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 his parents, and
anyone else you don't recognize.
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The Presence came again. This time Briar, Sandry, Tris, and Daja all felt it but it didn't bother them. Briar was sitting in the common room trying to undo the damage to his miniature plant when the glass bead stopped working. The full force of the presence attacked him all at once and he dropped his clippers. Sandry in her room changing into something more comfortable than her dinner dress screamed. Daja walked out of her room with a hand to her head. Tris walked out muttering curses under her breath. Briar got up and went to Sandry's door. Before her opened it Daja scolded him. "Don't go in there."
"Huh? Why not?" Briar questioned impatiently.
"She's changing remember." Briar blushed and walked back to the couch. Daja went into Sandry's room, Tris following.
"Girls." Briar muttered.
"Sandry?" Daja called gently. Sandry was lying on the bed face down. "Are you all right?" Sandry groaned and tried to turn over. Tris helped her to sit up.
"I don't think the glass is working..." She muttered.
"Are you all right?" Sandry nodded, then grimaced and began to rub her temples.
"Here put this on." Daja said handing her a pair of soft spun breeches and a silk shirt. Sandry slipped into them and then they went out into the common room. Briar stood up.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Do you have any more of those medicine things?" Briar nodded and took one of his special headache capsules from a purse on his belt.
"You carry those things everywhere now I see." Daja inputted.
"I've been using so many of them lately that keeping them in my mages kit would waste to much time. Here Sandry." Giving her the pill he took one for himself as well. Daja held out her hand, and as he gave one to her he commented. "Rosie and I will make a fortune selling these on Market Day. I bet Udra's house would pay for them, even if Rosethorn won't accept the money."
After the medicinal drops began to work the four decided to sit down and plan their next move. What they really needed was more information from Keth, and Tris said so.
"What we really need is more information from Keth." The others nodded.
"Write back to him. He may have come across some other connection between glass and the Presence." Briar said.
"He said he'd write when anything new came up. There's no point in pestering him. I'm going to bed." Tris said grumpily. Sandry and Daja stood up as well.
"There's no point in being awake in this." Daja said before shutting her door.
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The following day the four got up early so that they could go into town. Briar was pleased when he saw that Sandry's fever had left her. She was smiling as she walked down the dirt road. "What a beautiful day!" She exclaimed.
The town was a wonderful place. Very different from the beauty of Emelan and Chammur, this place had a new, not historic, wonder. The buildings were all white, with no dirt, as if they had been built within the month. The small stalls outside the larger plazas were made from oak wood and had heavy blue cloth coverings. "To protect against the winter storms." Sandry commented inspecting the weave. "Water protection spells sewn in to keep out the snow, and also some sort of heating spell to keep the warmth in. They clearly have a magnificent mage here. We should find out who it is."
"They could have just bought the cloth from a trader caravan or ship. They get both here." Briar remarked.
"Possible but unlikely. Look at the complexity of the spells. They have to be redone before winter every year."
"Is it Ambient or Academic magic?" Daja inquired.
"It's hard to tell. In fact it seems like a bit of both. Maybe we have two mages hiding in our midst."
"Or a very strong one." Tris commented, thinking. "The power to be both an Academic and Ambient mage is so great that it is almost never seen."
"I think we underestimated who were up against." Briar stated. "Come on lets mingle."
Like normal Sandry headed strait for a stall selling fine spun silks, Tris went to the book store, Daja found a smith selling goods, and Briar wandered around looking at everything (including plants).
"Thief!" A tall and fat merchant shouted as Briar walked by. A guard came running out of the alley between two stalls and approached Briar. He sighed and put his hands casually into his pockets.
"Show me your 'ands boy." The guard growled. As the guard examined his hands, looking for the 'X' tattoos on the webbing between his thumb and forefinger he inquired as to the vines, which were tattooed up his hands. "Wat 'ave we 'ere?" And then he noticed the flowers, which blossomed before his eyes. "Wat's your name."
"Briar Moss." The reply was curt, almost rude.
"I've not seen you around these parts, where are you from?"
"Emelan." At the guard's look he elaborated. "Summersea."
"You don't look like you're from Emelan. Where was ye born?"
"Hajra in Sotat."
"The slums in 'Ajra have a lot of thieves. And as you already knew where I was going to look on your 'ands, I'd say you was one of them." He grabbed Briar by the back of the head, forcing him to the ground. "Mr. Chandler what was it 'e stole?"
"He took the money that man just paid me for a sword."
"I did not!" Briar shouted.
"Silence. Empty you pockets. How much did the sword cost?"
"Three gold nobles and two gold crowns." The man answered.
"'And it all over." Briar did so reluctantly. The guard's eyes widened as he looked at the money. "'Oo else have you been thieving? This is more coin than even the richest noble's son would carry. I think some time in the stocks would do you some good, and then you can talk to the Baron."
