Disclaimer: It's all Tamora Pierce's
Tris woke to see three anxious faces hovering over her. "What are you all doing here?" she demanded crossly. "We wanted to be here when you woke up." Daja explained. "Not to mention someone wouldn't leave your side to eat or sleep, so we were bringing up some food for him." she said all this looking at Briar who was as red as one of his precious tomatoes. Sandy handed the tray she had in her hands to Briar who handed it to Tris. "You can have it." he mumbled. "I can get some more later." Tris smiled at him gratefully and began eating her porridge. "Ah Trisana! Have you decided to join the living?" she heard a teasing voice and looked up to see her teacher Niko. "Was I really out that long?" she asked. "Three days." Briar replied, avoiding her eyes. "Three days!" she gasped and remembered something. "The army! What happened?" "It was an illusion." Niko replied. "It was just a caravan with a very good mage. They only speak Trader so Frostpine is out there negotiating with them right now. "Land Traders." Daja muttered under her breath. "What was that Daja?" Briar asked in a falsely sweet voice. "Nothing that concerns you kaq." Daja answered cheerfully. Tris sighed with relief. This was the foster family she remembered. She didn't like them worrying over her like that. 'What's wrong with Briar' she mused. He was acting so strange. almost as if he were afraid of her or even possibly, maybe, just by a chance, liked her. Quickly she discarded that thought, scolding herself for even thinking it. To get her mind off that disturbing thought she asked, "Will I be able to meet this mage of the caravan?" "Actually," Niko replied, "he's waiting right outside. He wonders if you will remember him."