The Will of the Empress - By Tamora Pierce Page 0,5

to her hair, her storm grey eyes were her most attractive feature. Today she hid them behind dark blue tinted spectacles that cut the flood of pictures riding every draft. She was pale-skinned and lightly freckled, dressed for summer in a grey gown and dusty, well-worn boots. On her shoulder rode some kind of glass creature that sat on its hind feet, one delicate forepaw clutching one of her braids.

"Don't hold on so tight," Tris told the creature in a whispered croak. Her throat was raw from constant nausea. It had taken her three days in bed to keep her improved magical skill from making her sick. "They'll love you. Everyone loves you. At least, they'll love you if you don't go around eating their expensive powders and things."

The glass creature unfolded shimmering wings to balance, revealing itself to be a glass dragon. It voiced a chinking sound like the ring of pure crystal.

"No, you hardly ever mean it," replied Tris. While she couldn't exactly understand the creature she had named Chime, they'd had this conversation before. "But you always eat anything that looks like it might colour your flames, and then you vomit most of it up."

Though the luggage driver turned the cart through the gate of Number 6, Tris lagged behind, feeling anxious about seeing her sisters again. Just remember all those southern mages who found out I could see a little, or hear a little, on the winds, she reminded herself. How they acted as if I had stolen something from them — as if I would steal! How they kept saying I thought myself better than them, when I was trying not to throw up from the headaches. How they started hiding their notes and closing their doors as I came by. Do I want Sandry and Daja to change like that on me? Do I want them deciding I think I'm better than they are, just because I can do a special trick?

It wasn't so bad when I started out, she thought, forcing herself to go through that gate. When people didn't know. But then it got out that time I knew Glaki had fallen and broken her arm. After that they all decided I was going to lord it over them.

She looked at the house. Two young women, one black, one white, were coming toward her. One was in a smith's apron; one was dressed like a noble. Both were wearing smiles as uncertain as the one on Tris's mouth. Tris halted, frowning. For a moment these two were strangers, smooth and polished creatures who moved as if they were sure of themselves. Behind them stood a three-story house with neatly planted garden strips in front, good ironwork around the windows, and sturdy outbuildings to either side. Even the location was expensive.

They look like the world is theirs, she thought bleakly, rocking back on the worn heels of her boots. And isn't it? Daja could afford this house, from all her work in living metal. Sandry's rich. When Briar comes back — if he comes back — he'll be rich, too, from working with miniature trees. I'm the poor one. I'll never belong here like they do.

"I'll be your housekeeper, Daja," she said abruptly. "Not a charity case. I'll earn my keep."

Sandry and Daja looked at each other. Suddenly they — and the look of exasperation they shared — were very familiar.

"Same old Tris," they chorused.

Tris scowled. "I mean it."

Sandry came forward to kiss Tris's cheek. "We know. Oh, dear — you're clammy. And your colour's dreadful. Lark wrote you've been ill. Come —" Her blue eyes flew wide open as Chime stood up on Tris's shoulder and made a sound of glass grating on glass.

"Hello, beautiful," said Daja, holding out both hands. "You must be Chime."

The glass dragon glided over to land in Daja's hands.

"Traitor," grumbled Tris. She let Sandry wrap an arm around her shoulders. "Actually, I would feel better for some tea," she admitted.

Daja led the way indoors, cooing admiration of Chime.

*

The 25th day of Storm Moon, 1043 K.F.

Discipline cottage

Winding Circle temple, Emelan

At first Briar Moss's homecoming was grand. Lark worked her welcoming magic on all of them, erasing lines from Rosethorn's face that Briar had thought would never go away, and making Evvy feel as welcome as if she were Lark's own daughter. Lark barely hesitated on meeting Evvy's strange friend Luvo before she found him the ideal place to sit and watch them all. Briar she saluted, letting him