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!! Oh an I forgot The Healer Afya is my character too.
HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!! I was just looking at Tamora Pierce's web site and *gasp* I can't spell Niklaren either! This isn't good is it? I've always spelled it Nikarlen because that's how I pronounce it :S But let's just go with it because there is no way that I will ever not pronounce it Nikarlen because the name is so familiar that my eyes read the first few letters, I think Nikarlen, and then I pass over the rest of the word! That always happens with me and names when I read them in books. Just like Hermione in the Harry Potter books. But I can't tell you how I pronounced it in the beginning 4 years ago when I got the books, because I honestly can't remember. I wish I could do the same thing with Niklaren as I did with Hermione but hey there aren't any Circle of Magic movies to help me along! I think I pronounced it Her-me-one:S anyway I've taken up to much of your time with this so on with the chapter... Nikarlen is still going to be spelled like that.... Hope you don't care!
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The following ten days passed rather slowly for Briar, Sandry, Tris and Daja. They talked a lot on horse back about anything that came to mind, including affairs in Qalai and in Emelan. When they realized that they had nothing more to discuss for a day Tris would open her book and read aloud to the others, something they always enjoyed. While they listened everyone would partake in different tasks, some which were made rather difficult because of the horses' movements. Sandry continued to spin silk threads, and at night when each was complete she would take out the bottles of dye and add different colours to the strings. Daja took out her jar of living metal and began to form it into different shapes for no reason, other than the fact that these metal images kept forming in her head. Briar picked small yellow flowers from the ground, keeping them alive with his magic, and started to twist them into circles. Alex just sat listening, watching the scenery, the trees now beginning to change colour.
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Night was growing quickly when the five travellers road through the gates of Fief Debegri, the first evidence of civilization in this beautiful woodland area. A set of stable boys came up to take care of their horses, and two servants came to show the mages to their quarters. Alex told the four to settle in and that someone would be by to show them to the dining hall later that evening, where they would meet the Count Debegri. He smiled at them and then went into a room with large wooden doors.
The servants beckoned to them and the group started off, walking down large hallways toward the guest wing. Paintings on the walls depicted former rulers of Qalai, and of the fief itself, as well as knights, and great battles. Many of the wooden doors had been carved with flower trim on them, and in a very large set of double arched doors had been carved a large tree. Daja was impressed with the intricate detail on the doors, having lived with a carpenter for the past year. Briar was astounded by the resemblance between this carving and the living thin. He thought that if the leaves had been green, it would have been hard for even him, an ambient plant mage, to tell it from a real tree.
The servants stopped suddenly indicating a door to their right. "You will find you chambers through this door. Sleeping rooms for the four of you, and a large common room. If you are in need of anything don't be afraid to ask me, or any of the other servants. We all wear this livery so you should have no problems pointing us out. I will be back to take you to the dinning hall in two hours. You will find bathing supplies in your rooms, as well as writing, tools."
Sandry thanked the man, and as she walked by he bowed low. She thought it was peculiar for someone to get that close to the floor but said nothing. Different places have different customs she reminded herself.
The room behind the door was huge. A table and chairs stood in a corner, two comfortable looking couches faced each other in either side of a coffee table in the centre of the room, and a very large bay window looking out over the gardens would be a comfortable spot to read, or spin. A large set of shelves along one wall held more book than Tris had seen anywhere except in libraries. All of the furniture was cream coloured, from the table cloths to the cloth coverings on the couches and chairs. The wood was all smooth, stained mahogany that gave the room a comfortable feel. Sandry looked around the room a bit marvelling at the tapestries that covered the walls, the same cream colour as the cloth, but laced through with blues to form patterns. She then walked through into one of the adjoining bedrooms. It was also done in cream, and mahogany, but the tapestries were burgundy instead of blue. A queen sized canopied bed was against one wall and there was a desk right in front of a window. The curtains were burgundy as well, and they hung from the ceiling to the floor. A vanity table stood in a corner covered with brushes, combs, face paint, and perfumes.
