Chapter Thirteen: Follow You

Later, Briar would only recall a blur of activity after Rosethorn's announcement. Sandstorm's face had turned as white as a sheet, but she quickly began to send out orders to collect and count supplies, boost the medicinal stores, and distribute weapons. Dedicates began to stream in and out of the office. By their expressions, Briar guessed that few of them were surprised to hear of the coming war.

Finally, after sending two Earth dedicates to begin shoring the gates, they were alone. Sandstorm leaned back in her chair and sighed. She snapped her fingers and a flame burst into life in her palm. She toyed with it, deep in thought.

Briar smiled, and touched Rosethorn's hand. Have you ever noticed that you do that with the cotton in your sleeves? It gets all excited and tries to blossom.

I do not.


When you're thinking about something you do.

Name a time I did it.


Last time Crane was at Discipline and he showing you his keep-awake tea.


I have no idea what you're talking about.

I can name other times. Like the time Lark-


She wrenched her hand away, and gently smacked his leg. "Briar!"


Sandstorm blinked, and the flame vanished. She looked up at the mages. "Are you planning on leaving or staying on here? I wouldn't blame you if you chose to leave. You're far from home in a dangerous situation, as Alyssa put it so nicely. If you want to leave, I can find spaces for you on the next ship out of Yinjong Harbor."

Briar could see Rosethorn's expression in the early dawn light. She had made up her mind. He knew what she was thinking, even without touching her hand. Despite that, he let his fingers brush her's.

I'll follow you wherever you go.

He felt a burst of young magic on his other side, and then Evvy's voice echoed in his mind.


I want to stay. I want to help.


Were we ever going to do anything else? Rosethorn sounded completely calm, as though she were choosing what to cook for dinner.


"Honored Sandstorm, we are at your service."

The dedicate looked relieved. "Thank you. Shurri Firesword bless you." She stood and walked to the door. "I'll take you to one of our guest houses." She began to lead them down the dusty road. "Do you have any spare clothes?"

"A spare set of Emelanese habits."

Sandstorm shook her head. "I'd like to give you some of our clothes. It's dreadfully hot during the day, and it's cold at night."

Sandry would love this, Briar thought. "What are they?"

"We have loose pants, tunics, and loose-sleeved shirts." Sanstorm plucked at her own clothes. They were made of thin cotton, very loose, and bound tightly at her wrists and ankles by wide ribbons. "There's scarves and cloaks too. Do you want sandals?"

Evvy stared at the the dedicate's shoe. She hadn't noticed before, but it was akin to a sandal, except for the two bits of wood, under heel and toe, that elevated the sandal. She glanced at her teachers. Briar was the only one looking unsurprised.

Sandstorm smiled slightly. "They're really quite easy to get around in, after you find your balance."

Rosethorn gave the shoes a final, questioning look, then nodded. "We'll do that. Might as well try to blend in."

Sandstorm led them to the house. It was on the far side of the temple, near the wall. "House" was also a generous name. It was truly a more of a large, mud-brick igloo, with a hole in the top to serve as a chimney.

"Most of the temple is quite old, and the mud-brick and adobe structures are originals. We're in the process of renovating some parts. The new cellars, for example, are stone, half set in the earth. You'll probably see them if you go to the kitchens." She ducked through the low door, and showed them the inside space. It had several bed rolls on one side, next to a large basket of blankets and pillows. A stone-bordered circle in the middle served as a hearth. Sandstorm tapped another basket with her foot. "There are spare clothes in here. Feel free just to look through and find what works. Most of our people just wear the brown clothes with a colored tunic. If you aren't too tired, come and meet me up on the battlements when you're done here." She smiled, bowed, and slipped away.

Rosethorn flicked the door-curtain across the entry-way. "What colors are you two going to wear?" She sat on the ground and began to riffle through the clothes.

"Green, I suppose. Evvy?"

She frowned. "I'm not near old enough to be a dedicate."

"White, then," Rosethorn muttered. Having found what she wanted, she tossed clothes to the others. "Turn around, get changed. I'd like to see what Sandstorm wants to do."

A few minutes later, they stood blinking in the sun, once again. All three were wearing the loose pants and shirts in various shades of brown. Rosethorn's were neatly tied off in black ribbons. She and Briar both wore long green tunics, and Evvy's was snowy white. The tan cloaks buttoned onto the tunics. Rosethorn held her scarf in her hands.

"Evvy, how are you supposed to wear this?"

