A/N: I'm not putting Glaki into this story because when I started writing
it I didn't know about her. All I knew was the excerpt from the back of
Shatterglass and I read it of the internet. Therefore we will say that
Glaki is staying at Lightsbridge to start her magical studies!
Disclaimer: I am not Tamora Pierce as you can clearly tell from my
writings. The plot is mine but I suspect that some things that will be
written here may appear in some of TP's future books, but not the same as I
write them. Alexander Debegri is my character, as well as Dedicate Helford
:D!!
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The next couple of days passed rather quickly. Sandry and Daja had to speak to the teachers of their students making arrangements for lessons and boarding, they couldn't all stay at Discipline. Briar went to the Earth temple library and took out many books on rocks for Evvy, writing up a plan for what she should be reading each day, and on magical exercises. He didn't want to burden Rosethorn much in case she was needed elsewhere. Tris, having no student to take care of, was set about by Niko to gather some magical objects from the market that they may need on their journey.
On their second last day in the Temple City the four mages had to go into the city to get any supplies they didn't already have. While they were in the market they all stayed in the same area but went to separate stalls. Tris, since she didn't know if she would get a chance to visit the market in Qalai went straight for a book seller's stall. Sandry went to a linen store, Daja went to buy some more metal for her personal projects, and Briar just walked around.
He came across a tiny little stall selling miniature trees. He looked at them all hoping to find some healthy ones that he could change the shape of, but these plants didn't look very cared for. He looked at the man selling them with the corner of his eyes looking for magic. Well of course the plants weren't in the greatest of conditions since their owner wasn't a plant mage, but at least he could have kept them healthier than this. The pots they were in were all to small, and the minimum amounts of earth was dry to the bone, or root in this case. He sneered at the grey haired man behind the table and moved on, after touching each plant to give it some extra strength. He didn't like people who didn't care for their plants but that didn't mean he would let them suffer needlessly.
Since he didn't think there was anything he needed he went to see Sandry who was looking thoughtfully at a bag of fresh white silk that hadn't been spun. It was rather expensive even for silk and there was quite a bit of it so Sandry asked Briar to go fetch Tris.
"She won't like it if she's into a new novel..." He answered.
"You know that she's the best at bargaining, and I don't want to spend all of my extra cash on one bag of silk. I still need a bunch of coloured dye..." Briar nodded and walked from the store. Sandry walked around the shop some more and came to the dye section. She chose out small bottles of brown, grey, blue, yellowish-gold, green red, and teal. Looking at the prices on a slate hanging beside the shelf she realized that they were relatively good prices.
"What is it now?" Came Tris' crisp voice. She walked over to Sandry who was holding the bag of silk and the small dye bottles. "Ok... Ok I'll do what I can." She went over to the sales keeper. Sandry and Briar waited at the front of the store so as not to crowed the keeper. It took a while but Tris came over finally with everything in a small bag. "The best price I got for everything was a gold noble (A/N: This is a really expensive price I know but I can't remember the other forms of currency and I'm way to tired and in a bad mood to go looking through the books right now. If you want to tell me what it is feel free :D).
"Thank you Tris. Now lets go find Daja she probably found what she wanted." Sandry walked out of the store and down the street to Daja.
"Tris..." Daja said smiling and handing her a few large pieces of copper, silver, and gold. Tris walked to the merchant at the stall shaking her head. Since she was a merchant's daughter she knew how to deal better than any of the others, even Daja who had been a trader for her 10 years before her family's deaths and her exile from the trader world. She was no longer trangshi anymore but she hadn't returned to her old life either.
Tris came back with Daja's purchase and they headed for the book stall. Tris bought three large leather bound books and five small paper ones before she would let them leave. They walked around some more, buying warmer clothes than their own for the cooler Qalai temperatures (Sandry hadn't had time to make them any new ones), getting new boots and shoes, riding gloves, and headscarfs for the girls. Their food for the journey would be made and packed by Jory and Gorse.
When they returned to Discipline late that night everyone was to tired to do much more than crawl into their beds.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The next day was very quiet at Discipline cottage. Comas went to visit relatives of his who were living in the city, so there were no children running around. Sandry was weaving some more lengths of silk thread. Tris was reading one of her new books. Briar was tending to his Shakkan, which he would be brining with him. Daja was trying to mould a sculpture of her bookkeeper goddess for her personal alter out of some of her living metal. Their teachers were all sitting around the fire talking in quiet whispers. They still didn't like the idea of their students going to Qalai, but, as they kept reminding themselves, they had no other option.
