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
and The Healer Afya!! :D
Vreader: Thanks. I changed Third Ship Kisubo to Tenth Caravan Idaram! Technically Daja can't be from Third Ship Kisubo since there is no Third Ship Kisubo... It sunk into the ocean. But I just couldn't remember Tenth Caravan Idaram so I used what I knew!
EclipseAzNGTX: Thanks so much! I'm so glad you like it. Its my first fic!!:) maymay is how its supposed to be pronounced! Go to if you have trouble remembering things!!:)
Oh yea! There is a fly buzzing around my room! ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
I watched her enter the Tree Room. Her blond curls falling perfectly from the tie on the top of her head. Her eyes, the brightest of blues sparkled as she talked with her friends. I had ordered that dress specifically for her. I had thought it was the loveliest thing I had ever seen when I put it into her room. But her face made the dress seem the dullest of greys.
I watched her walk around the room, her hand on Briar's arm guiding him and the others to a spot under one of the largest maple trees, heard her laugh as he said something funny. I wished that I was over there, her delicate little hand resting on my arm. I wished that I could approach her. I wished that she could be mine. I had no hope.
She glanced up at me and saw me staring at her. I couldn't look away like I normally would have done. She smiled and returned to her conversation with the trader. It had to be a spell. Nothing else could have drawn me to her like that. I was mesmerized by the smallest things she did. The way she brushed a curl from her face. The way she walked. The way she ate. The very fact that she was, was mesmerizing. Even if she didn't notice me the way I did her. Even if she didn't know I existed. I would live a nice life knowing I had witnessed something so rare and beautiful as Lady Sandriline Fa Toren.
"Come here, Darling!" My mother called. "Alexandre come and talk with Lady Elizabeth."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
When they walked in the room I sent Marvelo to spy on them. These children were mages? I did not believe it. But what was there to do? I couldn't risk anything. I had to know of their capabilities. I had to test them. I would do it tomorrow.
Marvelo had followed them over to the large tree and was now hiding behind it, listening to every word. He took a slate and some chalk with him. He better come back with interesting news. I'd hate to have to punish him again today.
But I couldn't think of that. The Count was summoning me. He always needs me. Can he not think for himself? It is a funny thing how this Fief prospers from his rule. Since Belingar, the Count's father, passed on, Fief Debegri has become the best place to live in all of Qalai. Even under the rule of such a cat brain. How did he manage it? It must be Alexandre. He would be a good ruler. To bad he won't live long enought to take full control.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The hall was gigantic, and full of trees. Briar loved it. He was so excited. This was nothing like Cranes greenhouse. These trees slept during the winter. Briar suspected that they didn't use this room in the winter, and didn't heat it. He couldn't see a fire place. He couldn't wait to tell Rosethorn.
"Briar lets go stand underneath that tree. What is it?" Briar looked where Sandry pointed.
"A Maple." Sandry smiled at him and put her hand on his arm leading him away. Tris and Daja followed.
"This is such a strange place." Daja said. "I like it here."
"Me too. Its so different from home." Tris said. And all of the people. The Duke doesn't dine with all the nobles in Duke's citadel."
"No usually just me or Yazmin. Sometimes the Barron Erdogun fer Baigh, or other friends of his. Never the whole court." Sandry answered.
"Can't you just imagine the duke? Sitting around with a bunch of nobles? He would love that!" Brair joked.
Sandry laughed. "The duke would rather be with the commoners! He doesn't like nobles. Not even his own children."
"He likes you though." Briar smiled at her. Sandry laughed again. Looking up she saw Alexandre staring at her intently. It was very strange. He didn't look away when he saw her gaze was on him. Most people did. "So does anyone know what exactly we're doing here?"
"Well I suppose we have to get rid of the person causing all the trouble. We'll probably be told tomorrow." Daja answered. Briar nodded. He heard a coughing coming from behind the tree. All four looked that way.
~Someone's listening to the conversation.~ Briar thought. ~I'm going to look.~ Briar raised his magic, just in case he was going to have to protect himself. When he looked around behind the tree, though, he was disappointed. There was a large crowd standing near the window, but there was no one closer than a few meters. Perhaps he had been mistaken? Something still didn't feel right. Brair returned to the others. ~Maybe we should mind speak, if we say anything important.~ The others nodded.
