Crap, forgot the disclaimer last time. Well, I don't own it. There's a reason this is under Tamora Pierce Fanfic.
I know I said no individual comments to reviewers, but I can't help it. They will be short though.
Thanks to the encouragement from my Kiara, Russetwolf, and Miss Chips, who had to read all my rants of indecision. To Andrea, "Ouch, it bites." Well, that was kinda harsh, but maybe I deserved it. And if you don't like fluff, don't read romance. Summaries/genres there for a reason. And there's a reason why I stopped writing it. Got tired of nothing but fluff. I probably will have some in this one, but it does focus on an action/adventure/mystery plot.
I warn you all now, the letters in the chapter are rather boring, but somewhat necessary. Feel free to just skim past all of them, as long as you know that all the Circle's students are gone. And there's a reason for all this to happen. And the conversation was awkward, for some reason. I couldn't get it to work.
Sandry shifted in her seat in the wagon, restless. She wanted to ride. Unfortunately, all her breeches were in a state of disrepair, and she knew she'd regret riding sidesaddle all the way to Winding Circle. Sandry sighed in frustration and plucked a bag from her side. Opening it up, she ran across some bits of cloth, thread, and the wooden box that held a pin cushion and a few needles. She fingered the lid, then changed her mind and put the box back. I'd rather not stab myself, she thought glumly. Though it may be more interesting than staring at the inside of the wagon.
She dug a little deeper and pulled out a stack of letters. Regrettably, she hadn't had time to read them. I have time now, more than I know what to do with. She flipped it open.
It was from Pasco. About three weeks ago, Kalaryn Aselat, a friend of Lark and Yazmin, had come to visit. She'd been fascinated by Pasco's magic. Now, warding him was no longer necessary, and he didn't make mistakes unless deliberately trying a new spell, two arguments he used when Kalaryn asked to "borrow" him, offering to take him to Capchen to learn their dances. He had something of a point, though in the end, it was his incessant whining that made Yazmin growl agreement and Sandry relent, her patience worn unusually thin.
Harrier the Clawed, Mila, Green Man, Shurri, Hakkoi, Trader Koma, even Lakik the Trickster, it doesn't matter who, someone save me!
Lady Sandry, you're supposed to keep me out of trouble. How could you let me go with Mistress Kalaryn? You should have hit me over the head and tied me up until she left. Why didn't you tell me that all working dancers were just pretty, graceful, well-disguised monsters. I thought the little monster was the only one. Mistress Kalaryn is like a cat—curious and cruel. I'm surprised she hasn't held me underwater just to see how long before I'd drown.
She had me try this awful stretch. I had to sit on the floor with my legs straight out in front of me, then fold myself in half and bring my arms back until they went straight up. When I couldn't, she forced me into it, all the while muttering about how she could still do it easily when she was so much older, sounding exactly like the little monster back home. It's not my fault if I'm a normal person with bones. She finally had to help me back up. I couldn't move for a week. When I could finally walk without wincing, she made me do it again, to see how fast I recovered. And yet again, yesterday. The simple act of writing to you right now is an extremely painful experience.
I have to go. The Cat-Demon wants to know how long I can hold a split.
—Pasco Acalon, your newly disabled student.
Sandry grinned. Pasco was the same way about Yazmin, but she knew he loved his lessons all the same, no matter how much he complained. She folded the letter back up and opened the one from Daja.
Saati,
I know you miss the others and me. You didn't really need to say so in the letter. If you remember, I was supposed to come back right after my stay in Namorn, if Frostpine hadn't decided to dip south a little to thaw, as he puts it.
Speaking of Namorn, the girls wrote to me recently. Jory met a green mage, and she's made something to add to tonic—you know, like that stuff Rosethorn made me drink after the harbor chain incident—that neutralizes that awful taste without affecting the potency of the potion. The mage gave her some so she could test it, after she found a few volunteers in a healer's batch of patients to use it on. It's not really a big deal, but I wish someone had thought of that before I had to take it.
Nia's working on a pet project of her own. Some sort of hard polish that makes furniture scratch resistant, so you can't hurt it unless you really try to stab it or something, and even then it's difficult. Amusing, really.
I'll send this now, while I can. Who knows when I'll find another messenger?
—Daja.
Sandry picked up the next letter, Tris's.
Sandry,
Thankfully, I didn't have to deal with my student long before I found him another teacher. He wasn't particularly annoying, but it's the most ridiculous feeling in the world to be teaching someone older than you are. That Pasco Acalon of yours is two years younger, at least.
I know you want me to write more, but I just got a new book and I'd like to get some reading in before we have to go again.
—Tris
Sandry broke the seal on the last letter, the one from Briar.
Hey Duchess,
You're probably gonna kill me for not writing sooner, but no one wanted to make the trip from so far away, so I'm sending this now from a little past Sotat. Even so, I'm probably going to get there first, these messengers are so slow.