Just after the hub clock struck three times Lark stood up and went to Sandry. "Let's all meditate together one more time before you leave. Sandry nodded standing, and she walked outside into a nice clear spot in the garden. It was a beautiful day, blue sky with small white clouds, and a nice cool breeze to take off some of the summer heat. Everyone sat, and like always, Niko started counting to seven slowly out loud. After a while his voice started to fade out as their lungs settled into the familiar breathing pattern. Sandry decided to imagine herself as a drop spindle like she used to when she first learned about her magic. Briar turned into a beautiful green leaf, Daja a small length of copper wire. Tris became the wind blowing through the trees.
Briar was first to come out of his trance. He smiled calmly looking around at these familiar faces that he had learned to call his family. Sandry so peaceful with her long blond hair flowing freely around her. Tris with her hair tied up in a kerchief, letting all her anger and worry flow out of her body and into the wind, to blow it away. Daja her large muscles from many years of smith's work relaxed as she meditated. Lark so graceful. Old Niko, wise, and caring. Frostpine (who had been at discipline all day) calm and happy. And Rosethorn, not sharp as she was awake but gentle.
Slowly everyone started to return to themselves and Briar stood up to stretch. He was hungry. Looking at the sky he realized that it was almost time for dinner from the position of the sun. "Dinner time!" The girls laughed.
"Briar, you and your food." Daja said. They walked off together into the house. Going into the pantry they began to gather ingredients for a stew.
"Leave that there you four I'll make dinner tonight." Rosethorn was cutting up some carrots. With nothing to do the four walked into the living room and took up their previous tasks.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The table was set for 8. Steaming bowls of stew and slices of fresh baked bread from the kitchens covered the table. Magical flames light the room as the members of Discipline sat down to dinner. Lark said the blessing asking Mila and Green Man to protect Sandry, Briar, Tris, and Daja on their journey. The mages, young and old, began to eat their evening meal.
When everyone had finished Niko stood up, his face grim. "Before we have our pudding I would like to say a few things. First off I am very proud of all of you." He looked at the four students in turn. "You have proven your skills over and over surprising us each time. Many deaths have been prevented because of what you have done, and for that I must thank you." He took out a bundle wrapped in oilcloth. "Take out your pendants." Each student did as they were told looking curiously at Niko. The pendants had been made by Frostpine, and each represented that the bearer was a mage of winding circle. "No doubt you have figured that these jewels mean more than that you are practising mages. This is true. They are symbols of great magical power and show that the bearer is-" Niko did not get to finish his sentence. At that moment the front door burst open.
"Niko, Dedicates Lark, Rosethorn, and Frostpine. You are needed at the Hub!" The messenger had apparently just run to the cottage, and she was terribly out of breath. Sandry ran to fetch her a glass of water as Daja pressed her into a chair. The four adults had already left. Comas, who had returned earlier that night well fed, ran out of his room at the commotion.
"Comas," Sandry said kindly. "Would you please take care of," She looked at the messenger who mumbled Aulani. "Would you please make sure that Aulani is comfortable, perhaps she would like some stew?" Turning to Briar Tris and Daja, "Perhaps we should go as well. We might be of assistance if it is only to lend power." They nodded and walked quickly down the shortest path to the hub, not wanting to waste time walking all around the city to follow the winding road.
They reached the hub to find the most powerful of mages, no, the most powerful of the great mages of winding circle standing around the Hub's room of Seeing. There was a mage seated in the centre of the room cradling a bowl of water in his hands. Slowly he looked up, terror in his eyes, before he collapsed to the floor spilling the water. Niko raced over followed by the Head dedicate, Lark and Rosethorn. Frostpine who had been standing near the door ran to send a messenger for Afya, the healer. A mage whom Sandry had never seen before started to move over towards the children. ~Say nothing he is just new to the temple.~ Sandry thought through the magic connection to her friends. He sneered down at them.
"This is no place for children." Everyone let Sandry do the talking, as the Noble it was safest.
She inclined her head to the mage, bowing courteously. "Children we may be but I think we may be needed." The mage smirked.
"Go on get out we have plenty of great mages here, and do you see the man in the black cloak?" He pointed at Niko. "That is Nikarlen Goldeye, one of the strongest academic mages from Lightsbridge. I am Mashaka Brightlight, I also completed my training at Lightsbridge." He looked at the four, expecting them to be amazed at such power. The smirked. Sandry slowly reached into her shirt to unclasp the small chain circling her neck. The others, seeing what she was doing followed suit producing their pendants from beneath their cloaks. The man, looking terribly shocked, took the necklace from Sandry to examine it. His eyes grew as he turned it over and saw Lark's emblem, looking on the other he saw Sandry's. "It cannot be. I have heard of the four of you. The gr-"
"Tris come here please." Niko called interrupting Mashaka. Tris rushed over shortly followed by Daja, Sandry, and Briar. "Will you lend me some of your power? I must see what he saw, what killed him, and the spell is very intricate and detailed." Tris and the others turned white, or whiter in Daja's case.