For the rest of the evening Briar kept his magic close at hand, and he had unstrapped his wrist knives. Sandry held a ball of string in her hand, Daja who had left her staff in her room, borrowed one of Briar's knives. Tris didn't need a weapon. The storm that would arise if she got angry was enough to scare the Gods.
Eventually Sandry decided that there was no point in being in the tree room any longer so she walked over to the door. It was locked. That puzzled her. There was a servant standing near by with a tray of drinks and she decided to ask him. "Excuse me sir. Could you tell me why this door has been locked?" The servant looked at her like she was crazy before replying.
"That door is an entrance only. It has been so for many ages." Sandry scrunched her eyebrows.
"So then how do I get out?" The man, seeming to realize who Sandry was, grinned.
"Lady Sandry there is a door over there. Along the far wall." Someone came up to the man taking a drink. Sandry walked away.
The door was very plain and it was difficult for Sandry to tell it apart from the rest of the wall. She found it and turned the handle finding it led to a small hallway. She stepped out and closed the door behind her. Looking around she tried to judge what would be the right direction to go to get back to the guests quarters. She decided to go left and she turned down a hallway that looked familiar. She walked for a while and after many turns came to her chambers. She walked straight through the common room and into her bedroom. She brushed out her hair and put a night-gown on. She was so used to her foster siblings that it didn't matter what clothing she wore when she was around them. Walking back out into the common room she pulled out an interesting book from the shelf and went to sit down. Something stirred in a dark corner of the room. She took the little home-made light out of her pouch and put it on the table beside here where there was a candle. Picking up the flint and steel she struck a flame. The candle shone brightly but the room was so large that half of it was still in shadows. She stood, and walked slowly in the direction of the noise (carrying her lamp). There was someone standing in the corner. As she drew nearer she recognized him. The look on his face was the same one she had seen on him in the tree room. "Alex you gave me such a fright!"
"You? Lady Sandry, you are afraid of almost nothing." Alex replied. Sandry seemed to come to her senses.
"What are you doing in here?" She asked, in a very unladylike manner.
"I was... Uh... Just checking to see of you had everything you need..." Sandry laughed.
"When all of us were in the tree room?" Alex looked flustered. "Oh forget it. Come sit with me." Alex looked normal again and walked back to the couch. Sandry sat down, pulling her feet up and he sat across from her. "Glad to be home?"
"Of course. Winding Circle is so different from Fief Debegri." Sandry grinned.
"I know. You eat with the whole court?" Alex nodded.
"It helps to show the nobles who is in charge so that they don't get out of hand. It doesn't seem to be working."
"You suspect a noble?" Sandry was shocked. Usually nobles never suspected other nobles of anything, it would effect the family (see Street Magic!).
"Of course. No one else would have enough money or power to do something like that."
"What a bout a rich trader or merchant? Or someone from the provost even?"
"Hmm. Well I don't think so. We'll discuss it with you four tomorrow." Alex stood up and walked to the far side of the room where the large window was. He stood their looking out into the night sky. "Would you like to go on the balcony?" Sandry stood up and followed him out of a door in the glass.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Daja looked around the tree room trying to find Sandry. She had seen her go and talk to a servant but then Briar had said something and Sandry was gone.
"Maybe she just went back to the rooms. There isn't any point in worrying about her she can take care of herself. Come on or we'll be the last people in here!" Briar told Daja although he was also worried about Sandry. That coughing had really bothered him, and he didn't know why.
They followed the crowd, which wasn't moving towards the tree door but in the opposite direction where a small door was open. When they reached the door (after standing in a line to get to it) they realized why it took so long for everyone to leave. The Count of Debegri and the Lady Debegri were shaking hands with each noble as they left. Briar reached them first.
"Good night to you fo...Three. Where is your other companion, Lady Sandriline?" Lady Debegri questioned, almost suspiciously.
"She retired to our chambers an hour ago at least. I fear that she is not feeling her best." Brair answered in his most noble voice.
"That is to bad. I hope I will get to converse with her tomorrow. There is much that needs discussing." The Count said. Brair nodded, walking from the room. Daja and Tris quickly curtsied and followed.
