Tris's thoughts returned to the present to find that Sandry was still blushing. Probably still about Briar's shirt.
"Are you still having problems with your magic?" Tris wondered.
A thoughtful look came over Sandry's face. "I don't know. I've been careful not to touch any fabric since I first realized something was wrong." Looking around, she spotted a spare bandage on a desk by a vacated cot and walked over to it. With a deep sigh, Sandry leaned down and lightly tapped the bandage, steeling herself for the rip she knew was coming. Only it never did. With a mixture of confusion and wonder spreading over her features, Sandry picked up the bandage and brought it back over to where Tris and Briar were. "Nothing," she admitted, showing them the perfectly whole piece of cloth.
Just then a door in the back of the infirmary opened and in strode Lark and a smaller woman in the blue dedicate's habit of the Water Temple. She had platinum-blonde hair worn in a long braid down her back and large, brown eyes so dark that they were almost black. They came straight over to where the three young mages had been talking, Lark's eyes silently questioning Briar and Sandry as to why they were there and kindly welcoming them at the same time.
Turning toward her companion, Lark announced, "Dedicate, though I believe you already know Trisana, these two are Briar and Sandry. They were also taught under the roof of Discipline Cottage. Briar and Sandry, this is Dedicate Coral. She is the new Head of the Water Temple." Coral smiled cheerfully and nodded her greetings, then her face underwent a complete transformation into a serious gaze.
"I'm afraid your friend Daja is very ill with a fever. I have personally been seeing to her, though, and already there have been improvements. I expect that she will be well and ready to return to Discipline in a day or two."
Sandry heaved a huge sigh of relief. Tris and Briar felt similar reactions, but chose to keep them hidden.
Dedicate Coral continued, "My healers and I have concluded that this fever was most likely brought on by Daja's own forge-magic. Because it was linked to her magic, and her magic is linked to all of yours, I must inquire how all of you are feeling. If you've noticed anything strange at all with yourselves or your magics today."
Sandry froze in shock. Was it possible that Daja's magical troubles could have caused her own? Or worse, had her loss of control with her magic had an effect on Daja?
Briar was wondering the exact same things at that moment, and also recalling the fight he'd had with the piece of lettuce at lunch. Had there been more to that than he'd thought?
Tris's thoughts were running along the same line as both Sandry's and Briar's, only one difference. She was positive that her episode earlier had started before Daja's temperature had started to rise. That meant that in all likelihood, she had caused both Daja's fever and Sandry's problems. She wasn't going to say that much, though. She'd keep it simple...
"Yes, I wasn't well earlier today, as Lark can tell you. My weather-magic got away from me and formed winds inside the cottage that pushed me down. This was at the same time as when Daja's temperature changed," Tris explained with Briar and Sandry both looking at her in surprise. Dedicate Coral looked at Lark for confirmation; Lark nodded.
Then Briar cut in, "Sandry and I lost control of our magic during our noon meal today. Sandry's thread-magic started tearing and ripping any cloth that her hands came in contact with." He gestured to his shirt as evidence, causing Sandry's face to grow crimson. "I had trouble with a plant that continually disobeyed me and seemed to do exactly what I didn't want it to do, such as crawling all over me. I hadn't thought anything about the plant at the time, but we came over here right away when we realized that it was Sandry's magic that was causing things to tear."
Worry creases settled around Lark's almond-shaped eyes. "Has this ever happened before?"
All three shook their heads.
"What about today. Did it happen more than once today?" she asked.
"Not for me," Tris answered.
"Or us," Sandry admitted.
"And this happened with Tris and Daja after the midday meal," Lark said to Coral.
"But with Sandry and Briar during their meal?" Coral said aloud in confusion.
"We had our meal late, though," Sandry remembered. "I met up with Briar in the marketplace one and a half bells after the noon bell sounded, and then we went back to the Citadel to have our meal there."
Lark nodded several times in understanding. "That would have had them eating around the same as when I discovered Daja's fever," she explained to Dedicate Coral.