"It killed him? Visions can kill?" Tris looked worried. Niko's health wasn't at all what it used to be. She nodded taking his hand in hers. Sandry didn't like the idea of Niko forming this particular spell, especially if the vision had killed a man. She did not want to even take a chance that Niko or Tris might suffer the same fate so she placed her arm on Tris' shoulder letting her magic flow through her friend. Niko began to murmur a spell in a strange dialect.
Daja and Briar went to Lark and Rosethorn who, wrapping the mage's dead body in cloth, hadn't heard what Niko was planning to do. "Lark I don't think Niko should be focusing so much of his power to see this vision."
Lark hummed not really paying attention. A second later the words began to sink in. Her mouth opened as she stood to look at the three forms standing attached. "Dear Goddess, Mila protect him, them. Rosie look at what Niko is doing." She whispered. Rosethorn turned to Niko. Her mouth fell open and she was about to begin screaming at Niko when Lark rested a hand on her arm. "Say nothing above a whisper, do not disturb the spell. This is to dangerous. If something were to go wrong we could lose all of them."
"How long will it take?" Briar questioned. Niko had already been chanting for close to five minutes.
"This spell is very delicate, done right it can take up to an hour." Briar's eyes widened, he turned to Daja. The two of them went back over to the spell weavers. This was going to take all the power that they could muster to keep Niko safe. Briar too Sandry's hand. Daja was about to take Tris' free one when she remembered something. Going to Sandry she opened up the little pouch that contained the Bijili. Taking it she squeezed it in her hand, and grabbed Tris'.
Lark stood watching as power flowed from the children into Niko, and the spell. Another fifteen minutes passed of Niko's chanting when he suddenly stopped. His eyes closed, and he began to see the vision.
To those standing watch it took twenty more minutes. To Niko the entire spell took only seconds. His eyes flashed open, and he turned to the children. "There is no time." Came his hoarse voice. "You cannot stay here any longer. Get your bags, get Alexandre Debegri, you leave for Qalai upon the hour."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
A/N: Again it took a while for me to update. Oh well, only 4 days, and it would have been 3 if I hadn't gone to that party last night. Anyway hope you like the chapter. Alexandre will be explained more in the following, on the ride to Qalai.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The next couple of days passed rather quickly. Sandry and Daja had to speak to the teachers of their students making arrangements for lessons and boarding, they couldn't all stay at Discipline. Briar went to the Earth temple library and took out many books on rocks for Evvy, writing up a plan for what she should be reading each day, and on magical exercises. He didn't want to burden Rosethorn much in case she was needed elsewhere. Tris, having no student to take care of, was set about by Niko to gather some magical objects from the market that they may need on their journey.
On their second last day in the Temple City the four mages had to go into the city to get any supplies they didn't already have. While they were in the market they all stayed in the same area but went to separate stalls. Tris, since she didn't know if she would get a chance to visit the market in Qalai went straight for a book seller's stall. Sandry went to a linen store, Daja went to buy some more metal for her personal projects, and Briar just walked around.
He came across a tiny little stall selling miniature trees. He looked at them all hoping to find some healthy ones that he could change the shape of, but these plants didn't look very cared for. He looked at the man selling them with the corner of his eyes looking for magic. Well of course the plants weren't in the greatest of conditions since their owner wasn't a plant mage, but at least he could have kept them healthier than this. The pots they were in were all to small, and the minimum amounts of earth was dry to the bone, or root in this case. He sneered at the grey haired man behind the table and moved on, after touching each plant to give it some extra strength. He didn't like people who didn't care for their plants but that didn't mean he would let them suffer needlessly.
Since he didn't think there was anything he needed he went to see Sandry who was looking thoughtfully at a bag of fresh white silk that hadn't been spun. It was rather expensive even for silk and there was quite a bit of it so Sandry asked Briar to go fetch Tris.
"She won't like it if she's into a new novel..." He answered.
"You know that she's the best at bargaining, and I don't want to spend all of my extra cash on one bag of silk. I still need a bunch of coloured dye..." Briar nodded and walked from the store. Sandry walked around the shop some more and came to the dye section. She chose out small bottles of brown, grey, blue, yellowish-gold, green red, and teal. Looking at the prices on a slate hanging beside the shelf she realized that they were relatively good prices.
