"Hey guys, er Hello" Echoes around empty room "Ok I know I haven't updated for a while but this is ridiculous. I just had a block of exams, but I did a short chapter just to keep you going as soon as I could"

Bronze costume

Ayla brushed her neatly chopped hair, She looked at the swords on the wall, she was a highly skilled swordsman or woman.

She picked one up and expertly swirled in around, not like knights, but with skill and natural balance. Alanna had a feel for the warrior arts, she may be able to defeat her one day, but not now after all she was the woman who carried swords.

Alanna wobbled and fell off the rope, before getting back on and having another go.

Jason watched her and wrinkled his nose, "you odd" he told her causing her to fall off the rope in shock,

"Hey!" she said sitting up "I was getting good, why am I odd"

Jason shrugged "your determined" he said with a note of jealousy.

Alanna shrugged "I know, always have been, just ask my brother"

"Brother?" Alanna bit her lip, she hadn't told anyone anything about her life before the circus. Jason stepped further into the tent.

"yeah, older brother, wanted to be a knight" she told him quickly. Jason shrugged.

"So did I, but they only let Nobles in the palace."

"No girls either" they both were silent thinking about how things were unfair.

"We're going to Corus, You could see your brother then" said Jason.

"When" asked Alanna eagerly

"Two weeks or so" Jason shrugged "We'll stay here for a bit and it hard to get to Corus at this time of year"

"I like summer better than winter" said Alanna.

Jason shrugged, a cold breeze blasted them "Weird summer we're having"

Thom closed his eyes, books and papers were spread out around him.

He felt the violet ball and nudged it, it moved and shimmered and he pulled it out to cover his hands, a plain, silver backed mirror lay in front of him and Thom, his hands full of purple power pressed his palms into the reflective surface. It shimmered and rippled and Thom clapped his hands, he scribbled something down on a sheet of paper, before picking up the mirror, it felt cool and smooth in his hands.

"I who made you command you open no secrets to anyone but me" he said softly whispering a small spell he had read, he said a word of command and a bang went through the room.

He was glad he had put mufflers on his room.

Thom looked in the mirror, the surface was suddenly liquid it parted to show a face a perfect emotionless face. Time for a test.

"Show me my father" he said.

The face nodded and the purple tinted liquid caved in and levelled out to show a dim study, books and paper stacked high.

A man was lying asleep across the desk, his uncut beard blowing as he snored. Then the image started to pick up lines of purple through the image and the purple liquid parted again and rolled back to just a mirror.

Thom looked happily, he traced a symbol on the mirror surface, and the solid turned to liquid once again. The perfect sonic face stared at him.

"Show me Alanna, my sister" he told the face.

The liquid evened out and Alanna flickered on. She was talking to a grinning boy, they were sitting near the fire, and people poured around them, mostly heading for the large stripped tent.

Some came towards them and Alanna and the boy gave them crudely carved wooden cups splashing with water..

This wasn't really telling Thom anything, just then the door was knocked on. Thom hastily pushed everything under his bed, before leaping up to open it.

Alex looked at him with a raised eyebrow "I didn't see you in after noon lessons" he drawled "I wondered what happened to you"

Thom looked at him his shoulders slumped "My twin … my twin killed someone"

Alex hesitated before patting Thom's back, "I found your dog sniffing around my room" he told him, and the short haired dog shuffled into his room.

"Thanks" said Thom

"Anytime" said Alex and gave a slight grin.

Alanna shivered "I think everyone's gone in, and it's not like we have anymore water"

Jason shook his head "We have to wait here." He told her.

"Why?" she snapped shivering "You know I don't like the cold"

Jason frowned and pushed her over.

Alanna leapt to her feet fully intent on killing him.

The wiry boy ran and skipped away from her, until she was tired and hot.

"Better?" he asked with a grin.

Alanna glared at him from the floor and pulled him down.

"You're getting quicker" he said grudgingly. "I got something for you" he said smiling at her, and practically picked her up and carried her to his father's wagon.

"One day you'll be able to go in the big tent so your going to need a costume."

He led her to a large tent and kicked it open, before handing her a folded parcel tied with string.

Alanna opened it, a shimmering coppery gold costume slid like silk in her hands.

She held it up, a leotard and tight leggings, it glittered and shimmered in the dim light.

The beads and sequins shinned as it caught the light.

"What about your costume?" she asked him, wide eyed at the glittery material.

Jason shrugged "I don't need one, I don't do anything"

Alanna paused and hugged him "Thanks Jason" she said

Jason looked at her blushing "Hey I didn't make it" he said "I mean I can't even make tea!"

Maria- Ayla is the swords woman that Alanna saw on the poster, she works at the circus