Thank you to all of our readers! We appreciate your replies. :) In answer to your question, Erica Brown-yes, there are two of us, and while we both have other jobs, writing is a serious part of our lives. Who knows what may come from our individual future writings? And thank you very much-it's nice to hear that you think we're doing that well. :)
:-:-:
CHAPTER TEN
by Qwi-Xux
The attack didn't come in any physical form. Instead, the woman held her hands together and muttered something. Immediately, a ball of fire sprang up in her hands, and she threw it at Briar. It all happened in the space of an instant, but Briar's reflexes were still in excellent shape. He dodged out of the way. His anger sharpened; this woman was not only keeping him from getting to Sandry, she was holding his student captive, and she was attacking him!
Unfortunately, this deep into the Citadel, there were no plants Briar could call on. He felt roots nearby, but realized that if he tried to move them, the roof would collapse, crushing Evvy and whoever else was in the cell with her.
Briar thought fast. Evvy had been holding her mage kit... but she was in a magic-blocking cell. If only he could get the door open... It was a thick, heavy door, and only a few spaces between some thick bars had allowed him to see Evvy at all. He had to hurry. Every second he wasted on this stupid mage was a second that Sandry was in trouble.
He wanted to call on Tris and Daja, but both girls were occupied. Tris's power was still roiling-causing what damage, he could only imagine-and Daja's magical sense was prickling, showing that she was doing something else right now. Not wanting to break their concentration, Briar turned to another idea that had just blossomed.
She probably expects me to attack with some kind of magic, Briar thought. In the same moment it took him to think that, he had reached for the knives he had just tucked into his breeches. They were out and flying at the woman before she knew what was coming.
Had she not ducked at the last instant, the knives would have hit her.
The woman stood back and eyed him a bit more warily. Briar kept his eyes fixed upon her, hoping she would not notice what he had thrown with the knives. He had to keep her distracted for a bit longer...
If it had been anyone but Evvy in the prison cell, it probably wouldn't have been possible, but as it was, the cell was simply not designed for skinny eleven-year-old girls; especially not skinny eleven-year-old girls who knew how to pick locks.
The woman threw another particularly nasty-looking spell at Briar- something whizzed past his ear as he jumped sideways, and in his magical vision, something shiny slammed into the wall. Unfortunately, it bounced off the wall and followed Briar. He twisted out of the way, and the spell continued past him. It didn't help that it simply pushed off of the next wall it hit and aimed for him again.
Evvy was busy at work now-her arm was just small enough to reach through the bars of the cell door to the lock. The lockpicks that Briar had thrown were held in her mouth; the one Evvy had chosen to use was being furiously worked in the lock.
Briar thanked his lucky stars that Daja had recently magicked the hinges on the door so that they opened squeak-free. The door didn't even make a whisper of sound as it swung open. As the woman mage muttered something under her breath-adding another spell to the one Briar was already dodging, no doubt-Evvy flung an object at her. It struck the mage in the back. A stunned expression crossed her face, and then her eyes rolled back in her head. She collapsed face-first on the ground.
Briar grinned and picked up the stone Evvy had thrown. "A tiger eye."
"I designed the magic," Evvy returned his grin. "I would've thrown it at her earlier, but the spell only lasts for a few seconds, and I had to call the magic into it first."
"Your own design, huh?" Briar examined the tiger eye. "I hope it wasn't a big working..."
Evvy sighed. "No, Pahan Briar. It wasn't." Then she ran and flung herself on him.
"That's my girl." Briar patted Evvy's back, his mind still on Sandry, and he itched to go find her. Unfortunately, he had no idea where to go from here. Evvy stepped back, and his gaze fell on the cell door, where two other children were emerging. Briar raised his eyebrows at Evvy.
"Oh. Briar. This is Pasco and Paloma."
Ah. Sandry's student and the girl that had been in Haman's care.
Wait a minute...Sandry's student...hadn't her letters said he was from a harrier family? "You," Briar pointed at Pasco, who jumped and looked at Briar guiltily.
"I'm sorry! I didn't know!"
Evvy rolled her eyes. "Get a grip," she told Pasco, sounding for a moment very much like Rosethorn.
Bemused, Briar frowned at Pasco. He wasn't sure what Pasco was sorry for, but there were other matters at hand. He had to get to Sandry. "You're from a harrier family, right?"
"Yes..." Pasco said slowly.
"Sandry was locked up somewhere, and I thought it was here...except I can't find her. She's somewhere dark, and her magic is cut off. Do you know- -"
"Under the courthouse," Pasco said immediately. "It's right near the Citadel and they have magic-blocking cells. They're all underground and have no lights or windows."