There was silence for a few moments as everybody watched the Water Dedicate. It was obvious she was contemplating what to do next. Suddenly she glanced at the fading sunlight filtering through a nearby window and shook her head regretfully. "I would like to discuss this further and examine you three. However, darkness is falling and I think you should all get some rest so that you may be here early tomorrow. Can you be here one bell after the sunrise?"
Briar and Tris glanced at each other, quietly sharing their loathing of early wake-up calls. Sandry opened her mouth about ready to say she didn't think she could make it there that early from the Citadel, but then turned to her once teacher and longtime friend. "Lark, could I stay at Discipline tonight?"
"Of course you can, dear. We can even stop at the aviary by the Air Temples on our way back to the cottage so that you can send your uncle a message," Lark offered.
Sandry smiled her deep gratitude and then faced Dedicate Coral again. "Yes, I can come tomorrow morning one bell after sunrise."
"We'll make it, as well," Briar grudgingly agreed.
Dedicate Coral again smiled the same bright grin that she had greeted them with. "Wonderful. I hope that we can sort this out tomorrow. At that time, you may also visit your friend. She should not be bothered tonight, however."
"Thank you for your help, Coral," Lark said. "Shall we return to Discipline, then?" she suggested to the three youths.
As Lark headed toward the doorway, Sandry fell into step behind her with an expression of sorrow threatening to conquer her strong facade. Briar noted with pain how distressed she was, and longed to find a way to make her feel better. Seeing this, Tris nudged his shoulder to get his attention. He looked at her in question, only to have her nod toward Sandry and push him forward. He only stared back in confusion.
Tris winked at him and jogged to catch up to her friend. Briar watched her throw an arm around Sandry in an effort to give some comfort. In reaction, Sandry leaned into Tris and placed her own arm around the taller girl. Hope -- and not just about Daja's recovery -- sparked in his heart, and Briar trotted up to Sandry's other side, taking her free hand in his own. Continuing forward, he squeezed her hand in love and support.
Just as they passed through the infirmary door and began down the dirt bath toward the Air Temples, Briar felt Sandry's grip tighten on his hand. And she didn't let up until they reached their destination.
DISCLAIMER: Most of these characters belong to Tamora Pierce. For those that do, you know who they are, and TAMMY knows who they are, so there is no point in naming them all. The point is, I don't own them and I'm not making money off of them. The plot is mine, the writing is mine. That's it.
Part 7 - Rogue Magic
Tris looked up from her cot when she heard Briar and Sandry enter the infirmary. She couldn't catch the words, but saw that Briar was panting out information to a disconcerted Novice wearing the colors of the Water Temple. It was easy enough to tell that Briar was distressed with the way he had Sandry's hand gripped in one of his and was using the other in an animated explanation. Sandry looked just as upset as Briar, but Tris could tell that she was trying to hide it. When the confused Novice only shook her head, Briar's brow frowned with impatience and he begin scanning the room for someone else to talk to. Tris waved him over when she caught his eye. Briar started across the space between them in due haste with Sandry in tow. Tris noticed now that the noble looked uncomfortable and embarrassed, but the concern was still on her face.
"Tris, thank goodness we found someone with brains. These Water Dedicates don't know anything..." Briar trailed off, taking a moment to gasp for breath, then continued. "Do you know where Lark is?"
"She went into an office somewhere in the back of the infirmary to talk with some healers. Something's wrong with Daja... I think they said her temperature was close to a hundred and five degrees, and her skin temperature is even hotter." She stopped when she noticed the lines of worry deepen on each of her friends' faces. "Why are you two here?"
Neither of them wanted to say anything; Briar because he wasn't exactly sure what was wrong with Sandry to begin with, and Sandry because she felt her troubles were unimportant compared to the apparent threat to Daja's life. Eventually it was Sandry that decided to speak, knowing that Tris would become angry if no one answered her.
