A/N: Beware of a time jump.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything Tamora Pierce wrote. But I do own Jack. And I am proud to say that I came up with the Trader song. Unless of course you think it sucks. If so I have no idea how it got there...


Two years later…

On the hottest day of summer the dusty, wide dirt road to Lairan was empty save one traveler. He was a tall fellow, perhaps eighteen years old, and lean, with hard, ropey muscles beneath his sun-browned skin. Dark curls, a bit too long for his liking, tumbled into his green eyes. Normally shining with good humor, those eyes now were dull and flat with exhaustion, eyelids drooping over them.

It had been three days since he had left Qalai and since then he stopped only once for a few hour's restless sleep. The road he was on was known for its bandits, and he refused to let them get any of his precious shakkans, which were at the moment tucked carefully first in baskets, then into the large saddlebags on the back of his crotchety mule, Jack.

This traveler was of course Briar Moss, the famous plant mage, one of the peculiar children who had been in the fabled 'Circle of Magic'.

Briar pulled Jack to a stop and unpacked a bit of food and his water flask. Chewing thoughtfully, he gave a carrot to the mule. He had been on the road for the better part of two years, stopping here and there, and selling shakkans when he needed the money. At the present, Briar had no idea why he couldn't simply go home to Summersea. He had left to get away for a while, and in hopes of finding Sandry, who he had stupidly driven away because he couldn't fess up to his real feelings. Now he just seemed to have a need to keep moving; as soon as he stayed anyplace for more than a week or two he would become restless, wary, and irritable. A number of friendships were made and broken simply because he couldn't be content to sit still.

As for Sandry… nothing. In every city, everywhere he went, Briar would look for her and always he would come back empty handed. Even, if he allowed himself to admit this, a bit empty-hearted.

Tris and Daja, who he kept in touch with whether mentally or through letters, were patient with him, and didn't ask him to come home, only told him the door was open if he needed it. It meant a lot to Briar, much more than they could know.

Swigging from the flask a final time, he tucked it back in on of the bags and started Jack forward again. The mule brayed loudly causing Briar to jump and let out a stream of his best curses.

"Come on Jackie, none of that!" And with a yank on the lead rope, they were off again.

A little more awake thanks to the food, Briar hummed the tune from a Trader folk song that he had learned when he had traveled with a group to Sotat.

Glittering gold, majas a plenty,

Ledgers and numbers, the riches of life

Never say Traders are silly to travel

We take to the road while you live with your strife.

Finally, around the fifth verse, a tavern came into view. Smoke rose from the chimney, and a barn stood out back.

"See Jackie, I told you I knew where we were going," Briar said cheerfully. The mule snorted and tossed his head, eager for the barn.

After seeing to Jack and carefully unloading the shakkans, Briar grabbed his pack and walked to the front of the building. A sign was nailed over the door, naming the place 'the Border Tavern'. With a shrug Briar opened the door and walked in, drooling over the thought of a good cooked meal.


A/N: duh duh dun… can you remember where Sandry was working? Paths may be crossed very soon… Hehe, hope you liked it! (Remember, reviews make me happy and guilt me into updating!)