Sandry heard Tris gasp and went to see what had happened. What she found shocked her. There was a small bath house right inside their rooms! This certainly was a strange place. Sandry wondered if people from Qalai felt strange when they saw the open bath houses of Emelan. She smiled. It had been ages since she'd bathed in warm water, and with nice smelling soap. If she was lucky in the past ten days she got to rinse herself of in a creek. The thought of a warm bath made her almost giddy and she quickly went inside. There were five large tubs, curtained off from each other by yet more cream coloured fabric. Going into one of the little areas she drew the curtain. There were stacks of towels, and bathrobes (cream of course), a scrub brush, bottles of liquid soap for your hair, and rough scrub stones for your body. Sighing happily she sunk into the mint scented water.
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The bath had been wonderfully refreshing, and it put Sandry in a good mood. Now looking through the wardrobe that had been provided for her she realized that these people knew a lot about thread work. She pulled out a long navy dress. Putting it on she was shocked to fin that these people must also know a great deal about her for the dress fit perfectly, forming to her slim figure. The sleeves were long and they flared out from her elbows down so much that if she lowered her hands they would almost touch the floor. Delicate white lace trimmed the sleeves, collar, empire waist, and train. She went over to the vanity and decided that while she was here she should dress like a noble, face paint and all. She began to apply the powder sparingly to her skin and used some lip shiner to make her lips stand out. Sandry brushed her hair onto the top of her head and secured it with a white band. She didn't much care for any of the scents that were provided but she had managed to grab her bag of necessities, which held a small bottle of a rose geranium scent that Briar had made for her. She applied drops of it to her wrists and her neck before taking out the midwinter present that Daja had sent to her. She attached the heart shaped diamonds edged with a light gold wire to her small ears before walking back out into the common room.
Daja stood looking strange in a long gown of beige silk. Sandry smiled wickedly. "Daja I don't even recall the last time I saw you wear a dress!"
"I do." Daja said. "It was at the dinner with Duke Vedris the night before we all left." Sandry tried to remember.
"Oh yes! The light blue sleeveless dress that Lark made for you!" Daja nodded. She was surprised at the effort she put into her appearance tonight. Normally she would have just worn long breeches and a dress shirt. She was also wearing a ruby necklace, and matching ear bobs, and she had re- braided all her hair after her bath.
"Uhh!" Tris yelled from her room. Sandry laughed as she rushed into the room. Tris had managed to knot her hair uncontrollably. Sandry took the brush and she pulled it through Tris' hair picking apart the larger knots with her fingers. When it was smooth she took out a peach scarf from Tris' closet and tied it onto her head to keep the curly red hair from her eyes. Tris smiled up at Sandry. This wasn't the first time that she had messed herself up, but it was the first time in over a year that she had her foster sister to help her fix the problem. Normally she would have been furious with Sandry for trying to help. It would have made here feel like the other person felt she was incapable of caring for herself, but Tris knew Sandry to well to think that she would think such thoughts (A/N: confusing sentence huh?). "What a beautiful dress Tris! Was it in the closet?" Tris nodded and looked down at the dress. Like the scarf it was peach, but a darker shade. It had long sleeves fitted tight to the skin and a low neckline. Beads of topaz hung at her throat, here ears were bare (having not wanted to stick needles through her skin). Tris stood and they went back into the common room to wait for their summons.
Briar was sitting in a chair with his face in a book. It was a funny sight. Sandry was so used to seeing him knee deep in dirt, and wearing only breeches that seeing him all dressed up and reading was quite a shock. Like Daja would have preferred to wear Briar wore long dark cotton breeches of dark blue, with a white cotton dress shirt. There was blue trim around the sleeves and at the neck. In one ear which Sandry noticed had been pierced (when he was in Yanjing perhaps?) Was what looked to be a blue diamond. At least his hair was normal. Sandry must be the only person who looked herself tonight, she thought to herself.
