Tamora Pierce owns the entire universe of this story, all the characters,
the world they live on and the very air they use to sustain life. Only the
vague plot and dialog I have attributed to TP's characters in this tale
belongs to me. I freely give my permission for Tamora Pierce to use any or
all of the plot/story/dialog/concept if she so desires in any way she
desires.
Anyone has my permission to use anything from this and my other story in anyway they want. So have at it, expand, add, enhance, just think if you can write a fan fiction based on a story that has a copyright why not a fan fiction based on a fan fiction. So tale spinners, spin on.
Blame all lousy spelling and grammar on the California Education System. Thank the Lord for spell checkers.
I would like to take the time to say thanks to some of my favorite people, the reviewers.
Evilstrawberry - First Review.
Lady Lorene - Second and Frequent.
EclipseAzNGTX - Fourth.
Goddess Of The Moon - Fifth and Frequent.
PrincessAlysa16 - Sixth.
Nagem - Seventh.
mkitty - Eighth.
icefalcon - Ninth.
PKNight - Tenth.
AJ 4EVA - Eleventh.
Chapter 13
Three days later over breakfast at the Citadel.
"Uncle have you heard anything from the investigation?"
"Sherluk Homs, the harrier's best interrogator, is bringing his report this morning, do you think Tris, Briar and Daja would like to hear the results of the investigation?"
"Yes, "I'll let them know to come if they wish. What time?"
The Duke looked at the clock, "Around 10."
Sandry sent through the bond, "Briar, Tris, Daja the investigation report will be here around Ten do you want come in to hear it?"
Threefold, "Yes." Came back through the bond.
"What will be done to Evilst Rawberry the blood mage?"
"The Winding Circle mage council has voted to strip him of his magic powers. Then he will be sent to the mines for the rest of his life."
"Strip him of his magic? I know that a mage can have his power bound so he is unable to use it but I didn't know it could be removed."
"It is not something the mage council wants known, but since you will someday rule Emelan you should know."
"It takes a unanimous vote of the mage council, Healers render the mage unconscious, to prevent movement, a team of healers then stops the blood flow to the area of the brain that controls magic. When that section of the brain dies, the ability to use magic is gone irreversibly."
The Duke mused, "There is no worse punishment than to know that once you could work miracles and now you still know the methods but don't have the ability. Most don't survive that for long."
Sandry shuttered. "I can imagine."
"You can tell Tris, Daja and Briar because they deserve to know, but ask them to keep it to themselves."
"Yes uncle."
Looking at the clock, the Duke said, "It's only 8, want to do some work until Homs arrives?"
With a sigh, "Yes." And they left the breakfast room for the office.
Sitting at her desk, Sandry had a large pile of envelopes that she was opening and the writing something on a piece of parchment.
After he heard the ninth envelope being torn open the Duke asked, "Goddess of the Moon, what are you doing?"
Sandry smiled at him, "The incident at the ball interrupted the auction of the rememballs. So I had Tris print up a notice/bid and UPS delivered one to every person at the ball, asking for a sealed bid if they were still interested."
"Strangely enough, several individuals offered extraordinary amounts for the two rememballs in which you inadvertently recorded the deaths."
The Duke chucked, "Another source of income, you can store the deaths of the Unmagic killers, Tris could record the capture of the killer in Thanios, Briar the noble in Chamur and Daja the death of the arsonist."
"You could create a room of horrors at Circle Four displaying rememballs of remembered horrors from all over and charge admittance."
Sandry wadded up a piece of used parchment and threw it at him.
"Yes, I can have Tusaud run it, she likes scary stories."
The Duke threw back his head and laughed out loud.
There was a soft knock at the door, Briar, Daja, Tris, Major L'rain Kunsch and harrier Sherluk Homs stood in the doorway.
"Come in, have a seat." Looking to the servant behind them, "Please bring wine and fruit juice."
Chairs were arranged so all could be comfortable and hear clearly.
Servants arrived with wine, and fruit juice, that was served.
Sipping his wine the Duke asked, "Major Kunsch, the investigation is finished?"
"Yes My Lord, as you know I was involved in the initial investigation of the spelled jewels, and we identified the man responsible for it. After the incident at the ball the interrogation of the captured mage was turned over to harrier Homs. Will you give the Duke your report."
"Yes Major," Laying a thick folder on the desk he began, "My Lord, during our investigations several things were discovered. Ever since you investiture of Lady Sandrilene fa Toren as your heir, you son Baron Frantson has been obsessed with regaining the inheritance, he has neglected his estate, abused his retainers and squandered his funds in the effort to get it back."
"We have found, from some of the few retainers remaining at Green Acres, that several months ago the Baron hired the blood mage Evilst Rawberry, and between them, they concocted the scheme to gain influence over both the wealthy and the Nobility of Summersea. The plan was to use influence of the ensnared to convince you to reverse you decision about Lady Sandrilene."
