Disclaimer: Jian's mine, but unless I've suddenly become Tamora Pierce, the rest isn't.

Chapter 5 - Oakbranch and Tris: That night, Lark told the five children that they were to meet Niko at the Hub the next day for lessons in meditation. Briar wanted to know what it was. Jian didn't listen to the explanation; she knew what it was. She had mage-relatives; what she wanted to know was why they needed to learn a mage-thing.

After chores the next morning, the five headed for the Hub. Along the way a group of boys tried to cause trouble. Briar and Daja seemed ready for a fight, but then a weird feeling came into the air. Tris seemed to be the source. They hurried away down a side path, and once they'd left the boys, Sandry brought Tris around with smelling salts. Once the redhead was back to normal, they continued on.

They met Niko at the Hub. He led them down a staircase and into a room that sent a shiver down Jian's spine. There was something in the air here, a sense of power that she could feel. Niko told them to sit cross-legged on the staircase. He explained the breathing pattern of meditation and counted as they breathed. Then he changed the exercise. He instructed each child to place their minds into something small. Jian cast her mind around for something to use and came up with her talisman. She fell back into the breathing pattern, and actually felt a physical change as her mind sank into her piece of wood, sliding into every nook and cranny.

When they were finished, Niko took them on a tour of the Hub. Jian found the whole place fascinating. The heartfire chamber, with its motionless dedicates, was a but unnerving, though.

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Later that day, a storm was just beginning to make itself heard when Jian left. She was getting bored hiding in her room, so she headed, once again, for the carpentry areas.

She hadn't been wandering long when the skies opened and it began to pour. Jian didn't think; she just opened a door and ducked inside. She shut the door and turned around. She gasped when she saw the man who looked up from sanding a table. He was a large white man, with brown hair and hazel eyes, wearing the green habit of an Earth dedicate. He cast a searching look over her, one eyebrow raised.

"I, I'm sorry," she stammered. "It was raining, and I... I'm so sorry. I'll just go now." She turned to pull the door open again when a large hand came down on her shoulder. She turned her head to look at the dedicate. He smiled at her.

"Now then, lass, calm down. You don't have to go rushing out like that." He spoke with a country accent. "What are you doing up here, anyway? It's a long way from the dormitories."

Jian blushed. "I live at Discipline, actually. And I... I like watching carpenters. I always have, but I was never - " She cut herself off, shocked. Why was she speaking so freely? She could only assume that it was because this man seemed so easy to talk to. She'd only been there a moment, but she was good at reading people. That was because she spent so much time observing, not joining in. She had instincts about people. They had told her to trust Niko, and they made her feel comfortable with this stranger.

"Discipline, is it?" he murmured. There was something in his tone she didn't quite understand as he eyed her again. Then he glanced out of the single window. "Well, lass, from the looks of that storm, we'll be holed up here a while, so I may as well introduce myself. I'm Dedicate Oakbranch. And what's your name?"

"Jian."

"Nice to meet you, Jian. So, you say you enjoy watching carpenters. Ever tried your hand at the craft?"

Jian shook her head. "No. I'm Janaali, and not of the artisan rank. It's illegal." Oakbranch's face darkened.

"I've heard of those laws. They're ridiculous, they are. But, you're here now. Would you like to try it?"

Jian didn't realize that her eyes lit up. Oakbranch saw and grinned as the girl nodded fervently. "Well, come on, then," he said, and handed her some sanding paper. He proceeded to guide her through the sanding technique.

Jian didn't even realize that the rain had stopped. After the sanding was finished, Oakbranch covered the wood in a coat of something he called resin. He said it helped protect the wood, and had her help him. When they finished that, he stood back to survey the work.

"Well, Jian, you've been a real help to me. I've been thinking lately that I need an apprentice. Would you be interested?"

Jian's jaw dropped. She closed it quickly and nodded. He clapped a hand on her shoulder.

"Good! Then I'll see you here tomorrow after the midday rest. Now run on home. It's almost supper, and I'm pretty sure growing youngsters shouldn't miss meals." He winked at her and she grinned at him before leaving.

Jian walked back to Discipline, so excited it nearly hurt. She was going to learn carpentry! It didn't matter anymore that she was of the second rank, that her interest in crafts would be considered wrong back home. Finally she saw the blessing of this place; she could be free here, free to choose her own path. "Thank you, Ilyina," she prayed to the goddess the Janaalis devoted themselves to. She just hoped Lark would agree to let her learn from Oakbranch, but she saw no reason why the dedicate wouldn't.

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That night, Jian discovered she wasn't the only one who had been offered lessons. Daja spoke to Lark about being offered a place with a smith, Dedicate Frostpine. Jian thought there was something odd about the reactions of Lark and Rosethorn to this news, and she noted it to consider later. When Lark came back downstairs after giving Daja some clothes - Daja only had mourning garments, and she didn't want to mess them up - Jian steeled herself. She had stayed downstairs for once, sitting in an unobtrusive spot. She doubted anyone had even noticed her.

She stood up and walked over to where Lark sat, near Rosethorn. "Um, Lark?"

Lark looked up and smiled at the girl. "Yes, Jian? Is everything all right?"

Jian nodded. "Yes. I wanted to ask... I met one of the carpenters today. Dedicate Oakbranch. He says he'd like to teach me and I wanted to be sure it was allowed."

Lark and Rosethorn exchanged a look much like the one they'd shared when Daja had given her news. Then Lark turned back to Jian. "I don't see any problem. When does he want you to work with him?"

"After the midday rest."

"Sounds fine. I'm sure you'll learn a lot from Oakbranch. We know him as well; he's one of the best." Jian smiled her thanks and went upstairs.

She was so giddy over her good fortune that, when passing Tris's room and seeing the redhead engrossed in a book Jian recognized as one she'd read herself, she forgot to be shy. She knocked on Tris's open door. The redhead looked up, annoyance glinting in her gray eyes.

"What?" she demanded crossly. Jian almost balked at Tris's tone, but decided not to. Today had shown her beyond any shadow of a doubt that what had been true at home wasn't so here, and maybe, just maybe, that meant she could stop hiding quite so much.

"I was just wondering what you thought about that book you're reading. I read it last year."

Tris's expression changed. "Really? You like biographies?" The book was a biography of Empress Ch'ai of Yanjing, the only woman to rule that country.

"I like reading in general," Jian said. "I like novels, and myths, but I also like history and some biographies. The women of my class back home are just marriage fodder, and I liked the idea of a woman with power. Female rulers are illegal back home."

"Marriage fodder? Not another noble! And where are you from?"

"Janaal. And no, I'm not a noble. They're the first rank. I belong to the second rank."

"That's military, right?" Tris said slowly. At Jian's surprised look, she explained, "I read about it. Do you want to come in?" Jian smiled, and sat down on the bed next to Tris. They had a nice talk about books and decided to go to the library together that Sunsday, when they had free time.

Jian went to bed that night feeling happier than she had in a long time. She was going to learn carpentry, and she just might have made her first real friend. She fell asleep smiling.

A/N: OK, I know it's a change in character. Jian was more open around Oakbranch because he's that type of person; he just makes you feel comfortable. I'm sorry if that didn't come across, but then, I only just introduced him. As for the thing with Tris, I always saw Jian connecting with Tris first. They have a lot in common with each other. A love of books is only the beginning. And although it seems odd that Jian should make the first move here, the main reason for her shyness is fear. She's afraid to let people in even a little bit, afraid to trust, because of the childhood she had. Oakbranch's offer to her was an epiphany of sorts. She's beginning to hope that if one thing in her new life can be different, maybe it all can be.