"What is it now?" Came Tris' crisp voice. She walked over to Sandry who was holding the bag of silk and the small dye bottles. "Ok... Ok I'll do what I can." She went over to the sales keeper. Sandry and Briar waited at the front of the store so as not to crowed the keeper. It took a while but Tris came over finally with everything in a small bag. "The best price I got for everything was a gold noble (A/N: This is a really expensive price I know but I can't remember the other forms of currency and I'm way to tired and in a bad mood to go looking through the books right now. If you want to tell me what it is feel free :D).
"Thank you Tris. Now lets go find Daja she probably found what she wanted." Sandry walked out of the store and down the street to Daja.
"Tris..." Daja said smiling and handing her a few large pieces of copper, silver, and gold. Tris walked to the merchant at the stall shaking her head. Since she was a merchant's daughter she knew how to deal better than any of the others, even Daja who had been a trader for her 10 years before her family's deaths and her exile from the trader world. She was no longer trangshi anymore but she hadn't returned to her old life either.
Tris came back with Daja's purchase and they headed for the book stall. Tris bought three large leather bound books and five small paper ones before she would let them leave. They walked around some more, buying warmer clothes than their own for the cooler Qalai temperatures (Sandry hadn't had time to make them any new ones), getting new boots and shoes, riding gloves, and headscarfs for the girls. Their food for the journey would be made and packed by Jory and Gorse.
When they returned to Discipline late that night everyone was to tired to do much more than crawl into their beds.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The next day was very quiet at Discipline cottage. Comas went to visit relatives of his who were living in the city, so there were no children running around. Sandry was weaving some more lengths of silk thread. Tris was reading one of her new books. Briar was tending to his Shakkan, which he would be brining with him. Daja was trying to mould a sculpture of her bookkeeper goddess for her personal alter out of some of her living metal. Their teachers were all sitting around the fire talking in quiet whispers. They still didn't like the idea of their students going to Qalai, but, as they kept reminding themselves, they had no other option.
Just after the hub clock struck three times Lark stood up and went to Sandry. "Let's all meditate together one more time before you leave. Sandry nodded standing, and she walked outside into a nice clear spot in the garden. It was a beautiful day, blue sky with small white clouds, and a nice cool breeze to take off some of the summer heat. Everyone sat, and like always, Niko started counting to seven slowly out loud. After a while his voice started to fade out as their lungs settled into the familiar breathing pattern. Sandry decided to imagine herself as a drop spindle like she used to when she first learned about her magic. Briar turned into a beautiful green leaf, Daja a small length of copper wire. Tris became the wind blowing through the trees.
Briar was first to come out of his trance. He smiled calmly looking around at these familiar faces that he had learned to call his family. Sandry so peaceful with her long blond hair flowing freely around her. Tris with her hair tied up in a kerchief, letting all her anger and worry flow out of her body and into the wind, to blow it away. Daja her large muscles from many years of smith's work relaxed as she meditated. Lark so graceful. Old Niko, wise, and caring. Frostpine (who had been at discipline all day) calm and happy. And Rosethorn, not sharp as she was awake but gentle.
Slowly everyone started to return to themselves and Briar stood up to stretch. He was hungry. Looking at the sky he realized that it was almost time for dinner from the position of the sun. "Dinner time!" The girls laughed.
"Briar, you and your food." Daja said. They walked off together into the house. Going into the pantry they began to gather ingredients for a stew.
"Leave that there you four I'll make dinner tonight." Rosethorn was cutting up some carrots. With nothing to do the four walked into the living room and took up their previous tasks.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The table was set for 8. Steaming bowls of stew and slices of fresh baked bread from the kitchens covered the table. Magical flames light the room as the members of Discipline sat down to dinner. Lark said the blessing asking Mila and Green Man to protect Sandry, Briar, Tris, and Daja on their journey. The mages, young and old, began to eat their evening meal.
When everyone had finished Niko stood up, his face grim. "Before we have our pudding I would like to say a few things. First off I am very proud of all of you." He looked at the four students in turn. "You have proven your skills over and over surprising us each time. Many deaths have been prevented because of what you have done, and for that I must thank you." He took out a bundle wrapped in oilcloth. "Take out your pendants." Each student did as they were told looking curiously at Niko. The pendants had been made by Frostpine, and each represented that the bearer was a mage of winding circle. "No doubt you have figured that these jewels mean more than that you are practising mages. This is true. They are symbols of great magical power and show that the bearer is-" Niko did not get to finish his sentence. At that moment the front door burst open.
