Disclaimer: previous chapters please.

- Chapter Four -

Briar heard the sound of hooves galloping along the ground. He looked up, but before he could do anything, Sandry had him on the ground, her arms wrapped painfully tight around his torso and face buried in his chest. She was crying. Behind her was the ever-faithful Acalion, looking more than a bit dejected.

"You're alive!" she sobbed. "And I was so scared . . . Briar! Don't EVER do something so dangerous! If you had - had DIED, you bad boy, I would have died with you! Don't EVER scare me like that!"

"Nonsense, Duchess," he growled in embarrassment. "You can't say you're going to die just because you think it sounds nice. Plus, you're rambling. Control yourself a bit and you'll find that I am perfectly fine and so is Rosethorn."

"Mila bless us," Lark whispered, coming forwards. "Rose was attacked?"

She moved as if to go to where Rosethorn was, but thought better of it when she saw who was with her. Instead, she prised Sandry away from Briar, letting the young man dust himself off and then she looked him over for any hidden injuries. She found none. Acalion was eyeing Briar with distaste, as if he were some dirty on the sole of his polished shoes. Then he put his arms around Sandry's shoulders and whispered in her ear.

"Oh, Uncle wouldn't mind if we missed lunch," she protested. "Given the circumstances, he'll WANT me to stay and see that Rosethorn and Briar are okay!"

"But we announce our . . ."

"Can I make a suggestion?" Briar interjected. He looked at Acalion. "You, sir, can go back to the citadel and tell the duke what's going on. Sandry can stay here and we'll help Rosethorn back to Discipline."

"That sounds like a good idea," Sandry agreed. "Acalion, please go back to Uncle and tell him I will be at Discipline the rest of today and tonight. You can take the horse as well - thank you."

Acalion decided it was best to just do as she said, rather than argue. Sandry hadn't looked so happy around him. He put it down to just the initial happiness of having her foster brother back after four years. If it were so, then it would pass and after that, Sandry would remember who had actually been with her when her foster siblings had gone away. And, if his calculations were correct, Acalion had been with Sandry for longer than Briar Moss. Almost five years to four - Acalion's advantage.

-

"Niva . . . I . . . I want to tell you that . . ."

"I need to replenish my powers," Rosethorn croaked wearily. "That last attack was vicious. Excuse me for a second."

Crane slowly loosened his hold on her and she sat up straight. She closed her eyes and took whatever power she could from the plants around them. Some of the colour returned to her cheeks and when she opened her eyes, they had that familiar spark of life again. Her lips spread into the customary smirk Crane was so used to.

"Feeling better?" he asked crisply. He had to, after all, keep appearances up.

"Much," she replied. "What were you going to say, Crane?"

"Nothing of your concern any more," he replied loftily, standing up. "And since you have recovered so quickly . . ."

"I saw the etching, you know."

He froze in mid way of turning around. Rosethorn got to her feet with a groan, dusting off her earth green robes. She was looking everywhere but at him while her hands twitched. Finally, she settled for tucking them inside her robe sleeves.

"I know what you're going to ask," she continued quietly. "Just keep in mind that, since having taken up our vows, I am obliged to decline you here and now."

"I do not understand you, Rosethorn," he said stiffly. "I was merely curious as to whether or not you would be interested in seeing a new specimen I have acquired from the eastern parts. Briar has already seen them."

"Then let us keep it this way," Rosethorn said, nodding. "I will come by later."

She went to join Lark and the others, while he headed back to the Air Temple. Both nursed heavy hearts, though neither showed just how much pain they were going through. Their snappy, crisp masks were back in place, where they belonged, and both were willing to keep it that way. The conversation seemed to have been forgotten, but the unspoken words lingered between them.

"Come on, lads and lasses," Rosethorn said loudly. "I want to see my garden."

-

After a night's rest and being around her old plants again, Rosethorn felt much better. Even Briar had a healthy colouring brought back to his face from life back at Discipline. To tell the truth, he had missed the cottage and his old room, and the garden, even if it meant he had to weed it again.

"Yes well, there's no place like home, is there?" Sandry pointed out, when he had brought up the topic with her as he worked. "You take it for granted that it would always be there and then miss every inch of it when you're gone."

"You've grown wise, lass," Rosethorn said, coming up behind them.

"She'll have to be," Briar replied roughly. "To be the Duchess she is."

He wasn't sure about Sandry, but Rosethorn certainly picked up the bitter edge to his voice. Turning away from both women, Briar busied himself tackling a rather stubborn weed, enjoying the strain he had to put on himself to remove it. This task kept him busy for a while, so he didn't have to talk for a while. Besides, he didn't trust his voice NOT to give away his emotions.

Ever since he had opened the link that connected himself and Sandry together again, Briar felt strange. It was a warm feeling, always present, and oddly like he was always wanting something. It settled a little when he saw her, spread to his stomach when she talked and made him giddy when she laughed. He had yet to understand fully what the noble was doing to him, but he knew he would never hear the end of it if he talked about it with Rosethorn.

"I think you both need to catch up on your meditation," Rosethorn said, noticing how Briar's thoughts were disturbing him. "Finish that off, boy, and go meditate."

"I'm not a boy!" he protested.

"Sure, sure, whatever."

Rosethorn sauntered into the cottage to organise her workroom. Sandry looked at her, then at Briar and grinned. He cursed when that giddy feeling filled him. Yes, Rosethorn was right - he needed to meditate. Automatically, he fell into rhythm, feeling himself relax and calm down almost at once. Silently and steadily, he worked until the weed had been pulled up, roots and all.

"Come on then, Briar," Sandry said from where she stood. "Let's go meditate."

"I'm coming."

-

"It's great coming back to Winding Circle."

Daja walked around Frostpine's forge, familiarising herself with the tools and the layout again. Dedicate Frostpine, her teacher, grinned, sharing her joy at being back at the forge. Soon after they had returned to Emelan the first time, Daja had left again to see the west, where it was really hot.

"Sure it is," he agreed. "But have you learnt anything from your travels?"

"Lots," Daja said excitedly, turning to him. "The western style metal working is so fascinating! I would have never thought . . ."

"Whoa, hold on there girl," Frostpine laughed. "Don't get all carried away just as yet. I still have to tell you something very important. Just yesterday, we had a case of two of our best mages being attacked."

Daja froze, reading the message in Frostpine's eyes.

"Are they all right?" she asked weakly. "We ARE talking about Rosethorn and Briar, aren't we? They're the ones who got attacked, right?"

"They're fine," Frostpine assured her. "Just need to warn you that it's not quite safe walking by yourself along the roads between temples. Arm yourself at all times - not that you don't already."

He was eyeing her Trader's staff, which she had propped up next to the door. It was weapon enough on its own, but the attackers used magic also. A solid staff, though dangerous, would not put up much of a fight against magic. Daja grabbed it from where it stood and gripped it tightly. She seemed jumpy and edgy now.

"I need to go see them," she said hurriedly. "I need to make sure they're okay."

"I'll come with you, lass," he put in. "Who knows? They might attack again."

- End of Chapter Four -

A/N: DONE!

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