There was a knock on the door and the servant appeared, ready to accompany them to the dinning hall.
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The room was large, the floor and pillars made from marble. It seemed that the fief had an abundance of mahogany as all of the small tables and the large table facing them were made from it. The four were lead up to the high table and seated next to Alexandre, who was at the left hand side of a man whom was assumed to be the Count Debegri. A woman sat to his right and she was clearly Alex's mother, there was a large resemblance. As they sat down numerous nobles wearing dinner clothing entered the room and sat at the small round tables. It appeared to be another custom of Qalai for the Count to be seated when the others entered, even if he had to wait for them.
When everyone was seated there was a ringing of bells and another set of doors opened. Servants dressed in white came out carrying large silver platters. One was placed at each table, and four were placed at the high table. A server was assigned to each table, but it seemed that each person at the high table got their own server. Sandry looked around the room, at all of the faces of the nobles. Some seemed happy, others nervous, and others seemed to have already had a bit to much drink. The man assigned to wait on Sandry came to her and he cut her some chicken, putting it on her glass plate with some carrots, a vegetable that Sandry didn't recognize, and a dinner roll. "Wine milady?" The man asked holding up a bottle of what looked to be a very old red vine.
"Thank you but no." Sandry replied. She had found out the easy way that drinking wasn't good for a mage. Briar on the other hand had learned the hard way, after all of the surrounding plants wilted. "Perhaps some fruit juice?" The man looked at her strangely but walked back into the kitchens to get her drink. Briar who sat next to her left also ordered fruit juice. She struck up a conversation with him about what he planned to do over the winter. Since plants took a well needed rest during this time there was little work for him and Rosethorn except producing medicinal salves.
"I think I'm going to go into more detail on my dirt free plants. There is no way that they will be as healthy as normally grown plants but places suffering from drought may profit from them."
Alex, who was on Sandry's right, took the break in their conversation to speak to Sandry. Briar took this opportunity to look around. There was a man wearing all black sitting on the Countess' right, who seemed to have an evil grin on his face. The rest of the hall was talking quietly, but this man just seemed to stare out into an abyss, while he ate his food.
Briar relaxed as he ate. When he arrived a sense of trouble had come over him and only now did it lessen. He would be glad when his plant circles would be finished. It should take no more than two more days. As he twisted them he used his magic to add a charm of protection, and he planned to give them to the girls so that they would stay safe. Something fishy was going on here he could tell. But now all he could think about was sleep, and how good it would be to get back to his room and sink into that cushy bed.
Finally after another hour and a half when the plates had been cleared away the Count of Fief Debegri stood. The hall fell quiet quickly and he began his speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen." He welcomed. "May it be my pleasure to introduce out quests." Everyone's attention turned towards the four mages. "Mistress and Lady Sandriline Fa Toren of Winding Circle Temple in Emelan, niece to Duke Vedris IV." The Count motioned for Sandry to stand and she did curtsying politely to murmurs of interest. Link in Emelan It wasn't normal for Ladies to be trained in magic. "Master Briar Moss of Winding Circle Temple in Emelan."
~Finally a real title!~ Briar's voice rang. Briar stood and bowed at the Counts indication.
"Mistress Trisana Chandler of Winding Circle Temple, and House Chandler. And Mistress Daja Kisubo of The Tenth Caravan Idaram and of Winding Circle temple." Tris and Daja stood and curtsied in turn. "Welcome to Fief Debegri! We hope your stay here will be enjoyable. Now if you wish would everyone move into the main ball room." Everyone stood and moved into the hall and through into the room with the tree on the door.
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A/N: Wahoo! I updated again! Aren't you happy? I know you are! More about the man in black in future chapters I think. Perhaps not. He doesn't seem like much fun. Maybe he'll just be the Count's advisor. Oh well review please I want to know what you think!
HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!! I was just looking at Tamora Pierce's web site and *gasp* I can't spell Niklaren either! This isn't good is it? I've always spelled it Nikarlen because that's how I pronounce it :S But let's just go with it because there is no way that I will ever not pronounce it Nikarlen because the name is so familiar that my eyes read the first few letters, I think Nikarlen, and then I pass over the rest of the word! That always happens with me and names when I read them in books. Just like Hermione in the Harry Potter books. But I can't tell you how I pronounced it in the beginning 4 years ago when I got the books, because I honestly can't remember. I wish I could do the same thing with Niklaren as I did with Hermione but hey there aren't any Circle of Magic movies to help me along! I think I pronounced it Her-me-one:S anyway I've taken up to much of your time with this so on with the chapter... Nikarlen is still going to be spelled like that.... Hope you don't care!
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The following ten days passed rather slowly for Briar, Sandry, Tris and Daja. They talked a lot on horse back about anything that came to mind, including affairs in Qalai and in Emelan. When they realized that they had nothing more to discuss for a day Tris would open her book and read aloud to the others, something they always enjoyed. While they listened everyone would partake in different tasks, some which were made rather difficult because of the horses' movements. Sandry continued to spin silk threads, and at night when each was complete she would take out the bottles of dye and add different colours to the strings. Daja took out her jar of living metal and began to form it into different shapes for no reason, other than the fact that these metal images kept forming in her head. Briar picked small yellow flowers from the ground, keeping them alive with his magic, and started to twist them into circles. Alex just sat listening, watching the scenery, the trees now beginning to change colour.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Night was growing quickly when the five travellers road through the gates of Fief Debegri, the first evidence of civilization in this beautiful woodland area. A set of stable boys came up to take care of their horses, and two servants came to show the mages to their quarters. Alex told the four to settle in and that someone would be by to show them to the dining hall later that evening, where they would meet the Count Debegri. He smiled at them and then went into a room with large wooden doors.
The servants beckoned to them and the group started off, walking down large hallways toward the guest wing. Paintings on the walls depicted former rulers of Qalai, and of the fief itself, as well as knights, and great battles. Many of the wooden doors had been carved with flower trim on them, and in a very large set of double arched doors had been carved a large tree. Daja was impressed with the intricate detail on the doors, having lived with a carpenter for the past year. Briar was astounded by the resemblance between this carving and the living thin. He thought that if the leaves had been green, it would have been hard for even him, an ambient plant mage, to tell it from a real tree.
The servants stopped suddenly indicating a door to their right. "You will find you chambers through this door. Sleeping rooms for the four of you, and a large common room. If you are in need of anything don't be afraid to ask me, or any of the other servants. We all wear this livery so you should have no problems pointing us out. I will be back to take you to the dinning hall in two hours. You will find bathing supplies in your rooms, as well as writing, tools."
Sandry thanked the man, and as she walked by he bowed low. She thought it was peculiar for someone to get that close to the floor but said nothing. Different places have different customs she reminded herself.
The room behind the door was huge. A table and chairs stood in a corner, two comfortable looking couches faced each other in either side of a coffee table in the centre of the room, and a very large bay window looking out over the gardens would be a comfortable spot to read, or spin. A large set of shelves along one wall held more book than Tris had seen anywhere except in libraries. All of the furniture was cream coloured, from the table cloths to the cloth coverings on the couches and chairs. The wood was all smooth, stained mahogany that gave the room a comfortable feel. Sandry looked around the room a bit marvelling at the tapestries that covered the walls, the same cream colour as the cloth, but laced through with blues to form patterns. She then walked through into one of the adjoining bedrooms. It was also done in cream, and mahogany, but the tapestries were burgundy instead of blue. A queen sized canopied bed was against one wall and there was a desk right in front of a window. The curtains were burgundy as well, and they hung from the ceiling to the floor. A vanity table stood in a corner covered with brushes, combs, face paint, and perfumes.
