Chapter Five

Dinner consisted of feeble conversation, looks of pure venom shot across the table, and plenty inanimate objects/plants shifting around the room. The stone walls trembled whenever Pasco shot one of the poison looks across Evvy at Briar. Briar, having been through worse, was unfazed. Unfortunately, these looks bothered Evvy so that she excused herself early from dinner to get her bath things and leave. Sandry gave Pasco a look to beat all those that had gone on during dinner, and left without a word to follow her. Slowly, the group took that as an end to the uncomfortable evening. Lark and Rosethorn cleared the table as Niko and Briar collected the bath things. Daja and Tris, akwardly jobless, stood at the doorway waiting for everyone else, exchanging nervous glance at each other and Pasco. He still sat at the table and was still sitting there, obviously deep in thought, when the rest of them left for the baths.

When all the girls arrived at the baths, they split up. Rosethorn and Tris, who preferred privacy over the large communal bath, headed to the private showers, sharing a comfortable silence. Daja and Lark walked towards the shelves where they put their clothes, murmuring together about Briar, Pasco, and the wedding. Sandry and Evvy were already in the pool, splashing about and laughing like old friends. Once Daja and Lark joined them, everyone who was not already perfectly comfortable with everyone else felt completely accepted.

However, in the boys' section of the baths, things were much, much more uncomfortable. Niko was trying his best to talk with Briar and take his mind off Pasco, but Briar was far too angry for small talk. He was utterly humiliated that Pasco had tried to attack him, and even though the girls had saved him, it made it even worse that they had had to intervene. The temperature dropped another ten degrees as Pasco walked in. Niko, never having fully understood the quarrel, didn't want to be a part of this. He walked hurriedly over to the shelves of clothes, his hair still wet and lathered. At this late hour, Niko's departure had left the two boys completely alone in the baths.

Pasco shot several looks at Briar, but said nothing. Briar knew he could outwait the younger and more impatient boy. He waited patiently, fuming as he did so. Ten full minutes later, Pasco slammed his fist into the bath wall, standing up.

"You had NO right to tell her you loved her!" Briar stood up as well.

"ME? At least I came back to her as soon as I could! I didnt sulk about with my relatives until time stood still!"

"For your information, I was NOT with relatives! I would have come back as soon as possible, but the gods-blest JEWELER took a whole WEEK to make the ring!"

Unnatural silence fell over the baths. Two seconds after he had said it, Pasco realized that no one knew he had planned to propose to Sandry. He collapsed. Briar looked down on him, then sat next to him. "It's all right. I guess I was the same way...but I knew I couldn't wait any longer to come and see her."Pasco sighed. He still hated Briar and was insanely jealous of him, but he knew that it was his own fault. If he had just left...not waited for the ring, then Sandry would be his. Wait...his. She would have said yes! Briar had not said that Sandry did not like him! He was deliberately not mentioning her feelings! She DID love him! But Briar was keeping her from him...probably under lock and key. In fact...when he had confronted Briar in the kitchen, she had left almost immediately. She probably couldn't hold herself back...

As such betrayal formed in Pasco's mind, all Briar could think about was how akward this was. Pasco had not said a word since Briar had spoken. Briar was suddenly very aware that they were both very naked and very close to each other on the underwater bench that ran along the inner lip of the pool. He carefully distanced himself, not knowing that he was playing directly into the youth's mad thoughts.

PASCO-And now he moves away from me! He's AFRAID, isn't he? Afraid of me...afraid of what I could do to his relationship with Sandry. But what could I do? She chose Briar...but not over me. She had no other choice. So...if I put it to her. She will say yes...but Briar can't be there. In fact...wouldn't this whole thing be easier if Briar wasn't anywhere?

BRIAR-We are definitely still naked, and he still hasn't said anything...and now he's looking at me weird. What's going on?

Briar was about to ask him what was wrong when suddenly Pasco's hands exploded out from the water, grabbed Briar's neck, and thrust his head completely underwater. Briar had foolishly used up most of his air supply saying "what" before Pasco had grabbed him, and now found himself already growing faint. With his last bit of strength, he summoned Sandry-and felt his world go black.

Sandry heard Briar's cry through all the girls' laughter. She screamed, suddenly feeling her world go black as well. The girls clamored to know what was up. She jumped out of the pool, briefing Daja on the way. Words took too much effort at this moment, when every fiber in her being was attuned to Briar. She bolted past a confused attendant, who tried to stop her (my lady, that's the men's area) but who was quickly silenced when his clothes attached themselves to the drapes on the windows. She exploded through the doors, and saw Briar's body in the water, laying facedown. Pasco was nowhere to be seen. She leaped into the pool and flipped Briar over.

His face was so pale...his usually tanned skin an unnatural white. She started to cry, holding him close to her. She rocked him to and fro, murmuring soft words to him. "I love you Briar...I love you..." Little did she know angry eyes burned holes through her face as her words fell on jealous ears...