Tamora Pierce owns the entire universe of this story, all the characters,
the world they live on and the very air they use to sustain life. Only the
vague plot is mine and the dialog I have attributed to TP's characters in
this tale. I freely give my permission for Tamora Pierce to use any or all
of the plot/story/dialog/concept if she so desires in any way she desires.
The Circle Expands
Chapter 1
Lady Sandrilene fa Toren stood on the balcony and watched the sun rise over the sea. Yawning she went back inside to dress for the day. It appeared that it was going to be another one of assisting her Uncle run the kingdom.
Ever since Duke Vedris IV of Emelan had, in an angry mood, disinherited his sons and appointed Sandry as his heir to land of Emelan she had been working more each day with the Duke and his councilors learning the routine functioning of Emelan system of rule.
While she understood why she had to work with the council she still missed being able to weave her cloth and magic's. The lack of time, created by the arguments in the council, irritated her and she was tempted to us magic to smooth out the process but she didn't, magic used to influence people was forbidden by the Council of Mages at Winding Circle Temple.
Sandry sat and meditated for a half candelmark and then rose to dress for the day. Wearing one of the more formal riding dresses that her uncle liked to see her wear instead of the simpler dress she preferred she walked downstairs to her office to work until breakfast. The halls of the Citadel no longer used candles, lamps or torches for light. Ever since the Circle of Four store opened the lamps created by Daja and Evvy had replaced all the older style of lighting throughout the Citadel.
As she worked her way through the household accounts she felt, through their bond, Briar stirring in his cottage next to the wall of the Citadel. Daja was up and preparing the forge for another days work.
"Morning Daja," She spoke through the bond, "What have you got going on for today?"
"Morning, Sandry, you're up early today."
"More council junk, decided to get some work done before I have to waste the day sitting around a table and hearing the same arguments over again."
"Take Tris with you, when it starts to hail in the room it will shorten the meeting considerably."
Sandry giggled, "Wish I could, it would serve them right, a little lighting would not hurt either! Might get some of them off their seats to accomplish something."
Reaching through the bond Sandry felt for Tris, "Can't take Tris, she is still sleeping."
"Well I have some items to get to the store, you might be interested to see a couple of them. Oh I have a letter from Nia you might like to see. Rumor has it that you are thinking of throwing a dance soon."
"We are, Pacos is due back from his dance tour in a week and it seems a good time for a party, we had a good a harvest thanks to Briar and Tris, the fishing has been outstanding thanks to Pasco, and our store is making a good profit. Working us into the infrastructure of Emelan was one of the best moves uncle ever did. Join me for breakfast and we will take your stuff down to the store."
"Fine, I'll be over in a candlemark, talk later."
Sandry went back to work on her accounts and Daja continued to prepare the forge. An hour later they met at the breakfast room, Daja was carrying a inlayed wooden box about 12 by 8 by 6 inches, and a letter.
"What's the box?" Sandry asked.
"Take a good look at this box," Daja placed the box on the table, "It was made by Nia. The contents were made by Jory."
Sandry sat down and slid the box over and closely examined it. "It's beautiful, I don't think I've ever seen better. And it has our shops sign on the top!"
"I wrote them and told of our opening the shop and included a drawing of the shops sign"
Inlayed into the top of the box using naturally colored wood was a circle with each quarter of the circle a different color, red, blue, green and white. Inside the circle was the number 4.
The cooks helpers started bringing in the dishes and setting up the table for breakfast.
Sandry opened the box and found it filled with silk bags of what appeared to be flour, "What is this?"
"I told you, I think, that when I discovered that the twins had magic the first indication was Jory taking the lumps out of a green sauce using magic. I told her, as a joke, that if she could put that magic into something that she could sell she would have every cook in the world as customers and it would make her rich. The note says she has done it, the flour is spelled to remove lumps, and it only takes a pinch."
"Lets send some to Winding Circle for Delicate Gorse's opinion and maybe Cranes before using it,"
"Jory thought of that she included instructions for the spell in the letter."
"We will take some out to Winding Circle later in the week, for now sit down and have breakfast."
Just then through the bond the women heard, "Sandry, Daja, are you going to the shop this morning?"
"Yes, Briar, after breakfast."
"What are you having."
"Porridge, honey, milk, eggs, bacon, ham and assorted muffins, breads and deserts. Want to join us?"
"I'm on the way."
The door from the hall opened and Duke Vedris IV of Emelan entered with Baron Erdogum, the duke moved to the head of the table and sat, to his left the Baron was seated.
"Good Morning ladies."
"Morning." Both said simultaneously, they smiled at each other for the harmonic speech.
"Uncle, Daja and I are going to the shop for a while this morning."
"That's fine, there is nothing of importance scheduled for this mornings meeting is there Erdogum?"
"No Sir," the Baron replied, "Just the usual complaints and moans of an, according to then, overtax minority of Nobles."
While the staff started to serve breakfast the Duke pulled the inlayed box over in front of himself and examined it closely, "This is beautiful workmanship, where did it come from?"
Sandry poured tea for all of them as Daja explained the box and its contents to the Duke."