~Oh Briar don't be foolish!~ Sandy scolded. ~Just tell him who you are. Or knife him or something.~ Sandry heard Briar's laugh through their bond.
"Release him, Sir." Sandry stood a few feet away hands clasped delicately in front of her.
"This boy is a thief, Lady. 'E deserves to be punished."
"He is no thief, Sir." Sandry replied sternly.
"And 'oo are you to be challenging me."
"Lady Sandriline Fa Toren, niece to Duke Vedris IV in Emelan. This is Daja Kisubo. We, as well as Briar and Trisana Chandler, are guests to your Baron, here to help end the presence."
"Why would the Duke send for four kids, instead of mages. Run along now before I haul you all in for lying to the guard." Sandry held out her hand palm up and made the 'come here' movement with her finger. The guard's shirt pulled tight almost dragging him towards her. He released Briar, and Sandry let the magic go, sending the fibbers of his clothes back to their proper positions. Sandry looked at him with a firm gaze and he nodded his head slightly. Brair took his money back, and the guard returned to his post.
The merchant who had called thief was staring at the group and when Briar returned the look he avoided his gaze. The four went to the stall. "Lucky you had your friends to save you boy. You are still a thief." Mr. Chandler stated. Daja shook her head.
"Is this the money you were looking for?" She said lifting a cloth from the table. The man gaped as he took the coin and returned it to his belt. "You should try looking before you label someone as a thief. Especially if you aren't familiar with them." Mr. Chandler had nothing to say.
"These are nice knives." Briar said inspecting the contents of a glass case. "It's really to bad that I don't like you."
"Special price. Three gold nobles each." The man said putting his merchant act back on and coming over to the case. "I won't accept a penny less."
~Tris come here, I want to buy this knife.~ "Three gold nobles? I could find a better one for cheaper just over there." Briar said pointing to a stall, which he had already been to. Their knives had been terrible, made from iron instead of steal. He wouldn't let this man know that though.
"Which knife?" Tris asked, putting a large bag on the ground. Brair pointed to it and Tris examined it carefully. ~How much did he say?~
~Three gold nobles.~
~I can probably get him to two and a silver astrel.~
~Okay.~
Tris looked up at the merchant and stifled a scream, which the others could hear through their magic. The man's eyes widened. ~What?!~ The three wondered.
"Trisana?" The man questioned.
"Father." She answered. Her friends all gasped. Briar, who was closest, put his hand protectively on her shoulder. "Why are you here?" Tris asked, shaking off Briar's touch.
"Uncle Renaud was getting to old for work. House Chandler moved us here. I ask the same to you." Tris' father answered, as if he was afraid of her. Sparks began to grow in Tris' hair.
"Tris." Sandry cautioned. Tris took a deep breath, willing herself to calm down.
"I am here, with my friends, as guests of the Baron."
"That I hardly believe. Why would the Baron want you?" The winds began to pick up and rain started to fall. The sparks in Tris' hair were crackling fiercely. Mr. Chandler cringed in horror.
"Trisana calm yourself." Daja said sternly. "Hold your tongue, Sir. It would be good to remember who is in your company."
"Trisana does not lie, Mr. Chandler. We are guests to the Baron here to-" Mr. Chandler swung his hand at Sandry hitting her on the side of her face.
"Be quiet wench." The man snarled. Sandry put a hand to her face, in shock. The winds whipping the stall grew so fierce that they threatened to tear the cloth from the solid wood pillars. Briar unsheathed two wrist knives and had them to the merchant's throat before the man could do anything.
"Briar, don't. Father, apologize to Lady Sandriline Fa Toren. Before I tell the Baron."
"Stop this nonsense, Devil." He said, meaning the weather. Tris blinked and the weather returned to normal. "Ahh!" Her father screamed.
"Now perhaps you will listen to me. The four of us are here as guests to aid in the stopping of the 'presence'."
"Again I ask you. Why would he want you, Devil. Or any of your monstrous friends."
"Tris is no devil, nor is she possessed. She is a mage." Mr. Chandler began to laugh.
"When she was a child she was tested by the strongest mage tester we could find. Don't lie to me."
"I do not deceive you." Daja replied. "She is not an academic mage, nor are we. Our magic is derived from the things around us, in Tris' case the weather. Choose to believe me, or don't it is not my problem." Daja nodded to the man and walked from the stall, Sandry and Briar following.
Briar muttered "What about my knife." Tris walked from the stall carrying a long box, which she handed to Briar.
"I was wrong." She said. "A gold noble and two silver astrels."
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A/N: YEAH! I updated! Untitled as of yet will be updated today or tomorrow. And I know somewhat of the next chapter so it should be tooooo long before I update this one again. Review please!!
