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 anyone to use any or all of
the plot/story/dialog if they are so inclined.
Blame all lousy spelling and grammar on the California Education System.
Chapter 33
Briar, Tris and Daja were just finishing the regular morning post breakfast meeting with the estate workers in the common room when Sandry and the Duke entered.
"Morning all," said the Duke.
A chorus of greetings answered from around the room.
"I think we have covered everything for today, any questions?" asked Briar.
The men and woman in the room started leaving for the days work.
The Duke and Sandry each got a mug of tea and joined Briar, Tris and Daja at the table.
"I'm afraid that today is the day Tris."
"The UPS sent him to Winding Circle yesterday and they ran him up and down stairs all day. When he got back to Summersea he went to a harrier coop and asked them if they knew where Moglee was and since there was nowhere else to send him they told him that Moglee lived here at Green Acres. He then made arrangements for a carriage for today."
"We're ready for him," Briar told him.
Sandry grabbed Tris's hand and said, "Come on we have to find your most impressive dress and do your hair."
After being stopped by the guards at the main gate the carriage entered through the main gate drove around the circle drive and pulled up at the manor steps. The passenger disembarked and walked up to the large double doors, He was a portly man dressed in the latest fashion, he had a round face, rounded nose, graying red hair the same eyes as Tris and Moglee. Just as he was about to knock the doors opened.
Alfred stood in the door and asked, "May I help you?"
"I am Valden Chandler and I am here to see the Baron."
"Please come in and wait here." Alfred closed the doors and went to the doors to the library. Entering the library he told Briar, "Baron Moss, a Valden Chandler is here to see you."
"Show him in Alfred."
"Yes sir."
Opening the library door Alfred told the guest, "The Baron will see you now."
Entering the library Valden Candler found four people engaged in conversation, assuming that the oldest was the Baron he approached Duke Vedris and said, "Good morning Baron."
The Duke smiled at him and said, "Sorry I'm not the Baron."
"Allow me to introduce you to Briar Moss Baron of Green Acres." Briar stood and said "Morning merchant Chandler."
"Good morning, I have come to see you because I am told that a one of my nephews lives here at Green Acres."
"Oh, and just who would that be?"
"His name is Moglee Chandler."
"Yes, Moglee lives here."
"I would like to speak with him."
Turning to the door Briar asked, "Alfred, will you have someone ask Moglee to come in here?"
"Yes Sir."
"It will take a little time to locate him, would you like a drink?"
"No."
"Allow me to introduce you to."
"I'm just here to speak to Moglee." Chandler interrupted.
Briars eyes went cold, "Then I won't ask you to sit."
Briar turned his back on Chandler and the rest of the room ignored him and continued their conversation.
Twenty minuets later the sound of the front door closing could be heard, then the double doors into the library opened and Moglee entered. Leaving the doors standing fully open he crossed to the cold box and got a glass of fruit juice.
Walking over to Briar he asked, "You sent for me?"
"Yes, this man," indicating Chandler, "has come to see you."
Moglee turned and examined Chandler from head to toe, "Why?"
"I am the head of merchant house Chandler, you have contacted us about what inheritance you are due because of the death of your parents."
"I see," said Moglee, "can you explain why you did not respond to letters to you until the Duke of Emelan got involved?"
"That does not matter, I am here now and since you are underage I am your guardian. Get you things you are coming with me back to Ninver with me."
"No he is not!
Chandler spun and saw silhouetted in the open door a noble lady.
Trisana had moved into the doorway while Moglee was speaking and since the manor entryway was more brightly illuminated than the library all that could be made out was her shape.
"What do you mean, no. I am his guardian and he is coming with me."
Sparks started to appear in Tris's hair.
"You are not his guardian, I am. And he is staying here."
"What are you talking about? How can you be his guardian?"
The sparks were growing larger.
"Since house Chandler ignored Moglee's existence for over ten years in spite of attempts to contact you the Duke of Emelan appointed the only family member he could find to be his guardian."
"Just how are you a family member?"
Tris stepped forward into the library.
"What's the matter Father, don't you recognize the daughter that you threw away?"
"You know, the daughter that you gave to Broken Circle temple telling them that I was possessed by a demon and you and my mother didn't want me back, Not Ever."
Tris slapped her hands together, as she pulled them apart a arc of lighting jumped the gap between the hands. Her father staggered back to the wall.
Sandry walked up to Tris and put a hand on her shoulder, "He's not worth it Tris."