How ironic that Sandry would be locked in the same place where he had been proclaimed guilty. "You three, come with me. It's not safe here."
:-:-:
"Dedicate Skyfire! There's a ship approaching! The...Jaunty Sailor, it says!"
The Dedicates in Winding Circle had just finished their preparations. The students of Winding Circle had been taken to a town nearby, until it was safe for them to return. The Dedicates and mages had been about to set sail from Winding Circle's harbor to go around behind the merchants at Summersea's harbor.
And now, as they were about to set out with the dozen ships they had procured during the night, a foreign ship approached. Skyfire's sharp eyes turned to the vessel, and then he looked over at Lark and Rosethorn, who were nearby. "It could be a trick from the merchants. Dedicates! Prepare your guards!"
Dedicates on numerous ships were already standing at ready, and others quickly moved into place. The Jaunty Sailor continued to head directly for them. There was a man-the captain, Lark noted-standing at the prow of the ship. "Ahoy there!" he called when he was within voice range.
"What is your purpose here?" Skyfire bellowed back.
"I came at the behest of Mage Trisana Chandler," the captain called.
Lark froze, exchanging glances with Rosethorn. She stepped up beside Skyfire. "What do you know of Tris?"
The ship was coming still closer. "Halt where you are!" Skyfire commanded, when the captain was within distance where they didn't have to shout at each other.
The captain turned and gave the command to someone to put down anchor. Seamen rushed to obey. In answer to Lark's question, the captain said, "Trisana has traveled with us these six days. We were to set in at port at Summersea harbor, but found it besieged. Trisana insisted on taking a rowboat through the harbor, and commanded us to come here to safety. I think she used those winds of hers to get us here in record time." The captain motioned to Winding Circle's harbor.
"Certainly sounds like Tris," Rosethorn muttered.
"It is Tris," this came from Daja, who had just now emerged from a magical working that she had been doing on some chain nets. "She blasted into the harbor just a few minutes ago."
Rosethorn raised her eyebrows. "And you didn't say anything?"
"I was in the middle of a magical working. And with Tris's temper, I knew you would realize she was back soon enough." Daja grinned.
"Well. That is welcome news," Lark said. She knew that Tris could definitely watch out for herself-she could only wonder if there would be anything left of the merchant blockade by the time the Winding Circle defenders arrived. "Did Niklaren Goldeye accompany you as well?" she asked the captain.
"Alas, I fear not," the captain replied. "He was to come shortly behind us."
Conversation was put to a halt when a huge white dog suddenly ran across the deck and pushed up to where the captain stood, nearly bowling the poor man over in the process. Directly following, a small girl was chasing him with glee.
"Little Bear!" Lark exclaimed.
Perhaps Little Bear knew he was close to home, or perhaps he heard or smelled someone familiar. Regardless, he was worked up about something. He yelped excitedly, and the girl wrapped her arms around him, trying to pull him back.
Lark thought quickly. "I'm afraid you've arrived at a rather desperate time. The Duke of Emelan is dead, and an imposter is in possession of the Citadel. We have cleared out Winding Circle, and are about to leave to defend Summersea Harbor. I would tell you to sail away, and come back when it is safe. I do not wish your daughter to come to any harm."
The captain's eyebrows rose, and he glanced from Lark to the little girl and back. "My daughter? Oh, no, I'm afraid you are mistaken. This is the Mage Trisana's child."
Lark blinked, not sure she had heard him correctly.
"What do you mean, Tris's child?" Rosethorn demanded sharply. "Tris does not have a child!"
"I'm afraid she does, Dedicate," the captain said. "And a fiesty one at that." He stepped out of the way to avoid Little Bear's excited jumping as the little girl again tried to grab the dog. "And if you are to defend the harbor, I will to watch her while you go. I will sail the ship around away from the fighting, and set anchor by Four Farthings. If you would be so kind as to send Mage Trisana when the fighting is over, then I will wait to continue my journey. We made it here much faster than I had expected, and so I will not have to depart for several days."
"We will make sure someone comes to collect the child and the dog," Lark assured.
"And the dragon, if you please," the captain said.
"Dragon?" Lark and Rosethorn repeated simultaneously. Lark closed her eyes for a moment, then said warily, "We will certainly do that. Thank you, Captain." She nodded deeply to him.
"The pleasure is mine, Dedicate." With that, the captain commanded the anchor to be drawn up, and began sailing away.
As the mages finally began their journey toward Summersea, Rosethorn turned on Daja. "I don't suppose you know anything concerning Tris and a child? Or a dragon?"
"Not a thing. It was news to me as well."
Rosethorn sighed. "Tris has a lot of explaining to do."