The girl ran it through her fingers, finding its length. "I suppose it's meant to be wrapped around your face. Like this." She pulled it across her head, then around her face, then threw the ends over her shoulders. It covered her hair, and most of her face. Only her eyes were visible. "I think it's meant for keeping dirt out of your face. It's what we did in Chammur when the dust storms came."

Rosethorn nodded, then quickly followed suit. Briar sighed. "Rosethorn-"

Evvy giggled. "Briar, didn't you ever see any of the takamers wearing their scarves? They don't wear them like the takameris. You just tie it over your face, so it come just over your nose, and knot it." She snatched his scarf and tied for him. Briar shot a glance at Rosethorn. He couldn't see her face, but the corners of her eyes were crinkled up, like she was laughing.

He grinned at her, then turned towards the battlement. In the daylight, he could see the temple clearly. The walls were made of speckled gray granite, smoothed by hundreds of years of use. Briar trotted up the stairs, pausing at the top for Evvy and Rosethorn. He looked over the walls, examining the view.

The barren landscape stretched for several miles, full of scraggly shrubs and sand. It eventually broke into trees that hid the road from Yanjing.

"Briar."

He turned to look at Rosethorn.

"Come on." She began to walk down the battlement. Hwangwalker and Sandstorm stood on the wall over the main gate. A large map rolled across the crenelations. Hwang was stabbing a point on the map with his finger, and Sandstorm was listening closely.

"The only way they're going to be able to come up here is through Lailan's Pass, where the main road is. They can't come through any other way."

"Only Lailan's Path," Sandstorm laughed grimly. "Only the biggest trade route for hundreds of miles. Welcome," she added, glancing at Rosethorn. She moved back slightly so they could see the map. "I suppose you heard most of that. Our little temple would be a wonderful place to be besieged at, aside from the road. I've suspected something like this for a while, since the Yanjingi ambassador stopped pretending to enjoy our shows of magic. The Emperor never liked magecraft much anyway, so I suppose it was just a matter of time before he decided to stamp us out. At any rate, I've stored up grain and water for-" She glanced at Hwang. "Nearly a year now. A few of our smiths have been making spears, arrows, and pikes and training some of the dedicates and novices to use them."

"We sent scouts out for reconnaissance, and a few of them are coming back in. They're confirming your reports," Hwang said. "I don't know how the Emperor managed to mobilize his army so quickly, but his troops are already moving across the Gygonxe border. We have days, maybe a week or so before they arrive."

"And that is why we need to begin preparations." Sandstorm beckoned two Fire dedicates to her. "Redbrook, I need you to alert the bellringers to sound the bells for war and danger. Cherrydrop, check with Fern about the supply levels, then report back to me. Oh- Redbrook, after you're done, please see if the front gates are shored up properly."

The dedicates nodded at hurried away, breaking into a trot when they reached the ground.

"Honored Sandstorm," Rosethorn began. "What would you have us do? I'd rather not stand around tripping your people up."

"You could join our sentries. We can use more eyes."

Rosethorn nodded, and then a strange expression came over her face. "Is there a job Evvy could do that isn't. . . up on the parapets?"

Evvy's mouth dropped open. "That's not fair! I can do as much as you can! I don't want to be stuck safe somwhere while-"

Rosethorn gripped Evvy's chin and leaned forwards. "I don't want you to be hurt, girl. I like you, I know you're good with your magic, and that's why I want you safe," she whispered fiercely. "If something happens- not that anything will- but, just in case, I want you to be able to get to Winding Circle. You'll have a good life there, and good teachers who can teach you more that Briar and I ever can." She stepped back, eyebrows raised.

Evvy stuck her chin out mulishly. Her eyes watered, and she blinked furiously. No one's going to see me cry. "Fine."

Sandstorm glanced between them, then sighed. "Evvy, would you rather work in the kitchens, the infirmary, or with the smiths?"

"The smiths." I don't want people yelling at me, or telling me to magic stuff to help them. A smithy should be better. 

Briar flashed her a small smile. She glared back. He broke into a grin.

"Have fun, kid."

"Oh, yeah, loads." 

Delphiniums

She stepped into the crisp fall night. It was dark, far past midnight, but she couldn't sleep. Her lover had left months ago, but the pain was still as fresh as a new cut.

Eglantine rose, symbolizing a wound unhealed.