Turning to face Tris's father Sandry said, "Allow me to introduce you to Trisana Chandler, Ambient Weather Mage and Baroness of Green Acres, legally appointed guardian of Moglee Chandler by his Grace Duke Vedris IV of Emelan.
"I."
"Be Quiet, you are not welcome here, you were not invited here, the only thing that was asked of you was a accurate accounting of Moglee's inheritance what has been done with it and arrangements made so he has access to his funds." Said Tris.
"And if I fight this?"
The Duke stood and walked over to stand beside Tris, "Everything House Chandler owns in Emelan will be taken by the crown and turned over to a trust for Moglee until he is of age."
"Who are you to say this will happen?"
"Allow me to introduce my uncle, his Grace, Duke Vedris IV of Emelan." Said Sandry.
Chandler deflated like a balloon with a leak.
Tris stepped forward and the lighting in her hair faded as she regained control of her temper. Chime swooped into the room and landed on her shoulder.
Tris reached up and stroked Chime who, sensing Tris's mood, had taken a aggressive stance on her shoulder and was glaring at Tris's father ready to spit glass needles.
"You passed me to a uncle when I was six, then to an unmarried aunt who worked me like a slave, when she died I was ten and you threw me away." Lighting flashed outside the windows and thunder rolled across the sky as storm clouds surged in from the sea.
"Then you try to steal property that belongs to Moglee, never responding to attempts to contact you on his behalf. What kind of a man are you?"
Chandler licked his lips and started to reply.
"Never mind, I don't want to hear anything you have to say, just leave."
Valden Chandler moved in a wide careful circle around Tris and headed for the door.
"Chandler," said the Duke, "you have one week to send a preliminary report on Moglee's inheritance, if you don't send it steps will be taken."
Everyone followed him to the manors main door. Outside his carriage waited. Chandler entered the carriage and the driver started toward the main gate.
Lighting flashed overhead and Briar looked up at the storm, he then moved everyone away from Tris, leaving her standing alone on the top step.
Juat as the carriage reached the main gate Valden Chandler turned and looked back at his daughter.
As he watched a hugh bolt of lighting poured down from the storm clouds and struck Tris.
Chandlers last sight of his daughter Tris was of her standing with arms spread wide, lighting roaring down into her and she stood with a ball of lighting surrounding her, head thrown back and her laughter echoing off the estate walls.
Then the rain came, falling so thickly that the sight of the group on the manor steps was hidden from sight.
Blame all lousy spelling and grammar on the California Education System.
Chapter 33
Briar, Tris and Daja were just finishing the regular morning post breakfast meeting with the estate workers in the common room when Sandry and the Duke entered.
"Morning all," said the Duke.
A chorus of greetings answered from around the room.
"I think we have covered everything for today, any questions?" asked Briar.
The men and woman in the room started leaving for the days work.
The Duke and Sandry each got a mug of tea and joined Briar, Tris and Daja at the table.
"I'm afraid that today is the day Tris."
"The UPS sent him to Winding Circle yesterday and they ran him up and down stairs all day. When he got back to Summersea he went to a harrier coop and asked them if they knew where Moglee was and since there was nowhere else to send him they told him that Moglee lived here at Green Acres. He then made arrangements for a carriage for today."
"We're ready for him," Briar told him.
Sandry grabbed Tris's hand and said, "Come on we have to find your most impressive dress and do your hair."
After being stopped by the guards at the main gate the carriage entered through the main gate drove around the circle drive and pulled up at the manor steps. The passenger disembarked and walked up to the large double doors, He was a portly man dressed in the latest fashion, he had a round face, rounded nose, graying red hair the same eyes as Tris and Moglee. Just as he was about to knock the doors opened.
Alfred stood in the door and asked, "May I help you?"
"I am Valden Chandler and I am here to see the Baron."
"Please come in and wait here." Alfred closed the doors and went to the doors to the library. Entering the library he told Briar, "Baron Moss, a Valden Chandler is here to see you."
"Show him in Alfred."
"Yes sir."
Opening the library door Alfred told the guest, "The Baron will see you now."
Entering the library Valden Candler found four people engaged in conversation, assuming that the oldest was the Baron he approached Duke Vedris and said, "Good morning Baron."
The Duke smiled at him and said, "Sorry I'm not the Baron."
"Allow me to introduce you to Briar Moss Baron of Green Acres." Briar stood and said "Morning merchant Chandler."
"Good morning, I have come to see you because I am told that a one of my nephews lives here at Green Acres."
"Oh, and just who would that be?"
"His name is Moglee Chandler."
"Yes, Moglee lives here."
"I would like to speak with him."