Briar and Tris, carrying Chime, entered the room, Briar staggered to the table moaning "Food, hunger, starving, wasting away, NEED FOOD!" He sat at the table and grabbed a muffin and started to butter it.
The room ignored him.
The Circle Expands
Chapter 1
Lady Sandrilene fa Toren stood on the balcony and watched the sun rise over the sea. Yawning she went back inside to dress for the day. It appeared that it was going to be another one of assisting her Uncle run the kingdom.
Ever since Duke Vedris IV of Emelan had, in an angry mood, disinherited his sons and appointed Sandry as his heir to land of Emelan she had been working more each day with the Duke and his councilors learning the routine functioning of Emelan system of rule.
While she understood why she had to work with the council she still missed being able to weave her cloth and magic's. The lack of time, created by the arguments in the council, irritated her and she was tempted to us magic to smooth out the process but she didn't, magic used to influence people was forbidden by the Council of Mages at Winding Circle Temple.
Sandry sat and meditated for a half candelmark and then rose to dress for the day. Wearing one of the more formal riding dresses that her uncle liked to see her wear instead of the simpler dress she preferred she walked downstairs to her office to work until breakfast. The halls of the Citadel no longer used candles, lamps or torches for light. Ever since the Circle of Four store opened the lamps created by Daja and Evvy had replaced all the older style of lighting throughout the Citadel.
As she worked her way through the household accounts she felt, through their bond, Briar stirring in his cottage next to the wall of the Citadel. Daja was up and preparing the forge for another days work.
"Morning Daja," She spoke through the bond, "What have you got going on for today?"
"Morning, Sandry, you're up early today."
"More council junk, decided to get some work done before I have to waste the day sitting around a table and hearing the same arguments over again."
"Take Tris with you, when it starts to hail in the room it will shorten the meeting considerably."
Sandry giggled, "Wish I could, it would serve them right, a little lighting would not hurt either! Might get some of them off their seats to accomplish something."
Reaching through the bond Sandry felt for Tris, "Can't take Tris, she is still sleeping."
"Well I have some items to get to the store, you might be interested to see a couple of them. Oh I have a letter from Nia you might like to see. Rumor has it that you are thinking of throwing a dance soon."
"We are, Pacos is due back from his dance tour in a week and it seems a good time for a party, we had a good a harvest thanks to Briar and Tris, the fishing has been outstanding thanks to Pasco, and our store is making a good profit. Working us into the infrastructure of Emelan was one of the best moves uncle ever did. Join me for breakfast and we will take your stuff down to the store."
"Fine, I'll be over in a candlemark, talk later."
Sandry went back to work on her accounts and Daja continued to prepare the forge. An hour later they met at the breakfast room, Daja was carrying a inlayed wooden box about 12 by 8 by 6 inches, and a letter.
"What's the box?" Sandry asked.
"Take a good look at this box," Daja placed the box on the table, "It was made by Nia. The contents were made by Jory."
Sandry sat down and slid the box over and closely examined it. "It's beautiful, I don't think I've ever seen better. And it has our shops sign on the top!"
"I wrote them and told of our opening the shop and included a drawing of the shops sign"
Inlayed into the top of the box using naturally colored wood was a circle with each quarter of the circle a different color, red, blue, green and white. Inside the circle was the number 4.
The cooks helpers started bringing in the dishes and setting up the table for breakfast.
Sandry opened the box and found it filled with silk bags of what appeared to be flour, "What is this?"
"I told you, I think, that when I discovered that the twins had magic the first indication was Jory taking the lumps out of a green sauce using magic. I told her, as a joke, that if she could put that magic into something that she could sell she would have every cook in the world as customers and it would make her rich. The note says she has done it, the flour is spelled to remove lumps, and it only takes a pinch."
"Lets send some to Winding Circle for Delicate Gorse's opinion and maybe Cranes before using it,"
"Jory thought of that she included instructions for the spell in the letter."
"We will take some out to Winding Circle later in the week, for now sit down and have breakfast."
Just then through the bond the women heard, "Sandry, Daja, are you going to the shop this morning?"
"Yes, Briar, after breakfast."
"What are you having."
"Porridge, honey, milk, eggs, bacon, ham and assorted muffins, breads and deserts. Want to join us?"
"I'm on the way."
The door from the hall opened and Duke Vedris IV of Emelan entered with Baron Erdogum, the duke moved to the head of the table and sat, to his left the Baron was seated.
"Good Morning ladies."
"Morning." Both said simultaneously, they smiled at each other for the harmonic speech.
"Uncle, Daja and I are going to the shop for a while this morning."
"That's fine, there is nothing of importance scheduled for this mornings meeting is there Erdogum?"
"No Sir," the Baron replied, "Just the usual complaints and moans of an, according to then, overtax minority of Nobles."
While the staff started to serve breakfast the Duke pulled the inlayed box over in front of himself and examined it closely, "This is beautiful workmanship, where did it come from?"
Sandry poured tea for all of them as Daja explained the box and its contents to the Duke."
Briar and Tris, carrying Chime, entered the room, Briar staggered to the table moaning "Food, hunger, starving, wasting away, NEED FOOD!" He sat at the table and grabbed a muffin and started to butter it.
The room ignored him.