Their rooms were dark when they managed to find the guest quarters. Sandry's bedroom door was closed. Tris slumped away into her room to go to sleep. Daja stood looking a round for a minute. Something felt strange to her, stranger than when she had stepped through the Fief's gates. Briar looked quizzically at her, feeling the 'presence' as well.
~What is it?~ He spoke through their connection, not wanting to break the silence.
~Feels so strange. Almost freezing cold, and boiling hot at the same time.~
~Like terribly bad magic, but its terribly good as well.~
~Do you think this is what we were called here for?~ Daja wondered nervously.
~I hope not. This is nothing like what I've felt before.~
~Its like... I can't describe it.~
~Its like an abundance of magic... Or unmagic rather.~ Sandry's terrified voice cut in.
~Oti and Book keeper protect me! Saati! You gave me such a fright! Where are you?~ Sandry came back into the common room from the balcony with a curious Alex, carrying a candle. He was about to open his mouth to say something.
~Don't let him speak!~ Daja cried, not wanting to disturb the force that was flowing through the room. Sandry being closest to him flung herself around wrapping her hand over his mouth. Making sure he wouldn't speak she let go and walked over to the others. ~What were you doing up here? What is this... Thing?~
~I cannot explain it to you. Alex can but not yet. Tomorrow he says there will be a conference.~
~So what do we do now?~ Briar demanded.
~Nothing. There is nothing we can do yet.~ The presence was edging on Briar's nerves and he started to get angry. He could feel it affecting all the plants in the area.
~There has to be something!~ Sandry looked at him solemnly. He pulled on his hair in frustration. ~Well then we should just stand around like idiots?~ Sandry was hurt. Briar had never taken such harsh tones with her. He's just effected by it differently than I am, Sandry thought to herself, but none the less here eyes filled with tears. Briar saw and he frowned. ~I... I'm sorry Sandry. I didn't mean to be angry. Its just oh...~ The tears were streaking down her face rapidly now and she stared at Briar pleadingly. He tried to give her a reassuring smile, which looked more like a grimace.
More tears soaked Sandry's face and Alex was going to comfort her but she almost fell into Briar's arms crying helplessly. Her head rested just beneath his neck and her ears soaked through his shirt but he didn't care. He held her close until deep breaths replaced tears. She sniffed looking up at him. Sandry didn't smile but she was glad she had Briar to comfort her now. He had always made her feel safe.
When Sandry had dissolved into Briar's shoulder Daja had went to he bathhouse, (well bathroom, since it is private) to wet a cloth and bring a towel. Now she handed the cloth to Sandry who sat down on the couch and wiped her face. It was nice to press a cool cloth to her hot flesh, even if it would be a while before the red splotches vanished. Keeping her hear in the cloth she rested her elbows on her knees. She took a few more calming breaths (counting to 7 for the intake, holding it, and releasing it to the same count) before taking the towel from Daja and drying her face.
Connecting his power to Daja, Briar thought, ~She should sleep~ Daja nodded and helped Sandry to rise, walking her into the bedroom. Briar turned to Alex glaring at him. He could have at least warned them!
Alex, sensing Briar's anger return, turned to him and beckoned to the balcony. Briar followed. As soon as he passed through the glass doors the atmosphere changed. It seemed that the force field didn't come out this far.
"Please. I beg your forgiveness, for not telling you. But couldn't risk it. What if you had thought it to dangerous? Would you have let the girls, or yourself come? I couldn't take the chance that you might refuse."
"Why does it do that to Sandry?"
"It seems to effect people with magic more than others. The stronger the magic, the stronger the presence. Those who haven't had magic in their families for years cannot feel it at all. I fell it less than you. Bit Sandry, Daja, Tris and you are different from our few mages. Since Ambient magic is different for each person the effects of this... Will vary." Briar nodded. He now realized that he was exhausted. Alex seemed to notice at that same point to for his usually straight back slumped a little.
"We will discuss it further tomorrow." Briar stated. Alex looked at him, knowing a dismissal, and left. Briar took a deep breath and walked back through the common room, into the presence, and into bed.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
A/N: Ok so I'm not quite sure about this chapter... It started out good, but then kinda got weird... If anyone is confuzed tell me I'll clarify. It took a wile to ge this up and I'm not sure why. It started out so well I thought I would have it up 5 days ago! But its up now so be happy! Uhmm review please! I'll be sad if you don't!
