Muslima: What are you doing?
Zakyu: Killing the doll.
Muslima: [Looks at the doll] THAT'S A NIKO VOODOO DOLL!!! You killed Ken-I mean NIKO!!
Zakyu: [Looks at the doll] Why are you upset, now you won't need to pay him for the acting.
Muslima: (thinking) You know what, your right. Do thee disclaimer.
Zakyu: WE OWN NOTHING!! BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!!! TAMORA PIERCE OWNS EVERYTHING BUT THE STORYLINE AND A CERTAIN CHARACTERS AND BLUE HARBOR BLAH! WE ARE NOT MAKING ANY PASHA (a currency: money) SO YOU CAN'T SUE US AND PLEASE DON'T TRY!^____^
Muslima: Hehehe...hope you like it.
____________________________________________________________________________ ______
Chapter 6
The next morning there was good news and bad news. The boy was still asleep he had gotten sick. Nevertheless the girls didn't need to find an excuse; Rosethorn said Tris and Briar would go to Blue Harbor to get some fish (for the other fish went bad) as soon as Briar was done with errands. However, Sandry offered to go with Tris saying she would need fresh air and Briar would probably never be able to go for he was helping Rosethorn with herbs and medicines for the infirmaries. Lark was happy to see Sandry better, she approved of the idea since all the bandages were covered for now but said that they must come before afternoon, they might need to make more, considering more people were coming each day to the infirmaries. The girls also didn't get to tell Briar what they were planning to do because he was so busy. Daja also was needed by Frostpine to help the flood by making tools, etc so she couldn't go.
**************************************************************************** ******
Tris & Sandry at Blue Harbor
Sandry looked at Tris "Do you know where this 'old man' is?" she asked using the name Tris called him.
Tris seemed to growl under her breath as the fifth hundred person bumped into her. She started sparking up. Sandry grabbed her hand and pulled her down hard so she could speak in her ear, "Tris, clam down!"
Tris reluctantly compose herself. "Let's get the fish first," she said. Sandry nodded, agreeing although she knew that meant Tris DIDN'T know where this man was.
Tris said the shop where they brought the fish was somewhere here but as she said that she became more cautious; always looking around and eyeing everyone in the crowd. When Sandry asked her about it, Tris hastily said they were many nips and thieves around here.
They went to the section of the city where it was near the towering, huge temple. Sandry looked at the shrine she wondered what god it was for. Sandry thought the temple looked odd. It was made of black glass and when the light hit it its shine looked like a shadow. How uncanny--
"Sandry what are you doing? You'll get lost," spoke Tris waking her up from her thoughts. Sandry blinked ran up catching up to Tris.
Now that Tris thought of it she never told Sandry when SHE got lost. Or how it felt to be in Briar's arms safe, a sensation that was as alien to her as trusting. Or how it felt to let his hands ran through her hair and tell her to was alright. How it felt to feel terrified one moment then blissful happiness and pure peace just by a simple action. Tris realized she closing her eyes, smiling foolishly. Her eyes flashed open: Wait!... Where had that all come from? Tris asked herself completely and utterly confused. She looked at Sandry, no. She couldn't tell her. She couldn't tell anyone. Was she betraying the circle by having such a secret? Tris physically shook her head to help chaste off such thoughts, she would think of them later, now she needed to find that mysterious old man.
"Is that the shop where you brought the fish?" Sandry pointed to a shop, not noticing Tris's odd behavior. Its wooden sign had a picture of a fish; it flapped in the friendly breeze.
"Yes," Tris affirmed.
Sandry opened the door to go inside. She was to complain about the quality of the fish and request a refund. Personally, Tris wanted nothing to do with it so she decided to stay outside. "Coward," said Sandry with a laughing smile as she went in.
That's when she saw him.
The old man was now a fortuneteller; a group of woman, a little older than Tris were having their palms read. The women giggled, the kind of giggling that meant they were wealthy and also the kind of giggle that made Tris shudder. From what Tris could pick up they were in pilgrim clothes. But black pilgrim clothes?