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The Presence came again. This time Briar, Sandry, Tris, and Daja all felt it but it didn't bother them. Briar was sitting in the common room trying to undo the damage to his miniature plant when the glass bead stopped working. The full force of the presence attacked him all at once and he dropped his clippers. Sandry in her room changing into something more comfortable than her dinner dress screamed. Daja walked out of her room with a hand to her head. Tris walked out muttering curses under her breath. Briar got up and went to Sandry's door. Before her opened it Daja scolded him. "Don't go in there."
"Huh? Why not?" Briar questioned impatiently.
"She's changing remember." Briar blushed and walked back to the couch. Daja went into Sandry's room, Tris following.
"Girls." Briar muttered.
"Sandry?" Daja called gently. Sandry was lying on the bed face down. "Are you all right?" Sandry groaned and tried to turn over. Tris helped her to sit up.
"I don't think the glass is working..." She muttered.
"Are you all right?" Sandry nodded, then grimaced and began to rub her temples.
"Here put this on." Daja said handing her a pair of soft spun breeches and a silk shirt. Sandry slipped into them and then they went out into the common room. Briar stood up.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Do you have any more of those medicine things?" Briar nodded and took one of his special headache capsules from a purse on his belt.
"You carry those things everywhere now I see." Daja inputted.
"I've been using so many of them lately that keeping them in my mages kit would waste to much time. Here Sandry." Giving her the pill he took one for himself as well. Daja held out her hand, and as he gave one to her he commented. "Rosie and I will make a fortune selling these on Market Day. I bet Udra's house would pay for them, even if Rosethorn won't accept the money."
After the medicinal drops began to work the four decided to sit down and plan their next move. What they really needed was more information from Keth, and Tris said so.
"What we really need is more information from Keth." The others nodded.
"Write back to him. He may have come across some other connection between glass and the Presence." Briar said.
"He said he'd write when anything new came up. There's no point in pestering him. I'm going to bed." Tris said grumpily. Sandry and Daja stood up as well.
"There's no point in being awake in this." Daja said before shutting her door.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The following day the four got up early so that they could go into town. Briar was pleased when he saw that Sandry's fever had left her. She was smiling as she walked down the dirt road. "What a beautiful day!" She exclaimed.
The town was a wonderful place. Very different from the beauty of Emelan and Chammur, this place had a new, not historic, wonder. The buildings were all white, with no dirt, as if they had been built within the month. The small stalls outside the larger plazas were made from oak wood and had heavy blue cloth coverings. "To protect against the winter storms." Sandry commented inspecting the weave. "Water protection spells sewn in to keep out the snow, and also some sort of heating spell to keep the warmth in. They clearly have a magnificent mage here. We should find out who it is."
"They could have just bought the cloth from a trader caravan or ship. They get both here." Briar remarked.
"Possible but unlikely. Look at the complexity of the spells. They have to be redone before winter every year."
"Is it Ambient or Academic magic?" Daja inquired.
"It's hard to tell. In fact it seems like a bit of both. Maybe we have two mages hiding in our midst."
"Or a very strong one." Tris commented, thinking. "The power to be both an Academic and Ambient mage is so great that it is almost never seen."
"I think we underestimated who were up against." Briar stated. "Come on lets mingle."
Like normal Sandry headed strait for a stall selling fine spun silks, Tris went to the book store, Daja found a smith selling goods, and Briar wandered around looking at everything (including plants).
"Thief!" A tall and fat merchant shouted as Briar walked by. A guard came running out of the alley between two stalls and approached Briar. He sighed and put his hands casually into his pockets.
"Show me your 'ands boy." The guard growled. As the guard examined his hands, looking for the 'X' tattoos on the webbing between his thumb and forefinger he inquired as to the vines, which were tattooed up his hands. "Wat 'ave we 'ere?" And then he noticed the flowers, which blossomed before his eyes. "Wat's your name."
"Briar Moss." The reply was curt, almost rude.
"I've not seen you around these parts, where are you from?"
"Emelan." At the guard's look he elaborated. "Summersea."
"You don't look like you're from Emelan. Where was ye born?"
"Hajra in Sotat."
"The slums in 'Ajra have a lot of thieves. And as you already knew where I was going to look on your 'ands, I'd say you was one of them." He grabbed Briar by the back of the head, forcing him to the ground. "Mr. Chandler what was it 'e stole?"
"He took the money that man just paid me for a sword."
"I did not!" Briar shouted.
"Silence. Empty you pockets. How much did the sword cost?"
"Three gold nobles and two gold crowns." The man answered.
"'And it all over." Briar did so reluctantly. The guard's eyes widened as he looked at the money. "'Oo else have you been thieving? This is more coin than even the richest noble's son would carry. I think some time in the stocks would do you some good, and then you can talk to the Baron."