:-:-:
"Tri-is!" Keth kept very close to his teacher. He had to; anywhere outside of three feet of her personal space had become a rage of winds. The ships in the harbor had scattered. Any weapon thrown at Keth and Tris's small boat was hurled back at the attacker with ferocious force. They made it to the harbor with no trouble at all, and Keth climbed out of the rowboat, helping Tris up after him.
It looked as if they had entered a war zone. Docks had been blasted away; the streets nearby had cannonballs lodged in them; buildings within firing range had been hit. Just out of firing range there was also some kind of blockade that looked as if it had been hastily thrown together. Beyond that, Keth could make out some kind of guards talking amongst themselves. They were still standing, as Tris's winds hadn't extended that far yet.
The merchants on the ships were no longer firing the cannons, but they had them at ready. They didn't seem inclined to get off of their ships, but Keth knew that could change in an instant.
"Tris?" he said again.
Tris had her grey eyes closed. She was silent for several long minutes, and then she opened her eyes and glanced at Keth.
"Tris?"
Tris continued to ignore him, her eyes fixed on one ship in particular. "That's the head of the merchant guild's ship." Her tone of voice left no doubt in Keth's mind that she was probably going to do something regrettable to the head of the merchant guild-perhaps not regrettable for Tris, but definitely for the merchant.
"Do you even know what's going on here?"
"That's what I've been finding out," Tris said grimly. The winds continued to whip around them. "Daja gave me the rundown on what's been going on. Suffice to say the head of the merchant guild is in on some kind of plot against Emelan, and that Sandry and Briar are in trouble." Her tone suggested there was a lot more to it than that, but she wasn't going to go into it right now. She turned away from Keth and faced the harbor head on. Her fingers reached to undo one of her braids-one that Keth knew was a lightning braid.
"Um, and what are you going to do?" Keth eyed her crackling braid. While he no longer feared lightning-and had, in fact, come to love it-the thought of Tris using it against a fleet of ships wasn't something he particularly wanted to see.
"Teach the head of the merchant guild a lesson he won't soon forget."
"But-"
"Oh, don't worry. He'll be very much alive, as will all the other merchants. But this is going to stop here and now until I have my answers," Tris said.
Once, before Keth knew Tris, he would have laughed if she had said something like that. Stop a fleet of attacking ships until she got her answers? Now, though, he knew-it was no laughing matter. "If you're going to use lightning, then I'm going to help."
"I can handle this, Keth," Tris snapped.
"I didn't say you couldn't," Keth retorted with just as much fire in his voice. "But I'm going to help. I don't need you wearing yourself out more than you already are."
They glared at each other for a moment, and then Tris nodded shortly. "Fine."
Satisfied-Tris often ignored her limits, and this way, he might be able to take some of the strain off of her-Keth braced himself for the power that was about to be unleashed.
:-:-:
Getting out of the Citadel was no trouble; Briar just led the three kids back the way he had come. The guards were still wrapped in the garden plants, struggling to get out. He stalked past them, his mind again singularly focused on Sandry. He did ask how Evvy, Pasco, and Paloma had wound up in the cell, and they explained. It seemed Haman hadn't known who Evvy was anymore than the evil mage woman had.
Evvy, Pasco, and Paloma were hard-pressed to keep up with him at the speed he was going. Briar was grateful that the court building was so close; he didn't have to deal with the panicking people and blockades much at all. When he reached the entrance to the court, he said, "Evvy. Give me one of your light crystals."
Evvy quickly dug into her pouch and pulled out a crystal full of shining white light. Briar tucked it into his pocket. "Thank you. Now all three of you, wait here."
"But-" Evvy began.
"Wait. Here."
Something in Briar's tone must have struck something, because Evvy's eyes widened, and she nodded. She, Pasco, and Paloma hurriedly sat on one of the benches just inside the building.
Briar quickly found the stairs leading down to the cells underneath the court. It wasn't hard to figure out which one Sandry was in; it had a guard standing in front of it. He wasn't a mage though, and no match for Briar in the mood he was in. Within ten seconds, he had been incapacitated and lay in a heap on the floor. Briar grabbed the keys off of his belt. It took four tries before he had the right key.
He turned the lock and tried to open the door, but found it blocked by something inside. Fear stabbed through him. Was he too late? Had something happened? She had been in here for several hours, at least, and he couldn't hear anything from within the cell. "Sandry?" he called frantically through the crack. "Sandry!" If something's happened to her, I will never forgive myself.