She glanced at the temple, it was black its self. Tris shivered a cold shiver, but not from the cold for the sun was high in the sky. That place seemed like a void, nothingness, empty- stop spinning shadows! Tris told herself using the same word Sandry did when imagination got out of hand.
She walked inside the shop, looking for Sandry.
~~~
Sandry tried to walk through the big crowd. Who knew such a tiny place could fit so many people? She smiled at her victory. Though it wasn't really a victory she reminded herself, the shopkeeper just wanted to get rid of her and didn't want to argue with her in front of his customers so he gave the fish.
Finally, she reach the door outside. No Tris.
Sandry where are you? That was Tris.
I'm right here outside, where are you?
Oh I'm inside, but I found that man!
Really? Splendid! Where?
Look in front of you Sandry looked where the giggling monsters are.
Sandry laughed at the comment I see him.
Great! I'll be right there when I get out of this beehive!
Sandry walked toward the fortuneteller behind the giggling girls. He is flattering them, she thought amused. Every girl was the same: they were to fall in love and marry a handsome, rich nobleman. Wealth, beauty, and pride was their future. Sandry almost laughed! But the laughter suck in her throat was soon replaced with pity. Soon all the girls were gone.
The fortuneteller eyed Sandry with his one eye which seemed to pierce her. "Your not like the other girls are you?" he said, not taking his eyes off of her, "Giggling and such. Y' knew I playing with them for their money." She didn't answer. Was he trying to play her for her money too?
"You'll have to do better then that to flatter us," Sandry looked behind her, Tris.
The man smiled a quiet smile, foreign in contrast to his face. "I should of known y' were together," he said to Sandry. "Both cunning, odd and different from the others girls."
Sandry turned to look at Tris to see how she would react; she didn't get complements every morning. Tris was giving a tight smile-- out of politeness that Rosethorn had rammed into they're very beings. Sandry felt the air become humid and tight, "Um...could we walk around...your stall...?" She asked trying find an excuse to calm Tris down.
Tris clam down, please! Sandry plead.
Either the man looked surprised from the lack of an excuse or he noticed the sudden change of air, "Why of course, I owe y' friend a reading too."
Tris ignored Sandry, "We came to get a certain story." The fortuneteller lifted an arched eyebrow, the one not covered by the patch on his eye. "The one about the object" she handed out a gold coin, "Eclipse."
The man looked amused, his mouth twisted into a joyless smile. "Really? Why?"
Should I show him? asked Tris. Sandry made a mental nod.
She signed, "Do you know anything thing about this?" Tris gave the disc to the fortuneteller for him to investigate. As soon as he took it she wanted to snatch it back. Sandry sensed Tris's urge and warned her.
I just don't trust him!
Tris, do you trust anyone? That silenced Tris.
The man looked up at them again giving that genuine expression. "How-," he asked, "how did y' find this?"
"We asked first, we expect first," came the sharp reply.
Sandry glared at Tris. Your being rude
Tris faced Sandry's glare He is playing games, there is knowledge in his eye, I can see it! Sandry looked away from Tris's glare.
He grinned but that faded away as he spoke, "This disc," light flickered against it as he handed it back- hesitantly, Tris noted, "is one of the few in the world. I know not the exact number. Legend says if y' find all of 'em you will be able to wield a power."
"What kind of power?" asked Sandry.
"Crap." He said. "The kind of power someone who dances with death and the sort would want."
"You mean a necromancer?" When Tris saw puzzled faces she added, "Necro is the prefix of death, their are magicians that use their power playing with the died and sometimes rise the died."
"Who are these objects entrusted too?" Sandry asked changing the subject. Death and darkness always drilled a pit in her stomach.
"I answered two of your questions. Will y' answer at least one of mine: Where did you get the disc?"