Sandry heard Tris gasp and went to see what had happened. What she found shocked her. There was a small bath house right inside their rooms! This certainly was a strange place. Sandry wondered if people from Qalai felt strange when they saw the open bath houses of Emelan. She smiled. It had been ages since she'd bathed in warm water, and with nice smelling soap. If she was lucky in the past ten days she got to rinse herself of in a creek. The thought of a warm bath made her almost giddy and she quickly went inside. There were five large tubs, curtained off from each other by yet more cream coloured fabric. Going into one of the little areas she drew the curtain. There were stacks of towels, and bathrobes (cream of course), a scrub brush, bottles of liquid soap for your hair, and rough scrub stones for your body. Sighing happily she sunk into the mint scented water.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The bath had been wonderfully refreshing, and it put Sandry in a good mood. Now looking through the wardrobe that had been provided for her she realized that these people knew a lot about thread work. She pulled out a long navy dress. Putting it on she was shocked to fin that these people must also know a great deal about her for the dress fit perfectly, forming to her slim figure. The sleeves were long and they flared out from her elbows down so much that if she lowered her hands they would almost touch the floor. Delicate white lace trimmed the sleeves, collar, empire waist, and train. She went over to the vanity and decided that while she was here she should dress like a noble, face paint and all. She began to apply the powder sparingly to her skin and used some lip shiner to make her lips stand out. Sandry brushed her hair onto the top of her head and secured it with a white band. She didn't much care for any of the scents that were provided but she had managed to grab her bag of necessities, which held a small bottle of a rose geranium scent that Briar had made for her. She applied drops of it to her wrists and her neck before taking out the midwinter present that Daja had sent to her. She attached the heart shaped diamonds edged with a light gold wire to her small ears before walking back out into the common room.
Daja stood looking strange in a long gown of beige silk. Sandry smiled wickedly. "Daja I don't even recall the last time I saw you wear a dress!"
"I do." Daja said. "It was at the dinner with Duke Vedris the night before we all left." Sandry tried to remember.
"Oh yes! The light blue sleeveless dress that Lark made for you!" Daja nodded. She was surprised at the effort she put into her appearance tonight. Normally she would have just worn long breeches and a dress shirt. She was also wearing a ruby necklace, and matching ear bobs, and she had re- braided all her hair after her bath.
"Uhh!" Tris yelled from her room. Sandry laughed as she rushed into the room. Tris had managed to knot her hair uncontrollably. Sandry took the brush and she pulled it through Tris' hair picking apart the larger knots with her fingers. When it was smooth she took out a peach scarf from Tris' closet and tied it onto her head to keep the curly red hair from her eyes. Tris smiled up at Sandry. This wasn't the first time that she had messed herself up, but it was the first time in over a year that she had her foster sister to help her fix the problem. Normally she would have been furious with Sandry for trying to help. It would have made here feel like the other person felt she was incapable of caring for herself, but Tris knew Sandry to well to think that she would think such thoughts (A/N: confusing sentence huh?). "What a beautiful dress Tris! Was it in the closet?" Tris nodded and looked down at the dress. Like the scarf it was peach, but a darker shade. It had long sleeves fitted tight to the skin and a low neckline. Beads of topaz hung at her throat, here ears were bare (having not wanted to stick needles through her skin). Tris stood and they went back into the common room to wait for their summons.
Briar was sitting in a chair with his face in a book. It was a funny sight. Sandry was so used to seeing him knee deep in dirt, and wearing only breeches that seeing him all dressed up and reading was quite a shock. Like Daja would have preferred to wear Briar wore long dark cotton breeches of dark blue, with a white cotton dress shirt. There was blue trim around the sleeves and at the neck. In one ear which Sandry noticed had been pierced (when he was in Yanjing perhaps?) Was what looked to be a blue diamond. At least his hair was normal. Sandry must be the only person who looked herself tonight, she thought to herself.