There was no reply. Briar pushed on the door and found that it gave a little at a time. He quickly pulled out Evvy's crystal and squeezed through the opening. He immediately saw what had been blocking the door-Sandry. She was limp on the ground, but breathing, and just the sight of her drawing breath made Briar sag in relief. Her hair and clothes were filthy from the dirty cell floor, but she was the most beautiful sight Briar had ever seen. "Sandry?" he said quietly, reaching out and touching her arm. She still didn't respond. I've got to get her out of here. I can't feel her with my magic.
Carefully, Briar scooped her up and carried her out of the cell, setting her on the ground near the fallen guard. As soon as he did so, Sandry's eyes snapped open, and she let out a strangled cry, flailing her arms to strike.
Briar leaned backward so as not to get slapped. "Hey! Easy!" He grabbed her arms. "It's all right. You're safe."
Sandry blinked, looking at him with confusion on her face. "Am I dreaming?" she whispered.
"No, Sandry," Briar said gently.
Sandry promptly burst into tears, throwing her arms around Briar and sobbing into his chest. He could only make out some of her words, but he gathered that shortly after she had contacted him, she had lost consciousness-her mind must have shut down to avoid the darkness. She finally turned her head up and he could hear her more clearly. She wailed, "And I thought my fear of the dark was gone! I had dealt with it!"
"No one will blame you for being afraid again. You never expected to be locked up in a dark space with no magic," Briar replied softly.
"I blame me," Sandry sniffled. She hiccupped once, then leaned her head again on Briar's chest, taking a deep breath. "I'm so pathetic."
"You're not pathetic, Sandry. You're the bravest person I know." It was true. Being scared of being locked up in a dark place didn't make her any less brave to him. Everyone had something they feared. He was sure that if he were faced with the reality of reliving his past of scrounging for food on the streets and having no magic, he would react quite the same way Sandry had to the darkness.
Sandry choked on a laugh. "How can you...never mind. We don't have time to get into it right now. I have to get a hold of Lark. I have to stop Haman." Still, she remained where she was, and Briar was no longer in a hurry. He was just glad to have found Sandry, and he was even more glad she was here in his arms. For a moment, it didn't matter that she was a Duchess. For a moment, he could ignore everything going on outside the courthouse.
Until a huge surge of magic welled up in him. The spell of the moment was broken. Sandry gasped and suddenly went rigid. "Tris?" she exclaimed.
Yes, it was definitely Tris. She was up to something big. Briar grinned, standing to his feet and offering Sandry a hand up. "Oh, yes. Didn't I tell you? She's home."
:-:-:
When one of Captain Penmic's men ran up to him, panting, he froze. "What is it, Ilmer?"
"Captain...the harbor...you should see this."
Penmic had already been making his way to the harbor, and in fact, was nearly there. "What is it? What's going on?"
"I...I'm not entirely sure, Captain, but..." Ilmer trailed off and shook his head.
Penmic picked up pace, motioning his men along with him. The breezes on all the streets of Summersea seemed to have picked up, but the closer to the harbor he got, the more they blew. The dawn sky grew darker, as if a storm had suddenly decided to brew. More of the Citadel's guards were waiting at the last blockade that had been thrown up near the harbor, and Penmic stopped beside them. He had a direct view of the harbor from here, and what he saw stopped him dead in his tracks. He could only stare at the sight before him.
Standing directly in front of the harbor were two people-a red-haired woman and a taller man. It was the woman Penmic's eyes fell upon. She was standing with her arms raised. Lightning ran over her, and over the body of the man beside her, but neither appeared hurt by it at all. More lightning flashed in the grey sky overhead, and as Penmic watched, a particularly large bolt shot down and struck the red-haired woman. A second followed and hit the man beside her. Both bolts of lightning stayed in the sky, holding their position, though they moved like undulating snakes.
Working together, the two of them wound the bolts of lightning in and around each other. When it was one long, braided strip, they turned their hands in unison toward the ships in the harbor, and the lightning running from the sky to their bodies shot out, enveloping the air around one of the ships. Suddenly, it struck the bottom side of the ship, burning a huge hole through the hull. Water poured in, and the ship began to sink.
"What are they doing?" one of the guards whispered in a stunned voice.
It took Penmic a minute to find his voice. "I have no idea," he said in awe.
The woman clenched her fists, and the lightning broke off. The traces of it on her and the man slowly crackled and faded. She reached up and began to undo one of the braids in her hair, and the man grabbed her wrist. It looked like she turned and said something to him, and he slowly put down his hand. She resumed undoing her braid.
