So I've decided to continue though don't know how far i will go. Hope you like.

Winding Circle – Discipline Cottage

Rosethorn came home late that night. She hadn't heard a word of Briar's death. She had service at the temple all day. What she really wanted was her bed and to have Lark to make her a nice cup of tea. Walking through the front door she found Evvy sitting in the living room tear trailing down her face. There was no sign of Lark. Rosethorn made her way immediately over the young girl. She sat down next to her and put her arms around her

"Evvy tell me what's wrong?" Evvy looked up at her teacher with red puffy eyes.

"You don't know? All the rocks speak of it. Some even soaked up his blood."

Rosethorn's eyes widened. "Who's blood Evvy? By the Gods child tell me whats going on?"

"It's Briar, Rosethorn. He's dead. He was murdered in the street by some common pig snuffer. Left in the street like a piece dung. He lied you know! He lied to me, he said he would never leave me and stay with me for all of time. But now he's gone and got himself killed, fat lot of good that is." Rosethorn was silent for a few minutes.

"Evvy I thought Briar taught you better than that. Stop this nonsense right now or I'll hang you from the well. What's all this talk of Briar being dead? You can't be serious child. I must say this is not something to joke about." Evvy moved out of Rosethorn's arms.

"But Rosethorn it's not a lie I swear. I swear on Luvo. Briar died today Rosethorn. I didn't believe it but it's true. I wouldn't lie to you about something like this. You know that."

Rosethorn stared at Evvy for a few moments. She couldn't believe it, she didn't want to believe. The Briar was dead because of a stupid knife seemed so insignificant compared to his life. Surely he would've been able to defend himself, he was capable. Why didn't he? Tears were brimming in her eyes. Evvy sat down again and comforted her teacher. Rosethorn couldn't hold back the tears in front of Evvy and she didn't mind that she cried in front of her student. The three, now two, of them had been through so much. Student and teacher stayed together well into the night. Rosethorn wished Lark was here with her because she could make her feel all better but she wasn't. Rosethorn wondered where her friend was but didn't feel up to going out and looking for her. What could she do know? After a while Rosethorn realised that Evvy had fallen asleep. Gently the old Dedicate eased herself out from under the sleeping girl. Making sure the girl was warm Rosethorn left the Cottage and made her way up to the Temple. There in the dead of night she went up to the bell tower. Heaving on the thick rope Rosethorn rang the bell slowly and mournfully.

Up at the Citadel Sandry woke with a start. The Winding Circle Temple bell was ringing.

It's for Briar, it must be. She thought as Sandry made her way to the window. Looking out on the clear night the city below her shone with the many flame lit lanterns that marked the streets. It was beautiful. How can I still think it's beautiful when someone I loved has died? Don't they know it's the end of the world? Why do the stars above glow? It's the end of the world now that Briar has left it. Yet here I am, my heart still beating and my lungs still breathing even though he can't.

Tris's eyes snapped open. She lay in bed still just listening to the mournful sound of the Temple Bell. As she lay there she felt her connection to Sandry tug a little but Tris refused her entry. Despite her refusal Tris still felt Sandry's grief seep through the closed door. I know Sandry. I can't help you there. We all feel it. I know if Daja were here she would be thinking the same thing. How can the world go on without Briar Moss? How can I wake up now listening to the passing bells and not feel the world stop? My power still lives on yet my brother doesn't. Nothing makes sense anymore.

The bells echo around Evvy's head as she slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she noticed was that Rosethorn had left. I bet she's the one ringing the bells. Evvy closed her eyes and fed herself through the ground moving towards the Temple Bell Tower. Sure enough Evvy felt Rosethorn's vibrant power through the rocks. Smiling grimly she returned to her body. Those bells were for Briar and Briar alone. Why does everything feel same? I'm still breathing yet Briar isn't. Rosethorn and I will have to go on without him but how? He taught me to read, he taught me my stones and yet he didn't teach me to cope with his death. Some teacher he was.

Emelan

Three days later Tris walked into the chapel with Sandry on her arm. Daja was still too far away to be there physically but sat in her room watching through Sandry's eyes. Tris had closed her connection to her sisters the day Briar died.

They sat at the front with Lark, Rosethorn and Evvy. Tris sat next to Briar's old teacher and looked into her eyes. They were red from weeping but there were no more tears in Rosethorn's eyes. She gripped Tris's hand and nodded. They both knew crying wasn't going to bring Briar back despite how much they wished it would. Turning her gaze towards the front Tris watched the Priest walk forward and begin speaking.

"The death of a loved one can shake us to our very foundations. When the person is so young and so full of potential and skill, the feelings of grief and loss can even be more overwhelming. At times such as this we turn to our friends and family for support, for a shoulder to cry on and for someone to walk that road of pain and anguish with us. We cannot have Briar back, but we can rest easy knowing that he's found peace he was denied here on earth..."

Tris stopped listening to the Priest talk. It was pointless. There was nothing left to say, it was too late for goodbye. He never knew Briar. Sure he might've met him one or twice but not enough to know him personally. Briar had lots of peace here on earth. He loved his life. Briar had everything going for him. If the Priest had known Briar then he would've known that Briar would've hated this ceremony. Though Briar enjoyed being fussed over he hated it when people talked about him with pity and kindness. Tris gazed intently at Briar's body stretched out cold on the marble slab in front of her. She couldn't believe he was actually dead. No more would he tease her and live in the same house as her. Out of her three siblings Tris was the closest with Briar. He knew what it felt like not to have a proper home. She had taught him to read and write. They shared a passion for books and they had spent endless nights just talking. She couldn't have done that with her sisters, it wouldn't be the same. Despite this they were a team. None of the girls ever imagined a life without one of them. It was always the four of them together. Tris watched as the flames as they grew over Briar's body leaving no trace of her brother behind. He was actually gone now. Sandry fell into Tris's arms crying. Tris held her sister gently and watched the ashes be gathered up by the priests. He was nothing but dust now; dust that would either be scattered to the wind or kept in a jar on the mantelpiece. Nothing would bring him back now.

The group left the Chapel and went their separate ways. Once again Sandry pleaded with Tris to follow her to the Citadel but Tris declined saying she needed space and would come when she was ready. Lark gave Sandry and Tris a hug. Even Rosethorn embraced the girls quickly. As she held her, Rosethorn whispered in Tris's ear. "Don't shut them out Tris. Briar wouldn't have wanted that." Tris was about to give a tart reply but Rosethorn let go of her and left without another word. Tris watched her former teachers leave. Lark had her arm around Evvy who was holding Luvo tightly. Sighing Tris turned away and made her way back to the house.

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