"Niko, Dedicates Lark, Rosethorn, and Frostpine. You are needed at the Hub!" The messenger had apparently just run to the cottage, and she was terribly out of breath. Sandry ran to fetch her a glass of water as Daja pressed her into a chair. The four adults had already left. Comas, who had returned earlier that night well fed, ran out of his room at the commotion.
"Comas," Sandry said kindly. "Would you please take care of," She looked at the messenger who mumbled Aulani. "Would you please make sure that Aulani is comfortable, perhaps she would like some stew?" Turning to Briar Tris and Daja, "Perhaps we should go as well. We might be of assistance if it is only to lend power." They nodded and walked quickly down the shortest path to the hub, not wanting to waste time walking all around the city to follow the winding road.
They reached the hub to find the most powerful of mages, no, the most powerful of the great mages of winding circle standing around the Hub's room of Seeing. There was a mage seated in the centre of the room cradling a bowl of water in his hands. Slowly he looked up, terror in his eyes, before he collapsed to the floor spilling the water. Niko raced over followed by the Head dedicate, Lark and Rosethorn. Frostpine who had been standing near the door ran to send a messenger for Afya, the healer. A mage whom Sandry had never seen before started to move over towards the children. ~Say nothing he is just new to the temple.~ Sandry thought through the magic connection to her friends. He sneered down at them.
"This is no place for children." Everyone let Sandry do the talking, as the Noble it was safest.
She inclined her head to the mage, bowing courteously. "Children we may be but I think we may be needed." The mage smirked.
"Go on get out we have plenty of great mages here, and do you see the man in the black cloak?" He pointed at Niko. "That is Nikarlen Goldeye, one of the strongest academic mages from Lightsbridge. I am Mashaka Brightlight, I also completed my training at Lightsbridge." He looked at the four, expecting them to be amazed at such power. The smirked. Sandry slowly reached into her shirt to unclasp the small chain circling her neck. The others, seeing what she was doing followed suit producing their pendants from beneath their cloaks. The man, looking terribly shocked, took the necklace from Sandry to examine it. His eyes grew as he turned it over and saw Lark's emblem, looking on the other he saw Sandry's. "It cannot be. I have heard of the four of you. The gr-"
"Tris come here please." Niko called interrupting Mashaka. Tris rushed over shortly followed by Daja, Sandry, and Briar. "Will you lend me some of your power? I must see what he saw, what killed him, and the spell is very intricate and detailed." Tris and the others turned white, or whiter in Daja's case.
"It killed him? Visions can kill?" Tris looked worried. Niko's health wasn't at all what it used to be. She nodded taking his hand in hers. Sandry didn't like the idea of Niko forming this particular spell, especially if the vision had killed a man. She did not want to even take a chance that Niko or Tris might suffer the same fate so she placed her arm on Tris' shoulder letting her magic flow through her friend. Niko began to murmur a spell in a strange dialect.
Daja and Briar went to Lark and Rosethorn who, wrapping the mage's dead body in cloth, hadn't heard what Niko was planning to do. "Lark I don't think Niko should be focusing so much of his power to see this vision."
Lark hummed not really paying attention. A second later the words began to sink in. Her mouth opened as she stood to look at the three forms standing attached. "Dear Goddess, Mila protect him, them. Rosie look at what Niko is doing." She whispered. Rosethorn turned to Niko. Her mouth fell open and she was about to begin screaming at Niko when Lark rested a hand on her arm. "Say nothing above a whisper, do not disturb the spell. This is to dangerous. If something were to go wrong we could lose all of them."
"How long will it take?" Briar questioned. Niko had already been chanting for close to five minutes.
"This spell is very delicate, done right it can take up to an hour." Briar's eyes widened, he turned to Daja. The two of them went back over to the spell weavers. This was going to take all the power that they could muster to keep Niko safe. Briar too Sandry's hand. Daja was about to take Tris' free one when she remembered something. Going to Sandry she opened up the little pouch that contained the Bijili. Taking it she squeezed it in her hand, and grabbed Tris'.
Lark stood watching as power flowed from the children into Niko, and the spell. Another fifteen minutes passed of Niko's chanting when he suddenly stopped. His eyes closed, and he began to see the vision.
To those standing watch it took twenty more minutes. To Niko the entire spell took only seconds. His eyes flashed open, and he turned to the children. "There is no time." Came his hoarse voice. "You cannot stay here any longer. Get your bags, get Alexandre Debegri, you leave for Qalai upon the hour."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
A/N: Again it took a while for me to update. Oh well, only 4 days, and it would have been 3 if I hadn't gone to that party last night. Anyway hope you like the chapter. Alexandre will be explained more in the following, on the ride to Qalai.