Penmic suddenly had the urge to get away, far away, but he stayed where he was, his eyes fixed on the girl. He knew who she was-he had known from the moment he laid eyes on her. It could only be Trisana Chandler, the weather mage. He had seen her once or twice in passing, when she had been at the Citadel with Sandrilene, but had never spoken to her. From everything he had heard, though, she had quite a temper. You simply did not make Trisana Chandler angry. And from the looks of it, she was beyond angry. He did not know who the man was, but if he was in Trisana's company, on top of what he had just done with the lightning, it seemed he was also someone that would be loathe to oppose.
Tris finished undoing her braid, and a huge gust of wind struck Penmic and his guards, knocking them backward. They pushed to their feet, leaning against the wind, and narrowed their eyes so they could see out to the harbor. Tris and the man beside her were standing in the center of a gale of winds, and from the looks of the force that was striking the ships, they were hurricane-size winds. Penmic and his men were only getting a small piece of it.
As he watched in awe, Tris pushed every single one of the merchant ships into a huge group in the middle of the harbor. Cannons and other weapons were blasted off of the ships, falling into the water. When Tris had bunched them all together, she spun her finger. It took Penmic a moment to figure out what she had done; then he saw the ocean water swirling around the merchant ships, and realized that she had somehow commanded the winds to circle the ships, creating an effective prison for them.
Just how long, Penmic wondered, could Tris hold the winds and ships in place? He knew that every mage had their limitations, and not even a great mage could hold a working like this forever.
The ship that Tris had struck with lightning was still sinking, and men began to jump off of it, swimming for shore. Penmic took this moment to wave to his men. They cautiously moved forward, following Penmic's lead. Penmic stopped when he was almost level with Tris, holding a hand to stop his people. They froze, waiting for his command.
Tris stood there for several more moments, and then slowly lowered her hands. The winds around Penmic and his guard died out, but the gale surrounding the merchant ships held. Abruptly, Tris spun around, facing Penmic's direction. Her grey eyes were snapping. "You're the captain of the guard at the Citadel," she said, seeing his insignia.
"Yes," Penmic acknowledged cautiously, praying he wouldn't say something to anger her further.
"I've heard about what's been going on here. That-" she pointed to the men swimming to shore "-is the head of the merchant guild and his crew."
Penmic heard her tone and nodded at his men. "Arrest them," he commanded. There were only ten or twelve total crewmembers that had been on the head merchant's ship. It wasn't a problem to capture them-as each one reached the shore, they crawled up and raised their hands in surrender.
All but one-he made it to shore and stood proudly. "I will not surrender!"
"Take him," Penmic ordered. Five of his guard converged on the head of the merchant guild, and within seconds, he was restrained.
Tris stepped forward and looked down at one of the surrendering merchants. "Uncle Eryil," she said in disgust.
The merchant looked up in confusion, and then his eyes widened. "Not...Trisana?"
"Yes, Trisana," Tris retorted sarcastically. She spun on Penmic. "Now. It appears you're helping me, but just whose side are you on?" The man standing at her side remained silent, but he kept sharp eyes on everyone nearby.
"The Duchess Sandrilene's," Penmic answered immediately. "Unfortunately, the Duchess has been wrongly accused and removed from the Citadel. She's being imprisoned under the courthouse."
"And Briar?" Tris snapped, her eyes narrowing. Penmic watched her dark, angry eyes and forced himself not to step back when lightning sparks began running through her hair and down her arms.
She obviously knew of the happenings recently. Up until now, Penmic had simply avoided the subject of Briar, and had pointedly ignored it when he escaped or passed by. Now, however, he had one of Briar's best friends standing in front of him-an extremely dangerous best friend-and Penmic's own guard was standing nearby.
Fortunately, the guard with him was hand-picked by him because the stood by the Duchess. He trusted them. "I believe Mage Briar Moss was also wrongly accused," Penmic said. "Though I do not know his whereabouts."
Tris was silent for a minute or two, almost as if her mind was elsewhere, and then she turned her eyes back on Penmic. "I do. And Sandry is no longer imprisoned. I would question your loyalties, but Sandry and Daja both say you're trustworthy."
That was high praise, and Penmic was glad to hear it.
Tris continued, "I've told Sandry and Briar to meet me at the Citadel. You do something with these-merchants." Tris again glared at the merchants, as if they had no right to be known by such a title.
"My men will imprison the merchants. What about the ones in the harbor?"
"My wind will hold them for long enough. Help is already on its way," Tris replied, not saying what help she was referring to.
Penmic didn't ask. He simply nodded. "I'm coming with you to the Citadel."
Tris opened her mouth to argue, then eyed Penmic more closely and nodded. "Fine. But stay out of my way."
Penmic quickly left orders with some of his men, then took two that he especially trusted and headed back to the Citadel with Tris and her companion. From what he could guess, Briar must have tracked down the Duchess. That didn't surprise him-the connection that Sandry, Briar, Tris, and Daja had was infamous.