Why would it matter so? Tris asked herself. "I found it washed up the beach," she replied shortly. The man stroked his chin, his eyes staring into the distance, again Tris felt a pang of fear; she had that feeling he was more than a harmless old man.
"It was about 50 years ago many knew little of this case so y' better have I good reward for me. Well I heard of 'em," he pointed to the disc, "about 50 years ago. Great mages took on the responsibility of keepin' 'em safe." He voice started to crack unlike his strong storyteller voice. "Even then that was a hard burden since necromancers were searching for 'em. And back then necromancers don't hide in holes like now. They played with death in the open." He stop for a moment trying to compose his face in his hands. He draw in a sharp in take of breath that might have been a sob. The old man continued, "It was especially bad here since access to the death gates was easier here then anywhere else. It was because of the temple." His face was like a stone mask but there was pain in his eye.
"The temple?" asked Sandry, curious.
"It's the shrine of Musya" he said "the god of eclipse and death. The honored ones are buried there or their ashes are."
Tris nodded slowly, thinking. That made sense why all the pilgrims were dressed in black.
"How did you come by that?" the storyteller abruptly asked, staring at the slightly tinted scar on Tris's forearm.
Hastily she covered it. "A accident," she said. Suddenly her face felt hot, it was a little scar that she had acquired in the battle against the pirates when they tried to attack Winding Circle. She believed she got it from Enahar.
"I heard a story some years ago" he said "of a girl who was trying to protect her homeland but hurt others and afterward she acquired--,"
Tris cut him off. "Don't put me in one of your stories!"
There was silence again. Tris's angry words hung in the air. Sandry looked at her with startled eyes. Finally the man spoke, "We all have our demons, Steel Eyes. It's when we cherished them- hold them to our breasts- feed them day after day- that's when they curdle our souls."
~~~
Sandry feeling a tight moment excused herself Tris wouldn't appreciate such a personal conversion. But before Sandry could make an excuse for Tris, Tris refused her with the mind link: No its OK Sandry I want you to see that eerie object in the stall.
Sandry was about the ask what object as soon as she saw the many magicked objects but when she saw it she knew why it didn't need to be described. It was the brightest thing magic wise; Sandry needed to put a veil to protect her vision as she looked at it. She stared at it; it looked much like the curving on that disc that Tris kept with her. However, there was something so familiar about it... yet Sandry couldn't place her finger on it. She touched it.
Outside Tris was ready to get Sandry from the stall, it was time to go and they were probably getting late. When the old man asked her about the gold coin and she gave it to him. Then surprisingly, Sandry came rushing from the stall looking very upset. "Bye, Steel Eyes!" said the elderly man. Tris could only waved in response as Sandry wisped her away. She rushed Tris away from the stall.
"Sandry what's wrong?!" Finally she pulled out her arm out of Sandry died grip, she was afraid it might break off. Sandry had driven her out of the city. She pop open the water flask, "You know we are not that late. I believe we made good timing. Here. Need a drink?"
Sandry pushed it away, "Tris," her eyes read strain, "Eclipse, you know that object?" Tris nodded mutely as Sandry stammered. "Well that black paint on it- it's unmagic."
And it was at that moment Tris realized that the old man had carefully avoided telling anything about that void object in his stall.
**************************************************************************** ******
Meanwhile...
Briar was reading a book under a tree. Thankfully to Tris's hard work he could actually read the symbols on the page and know what it was talking about. Where...Where is it?! He thought as his brow turned into a frown, thinking very hard. Ah! Here it is!
"Boy!" Relief turned into despair; Rosethorn! Great! Finally when I look in a billion books and find the information I want Rosethorn calls me! Briar thought with distaste. Quickly, Briar took out a knife. I'm not looking for this again! He thought. He started cutting out the section of the page he wanted. Tris would kill me, he thought. Why she almost scolded me 'bout having a knife when I saved her from that fucking thief!
Flashback~Going from Blue Harbor
"Where did you get that knife?" Tris asked pointing to it.
