Chapter 6 The Barrier
Sandry woke the next day from yet more painful memories and dreams. She saw that Briar was sleeping in the chair next to her bed, bent with his head on the bed in sleep. She watched him sleep for more than for an hour before he stirred and woke. He looked tired but his gray green eyes sparkled with a light that she had noticed before on only a few different occasions, all when he had made a big and difficult decision.
Sandry was worried "Briar, what are you thinking about?" she asked. Briar yawned then said a bit mechanically "I am not afraid to die. I thought I might but I'm not." He gave a sort of strained grin "Anyways, technically I have already died, when we brought Rosethorn back" His eyes said what he had wished they wouldn't he was afraid, not just for himself but for Sandry and everyone else. Sandry saw this and reached for Briar but he pulled away from her touch. "Sandry, I can't protect you, I try but I can't, and now you're royal, an absolute opposite of a former street rat." Briar said the last part with great disgust. Sandry looks at him, stung and cut deep inside at his words. "Briar, I know why she killed my uncle and is going to try to kill you. She is attacking me. And yes there is no way she can get past me to get you and anyways she's after me." She added as she saw Briar's strange face.
Rosethorn who seemed to have been standing in the doorway added "Me too, my buck. There is no way in hell I am losing my best apprentice." Lark entered behind Rosethorn "he's been your only apprentice, Rosie." She said calmly. Rosethorn turned and retorted "Your point being? I love him more than my plants! If you guys tell anyone I will deny it till the end." Everyone stared at Rosethorn, a compliment like that had never been heard said by Rosethorn. Even Lark stared at her, she to had not heard her say something like that before. Tris, Daja, Niko and Frostpine walked in and, as one, said "We'll help too." Sandry finally spoke again "Briar, I don't think anyone will be able to touch you now, with this big barrier." Everyone feeling the tension gone from the room, laughed at Sandry's comment.