Penmic wasn't sure where Daja currently was, but she had to be somewhere nearby. With Tris's return, the Four were together again.
Haman had absolutely no idea what was headed his way.
:-:-:
Sandry was still humiliated about her experience in the cell, and even more that Briar had seen her in such a state, but she was trying to push it to the back of her mind. She had other things to do now.
Not that Briar hasn't seen you in every state imaginable, she thought wryly to herself. It was true. Living with someone for so many years, you saw them at their best and their worst. That's right, Sandry. And you've seen Briar in just as many states. So stop worrying about it, she told herself firmly.
The part of her that was not embarrassed was thankful beyond words. She couldn't begin to describe the relief she had had upon seeing Briar's face when she opened her eyes, nor could she explain the feelings that had welled up in her so strongly as she clung to him. He had come for her. Despite everything, despite any danger to himself, he had come for her.
"Briar?"
Briar had just finished dragging the unconscious guard into her cell and locking him in. "Yes?" He turned to face her. His black hair was grimy, and he had dirt streaked across his face. His once-white tunic now matched the brown of his breeches.
Looking into his concerned green-grey eyes, Sandry was suddenly able to put to words the feelings that had been broiling inside her since she had first seen Briar again. Love. She loved Briar Moss. For everything he was, she loved him. Sandry opened her mouth to speak, then choked on her words. She couldn't say it. Not now. Not here. It wasn't that she didn't want to...she simply wanted some time to think about the whole thing first. "Um...thank you. For coming to get me."
Briar's eyes searched hers, and he slowly nodded. "Anytime, Sandry," he said, very seriously.
Sandry and Briar went upstairs, where Pasco, Paloma, and Evvy were seated. Sandry was relieved to see that they were safe.
"Sandry and I are going for help. I want you three to stay here," Briar told them as he and Sandry approached.
Evvy immediately put up protest, and Pasco turned his wide eyes on Sandry. She recognized his look-he didn't want to argue with Briar, as he was probably still feeling bad about believing Briar was guilty, but he wanted to come, too. Paloma simply chewed on her lower lip and looked from Briar to Sandry and back, then down at her hands.
"Briar," Sandry said, "Paloma, at least, needs to come with us."
"What? Why?" Briar asked.
"Because the magic that Haman uses-temporarily absorbing the magics of those around him-it's not his."
"What are you talking about?"
"It's Paloma's," Sandry said softly, her eyes fixed on the girl. Paloma looked up and met Sandry's eyes. "I'm certain it is. Haman had me locked away before I could say anything, but I think Daja suspects too. When I did her magical weaving...Briar, Paloma has been absorbing and using others' magics. She used Pasco's dance magic, and my thread magic, but it's only been in tiny amounts. Her magic barely seems to be there. She has the same ability as Haman. Thinking about that, why do you think that Haman would keep her so close for so long?"
Briar's eyes widened. "He's been stealing her magic. Like what Daja said happened to Frostpine."
"Yes. Haman was trained at Lightsbridge. I think he really is a truthsayer-or has the ability to be, even though he sometimes fails to use it." Like at Briar's trial. "But I think he found Paloma, and realized that he could take her magic and use it. I don't know exactly why he wanted it, but there has to be a reason."
Paloma finally spoke up. "But...why do I have to come with you?"
"Because we're going to have to face Haman once we get help. And if he has your magic, we may need you there to break the tie." If they could break it at all. When Frostpine learned he had magic, it had been because the person stealing his magic had died. Well, if Haman dies...I can't say I'll be sorry to see him go, Sandry thought grimly.
"If she gets to go, then I'm coming, too," Evvy said stoutly, shooting Paloma a look.
You know, Briar, Sandry mind spoke, if we don't let Pasco and Evvy come, they're just going to follow us.
And they can't. Aloud, Briar said, "Evvy, if you come, you'll give Haman another weapon to use. If he hasn't absorbed your magic, I don't want you around where he can absorb it. Same goes for you, Pasco. Coming would only put us in more danger."
Except he already absorbed Pasco's magic, Sandry thought at Briar. He was going to frame Pasco instead, remember? And he probably has my magic as well. I don't know if he has Evvy's.
From what Evvy told me, Haman didn't realize who she is, or that she even had magic.
"Paloma," Sandry said. "Does Haman have to know someone's a mage to use their magic?"
"Yes. And he has to concentrate on their magic to get it," Paloma replied.
"Can he use more than one magic at a time?" Briar asked.
"No. He can use one, then switch, but he can't use two at the same time."