Vreader: Thanks. I changed Third Ship Kisubo to Tenth Caravan Idaram! Technically Daja can't be from Third Ship Kisubo since there is no Third Ship Kisubo... It sunk into the ocean. But I just couldn't remember Tenth Caravan Idaram so I used what I knew!
EclipseAzNGTX: Thanks so much! I'm so glad you like it. Its my first fic!!:) maymay is how its supposed to be pronounced! Go to if you have trouble remembering things!!:)
Oh yea! There is a fly buzzing around my room! ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
I watched her enter the Tree Room. Her blond curls falling perfectly from the tie on the top of her head. Her eyes, the brightest of blues sparkled as she talked with her friends. I had ordered that dress specifically for her. I had thought it was the loveliest thing I had ever seen when I put it into her room. But her face made the dress seem the dullest of greys.
I watched her walk around the room, her hand on Briar's arm guiding him and the others to a spot under one of the largest maple trees, heard her laugh as he said something funny. I wished that I was over there, her delicate little hand resting on my arm. I wished that I could approach her. I wished that she could be mine. I had no hope.
She glanced up at me and saw me staring at her. I couldn't look away like I normally would have done. She smiled and returned to her conversation with the trader. It had to be a spell. Nothing else could have drawn me to her like that. I was mesmerized by the smallest things she did. The way she brushed a curl from her face. The way she walked. The way she ate. The very fact that she was, was mesmerizing. Even if she didn't notice me the way I did her. Even if she didn't know I existed. I would live a nice life knowing I had witnessed something so rare and beautiful as Lady Sandriline Fa Toren.
"Come here, Darling!" My mother called. "Alexandre come and talk with Lady Elizabeth."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
When they walked in the room I sent Marvelo to spy on them. These children were mages? I did not believe it. But what was there to do? I couldn't risk anything. I had to know of their capabilities. I had to test them. I would do it tomorrow.
Marvelo had followed them over to the large tree and was now hiding behind it, listening to every word. He took a slate and some chalk with him. He better come back with interesting news. I'd hate to have to punish him again today.
But I couldn't think of that. The Count was summoning me. He always needs me. Can he not think for himself? It is a funny thing how this Fief prospers from his rule. Since Belingar, the Count's father, passed on, Fief Debegri has become the best place to live in all of Qalai. Even under the rule of such a cat brain. How did he manage it? It must be Alexandre. He would be a good ruler. To bad he won't live long enought to take full control.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The hall was gigantic, and full of trees. Briar loved it. He was so excited. This was nothing like Cranes greenhouse. These trees slept during the winter. Briar suspected that they didn't use this room in the winter, and didn't heat it. He couldn't see a fire place. He couldn't wait to tell Rosethorn.
"Briar lets go stand underneath that tree. What is it?" Briar looked where Sandry pointed.
"A Maple." Sandry smiled at him and put her hand on his arm leading him away. Tris and Daja followed.
"This is such a strange place." Daja said. "I like it here."
"Me too. Its so different from home." Tris said. And all of the people. The Duke doesn't dine with all the nobles in Duke's citadel."
"No usually just me or Yazmin. Sometimes the Barron Erdogun fer Baigh, or other friends of his. Never the whole court." Sandry answered.
"Can't you just imagine the duke? Sitting around with a bunch of nobles? He would love that!" Brair joked.
Sandry laughed. "The duke would rather be with the commoners! He doesn't like nobles. Not even his own children."
"He likes you though." Briar smiled at her. Sandry laughed again. Looking up she saw Alexandre staring at her intently. It was very strange. He didn't look away when he saw her gaze was on him. Most people did. "So does anyone know what exactly we're doing here?"
"Well I suppose we have to get rid of the person causing all the trouble. We'll probably be told tomorrow." Daja answered. Briar nodded. He heard a coughing coming from behind the tree. All four looked that way.
~Someone's listening to the conversation.~ Briar thought. ~I'm going to look.~ Briar raised his magic, just in case he was going to have to protect himself. When he looked around behind the tree, though, he was disappointed. There was a large crowd standing near the window, but there was no one closer than a few meters. Perhaps he had been mistaken? Something still didn't feel right. Brair returned to the others. ~Maybe we should mind speak, if we say anything important.~ The others nodded.