Tris and Daja said they got rid of their students. I did too. Funny how this stuff happens, isn't it, Bag? Is yours gone?
Anyway, it's bleatin' scary how it happened so neatly. Guess I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, though. It's nice to be able to travel without a dozen cats. Gods, I've spent too much time with you girls. I was blabbing so much I almost forgot to tell you what actually happened.
We got to Yanjing, and even bought a few trees to make shakkans, though the one I stole from Crane will always be my favorite. I'll probably sell them when I get home, since I'll get a better price in a place far from where they're common. We visited a couple of inns to get the best rooms for our money. Well, there was one that we were thinking about staying at, but there were just two rooms left. I called Evvy over to see what she thought about sharing a room with Rosethorn, and her eyes nearly popped out of her head. They started talking so fast I lost track. The innkeeper was Evvy's aunt—really, the only one who liked her. The aunt had actually been looking for her after her parents left and sold her without warning. Better yet, she had stone magic. Maybe that's why she liked Evvy. Some sort of affinity for stone mages. Did I just say that? Great. Must've been too comfortable lately. Turning into some sort of lily-footed Bag. Can't even talk like real people anymore.
That enough for you, your Highness? You're always complaining about how I don't say enough in my letters.
—Briar.
Sandry slipped the stack back into her bag and stuck her head out to talk to the driver. "How much longer before we get to Winding Circle?"
"We're there, Lady."
Startled, Sandry looked around, seeing that he was right. She heard him chuckle.
"Didn't notice we stopped moving? Perfect timing too."
Sandry turned and saw three wagons coming to a halt a little bit away from her. A figure climbed out of each.
Being the farthest away, Sandry picked up her skirts and ran. They were all about five feet apart when—
Sandry felt herself blown back with a soundless explosion. She felt a line of pain etch itself onto her arm as her sleeve ripped on a sharp rock embedded in the ground. She carefully used her other arm to help herself up, flinching, then looking around at the others.
Their conditions weren't much better. Tris rubbed a bump on her head with an irate expression. Daja sported a bruise that stood out even on her dark skin. Briar growled a few curses as he gripped an arm he hadn't landed on properly.
"What was that?" demanded Rosethorn. Their teachers had run up to investigate when the four had gone flying.
"Who knows?" replied Niko. He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "My best guess is that their magic wasn't used to being apart so long, so when they came back together, it came back together—explosively."
"Am I the only one who didn't understand that?" asked Frostpine.
Niko shrugged. "It's just a guess. It is the nature of things, that when stretched, either stay stretched, or return to its original shape, violently."
The kids exchanged a four-way glance. Carefully, they started to walk towards each other. They met in a tight square with no mishaps.
"Well, whatever it was, it was a one time thing," Daja informed the adults. They shrugged and left the four to their reunion.
Sandry looked at each of them in turn. They'd all gotten so tall! Besides that, they were the same as ever. Tris was an inch shorter than her own five feet seven inches, but still the same, albeit with slightly tamer red curls. Daja was five eight, with longer black hair pulled back into a multiple-braided horsetail, but her brown eyes were as calm as they always were, and her build still sturdy. Briar was a scant inch taller than their dark friend, and maintained a mischievous light in his gray green eyes.
"So, Duchess," he said, eyeing her elaborate braids and the dress she hadn't been able to change out of. The grin he was wearing was more than a bit evil. "I take it the royal treatment agrees with you?"
A laugh escaped him as Sandry smacked him with the flat of her hand.
"Very funny. You know I only wear these things because my uncle wants me to. And if you think it's okay to rub it in, I suggest you try it on first."
Daja snorted. "Rosethorn would have a field day with that one."
"So would I," Tris added, looking up from her book.
The others looked at her. "You didn't have that a second ago," Daja commented.
"I think she has more hiding places for those things than Briar does for knives."
Briar gasped in mock horror. "Impossible! You can't carry more than a dozen books and still walk."
Sandry blinked. "If I ever need to cut something, I know who to ask."
"Don't ruin the edge for cutting! If you're gonna borrow one of my knives, someone had better get stabbed."
She smiled sweetly. "If you're that 'someone'?"
He took half a step back. "Sometimes I'm terrified of you," he murmured.
Rosethorn had reached them. "And for that we are proud of her. Now, do I have 'volunteers' to help bring the packs in?"
The kids looked at each other, knowing the real meaning behind her words, and rushed to move the bags.
Sorry. I always have trouble with the four meeting up. I didn't know what they'd talk about. This was the most boring chapter I have planned so far. The next couple are much more interesting. I tried to make it funny, for what it's worth. And I love Briar getting beaten up. 'Tis amusing. Tris was reading too much 'cause I couldn't think of anything for her to say in that situation.
Ah, well. Feel free to email if you want. Ladysandrilene@hotmail.com. My inbox is sadly empty.
Review, please, and be gentle. I make jokes, but my ego is fragile after the catastrophe that was my other story. *waits* Well? What's the delay? I told you to review!