Sandry nodded. That was something to remember. "I'm sure you'd be able to help, Evvy, but if Haman doesn't already have your magic and you come in with us, he might realize who you are, and...well, I really don't want him pulling down the ceiling on us or anything."
Evvy scuffed her foot, and Pasco sighed. "They're right," Pasco told Evvy grumpily.
Evvy had a very stubborn look on her face-one that made her look particularly like Briar when he was disagreeable. "Fine. Then I'll stay out of sight. But I want to come."
Briar opened his mouth to respond, but Paloma's soft voice broke in. "Please let them come with me."
Sandry and Briar both looked at her. Paloma blushed and looked down. "It's just..." She sighed, shrugged, and looked at Evvy and Pasco helplessly.
Sandry studied her for a moment, thinking quickly. Paloma had never had friends-or companions-her own age. While she had only just met Pasco and Evvy, maybe she would be able to deal with this whole upcoming battle better if the others were there.
Briar?
I know, Briar's mental voice sighed. "All right. I don't have time to argue. Evvy, Pasco, you two can come. But you have to do exactly as I say, and stay out of sight. And actually, I don't want Paloma in sight of Haman unless we need her to be. So I want you three to stay together, and watch out for each other. Understand?"
All three children nodded.
"All right, then. Come on."
With Briar and Sandry in the lead, they exited the building. She was about to silently ask Briar if they were going to go to the Citadel first, and how exactly they were going to get in, when Tris's voice rattled through their minds. Welcome back, Sandry. There was an underlying current of great power and purpose in her mental voice.
Same to you, Sandry said. I'm glad you're home, Tris.
I am too...I just didn't expect to come home to this. Can't stay out of trouble for even a little while when I'm gone, can you? Where are you two headed?
I was just about to ask Briar that, Sandry replied.
Oh, I have a Captain Penmic here, Sandry. He seems like he's all right, but...
Daja's voice floated into their minds. I believe he is trustworthy. It's obvious he doesn't like or trust Haman. And he has helped me several times since this whole ordeal began.
That was news to Sandry. Penmic has always seemed like a good man to me. My Uncle liked him a great deal.
Tris seemed satisfied. I'm going to head for the Citadel, she said. This Haman has to be stopped.
We'll meet you there, Briar answered. But Tris, about Haman-it's a long story, but it seems he's been stealing magic from a child so he can suck up other people's magics.
I know. I got the whole story from Daja. She guessed that's what was happening when she saw Paloma's magic in some kind of mirror she made...or something like that. She gave me the story very quickly.
You have to be careful, Briar said. He'll absorb your magic and use it against all of us.
Tris gave the equivalent of a mental snort. I'd like to see him try. Besides, Briar...it took me years to master my power. I can only begin to imagine what will happen if he tries to absorb it and use it. He won't be able to control it. That could be dangerous, but if I'm there, I should be able to keep him from causing too much damage.
Sandry hadn't thought of that. Tris was powerful; maybe the most powerful weather mage in the world. Had Haman ever absorbed magic that powerful and unpredictable? You're right, Tris. And Haman is arrogant. That-and your magic-could be his downfall, if we can play the cards right.
:-:-:
When Daja and the twelve ships that had set sail from Winding Circle came into view of the Summersea harbor, every mage stopped and stared at the sight before them.
"Tris," Rosethorn snorted.
Daja grinned. The merchant ships were all pushed together, being held in place by a flurry of winds that were even now beginning to die down. "It looks like rounding up the merchants won't be too difficult."
"That girl never ceases to surprise me," Skyfire's booming voice said.
"Yes, you and everyone else," Frostpine chuckled.
Daja pulled out the chain net that she had spelled. "If you don't need my help, I'm going to find Tris, Sandry, and Briar. I think they're definitely going to need my help."
A shadow crossed over Lark's face, and she nodded. "We can handle this. Go."
Daja handed Frostpine the net. "Here. This should help."
"Thank you." Daja turned to find one of the rowboats, but stopped when he said, "And Daja? Be careful."
"I will."
:-:-:
Tris made her way purposefully through the streets of Summersea, Keth beside her and Penmic and his two men at her heels. Daja? You busy?
Not particularly. Seems like a weather-mage took care of most of our problems at the harbor. And here the Dedicates were all prepared to go into battle. Daja's mental voice was amused.
Sandry? Briar?
Yes? they answered as one.
Where is this child that Haman is stealing magic from? Paloma? The very idea that anyone would steal magic from a child made her blood boil even more.
With us. We're taking her to the Citadel. She's tied into Haman's magic, Sandry answered.
Good.
Why? Daja wondered.
If Haman is taking her magic, then he can't risk harming her, or he would lose his ability to absorb magic, Tris replied thoughtfully. We can use that to our advantage.