"Did you think I gave all of my knifes to Niko? Come on Coppercurls you know me better than that." He said smiling. Briar thought for a moment she was going to protest or lecture him, but the protest cot in her throat. She thought better of it.
She looked away, the sun shining on her red hair and pale skin and the few freckles that had dusted her nose. Her mouth in a sort of sensuous pout. Her wild red hair and pale skin made a striking setting with the glimmering sea in contrast as a background.
"Boy! You better-" That's all Briar heard because he just realized what he thinking! Where did that come from?! He asked himself somewhat confused. The threats kept coming from Rosethorn, "Boy, if I have to come there the well will be your dwelling place!" she barked. Briar stuffed the paper in a pocket, slammed the book and ran to the beckoning Rosethorn with a flushed face from his pervious discovery about his embarrassing thoughts. Never mind that! He yelled in his head, trying to take that serial picture of Tris from his head, only for it momentarily be put aside and then become the center of his mind.
Rosethorn's lips became as thin as slabs, "You missed eleven weeds." And then to her complete surprise Briar immediately dug himself into the ground working! Not even one complaint!
Briar was just happy to hide his face incase it had any trace of feelings- Rosethorn missed nothing.
**************************************************************************** ******
"Are you sure?" asked Tris the hundredth time as her lifted her bag with the fish in it to her shoulder.
Sandry breathed in, "Yes- I'm sure. I'm positive," she swigged the bag side to side as she walked. The bag was full of Dedicate Grouse's delights; another errand from Rosethorn.
Tris lifted an eyebrow ready to ask a question but dismissed it. Trying to cheer Sandry up in her pathetic way she yelled in a cheery tone, "Hey there's Discipline!" Sandry just looked down and afterward, Tris did the same she would never try that again she sounded like a twit wannabe. Not even a complete twit, she thought disgusted.
Arms wrapped around her surprising her, "Thanks," said Sandry, "thanks for TRYING to cheer me up." She said 'trying' with a smile that won Tris over making her smile in reply rather than scold.
Sandry and Tris were now very close to Discipline. They walked in through the gate, "Hello Daja!" Sandry had yelled when she spotted her coming from the distance. Daja waved and came running.
"What happen?" she asked, ready to pounce when she came close enough to be heard. Sandry told her in a hushed voice as the two walked near the house. Sandry's mouth runs on fiddle sticks, Tris thought smiling, not minding being left alone; she liked it that way. But she still missed Niko. I wonder what he was doing now? she asked herself.
Suddenly, something pushed her as she was shutting the gate. "My apologizes, miss. Do you know where the lady of the house is?" Tris looked it was a runner...from The Fire Temple? Fire Temple was quite a ways from here.
The man's black skin was covered in sweat. As she stared at his habit he impatiently asked, "Miss, do you know or not know where Delicate Lark or Rosethorn?" Dumbly she pointed to the cottage, Lark was always there, she didn't know about Rosethorn. Without a word he ran toward it and right passed Daja and Sandry, who stopped in mid-sentence to stair.
The three of them ran into Discipline. "Rosie! A messager wants to see us," the three of the them heard as they stumbled on top each other, entering the kitchen. Rosethorn entered through back door with the help of her cane. Briar came in after her.
"Here sit down-" Lark offered already getting a mug to fill with tea.
"No, no," The runner refused. "I bring terrible news." He licked his full dark lips. "Niko Goldeneye is dead."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Responses to Reviews!
A/N: Longer chapters= Longer wait
Lady Sandrilene~ Thank you for reading my story! I love yours! stargirl2004~ I adore you! Thank you! Anyanka~ Thank you so much!! ^___^ Jishoshojo~ Me love you! I am happy I liked that part I wasn't so sure about! And yes I'm doing better now! morgaine~ I'm so happy this story is one of your fav.s that really means a lot to me!
Muslima: Thanks for the great reviews!
Zakyu: The reviews maybe great but your story stills stinks! (Muslima throws pots and pans)
Zakyu: Killing the doll.
