Trisana Chandler's Point of View
Hurriedly I sent a pulse of power down my connection with my foster-family.
Briar, Daja, Sandry…get up here now!
I didn't say anything more, trusting them to follow the bond we shared to the tower. Instinctively I felt Sandry drop her spindle with a curse, ruining the deep green thread that reminded me of my foster-brother, Briar. He had been tending to his roses, but had muttered an apology and was on his way now. Daja was patiently attempting to convince her wire to stay wire while she was gone.
I turned my magical vision back to Sandry, who was now on the ground, fixing the mess her hurry had made.
Once a clehame, always a clehame. Briar said, grinning through his tie to me, and I smiled wryly.
"Ely…what were you doin-" I began, but was rudely interrupted by the King of the Household himself: Briar Moss. He threw the door open, smiling when he saw the pair of us.
"Nuncle!" Joyfully, Ely bounded to him, wrapping her arms around him in a hug. He was lucky; even at fourteen she hadn't outgrown his nickname for her-Ivy, calling him Nuncle, or his hugs. A look to me as he twirled Ely above the ground brought memories of a better time, before the War, back to me, memories we had both closed out and hidden, for fear Sandry or Daja would find them. Or maybe for the fear that we would find them too.
"Ivy, you weren't messing with Coppercurl's hair again, were you?" He joked, smirking. Had he been closer, it would have earned him a thorough smack on his 'oh so brilliant' head. I said as much through our bond, earning a satisfied grin from him.
The girl shook her head, laughing.
"No, but I caught lightning, just like in the story you told me of that lady mage, the one you said must look like Aunt Tris."
I paled, lightning anger sparking in my hair.
In mind-speak, I scolded him. What in Mila's name possessed you, Briar? That took me so long to control, and look now!
You never could control it around me.
He taunted, but without his normally cheerful nature. He knew I was angry, and he knew I thought him particularly infuriating and impossible.
Fortunately, Sandry and Daja burst in at this instant, telling me silently not to hurt Briar.
Daja leaned casually against a wall, content to watch, and Sandry went clehame on us, hands on her hips, demanding an answer from Ely.
"Mother...I just...caught the lightning. I didn't know there was any harm in it. I did what Nuncle Briar said mages did, but I didn't expect it to work….in my core, y'know?"
I nodded, as did the others. Briar had the most horrified expression on his face as he realized this child was far too curious and far too good at remembering details.
Soothingly, Sandry murmured to her adoptive daughter.
"What did you see in your core, love?"
"Well…" Suddenly, she took on a proud glow and began to rattle things off, much like a young child.
"I found the lightning. Lots of it. And some thread…and vines, which seemed to stray close-ish to the lightning…and not get burned, either. I found some metals, too. It confused me, so I only took the lightning."
We all exchanged looks.
Somehow, she has a bit of each of us. Daja reasonably put in, and we all agreed, looking down at our palms. In each was a round, lumpy looking scar, from when we had broken the Namornese barriers so many years ago.
"Well, Ely. While they try and explain, I'm going to go pack." I stated. I had every intention of leaving to notify Niko. He needed to know.
"And I as well…I can't wait to leave this little estate!" Cheered Briar, earning a harsh look from Sandry.
"I like it here well enough, mate…but I want to go back to Winding Circle!"
"I'll go too." Daja said quietly, leaving Sandry to explain about everything, and the rest of us to pack.