Tris glowered at Niko's back. They had started riding to the city just after dusk, it was now nearing dawn. So far they had only stopped once, which was to change horses. At least she could shield them from the rain, so they weren't wet, as well as uncomfortable.

Tris remembered the look of horror on Sandry's face, when she had heard that one of her only living relatives was close to death. Niko had gone on to give more details about the attack. From what he knew, Niko told them that a group of warriors had ambushed the Duke on his way to the waterfront. All of the Duke's warriors had been slain, and the fisherman at the wharves had rescued the Duke, though he was unconscious. All of the attackers had managed to escape. Duke Vedris was being taken to Discipline at that very moment for treatment from Moonstream.

Briar watched Tris and Niko leave with apprehension; he had a feeling that everything would be different when his to friends returned. He thought that it was unfair that Niko hadn't given Tris a chance to say that she didn't want to go. Briar knew that Niko needed Tris' power to cast the spell to see the past, but was worried that Tris would push herself too far, to get Niko's approval

:Be careful, Tris,: Briar mindspoke. :You don't know what sort of people you might come across.:

:Briar, all I'm doing is helping Niko see the past. We aren't going into major warfare you know.:

:No, but you have a way of getting mixed up in all sorts of things,: Briar pointed out.

Tris snorted. :And you haven't? Briar, I can look after myself, besides, Niko is here as well, remember.:

:Okay, but I get to say I told you so, when things go wrong.:

Briar could feel Tris mentally scowl at him :Don't you have anything better to do than annoy me?:

:No, not really. Lark, Sandry and Daja are flapping around preparing things for the Duke. I was helping but I think I was getting underfoot, because they set me the task of staring out the window, to watch for him.:

:Well, you should pay attention to your job and leave me alone!:

:All you'll do is dwell on the men who attacked. I'm here for comic relief.:

:Don't let Sandry hear you talking like that,: Tris warned. :You know how she feels about her Uncle. How is she?:

:Why don't you ask her yourself? You won't be interrupting anything that can't be interrupted,:Briar pointed out.

:Alright, I'll talk to her. I'll talk to you tomorrow.:

:Bye, Coppercurls.: Tris made a rude sound at Briar, which made him grin.

Tris was about to talk to Sandry when Niko slowed to a halt outside a tavern. Tris shook her head; she must have been talking to Briar for longer than she realised. They were already at the waterfront.

'Are we going in?' Tris asked hopefully, wincing as she rearranged herself on the saddle.

'Yes, we are. You are in no condition to work serious magic tonight.'

'I am,' Tris disagreed. 'At least I would be if you had let us stop for more than five minutes,' she pointed out.

'I'm sorry. But if Duke Vedris dies, Emelan will go into turmoil. None of his sons are really fit to rule, if they were suddenly pushed into Vedris' position they'd panic. Only the Gods know what would happen then.'

Tris didn't point out that she knew that already, and that she too was concerned about Emelan. She just wanted to get off the bloody horse that had made the ride so uncomfortable. She knew it was useless to tell Niko that she was willing to do the magic now. Every so often he forgot that she was a full mage, and knew her own powers well; he still occasionally viewed her as a child.

Tris groaned as she dismounted, all of her muscles protesting. 'I'm going to have to start riding at least once a week,' Tris muttered to herself. At the beginning of the year she had had plans to do exercise every day, but, as usual, she had gotten sidetracked. She was still the same old plump girl, who had been made fun of when she first went to Winding Circle. Tris smiled wryly, it was amazing, what had happened since then.

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