Muslima: [Looks at the doll] THAT'S A NIKO VOODOO DOLL!!! You killed Ken-I mean NIKO!!
Zakyu: [Looks at the doll] Why are you upset, now you won't need to pay him for the acting.
Muslima: (thinking) You know what, your right. Do thee disclaimer.
Zakyu: WE OWN NOTHING!! BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!!! TAMORA PIERCE OWNS EVERYTHING BUT THE STORYLINE AND A CERTAIN CHARACTERS AND BLUE HARBOR BLAH! WE ARE NOT MAKING ANY PASHA (a currency: money) SO YOU CAN'T SUE US AND PLEASE DON'T TRY!^____^
Muslima: Hehehe...hope you like it.
____________________________________________________________________________ ______
Chapter 6
The next morning there was good news and bad news. The boy was still asleep he had gotten sick. Nevertheless the girls didn't need to find an excuse; Rosethorn said Tris and Briar would go to Blue Harbor to get some fish (for the other fish went bad) as soon as Briar was done with errands. However, Sandry offered to go with Tris saying she would need fresh air and Briar would probably never be able to go for he was helping Rosethorn with herbs and medicines for the infirmaries. Lark was happy to see Sandry better, she approved of the idea since all the bandages were covered for now but said that they must come before afternoon, they might need to make more, considering more people were coming each day to the infirmaries. The girls also didn't get to tell Briar what they were planning to do because he was so busy. Daja also was needed by Frostpine to help the flood by making tools, etc so she couldn't go.
**************************************************************************** ******
Tris & Sandry at Blue Harbor
Sandry looked at Tris "Do you know where this 'old man' is?" she asked using the name Tris called him.
Tris seemed to growl under her breath as the fifth hundred person bumped into her. She started sparking up. Sandry grabbed her hand and pulled her down hard so she could speak in her ear, "Tris, clam down!"
Tris reluctantly compose herself. "Let's get the fish first," she said. Sandry nodded, agreeing although she knew that meant Tris DIDN'T know where this man was.
Tris said the shop where they brought the fish was somewhere here but as she said that she became more cautious; always looking around and eyeing everyone in the crowd. When Sandry asked her about it, Tris hastily said they were many nips and thieves around here.
They went to the section of the city where it was near the towering, huge temple. Sandry looked at the shrine she wondered what god it was for. Sandry thought the temple looked odd. It was made of black glass and when the light hit it its shine looked like a shadow. How uncanny--
"Sandry what are you doing? You'll get lost," spoke Tris waking her up from her thoughts. Sandry blinked ran up catching up to Tris.
Now that Tris thought of it she never told Sandry when SHE got lost. Or how it felt to be in Briar's arms safe, a sensation that was as alien to her as trusting. Or how it felt to let his hands ran through her hair and tell her to was alright. How it felt to feel terrified one moment then blissful happiness and pure peace just by a simple action. Tris realized she closing her eyes, smiling foolishly. Her eyes flashed open: Wait!... Where had that all come from? Tris asked herself completely and utterly confused. She looked at Sandry, no. She couldn't tell her. She couldn't tell anyone. Was she betraying the circle by having such a secret? Tris physically shook her head to help chaste off such thoughts, she would think of them later, now she needed to find that mysterious old man.
"Is that the shop where you brought the fish?" Sandry pointed to a shop, not noticing Tris's odd behavior. Its wooden sign had a picture of a fish; it flapped in the friendly breeze.
"Yes," Tris affirmed.
Sandry opened the door to go inside. She was to complain about the quality of the fish and request a refund. Personally, Tris wanted nothing to do with it so she decided to stay outside. "Coward," said Sandry with a laughing smile as she went in.
That's when she saw him.
The old man was now a fortuneteller; a group of woman, a little older than Tris were having their palms read. The women giggled, the kind of giggling that meant they were wealthy and also the kind of giggle that made Tris shudder. From what Tris could pick up they were in pilgrim clothes. But black pilgrim clothes?