The weather was still warm enough to keep hard frost at bay, but not for long. The days were cool, and the nights cold. The trees had dropped their leaves. The more timid plants had already curled deep into themselves, and let pale browns wither and dry their leaves and buds.

Oak leaves of strength.


Her feet moved of their own accord, carrying her across cool, pebbly dirt and into the large garden behind the house. The last of the summer vegetation brushed her fingers, slowly numbing them. A dainty evergreen slipped along her thumb, and she paused. She twisted a stem of it between her fingers, broke it, and held it tight.

Rosemary for remembrance, my love.

A voyage across the world, to the far East, was the reason for separation. Educational purposes, supposedly. Love of variety, truly.

China asters for fidelity and the love of variety.

A perfect representation.

She carefully trod through the shriveled roses. They shimmered with a dusting of the thinnest frost. During the summer, they had grown rampant along the trellises. She could look out her window and see a vibrant palette of roses. They all looked the same in the moonlight now, seeming as dark as sorrows or bright as silver.

Black roses for farewell, crimson for mourning. White roses for innocence, yellow for friendship and apology.

Her innocent lover never knew the pain departing caused. Didn't need to know. She kept it to herself, since, after all, there would be a reunion.

Fir, meaning time. Almond, promise. Heliotrope, devotion. Primrose, eternal love.


The lover would be back. Returned to her side in less than a year. Full of new sights, smells, experiences. Spices, silks, and the great souks of the Eastern markets.

She turned down the next row of the garden. The herbs by her hand were the sturdiest of all the plants, often lasting long into the winter.

Fennel for strength.

Her lover was the strongest person she'd ever met. In fact, that was part of the reason for her love. Not physically, but spiritually, mentally, morally. Standing up to what was wrong, heart upon sleeve, and colors flying.

Holly for defense, orange lilies for passion, and lotus for eloquence.

She began to hurry past the last of the plants, racing her memories.

Apple blossoms of perseverance. Pink carnations for friendship. Delphiniums, able to transcend space and time. Fidelite pink carnations. Mallow, forget-me-not, lime blossoms. Freesia, marigold, rue.

Periwinkle for memories. Snapdragon for strength. Yarrow for heartache.

She stepped through the door, slamming it behind her. Flowers pelted the wood, herbs scented the air.

Fidelity, love, faithfulness, hope, regret, desire, change.

"We will be together again." The house was silent around her as she climbed the stairs to her room. The bed sat in the corner, its covers strewn wildly. She lay down, pulled the blankets high, and held her pillow tight in her arms. "Together."

Just outside the back door, a sprig of rosemary lay in the dirt. It was slowly turning silver. The frost crept across its thin needles, gleaming in the clear night.

Remember.

Battle for Living Circle: Chapter 12- Dangerous

Alyssa jogged down the dirt path. Real great mages! People who's names rebounded across the globe. They were here. She could barely contain her excitement.

The temple wasn't large, so within a few minutes, she stood before Honored Sandstorm's office. It was an older part of the temple, a squat adobe and stucco creation, with a brightly dyed curtain across the doorway. The temperatures in Gygonxe were always high, so curtains worked better than doors.

She rattled the cowbell near the door.

"Come in."

Alyssa slipped into the coolness. "Honored Sandstorm, there's great mages here!"

Sandstorm smiled. "I'm glad you've figured that out."

Alyssa giggled. Sandstorm was never as regal as the other high-ranking dedicates. "I mean, a pair of them showed up at the gate and Hwang- Dedicate Hwangwalker- let them in and he took them to the bathhouse, because they've been traveling for so long, but he said he'd bring them here when they were done."

Sandstorm raised her eyebrows slightly, but gave no other signs of emotion. She sat still for a moment, then stood abruptly. "Alyssa, can you bring me something?"

"Alright."

Sandstorm drew a book off the shelf behind her, letting it fall open in her hand. She ran her finger down the page. "I need powdered dittany, beeswax, and basil."

Alyssa blinked in surprise, but nodded, then darted out the door to find them.

It wasn't much longer before the cowbell was ringing again. Sandstorm swept the curtain aside, and let her guests in. Hwang stood nervously by the doorway, but the other three mages neatly arranged themselves in the battered array of chairs. In Sandstorm's magical sight, they shone brightly with magic, the elder woman most of all. The boy had barely settled, when Alyssa slid through the doorway again.