"Well, I'm not exactly sure why, but I was having trouble with my magic... I mean, it's really not bad. Nobody got hurt or anything. We just thought Lark might be able to help." Sandry broke off there, feeling more stupid with each word. What did a little loss of control over her magic mean when Daja was sick?
But Tris shot a sharp look at her friend when she heard those words. "Trouble with your magic? How so?"
Sandry blushed. "It just did some things I didn't ask it to do... destroyed some clothes, nothing too bad."
That's when Tris noticed the ruins of a shirt that Briar was wearing. Her first thought was that yes, Sandry was obviously having trouble with her magic. Tris's second thought was what had Sandry and Briar been doing to leave his shirt in pieces. However, she didn't want to voice the latter and decided acknowledging the first was pointless. Instead, Tris considered how Sandry had described what had happened: it just did some things I didn't ask it to do.
Something about that reminded Tris of her own little episode earlier at Discipline. She'd been drying the dishes when perspiration had started to build up on her forehead. It was a fairly cool day, so she had thought it strange that she should be sweating, but simply brushed the annoyance away. Then small air currents had began flitting about her. At first, Tris had been relieved, thinking that the moving air would help with the sweat; however, as if to spite her, the perspiration had persisted even as the drafts had grown stronger. So strong in fact, that they had pushed her around and threw her off balance until she had finally been forced off her feet and onto the floor. By that point, Tris had realized that she wasn't sweating from heat, but from exhaustion the same way she did when she used too much of her magic. And the only way those air currents could have formed inside the closed cottage was by her own magic. It was as if her magic had stirred up the air even though she didn't ask it to.
Of course, she hadn't told any of that to Lark or Daja. Tris would rather die than admit that she couldn't keep a hold of her magic after seven years of teaching with the famous Niklaren Goldeye. She wasn't the dangerous, inexperienced little girl anymore.
Tris's thoughts returned to the present to find that Sandry was still blushing. Probably still about Briar's shirt.
"Are you still having problems with your magic?" Tris wondered.
A thoughtful look came over Sandry's face. "I don't know. I've been careful not to touch any fabric since I first realized something was wrong." Looking around, she spotted a spare bandage on a desk by a vacated cot and walked over to it. With a deep sigh, Sandry leaned down and lightly tapped the bandage, steeling herself for the rip she knew was coming. Only it never did. With a mixture of confusion and wonder spreading over her features, Sandry picked up the bandage and brought it back over to where Tris and Briar were. "Nothing," she admitted, showing them the perfectly whole piece of cloth.
Just then a door in the back of the infirmary opened and in strode Lark and a smaller woman in the blue dedicate's habit of the Water Temple. She had platinum-blonde hair worn in a long braid down her back and large, brown eyes so dark that they were almost black. They came straight over to where the three young mages had been talking, Lark's eyes silently questioning Briar and Sandry as to why they were there and kindly welcoming them at the same time.
Turning toward her companion, Lark announced, "Dedicate, though I believe you already know Trisana, these two are Briar and Sandry. They were also taught under the roof of Discipline Cottage. Briar and Sandry, this is Dedicate Coral. She is the new Head of the Water Temple." Coral smiled cheerfully and nodded her greetings, then her face underwent a complete transformation into a serious gaze.
"I'm afraid your friend Daja is very ill with a fever. I have personally been seeing to her, though, and already there have been improvements. I expect that she will be well and ready to return to Discipline in a day or two."
Sandry heaved a huge sigh of relief. Tris and Briar felt similar reactions, but chose to keep them hidden.
Dedicate Coral continued, "My healers and I have concluded that this fever was most likely brought on by Daja's own forge-magic. Because it was linked to her magic, and her magic is linked to all of yours, I must inquire how all of you are feeling. If you've noticed anything strange at all with yourselves or your magics today."
Sandry froze in shock. Was it possible that Daja's magical troubles could have caused her own? Or worse, had her loss of control with her magic had an effect on Daja?
Briar was wondering the exact same things at that moment, and also recalling the fight he'd had with the piece of lettuce at lunch. Had there been more to that than he'd thought?