~Oh Briar don't be foolish!~ Sandy scolded. ~Just tell him who you are. Or knife him or something.~ Sandry heard Briar's laugh through their bond.
"Release him, Sir." Sandry stood a few feet away hands clasped delicately in front of her.
"This boy is a thief, Lady. 'E deserves to be punished."
"He is no thief, Sir." Sandry replied sternly.
"And 'oo are you to be challenging me."
"Lady Sandriline Fa Toren, niece to Duke Vedris IV in Emelan. This is Daja Kisubo. We, as well as Briar and Trisana Chandler, are guests to your Baron, here to help end the presence."
"Why would the Duke send for four kids, instead of mages. Run along now before I haul you all in for lying to the guard." Sandry held out her hand palm up and made the 'come here' movement with her finger. The guard's shirt pulled tight almost dragging him towards her. He released Briar, and Sandry let the magic go, sending the fibbers of his clothes back to their proper positions. Sandry looked at him with a firm gaze and he nodded his head slightly. Brair took his money back, and the guard returned to his post.
The merchant who had called thief was staring at the group and when Briar returned the look he avoided his gaze. The four went to the stall. "Lucky you had your friends to save you boy. You are still a thief." Mr. Chandler stated. Daja shook her head.
"Is this the money you were looking for?" She said lifting a cloth from the table. The man gaped as he took the coin and returned it to his belt. "You should try looking before you label someone as a thief. Especially if you aren't familiar with them." Mr. Chandler had nothing to say.
"These are nice knives." Briar said inspecting the contents of a glass case. "It's really to bad that I don't like you."
"Special price. Three gold nobles each." The man said putting his merchant act back on and coming over to the case. "I won't accept a penny less."
~Tris come here, I want to buy this knife.~ "Three gold nobles? I could find a better one for cheaper just over there." Briar said pointing to a stall, which he had already been to. Their knives had been terrible, made from iron instead of steal. He wouldn't let this man know that though.
"Which knife?" Tris asked, putting a large bag on the ground. Brair pointed to it and Tris examined it carefully. ~How much did he say?~
~Three gold nobles.~
~I can probably get him to two and a silver astrel.~
~Okay.~
Tris looked up at the merchant and stifled a scream, which the others could hear through their magic. The man's eyes widened. ~What?!~ The three wondered.
"Trisana?" The man questioned.
"Father." She answered. Her friends all gasped. Briar, who was closest, put his hand protectively on her shoulder. "Why are you here?" Tris asked, shaking off Briar's touch.
"Uncle Renaud was getting to old for work. House Chandler moved us here. I ask the same to you." Tris' father answered, as if he was afraid of her. Sparks began to grow in Tris' hair.
"Tris." Sandry cautioned. Tris took a deep breath, willing herself to calm down.
"I am here, with my friends, as guests of the Baron."
"That I hardly believe. Why would the Baron want you?" The winds began to pick up and rain started to fall. The sparks in Tris' hair were crackling fiercely. Mr. Chandler cringed in horror.
"Trisana calm yourself." Daja said sternly. "Hold your tongue, Sir. It would be good to remember who is in your company."
"Trisana does not lie, Mr. Chandler. We are guests to the Baron here to-" Mr. Chandler swung his hand at Sandry hitting her on the side of her face.
"Be quiet wench." The man snarled. Sandry put a hand to her face, in shock. The winds whipping the stall grew so fierce that they threatened to tear the cloth from the solid wood pillars. Briar unsheathed two wrist knives and had them to the merchant's throat before the man could do anything.
"Briar, don't. Father, apologize to Lady Sandriline Fa Toren. Before I tell the Baron."
"Stop this nonsense, Devil." He said, meaning the weather. Tris blinked and the weather returned to normal. "Ahh!" Her father screamed.
"Now perhaps you will listen to me. The four of us are here as guests to aid in the stopping of the 'presence'."
"Again I ask you. Why would he want you, Devil. Or any of your monstrous friends."
"Tris is no devil, nor is she possessed. She is a mage." Mr. Chandler began to laugh.
"When she was a child she was tested by the strongest mage tester we could find. Don't lie to me."
"I do not deceive you." Daja replied. "She is not an academic mage, nor are we. Our magic is derived from the things around us, in Tris' case the weather. Choose to believe me, or don't it is not my problem." Daja nodded to the man and walked from the stall, Sandry and Briar following.
Briar muttered "What about my knife." Tris walked from the stall carrying a long box, which she handed to Briar.
"I was wrong." She said. "A gold noble and two silver astrels."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
A/N: YEAH! I updated! Untitled as of yet will be updated today or tomorrow. And I know somewhat of the next chapter so it should be tooooo long before I update this one again. Review please!!