There was a knock on the door and the servant appeared, ready to accompany them to the dinning hall.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The room was large, the floor and pillars made from marble. It seemed that the fief had an abundance of mahogany as all of the small tables and the large table facing them were made from it. The four were lead up to the high table and seated next to Alexandre, who was at the left hand side of a man whom was assumed to be the Count Debegri. A woman sat to his right and she was clearly Alex's mother, there was a large resemblance. As they sat down numerous nobles wearing dinner clothing entered the room and sat at the small round tables. It appeared to be another custom of Qalai for the Count to be seated when the others entered, even if he had to wait for them.
When everyone was seated there was a ringing of bells and another set of doors opened. Servants dressed in white came out carrying large silver platters. One was placed at each table, and four were placed at the high table. A server was assigned to each table, but it seemed that each person at the high table got their own server. Sandry looked around the room, at all of the faces of the nobles. Some seemed happy, others nervous, and others seemed to have already had a bit to much drink. The man assigned to wait on Sandry came to her and he cut her some chicken, putting it on her glass plate with some carrots, a vegetable that Sandry didn't recognize, and a dinner roll. "Wine milady?" The man asked holding up a bottle of what looked to be a very old red vine.
"Thank you but no." Sandry replied. She had found out the easy way that drinking wasn't good for a mage. Briar on the other hand had learned the hard way, after all of the surrounding plants wilted. "Perhaps some fruit juice?" The man looked at her strangely but walked back into the kitchens to get her drink. Briar who sat next to her left also ordered fruit juice. She struck up a conversation with him about what he planned to do over the winter. Since plants took a well needed rest during this time there was little work for him and Rosethorn except producing medicinal salves.
"I think I'm going to go into more detail on my dirt free plants. There is no way that they will be as healthy as normally grown plants but places suffering from drought may profit from them."
Alex, who was on Sandry's right, took the break in their conversation to speak to Sandry. Briar took this opportunity to look around. There was a man wearing all black sitting on the Countess' right, who seemed to have an evil grin on his face. The rest of the hall was talking quietly, but this man just seemed to stare out into an abyss, while he ate his food.
Briar relaxed as he ate. When he arrived a sense of trouble had come over him and only now did it lessen. He would be glad when his plant circles would be finished. It should take no more than two more days. As he twisted them he used his magic to add a charm of protection, and he planned to give them to the girls so that they would stay safe. Something fishy was going on here he could tell. But now all he could think about was sleep, and how good it would be to get back to his room and sink into that cushy bed.
Finally after another hour and a half when the plates had been cleared away the Count of Fief Debegri stood. The hall fell quiet quickly and he began his speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen." He welcomed. "May it be my pleasure to introduce out quests." Everyone's attention turned towards the four mages. "Mistress and Lady Sandriline Fa Toren of Winding Circle Temple in Emelan, niece to Duke Vedris IV." The Count motioned for Sandry to stand and she did curtsying politely to murmurs of interest. Link in Emelan It wasn't normal for Ladies to be trained in magic. "Master Briar Moss of Winding Circle Temple in Emelan."
~Finally a real title!~ Briar's voice rang. Briar stood and bowed at the Counts indication.
"Mistress Trisana Chandler of Winding Circle Temple, and House Chandler. And Mistress Daja Kisubo of The Tenth Caravan Idaram and of Winding Circle temple." Tris and Daja stood and curtsied in turn. "Welcome to Fief Debegri! We hope your stay here will be enjoyable. Now if you wish would everyone move into the main ball room." Everyone stood and moved into the hall and through into the room with the tree on the door.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
A/N: Wahoo! I updated again! Aren't you happy? I know you are! More about the man in black in future chapters I think. Perhaps not. He doesn't seem like much fun. Maybe he'll just be the Count's advisor. Oh well review please I want to know what you think!