Tris's thoughts were running along the same line as both Sandry's and Briar's, only one difference. She was positive that her episode earlier had started before Daja's temperature had started to rise. That meant that in all likelihood, she had caused both Daja's fever and Sandry's problems. She wasn't going to say that much, though. She'd keep it simple...
"Yes, I wasn't well earlier today, as Lark can tell you. My weather-magic got away from me and formed winds inside the cottage that pushed me down. This was at the same time as when Daja's temperature changed," Tris explained with Briar and Sandry both looking at her in surprise. Dedicate Coral looked at Lark for confirmation; Lark nodded.
Then Briar cut in, "Sandry and I lost control of our magic during our noon meal today. Sandry's thread-magic started tearing and ripping any cloth that her hands came in contact with." He gestured to his shirt as evidence, causing Sandry's face to grow crimson. "I had trouble with a plant that continually disobeyed me and seemed to do exactly what I didn't want it to do, such as crawling all over me. I hadn't thought anything about the plant at the time, but we came over here right away when we realized that it was Sandry's magic that was causing things to tear."
Worry creases settled around Lark's almond-shaped eyes. "Has this ever happened before?"
All three shook their heads.
"What about today. Did it happen more than once today?" she asked.
"Not for me," Tris answered.
"Or us," Sandry admitted.
"And this happened with Tris and Daja after the midday meal," Lark said to Coral.
"But with Sandry and Briar during their meal?" Coral said aloud in confusion.
"We had our meal late, though," Sandry remembered. "I met up with Briar in the marketplace one and a half bells after the noon bell sounded, and then we went back to the Citadel to have our meal there."
Lark nodded several times in understanding. "That would have had them eating around the same as when I discovered Daja's fever," she explained to Dedicate Coral.
There was silence for a few moments as everybody watched the Water Dedicate. It was obvious she was contemplating what to do next. Suddenly she glanced at the fading sunlight filtering through a nearby window and shook her head regretfully. "I would like to discuss this further and examine you three. However, darkness is falling and I think you should all get some rest so that you may be here early tomorrow. Can you be here one bell after the sunrise?"
Briar and Tris glanced at each other, quietly sharing their loathing of early wake-up calls. Sandry opened her mouth about ready to say she didn't think she could make it there that early from the Citadel, but then turned to her once teacher and longtime friend. "Lark, could I stay at Discipline tonight?"
"Of course you can, dear. We can even stop at the aviary by the Air Temples on our way back to the cottage so that you can send your uncle a message," Lark offered.
Sandry smiled her deep gratitude and then faced Dedicate Coral again. "Yes, I can come tomorrow morning one bell after sunrise."
"We'll make it, as well," Briar grudgingly agreed.
Dedicate Coral again smiled the same bright grin that she had greeted them with. "Wonderful. I hope that we can sort this out tomorrow. At that time, you may also visit your friend. She should not be bothered tonight, however."
"Thank you for your help, Coral," Lark said. "Shall we return to Discipline, then?" she suggested to the three youths.
As Lark headed toward the doorway, Sandry fell into step behind her with an expression of sorrow threatening to conquer her strong facade. Briar noted with pain how distressed she was, and longed to find a way to make her feel better. Seeing this, Tris nudged his shoulder to get his attention. He looked at her in question, only to have her nod toward Sandry and push him forward. He only stared back in confusion.
Tris winked at him and jogged to catch up to her friend. Briar watched her throw an arm around Sandry in an effort to give some comfort. In reaction, Sandry leaned into Tris and placed her own arm around the taller girl. Hope -- and not just about Daja's recovery -- sparked in his heart, and Briar trotted up to Sandry's other side, taking her free hand in his own. Continuing forward, he squeezed her hand in love and support.
Just as they passed through the infirmary door and began down the dirt bath toward the Air Temples, Briar felt Sandry's grip tighten on his hand. And she didn't let up until they reached their destination.