Turning to the door Briar asked, "Alfred, will you have someone ask Moglee to come in here?"
"Yes Sir."
"It will take a little time to locate him, would you like a drink?"
"No."
"Allow me to introduce you to."
"I'm just here to speak to Moglee." Chandler interrupted.
Briars eyes went cold, "Then I won't ask you to sit."
Briar turned his back on Chandler and the rest of the room ignored him and continued their conversation.
Twenty minuets later the sound of the front door closing could be heard, then the double doors into the library opened and Moglee entered. Leaving the doors standing fully open he crossed to the cold box and got a glass of fruit juice.
Walking over to Briar he asked, "You sent for me?"
"Yes, this man," indicating Chandler, "has come to see you."
Moglee turned and examined Chandler from head to toe, "Why?"
"I am the head of merchant house Chandler, you have contacted us about what inheritance you are due because of the death of your parents."
"I see," said Moglee, "can you explain why you did not respond to letters to you until the Duke of Emelan got involved?"
"That does not matter, I am here now and since you are underage I am your guardian. Get you things you are coming with me back to Ninver with me."
"No he is not!
Chandler spun and saw silhouetted in the open door a noble lady.
Trisana had moved into the doorway while Moglee was speaking and since the manor entryway was more brightly illuminated than the library all that could be made out was her shape.
"What do you mean, no. I am his guardian and he is coming with me."
Sparks started to appear in Tris's hair.
"You are not his guardian, I am. And he is staying here."
"What are you talking about? How can you be his guardian?"
The sparks were growing larger.
"Since house Chandler ignored Moglee's existence for over ten years in spite of attempts to contact you the Duke of Emelan appointed the only family member he could find to be his guardian."
"Just how are you a family member?"
Tris stepped forward into the library.
"What's the matter Father, don't you recognize the daughter that you threw away?"
"You know, the daughter that you gave to Broken Circle temple telling them that I was possessed by a demon and you and my mother didn't want me back, Not Ever."
Tris slapped her hands together, as she pulled them apart a arc of lighting jumped the gap between the hands. Her father staggered back to the wall.
Sandry walked up to Tris and put a hand on her shoulder, "He's not worth it Tris."
Turning to face Tris's father Sandry said, "Allow me to introduce you to Trisana Chandler, Ambient Weather Mage and Baroness of Green Acres, legally appointed guardian of Moglee Chandler by his Grace Duke Vedris IV of Emelan.
"I."
"Be Quiet, you are not welcome here, you were not invited here, the only thing that was asked of you was a accurate accounting of Moglee's inheritance what has been done with it and arrangements made so he has access to his funds." Said Tris.
"And if I fight this?"
The Duke stood and walked over to stand beside Tris, "Everything House Chandler owns in Emelan will be taken by the crown and turned over to a trust for Moglee until he is of age."
"Who are you to say this will happen?"
"Allow me to introduce my uncle, his Grace, Duke Vedris IV of Emelan." Said Sandry.
Chandler deflated like a balloon with a leak.
Tris stepped forward and the lighting in her hair faded as she regained control of her temper. Chime swooped into the room and landed on her shoulder.
Tris reached up and stroked Chime who, sensing Tris's mood, had taken a aggressive stance on her shoulder and was glaring at Tris's father ready to spit glass needles.
"You passed me to a uncle when I was six, then to an unmarried aunt who worked me like a slave, when she died I was ten and you threw me away." Lighting flashed outside the windows and thunder rolled across the sky as storm clouds surged in from the sea.
"Then you try to steal property that belongs to Moglee, never responding to attempts to contact you on his behalf. What kind of a man are you?"
Chandler licked his lips and started to reply.
"Never mind, I don't want to hear anything you have to say, just leave."
Valden Chandler moved in a wide careful circle around Tris and headed for the door.
"Chandler," said the Duke, "you have one week to send a preliminary report on Moglee's inheritance, if you don't send it steps will be taken."
Everyone followed him to the manors main door. Outside his carriage waited. Chandler entered the carriage and the driver started toward the main gate.
Lighting flashed overhead and Briar looked up at the storm, he then moved everyone away from Tris, leaving her standing alone on the top step.
Juat as the carriage reached the main gate Valden Chandler turned and looked back at his daughter.
As he watched a hugh bolt of lighting poured down from the storm clouds and struck Tris.
Chandlers last sight of his daughter Tris was of her standing with arms spread wide, lighting roaring down into her and she stood with a ball of lighting surrounding her, head thrown back and her laughter echoing off the estate walls.
Then the rain came, falling so thickly that the sight of the group on the manor steps was hidden from sight.