She glanced at the temple, it was black its self. Tris shivered a cold shiver, but not from the cold for the sun was high in the sky. That place seemed like a void, nothingness, empty- stop spinning shadows! Tris told herself using the same word Sandry did when imagination got out of hand.
She walked inside the shop, looking for Sandry.
~~~
Sandry tried to walk through the big crowd. Who knew such a tiny place could fit so many people? She smiled at her victory. Though it wasn't really a victory she reminded herself, the shopkeeper just wanted to get rid of her and didn't want to argue with her in front of his customers so he gave the fish.
Finally, she reach the door outside. No Tris.
Sandry where are you? That was Tris.
I'm right here outside, where are you?
Oh I'm inside, but I found that man!
Really? Splendid! Where?
Look in front of you Sandry looked where the giggling monsters are.
Sandry laughed at the comment I see him.
Great! I'll be right there when I get out of this beehive!
Sandry walked toward the fortuneteller behind the giggling girls. He is flattering them, she thought amused. Every girl was the same: they were to fall in love and marry a handsome, rich nobleman. Wealth, beauty, and pride was their future. Sandry almost laughed! But the laughter suck in her throat was soon replaced with pity. Soon all the girls were gone.
The fortuneteller eyed Sandry with his one eye which seemed to pierce her. "Your not like the other girls are you?" he said, not taking his eyes off of her, "Giggling and such. Y' knew I playing with them for their money." She didn't answer. Was he trying to play her for her money too?
"You'll have to do better then that to flatter us," Sandry looked behind her, Tris.
The man smiled a quiet smile, foreign in contrast to his face. "I should of known y' were together," he said to Sandry. "Both cunning, odd and different from the others girls."
Sandry turned to look at Tris to see how she would react; she didn't get complements every morning. Tris was giving a tight smile-- out of politeness that Rosethorn had rammed into they're very beings. Sandry felt the air become humid and tight, "Um...could we walk around...your stall...?" She asked trying find an excuse to calm Tris down.
Tris clam down, please! Sandry plead.
Either the man looked surprised from the lack of an excuse or he noticed the sudden change of air, "Why of course, I owe y' friend a reading too."
Tris ignored Sandry, "We came to get a certain story." The fortuneteller lifted an arched eyebrow, the one not covered by the patch on his eye. "The one about the object" she handed out a gold coin, "Eclipse."
The man looked amused, his mouth twisted into a joyless smile. "Really? Why?"
Should I show him? asked Tris. Sandry made a mental nod.
She signed, "Do you know anything thing about this?" Tris gave the disc to the fortuneteller for him to investigate. As soon as he took it she wanted to snatch it back. Sandry sensed Tris's urge and warned her.
I just don't trust him!
Tris, do you trust anyone? That silenced Tris.
The man looked up at them again giving that genuine expression. "How-," he asked, "how did y' find this?"
"We asked first, we expect first," came the sharp reply.
Sandry glared at Tris. Your being rude
Tris faced Sandry's glare He is playing games, there is knowledge in his eye, I can see it! Sandry looked away from Tris's glare.
He grinned but that faded away as he spoke, "This disc," light flickered against it as he handed it back- hesitantly, Tris noted, "is one of the few in the world. I know not the exact number. Legend says if y' find all of 'em you will be able to wield a power."
"What kind of power?" asked Sandry.
"Crap." He said. "The kind of power someone who dances with death and the sort would want."
"You mean a necromancer?" When Tris saw puzzled faces she added, "Necro is the prefix of death, their are magicians that use their power playing with the died and sometimes rise the died."
"Who are these objects entrusted too?" Sandry asked changing the subject. Death and darkness always drilled a pit in her stomach.
"I answered two of your questions. Will y' answer at least one of mine: Where did you get the disc?"