"When the spelled jewels were discovered before the scheme could bear fruit, the Baron became desperate, he had spent almost all of his remaining funds to obtain the jewels and he owed the mage. So he conspired with the mage to kill Lady Sandrilene at the ball."
"Sandry!" the startled cry came from Briar, Tris and Daja.
"Yes," Nodded Homs, "Their thinking was, with Lady Sandrilene dead the Baron would naturally fall back into the position of heir."
"When Trader Daja," with a small bow to Daja, "caught the mage at his assassination attempt, all was lost. We speculate the collapse of all his plans drove him over the edge of sanity. The result of that you know."
Nodding to the folder on the desk, "The folder has all the signed and witnessed stalemates were taken and the final written report."
"Thank you Major, harrier Homs, a full and concise report."
"You know the results of Winding Circles Council?"
Briar, Tris and Daja looked at each other with a question in their eyes.
Sandry, using the bond, explained the fate of the blood mage Evilst Rawberry.
All three shuttered at the thought of losing their magic forever.
The Duke stood and shook hands with Major Kunsch and harrier Homs as the two departed.
The Duke sat back down and with a sigh of relief, picking up his wine glass he commented, "That's over, thank the Goddess of the Moon"
"He was to kill me!" Sandry said.
"And he failed, thanks to Daja." Answered the Duke.
Taking a sip of wine the Duke turned to Daja, "I hear that you made a visit to First Ship Kisubo yesterday, how did it go?"
"It was fun, It's the first time I have been aboard ship since I was 10."
"Got to visit with all my cousins and I had some Blue Trader food for the first time since then."
"We did a little trading and I got some of the special spices and a supply of the special tea."
The Duke leaned back in his chair and looked at the four.
"I have something I would like to ask all of you."
That got the full attention of the four young friends.
"You heard during the report that Frantson badly neglected the estate of Green Acres. Reports from the guards I sent out there have told me the same. A large number of the staff and retainers left when the pay drastically cut and of the few left, most of them fled after the assassination attempt, apparently in the belief that the sins of the master would fall upon the heads of his retainers."
"I would like you four, to ride out to the estate and make a survey of just what it would take to bring Green Acres back to a successful and profitable estate."
The four exchanged glances, and nods.
"We will go tomorrow, uncle."
Appendix of Chapter 13
I have added Goddess of the Moon to the Emelan gods, because I was tired of swearing by Milla of the Grain.
Traditionally the Moon has a great influence over the use and strength of magic.
Many of the most important rituals of Wicca are preformed under the light of the full moon. (More educational stuff, I just might stick a test on the end of the final chapter, depends on the number of reviews/bribes I get. Remember candydirect.com)
Anyone has my permission to use anything from this and my other story in anyway they want. So have at it, expand, add, enhance, just think if you can write a fan fiction based on a story that has a copyright why not a fan fiction based on a fan fiction. So tale spinners, spin on.
Blame all lousy spelling and grammar on the California Education System. Thank the Lord for spell checkers.
I would like to take the time to say thanks to some of my favorite people, the reviewers.
Evilstrawberry - First Review.
Lady Lorene - Second and Frequent.
EclipseAzNGTX - Fourth.
Goddess Of The Moon - Fifth and Frequent.
PrincessAlysa16 - Sixth.
Nagem - Seventh.
mkitty - Eighth.
icefalcon - Ninth.
PKNight - Tenth.
AJ 4EVA - Eleventh.
Chapter 13
Three days later over breakfast at the Citadel.
"Uncle have you heard anything from the investigation?"
"Sherluk Homs, the harrier's best interrogator, is bringing his report this morning, do you think Tris, Briar and Daja would like to hear the results of the investigation?"
"Yes, "I'll let them know to come if they wish. What time?"
The Duke looked at the clock, "Around 10."
Sandry sent through the bond, "Briar, Tris, Daja the investigation report will be here around Ten do you want come in to hear it?"
Threefold, "Yes." Came back through the bond.
"What will be done to Evilst Rawberry the blood mage?"
"The Winding Circle mage council has voted to strip him of his magic powers. Then he will be sent to the mines for the rest of his life."
"Strip him of his magic? I know that a mage can have his power bound so he is unable to use it but I didn't know it could be removed."
"It is not something the mage council wants known, but since you will someday rule Emelan you should know."
"It takes a unanimous vote of the mage council, Healers render the mage unconscious, to prevent movement, a team of healers then stops the blood flow to the area of the brain that controls magic. When that section of the brain dies, the ability to use magic is gone irreversibly."
The Duke mused, "There is no worse punishment than to know that once you could work miracles and now you still know the methods but don't have the ability. Most don't survive that for long."
Sandry shuttered. "I can imagine."
"You can tell Tris, Daja and Briar because they deserve to know, but ask them to keep it to themselves."
"Yes uncle."
Looking at the clock, the Duke said, "It's only 8, want to do some work until Homs arrives?"
With a sigh, "Yes." And they left the breakfast room for the office.