For the rest of the evening Briar kept his magic close at hand, and he had unstrapped his wrist knives. Sandry held a ball of string in her hand, Daja who had left her staff in her room, borrowed one of Briar's knives. Tris didn't need a weapon. The storm that would arise if she got angry was enough to scare the Gods.
Eventually Sandry decided that there was no point in being in the tree room any longer so she walked over to the door. It was locked. That puzzled her. There was a servant standing near by with a tray of drinks and she decided to ask him. "Excuse me sir. Could you tell me why this door has been locked?" The servant looked at her like she was crazy before replying.
"That door is an entrance only. It has been so for many ages." Sandry scrunched her eyebrows.
"So then how do I get out?" The man, seeming to realize who Sandry was, grinned.
"Lady Sandry there is a door over there. Along the far wall." Someone came up to the man taking a drink. Sandry walked away.
The door was very plain and it was difficult for Sandry to tell it apart from the rest of the wall. She found it and turned the handle finding it led to a small hallway. She stepped out and closed the door behind her. Looking around she tried to judge what would be the right direction to go to get back to the guests quarters. She decided to go left and she turned down a hallway that looked familiar. She walked for a while and after many turns came to her chambers. She walked straight through the common room and into her bedroom. She brushed out her hair and put a night-gown on. She was so used to her foster siblings that it didn't matter what clothing she wore when she was around them. Walking back out into the common room she pulled out an interesting book from the shelf and went to sit down. Something stirred in a dark corner of the room. She took the little home-made light out of her pouch and put it on the table beside here where there was a candle. Picking up the flint and steel she struck a flame. The candle shone brightly but the room was so large that half of it was still in shadows. She stood, and walked slowly in the direction of the noise (carrying her lamp). There was someone standing in the corner. As she drew nearer she recognized him. The look on his face was the same one she had seen on him in the tree room. "Alex you gave me such a fright!"
"You? Lady Sandry, you are afraid of almost nothing." Alex replied. Sandry seemed to come to her senses.
"What are you doing in here?" She asked, in a very unladylike manner.
"I was... Uh... Just checking to see of you had everything you need..." Sandry laughed.
"When all of us were in the tree room?" Alex looked flustered. "Oh forget it. Come sit with me." Alex looked normal again and walked back to the couch. Sandry sat down, pulling her feet up and he sat across from her. "Glad to be home?"
"Of course. Winding Circle is so different from Fief Debegri." Sandry grinned.
"I know. You eat with the whole court?" Alex nodded.
"It helps to show the nobles who is in charge so that they don't get out of hand. It doesn't seem to be working."
"You suspect a noble?" Sandry was shocked. Usually nobles never suspected other nobles of anything, it would effect the family (see Street Magic!).
"Of course. No one else would have enough money or power to do something like that."
"What a bout a rich trader or merchant? Or someone from the provost even?"
"Hmm. Well I don't think so. We'll discuss it with you four tomorrow." Alex stood up and walked to the far side of the room where the large window was. He stood their looking out into the night sky. "Would you like to go on the balcony?" Sandry stood up and followed him out of a door in the glass.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Daja looked around the tree room trying to find Sandry. She had seen her go and talk to a servant but then Briar had said something and Sandry was gone.
"Maybe she just went back to the rooms. There isn't any point in worrying about her she can take care of herself. Come on or we'll be the last people in here!" Briar told Daja although he was also worried about Sandry. That coughing had really bothered him, and he didn't know why.
They followed the crowd, which wasn't moving towards the tree door but in the opposite direction where a small door was open. When they reached the door (after standing in a line to get to it) they realized why it took so long for everyone to leave. The Count of Debegri and the Lady Debegri were shaking hands with each noble as they left. Briar reached them first.
"Good night to you fo...Three. Where is your other companion, Lady Sandriline?" Lady Debegri questioned, almost suspiciously.
"She retired to our chambers an hour ago at least. I fear that she is not feeling her best." Brair answered in his most noble voice.
"That is to bad. I hope I will get to converse with her tomorrow. There is much that needs discussing." The Count said. Brair nodded, walking from the room. Daja and Tris quickly curtsied and followed.