"I think this is everything. The only beeswax I could find was in a candle, so there's that, and the basil was dried, but that's okay, right?" She smiled again, then turned to leave. Her gaze fell upon the mages and her mouth dropped open. She bowed low, and began to slowly make her way out.

Sandstorm snorted softly. "Novice Alyssa, I would appreciate if you stayed here and observed. It would be a good addition to your training."

Alyssa grinned brightly, then formally bowed, and retreated to a corner.

Sandstorm nodded slightly, and Hwang began introductions.

"Honored Sandstorm, this is Dedicate Initiate Rosethorn of Winding Circle Temple," he glanced at the boy, who mouthed a word. "Of Emelan. Her student, Briar Moss, and his student Evumeimei Dingzai."

The mages stood and bowed. The girl sat down again, then added, "It's just Evvy." Briar elbowed her ribs. "Pahan."

"Dedicate Rosethorn, Pahan Moss, Pahan Evvy, this is Honored Sandstorm, the head of our temple. And Alyssa Yalina, novice of the Air Temple."

Sandstorm stood again. "Tea? I've a feeling this will take a while."

Rosethorn smiled sardonically. "That would be wonderful."

The tea was already prepared, heated after Aly had left. Nonetheless Sandstorm turned to her table, and carefully hid her hands from the other mages. She held the beeswax against the hot tea kettle until it began to melt. She caught the stream of wax and mixed in the basil and dittany. A small flash of magic, and she had a rustic, but usable truthsayer's balm. A smudge of it on each eye, and she would be able to see if anyone was lying. She gathered the tea together on a tray and carried to the desk, where everyone could reach.

"Help yourself." Sandstorm rubbed her eyes, as if she was tired, and smeared her balm across her eyelids. "You said you were here from Emelan? That's rather far isn't it?"

The older mage, Rosethorn, answered. "It's across the Endless Ocean, on the coast of the Pebbled Sea. Briar and I came to Chammur as part of our studies. Evvy joined us there, and we continued on our way to Yanjing."

Sandstorm frowned. Yanjing had been troublesome of late. The new emperor did not take kindly to mages who would not give fealty to him. Mages like Sandstorm and those of her temple. "How did you come to Gyongxe?"

Rosethorn glanced around the room. She leaned across Sandstorm's desk."Are your attendants here trustworthy? Would you trust them with Imperial secrets?" she whispered softly.

"I would trust them with my life," Sandstorm replied, equally quiet. "What are you insinuating?"

Rosethorn straightened, then beckoned the others to come closer. "We were at the Imperial Palace of Yanjing. The emperor invited us to an audience before his court."

"Dangerous," Alyssa whispered.

Briar snorted, but Rosethorn ignored them and continued. "We arrived early. He was in a meeting with his advisors. They were speaking of mages, and how we are a danger to Imperial power unless we are bound to him. They came to conclude that your temple is the biggest threat for hundreds of miles. I think they've been planning for sometime, but right then they voted to wage war on the Living Circle."

Plot lines...

General Plot:

• Good vs. Evil.
• In a WoW-type setting
• Elves, Humans, zombies
• NEED zombies for Kristina/Luke song thing
• maybe no elves? elves were driven out long ago...
• Overlords-fallen elves
• Protector-new elf
• beasties
• overlords' beasties would be human foot soldiers led by cyborg leaders (hahaha! i wrote in cyborgs)
• Overlords who use 'beasts' to fight each other and win territory
• there should only be two overlords. neither is good.
• ultimate win is to have good "overlord" who is really just a defender/protector not overlord
• steampunk? -it might be hard to have steampunk and nature co-exist. maybe have a light steampunk wash to it, rather than entirely.
• ie: have steampunk clothing and some mechanism, but not enough to dilute the full power of teldrassil
• characters include
• silk
• tuesday
• eona
• aurie
• lloyd
• max
• Deities
• Superstitions
• One magpie seen by two brings good luck to both of you.
• Disease
• Suez Pox-?
• River Sickness- affects the people who work around the river, causes skin irritation, eye irritation, headaches, ect. from the goop in the water

---

Characters: Claribel Hawkins

I have a pic coming...

Name: Claribel Hawkins
Personality: short-tempered, not one to cut corners
Prominent Features: short, white-blonde hair
Possible Placement: Holly Silver's guard, street gang leader in Caerwyn

Clary Goodwin/Clary Hawkins

Characters: Silk

 

Name: Silk

Personality: tough, blunt, witty

Prominent Feature: missing one hand

Possible Placement: Captain/guard