A/N: This one's back in the Duke's Citadel with Briar… I kind like the way it turned out, but what do you guys think?

Disclaimer— didn't own, still don't own, and prolly never will own.

The Duke's forehead creased with worry as he read and reread the note Briar had thrust at him. The boy now paced the room, muttering curses and running hand after hand through his already mussed hair. Never had the man seen him so unsettled. Tris and Daja looked deep in thought, most likely communicating through their extraordinary mind link.

Reading Sandry's parting words once more; Duke Vedris sighed and put it down on the table. Briar looked up, his face feverishly displaying several emotions at once.

"So how many troops will you send out?" he asked.

There was a prolonged silence in which the aging man weighed his reply. Better to come out straight with this boy, he thought. "None," he answered quietly.

"Good, then I go tell he sergeant to get them—none!" Sputtering a moment Briar lost his voice. He found it quickly. "What do you mean none! Sandry's missing, we have to find her, something could—someone might—she—." Briar quieted at a calming gesture from the Duke.

"Sandry wants to make a life of her own. I can hardly force her to come back, you should know as well as I that she would be miserable. As hard as it is, I believe the only thing I can do is pray and have faith in her strength." A dead silence came over the room.

"Miserable?" Briar finally choked out, his voice cracking. Whirling around he glared at Daja and Tris, still seated at the table with the Duke. "You're just going to let her go? We have to go after her!" Tris looked at him coolly from behind her spectacles.

"And just how do you propose we do that, Briar Moss? If you checked her tie to you, you'll find she has completely blocked us out. Not to mention that, if I'm right, she's had a day and a half head start and we don't know where she's headed. We'd never find her."

"Tris is right," Daja said softly. "And you know Sandry. She'd only hate you all the more if you tried to make her come back. I believe in my saati." Briar looked from face to face, feeling trapped.

"Fine. So Sandry's gone… forever." And with that he stomped from the room desperately trying to control his emotions. Briar half-ran through the stone halls, his own words from the night before haunting him.

'What are nobles good for?'

'…nuthin…'

'…to the highest bidder…'

Stumbling blindly, Briar sought refuge in the only place that could bring him comfort. He tripped and fell onto the rich earth, desperately asking for the simple happiness of the plants around him. Turning to lay flat on his back in the garden, Briar gently gripped two of the stems closest to him as others hurried to wind their way around his limbs, draping cool leaves on his face. All Briar could think of was Sandry and associate her with the one word he never thought he would.

Gone.

A/N: Remember, I still need those opinions! 