Why would it matter so? Tris asked herself. "I found it washed up the beach," she replied shortly. The man stroked his chin, his eyes staring into the distance, again Tris felt a pang of fear; she had that feeling he was more than a harmless old man.
"It was about 50 years ago many knew little of this case so y' better have I good reward for me. Well I heard of 'em," he pointed to the disc, "about 50 years ago. Great mages took on the responsibility of keepin' 'em safe." He voice started to crack unlike his strong storyteller voice. "Even then that was a hard burden since necromancers were searching for 'em. And back then necromancers don't hide in holes like now. They played with death in the open." He stop for a moment trying to compose his face in his hands. He draw in a sharp in take of breath that might have been a sob. The old man continued, "It was especially bad here since access to the death gates was easier here then anywhere else. It was because of the temple." His face was like a stone mask but there was pain in his eye.
"The temple?" asked Sandry, curious.
"It's the shrine of Musya" he said "the god of eclipse and death. The honored ones are buried there or their ashes are."
Tris nodded slowly, thinking. That made sense why all the pilgrims were dressed in black.
"How did you come by that?" the storyteller abruptly asked, staring at the slightly tinted scar on Tris's forearm.
Hastily she covered it. "A accident," she said. Suddenly her face felt hot, it was a little scar that she had acquired in the battle against the pirates when they tried to attack Winding Circle. She believed she got it from Enahar.
"I heard a story some years ago" he said "of a girl who was trying to protect her homeland but hurt others and afterward she acquired--,"
Tris cut him off. "Don't put me in one of your stories!"
There was silence again. Tris's angry words hung in the air. Sandry looked at her with startled eyes. Finally the man spoke, "We all have our demons, Steel Eyes. It's when we cherished them- hold them to our breasts- feed them day after day- that's when they curdle our souls."
~~~
Sandry feeling a tight moment excused herself Tris wouldn't appreciate such a personal conversion. But before Sandry could make an excuse for Tris, Tris refused her with the mind link: No its OK Sandry I want you to see that eerie object in the stall.
Sandry was about the ask what object as soon as she saw the many magicked objects but when she saw it she knew why it didn't need to be described. It was the brightest thing magic wise; Sandry needed to put a veil to protect her vision as she looked at it. She stared at it; it looked much like the curving on that disc that Tris kept with her. However, there was something so familiar about it... yet Sandry couldn't place her finger on it. She touched it.
Outside Tris was ready to get Sandry from the stall, it was time to go and they were probably getting late. When the old man asked her about the gold coin and she gave it to him. Then surprisingly, Sandry came rushing from the stall looking very upset. "Bye, Steel Eyes!" said the elderly man. Tris could only waved in response as Sandry wisped her away. She rushed Tris away from the stall.
"Sandry what's wrong?!" Finally she pulled out her arm out of Sandry died grip, she was afraid it might break off. Sandry had driven her out of the city. She pop open the water flask, "You know we are not that late. I believe we made good timing. Here. Need a drink?"
Sandry pushed it away, "Tris," her eyes read strain, "Eclipse, you know that object?" Tris nodded mutely as Sandry stammered. "Well that black paint on it- it's unmagic."
And it was at that moment Tris realized that the old man had carefully avoided telling anything about that void object in his stall.
**************************************************************************** ******
Meanwhile...
Briar was reading a book under a tree. Thankfully to Tris's hard work he could actually read the symbols on the page and know what it was talking about. Where...Where is it?! He thought as his brow turned into a frown, thinking very hard. Ah! Here it is!
"Boy!" Relief turned into despair; Rosethorn! Great! Finally when I look in a billion books and find the information I want Rosethorn calls me! Briar thought with distaste. Quickly, Briar took out a knife. I'm not looking for this again! He thought. He started cutting out the section of the page he wanted. Tris would kill me, he thought. Why she almost scolded me 'bout having a knife when I saved her from that fucking thief!
Flashback~Going from Blue Harbor
"Where did you get that knife?" Tris asked pointing to it.