Sitting at her desk, Sandry had a large pile of envelopes that she was opening and the writing something on a piece of parchment.
After he heard the ninth envelope being torn open the Duke asked, "Goddess of the Moon, what are you doing?"
Sandry smiled at him, "The incident at the ball interrupted the auction of the rememballs. So I had Tris print up a notice/bid and UPS delivered one to every person at the ball, asking for a sealed bid if they were still interested."
"Strangely enough, several individuals offered extraordinary amounts for the two rememballs in which you inadvertently recorded the deaths."
The Duke chucked, "Another source of income, you can store the deaths of the Unmagic killers, Tris could record the capture of the killer in Thanios, Briar the noble in Chamur and Daja the death of the arsonist."
"You could create a room of horrors at Circle Four displaying rememballs of remembered horrors from all over and charge admittance."
Sandry wadded up a piece of used parchment and threw it at him.
"Yes, I can have Tusaud run it, she likes scary stories."
The Duke threw back his head and laughed out loud.
There was a soft knock at the door, Briar, Daja, Tris, Major L'rain Kunsch and harrier Sherluk Homs stood in the doorway.
"Come in, have a seat." Looking to the servant behind them, "Please bring wine and fruit juice."
Chairs were arranged so all could be comfortable and hear clearly.
Servants arrived with wine, and fruit juice, that was served.
Sipping his wine the Duke asked, "Major Kunsch, the investigation is finished?"
"Yes My Lord, as you know I was involved in the initial investigation of the spelled jewels, and we identified the man responsible for it. After the incident at the ball the interrogation of the captured mage was turned over to harrier Homs. Will you give the Duke your report."
"Yes Major," Laying a thick folder on the desk he began, "My Lord, during our investigations several things were discovered. Ever since you investiture of Lady Sandrilene fa Toren as your heir, you son Baron Frantson has been obsessed with regaining the inheritance, he has neglected his estate, abused his retainers and squandered his funds in the effort to get it back."
"We have found, from some of the few retainers remaining at Green Acres, that several months ago the Baron hired the blood mage Evilst Rawberry, and between them, they concocted the scheme to gain influence over both the wealthy and the Nobility of Summersea. The plan was to use influence of the ensnared to convince you to reverse you decision about Lady Sandrilene."
"When the spelled jewels were discovered before the scheme could bear fruit, the Baron became desperate, he had spent almost all of his remaining funds to obtain the jewels and he owed the mage. So he conspired with the mage to kill Lady Sandrilene at the ball."
"Sandry!" the startled cry came from Briar, Tris and Daja.
"Yes," Nodded Homs, "Their thinking was, with Lady Sandrilene dead the Baron would naturally fall back into the position of heir."
"When Trader Daja," with a small bow to Daja, "caught the mage at his assassination attempt, all was lost. We speculate the collapse of all his plans drove him over the edge of sanity. The result of that you know."
Nodding to the folder on the desk, "The folder has all the signed and witnessed stalemates were taken and the final written report."
"Thank you Major, harrier Homs, a full and concise report."
"You know the results of Winding Circles Council?"
Briar, Tris and Daja looked at each other with a question in their eyes.
Sandry, using the bond, explained the fate of the blood mage Evilst Rawberry.
All three shuttered at the thought of losing their magic forever.
The Duke stood and shook hands with Major Kunsch and harrier Homs as the two departed.
The Duke sat back down and with a sigh of relief, picking up his wine glass he commented, "That's over, thank the Goddess of the Moon"
"He was to kill me!" Sandry said.
"And he failed, thanks to Daja." Answered the Duke.
Taking a sip of wine the Duke turned to Daja, "I hear that you made a visit to First Ship Kisubo yesterday, how did it go?"
"It was fun, It's the first time I have been aboard ship since I was 10."
"Got to visit with all my cousins and I had some Blue Trader food for the first time since then."
"We did a little trading and I got some of the special spices and a supply of the special tea."
The Duke leaned back in his chair and looked at the four.
"I have something I would like to ask all of you."
That got the full attention of the four young friends.
"You heard during the report that Frantson badly neglected the estate of Green Acres. Reports from the guards I sent out there have told me the same. A large number of the staff and retainers left when the pay drastically cut and of the few left, most of them fled after the assassination attempt, apparently in the belief that the sins of the master would fall upon the heads of his retainers."
"I would like you four, to ride out to the estate and make a survey of just what it would take to bring Green Acres back to a successful and profitable estate."
The four exchanged glances, and nods.
"We will go tomorrow, uncle."
Appendix of Chapter 13
I have added Goddess of the Moon to the Emelan gods, because I was tired of swearing by Milla of the Grain.
Traditionally the Moon has a great influence over the use and strength of magic.
Many of the most important rituals of Wicca are preformed under the light of the full moon. (More educational stuff, I just might stick a test on the end of the final chapter, depends on the number of reviews/bribes I get. Remember candydirect.com)