I only want to bring her into this if we have to, Sandry said. I mean, I know she's the main part of it, but I don't want her face-to-face with Haman unless she's forced to.
Of course not, Daja said. But I fear it may come down to that, saati.
Sandry sighed in their minds. I know. We're at the Citadel now. We'll wait here for you, Tris.
I'm coming, as well, Daja said grimly. I was around Haman-I went to his house. He might already have my magic. If so, I would like to be there to keep at bay anything he might use it for.
We'll see you soon, then, Sandry said.
Oh, and while we're having this chat, I should ask. Tris, what is this about you having a child and a dragon? Daja asked mildly.
What? Briar and Sandry both exclaimed.
A child? Sandry said.
A dragon? That was Briar.
Tris rolled her eyes. You act surprised. You should know me better than that. It's a long story, and one that I'll tell later. Suffice to say that Glaki-the child-is an orphan mage in my care, though she's not an ambient mage. The dragon is a small glass creature that my student made.
Your student? That was all three of them.
He's with me now, Tris affirmed. But I don't have time to chat right now. I have to focus on getting to the Citadel.
You'd better explain everything later, Coppercurls, Briar said.
In lots of detail, Sandry added.
Oh, don't worry. I expect the same from you three. With that, Tris cut off communications and continued on to the Citadel. The conversation with her friends had done her a world of good. It had been far too long since they had been able to talk like that.
The streets of Summersea were rowdy and crowded, but the panicked people that ran everywhere, as well as the barricades they had set up, didn't hinder Tris at all. She pushed her winds ahead of her, racing through the streets, clearing a path for her and those with her. She knew that she was going to pay for using all of this magic later-she had been using it for weeks to get home, and now she had used two of her braids-but it was worth it. This had to be done.
"So who are you, anyway?" She heard Penmic ask Keth.
"I'm Keth. She's my teacher."
Tris glanced over her shoulder long enough to see Keth nod at her, and Penmic raise his eyebrows. "I see," Penmic said.
In no time at all, Tris's little band had reached the Citadel. Sandry and Briar had already arrived, as the courthouse was right near the Citadel, but they stood in the shadows near the gate entrance. She couldn't see them until she felt for their presences.
"Tris!" Sandry ran forward and threw her arms around the other girl.
Tris flushed, awkwardly giving Sandry a hug in return. Briar emerged behind Sandry. "I see you haven't changed much, Coppercurls," he said with a grin.
"I see you have," Tris replied.
"Duchess Sandrilene." This from Captain Penmic, who stood at attention.
Sandry looked at him very seriously. "At ease, Captain. I want to thank you for all the help you've been, though I'm sure I don't know half of what you've been doing."
"I'm sure I will explain later, Your Eminence."
"Yes, I'm sure you will."
Briar turned and waved at someone still in the shadows. Three children slowly emerged. Tris eyed all of them. She, of all of the Four, had been the one that had been most out of touch. It took a lot longer for letters to get to her, and she and Niko had traveled so much that she was sure some letters missed her. She had only received two from Sandry, one from Daja, and none from Briar. She remembered Sandry saying she had taken a student, but couldn't remember his name. "Your student?" she asked Sandry, referring to the only boy among the three children.
Sandry nodded. "This is Pasco Acalon," she said. "And this is Evvy Dingzai-she's Briar's student." She motioned to a small girl with black hair and almond-shaped brown eyes.
Tris rose her eyebrows. Briar had a student? She could picture Sandry with a student, but Briar? How in the world had that happened? "That's a story I'll definitely have to hear," she muttered to Briar. Then her eyes fell on the last child, a dark haired, green-eyed girl who stood timidly behind Briar. "You must be Paloma."
Paloma nodded quickly and looked at the ground.
Tris waved at Keth. "This is Kethlun-Keth-Warder. He's my student."
Sandry and Briar both raised their eyebrows. "For some reason I expected someone..."
"Younger?" Keth supplied for Sandry.
Tris clapped her hands briskly together. "We'll do our catching up later. Right now, we have business to attend to." She gestured at the gate to the Citadel, which was closed, locked, and guarded.
"Right. And watch your backs. There was a nasty woman mage that Evvy knocked out, but I don't know when she'll come around or if she already has," Briar warned.
Tris drew a deep breath and walked up the gate, grabbing at all the winds she could reach. The guards at the gate saw her coming and held their weapons at ready. "What is your business here?" one of them asked.
The sky was again darkening. A bolt of lightning struck the ground directly in front of Tris, and the guards jumped. Lightning ran over Tris's body, crackling and converging on her hands. "I," the weather-mage growled, "am here to put Haman in his place."