"Did you think I gave all of my knifes to Niko? Come on Coppercurls you know me better than that." He said smiling. Briar thought for a moment she was going to protest or lecture him, but the protest cot in her throat. She thought better of it.
She looked away, the sun shining on her red hair and pale skin and the few freckles that had dusted her nose. Her mouth in a sort of sensuous pout. Her wild red hair and pale skin made a striking setting with the glimmering sea in contrast as a background.
"Boy! You better-" That's all Briar heard because he just realized what he thinking! Where did that come from?! He asked himself somewhat confused. The threats kept coming from Rosethorn, "Boy, if I have to come there the well will be your dwelling place!" she barked. Briar stuffed the paper in a pocket, slammed the book and ran to the beckoning Rosethorn with a flushed face from his pervious discovery about his embarrassing thoughts. Never mind that! He yelled in his head, trying to take that serial picture of Tris from his head, only for it momentarily be put aside and then become the center of his mind.
Rosethorn's lips became as thin as slabs, "You missed eleven weeds." And then to her complete surprise Briar immediately dug himself into the ground working! Not even one complaint!
Briar was just happy to hide his face incase it had any trace of feelings- Rosethorn missed nothing.
**************************************************************************** ******
"Are you sure?" asked Tris the hundredth time as her lifted her bag with the fish in it to her shoulder.
Sandry breathed in, "Yes- I'm sure. I'm positive," she swigged the bag side to side as she walked. The bag was full of Dedicate Grouse's delights; another errand from Rosethorn.
Tris lifted an eyebrow ready to ask a question but dismissed it. Trying to cheer Sandry up in her pathetic way she yelled in a cheery tone, "Hey there's Discipline!" Sandry just looked down and afterward, Tris did the same she would never try that again she sounded like a twit wannabe. Not even a complete twit, she thought disgusted.
Arms wrapped around her surprising her, "Thanks," said Sandry, "thanks for TRYING to cheer me up." She said 'trying' with a smile that won Tris over making her smile in reply rather than scold.
Sandry and Tris were now very close to Discipline. They walked in through the gate, "Hello Daja!" Sandry had yelled when she spotted her coming from the distance. Daja waved and came running.
"What happen?" she asked, ready to pounce when she came close enough to be heard. Sandry told her in a hushed voice as the two walked near the house. Sandry's mouth runs on fiddle sticks, Tris thought smiling, not minding being left alone; she liked it that way. But she still missed Niko. I wonder what he was doing now? she asked herself.
Suddenly, something pushed her as she was shutting the gate. "My apologizes, miss. Do you know where the lady of the house is?" Tris looked it was a runner...from The Fire Temple? Fire Temple was quite a ways from here.
The man's black skin was covered in sweat. As she stared at his habit he impatiently asked, "Miss, do you know or not know where Delicate Lark or Rosethorn?" Dumbly she pointed to the cottage, Lark was always there, she didn't know about Rosethorn. Without a word he ran toward it and right passed Daja and Sandry, who stopped in mid-sentence to stair.
The three of them ran into Discipline. "Rosie! A messager wants to see us," the three of the them heard as they stumbled on top each other, entering the kitchen. Rosethorn entered through back door with the help of her cane. Briar came in after her.
"Here sit down-" Lark offered already getting a mug to fill with tea.
"No, no," The runner refused. "I bring terrible news." He licked his full dark lips. "Niko Goldeneye is dead."
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Responses to Reviews!
A/N: Longer chapters= Longer wait
Lady Sandrilene~ Thank you for reading my story! I love yours! stargirl2004~ I adore you! Thank you! Anyanka~ Thank you so much!! ^___^ Jishoshojo~ Me love you! I am happy I liked that part I wasn't so sure about! And yes I'm doing better now! morgaine~ I'm so happy this story is one of your fav.s that really means a lot to me!
Muslima: Thanks for the great reviews!
Zakyu: The reviews maybe great but your story stills stinks! (Muslima throws pots and pans)