By the by, I haven't read the newest book. I have been lax in my duties...sigh...

Disclaimed: That I do not own Circle of Magic.

Enjoy!

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"More tea, niece?" Duke Edris of Emelan proffered the tea pot.

"No, thank you." Sandry responded, then smiled at him.

They were sharing one of their few private moments since the Duke had gotten married. His wife was off training her students, and his servants had all been dismissed for the time being. Now they were sitting in his drawing room, comfortably attired as they shared peace.

"How are you feeling, uncle?"

The duke smiled. "Fine. Such is your skill with the administration, I have not felt pressured in the least for anything greater than an afternoon ride."

Sandry smiled.

"And you, my niece? You have been extremely busy, of late."

Sandry rolled her eyes and nodded. "You've no idea."

Edris smiled. "Remember, dear, I have run this city for near thirty years. I have every idea."

Sandry stuck her tongue out at him and then spoke. "It's been a madhouse! Ever since you got married, things have been going from crazy to impossible! I don't know what's worse: the papers or the counselors!"

Edris' grin widened. "They do tend to be overbearing at times. Perhaps you could do as I used to: claim an urgent meeting and go out for a ride all day."

Sandry looked astonished that her stalwart uncle had ever done any such thing, then she smiled in relief. "That would be wonderful. But who would-"

Her uncle raised a hand. "I may be old, my dear, but I am hardly useless. Leave everything to me."

Sandry jumped up from her seat and hugged her uncle. "Thank you! Thank you!"

Edris smiled and patted her back, but when she moved away to sit down, she was pale and panting.

"Sandry?" Edris queried, looking worried.

She waved a hand at him and gulped in air. "I'm all right. Just a little tired."

Edris nodded, but continued to frown. "Perhaps you should take a few days off. Maybe you can go join Dedicate Lark for a while."

Sandry smiled at him. "That would be nice." She poured herself some tea and sat back, sipping it.

Edris' frown deepened.

Oh, that's a cloth rose! Some Bag probably would pay a fortune for it. Sandry'd love it.

Briar shook his head, knocking the last thought out of his mind. He returned his gaze to the market place, looking at all the herbalist shops.

How did they get that all the way here? It's probably being smuggled. Maybe Sandry would like more silk.

He knocked himself on the forehead, trying to get his mind on something else. Rosethorn glanced over at him.

"You all right, boy?"

Briar nodded and grinned, but he couldn't understand it. Ever since Daja had mentioned Sandry's name, he had been thinking about her.

You're making up for lost time. You've barely even written to her since you left.

Briar frowned, but he couldn't think of a better explanation for his mind's disobedience.

Maybe you could get all the girls something. Like that rare metal for Daja, that jewelry for Tris…maybe some flowers for Sandry.

I can't get her flowers! He thought back urgently. That reeks of …of…something!

Well, then, get her a dress!

A dress! I don't even know what size she is!

Then don't get her anything! Moron.

I can't do that! I already got things for the others!

It was true. Briar had picked up a beautiful amethyst for Daja from Evvy, his one-time short-term student. On the way back, he had grabbed a nice bracelet for Tris. But everywhere they had stopped, he had not been able to find something that had really seemed right for Sandry.

Oh, whine whine! Just get her something!

Fine. I will. Briar responded, and jumped out of the wagon.

"Where are you going?" Rosethorn asked.

"I have to pick up something! Just give me a second!"

Rosethorn nodded to the driver, and Briar sped off down the road, looking for the cloth shop that he had seen on his way here.

He found it. "Ma'am? I'd like to buy that rose in the window."

The proprietor looked down at him over her spectacles. "Of course. But only with money you earned, not the stuff you got off of others."

Briar sighed impatiently and reached under his tunic for his mage mark. He flashed it at the shopkeeper, and her eyes went wide.

"You're one of them children! The ones that stopped that earthquake all those years ago!"

Briar sighed. "Yes. Now can I have the rose, or do I go someplace else?"

The lady sniffed. "No one else has as quality merchandise as I do. You'll never find something this nice anywhere else."

Briar seriously doubted that, but he kept his peace as he paid the exorbitant price for the rose and left the shop, jogging back to the wagon.

"Where'd you go?" Rosethorn asked irritably as he hopped back into his seat.

"I had to get something for Sandry. D'ya think she'll like it?" He held up the rose.

Rosethorn snorted. "It's 'do you', and yes, she will."

Briar smiled and moved to put his gift in his bag. Then he suddenly realized that to do so would crush it. He looked about himself helplessly for a moment.

"Got yourself into another fine mess, haven't you?" Rosethorn asked drily.

Briar turned to her with a puppy-dog look in his eyes. "Please?" he asked.

Rosethorn rolled her eyes, but took the rose from him and put it into one of her special packets, spelled to not collapse or crush the plant within. Briar grinned his thanks at her, then called to the driver, and they were on their way again.

Sandry gasped and sat up.

"Sandry? What's wrong?" Duke Edris put a hand on her shoulder. She looked at him, joy dawning in her vivid blue eyes.

"It's Briar!" she cried, and then leapt up, dashing out of the room.

The Duke of Emelan looked confused, then worried, then he sighed and looked tolerant. After all, everyone was prone to a fit of craziness now and then.

At that moment, his new wife walked into the room, resplendent in silks and her dancer's jewels.

"What was that all about?" she asked, looking back at the fleeing Sandry.

Edris smiled. "Nothing. Just a little bit of insanity."

She smiled at him, and Edris thought that perhaps his own bit of insanity was scarcely so bad after all.

Sandry dashed down the stairs, out through the servants door, scattering maids and butlers in her wake. She ran through the kitchens, straight to the stables for her horse. She didn't even bother to saddle the poor beast as she leaped on his back and ordered the groom to get out of her way. He tried to get the reins down, but in the process all he managed was to knock off one of her shoes. She yelled at him irritably and pushed past.

Then she was off, galloping down the gravel road to the main gate, which barely had time to open before she went hurtling through at breakneck speed.

Briar! He's back! He's back!

Her mind went in little loops, filled with glee and astonishment. Why didn't he tell me? I can't believe it! He's back! Briar's back!

She was giddy with excitement. The road blurred before her eyes, and she shook her head to clear it. She galloped down, following the growing scent of roses and hawthorn towards the market square.

She was going to fast – she could not see clearly. Impatiently she leaned back on her horse, but he was enjoying the ride and refused to slow. Her blue eyes blinked and she shook her head again, the outlines of the buildings around her becoming fuzzy and then clearing again.

She galloped past the houses on either side, still blinking against the hard wind and trying to slow down.

And then there was a flash, and she felt herself falling away, and then a great snap, and she saw a vague figure in front of her, beckoning. And then blackness overwhelmed her, and she knew no more.