Their rooms were dark when they managed to find the guest quarters. Sandry's bedroom door was closed. Tris slumped away into her room to go to sleep. Daja stood looking a round for a minute. Something felt strange to her, stranger than when she had stepped through the Fief's gates. Briar looked quizzically at her, feeling the 'presence' as well.
~What is it?~ He spoke through their connection, not wanting to break the silence.
~Feels so strange. Almost freezing cold, and boiling hot at the same time.~
~Like terribly bad magic, but its terribly good as well.~
~Do you think this is what we were called here for?~ Daja wondered nervously.
~I hope not. This is nothing like what I've felt before.~
~Its like... I can't describe it.~
~Its like an abundance of magic... Or unmagic rather.~ Sandry's terrified voice cut in.
~Oti and Book keeper protect me! Saati! You gave me such a fright! Where are you?~ Sandry came back into the common room from the balcony with a curious Alex, carrying a candle. He was about to open his mouth to say something.
~Don't let him speak!~ Daja cried, not wanting to disturb the force that was flowing through the room. Sandry being closest to him flung herself around wrapping her hand over his mouth. Making sure he wouldn't speak she let go and walked over to the others. ~What were you doing up here? What is this... Thing?~
~I cannot explain it to you. Alex can but not yet. Tomorrow he says there will be a conference.~
~So what do we do now?~ Briar demanded.
~Nothing. There is nothing we can do yet.~ The presence was edging on Briar's nerves and he started to get angry. He could feel it affecting all the plants in the area.
~There has to be something!~ Sandry looked at him solemnly. He pulled on his hair in frustration. ~Well then we should just stand around like idiots?~ Sandry was hurt. Briar had never taken such harsh tones with her. He's just effected by it differently than I am, Sandry thought to herself, but none the less here eyes filled with tears. Briar saw and he frowned. ~I... I'm sorry Sandry. I didn't mean to be angry. Its just oh...~ The tears were streaking down her face rapidly now and she stared at Briar pleadingly. He tried to give her a reassuring smile, which looked more like a grimace.
More tears soaked Sandry's face and Alex was going to comfort her but she almost fell into Briar's arms crying helplessly. Her head rested just beneath his neck and her ears soaked through his shirt but he didn't care. He held her close until deep breaths replaced tears. She sniffed looking up at him. Sandry didn't smile but she was glad she had Briar to comfort her now. He had always made her feel safe.
When Sandry had dissolved into Briar's shoulder Daja had went to he bathhouse, (well bathroom, since it is private) to wet a cloth and bring a towel. Now she handed the cloth to Sandry who sat down on the couch and wiped her face. It was nice to press a cool cloth to her hot flesh, even if it would be a while before the red splotches vanished. Keeping her hear in the cloth she rested her elbows on her knees. She took a few more calming breaths (counting to 7 for the intake, holding it, and releasing it to the same count) before taking the towel from Daja and drying her face.
Connecting his power to Daja, Briar thought, ~She should sleep~ Daja nodded and helped Sandry to rise, walking her into the bedroom. Briar turned to Alex glaring at him. He could have at least warned them!
Alex, sensing Briar's anger return, turned to him and beckoned to the balcony. Briar followed. As soon as he passed through the glass doors the atmosphere changed. It seemed that the force field didn't come out this far.
"Please. I beg your forgiveness, for not telling you. But couldn't risk it. What if you had thought it to dangerous? Would you have let the girls, or yourself come? I couldn't take the chance that you might refuse."
"Why does it do that to Sandry?"
"It seems to effect people with magic more than others. The stronger the magic, the stronger the presence. Those who haven't had magic in their families for years cannot feel it at all. I fell it less than you. Bit Sandry, Daja, Tris and you are different from our few mages. Since Ambient magic is different for each person the effects of this... Will vary." Briar nodded. He now realized that he was exhausted. Alex seemed to notice at that same point to for his usually straight back slumped a little.
"We will discuss it further tomorrow." Briar stated. Alex looked at him, knowing a dismissal, and left. Briar took a deep breath and walked back through the common room, into the presence, and into bed.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
A/N: Ok so I'm not quite sure about this chapter... It started out good, but then kinda got weird... If anyone is confuzed tell me I'll clarify. It took a wile to ge this up and I'm not sure why. It started out so well I thought I would have it up 5 days ago! But its up now so be happy! Uhmm review please! I'll be sad if you don't!