![]() ![]() This angers Briar and Tris, who feel that Sandry made that decision without their consent. When the empress invites the four on an outing, Sandry declines for the group and says that they must visit Landreg-as it was what they came to Namorn to do. Quen and Ishabal Ladyhammer realize that Tris would be an excellent addition to the empress's mages, and give her an offer. Daja meets Rizuka fa Dalach and Briar is invited to see the empress's greenhouses, earning him the jealousy of other young noblemen of the court. Sandry meets Pershan fer Roth, the only nobleman at her cousin's court whom she really likes. The empress, like many others, believe that Sandry plays a lesser role in Emelan politics than she does. Empress Berenene tests Sandry's magical skill and political knowledge, much to Sandry's chagrin when she realizes it. ![]() They are presented to Berenene dor Ocmore the day after at the Imperial Palace. The empress, who is also a point of view character, is shown to look over the four's files that her spies have collected and has plans to lure each of them to remain in her country as she sees their value. Ambros is surprised to learn that Sandry doesn't plan to stay in Namorn indefinitely and informs her that the empress will be quite determined in her wish. Ambros fer Landreg arrives later in the night, and Briar notices that Sandry has been practicing meditation, as she used her magic to spread a web around the house so she knows who comes and goes. They talk about about "experience" in terms of sexuality, and remark that Briar has gotten to be a bit of a ladies' man. They reach Sandry's sprawling townhouse/mansion in Dancruan and get settled. They are impressed with the magical proficiency of her bodyguard Quenaill Shieldsman, who raises an impenetrable shield around the empress in a matter of seconds. The nobles are hunting Chime, and Sandry realizes a bit too late that their leader is Empress Berenene herself. The four run into a group of nobles after the caravan went on without them (per the four's request). Sandry is still outraged, but Briar knows how to calm Tris. ![]() The moment they reach the other side, flooding occurs that would've swept them away if she hadn't seen it coming. ![]() While crossing a river, Tris suddenly brings out her lightning to get the caravan to move faster. Daja still has a lot of clout with the Traders, so she and her foster-siblings are invited to sit with the Traders, and to see rare artisanal work. The four bump heads while getting ready, and they travel with Third Caravan Saralan, a Trader caravan that is heading up to Dancruan. Duke Vedris is still nervous, however, and asks her three foster-siblings to go with her, even though they are at odds. Sandry finds out from Erdogun fer Baigh and is outraged, planning to go immediately so no one would be inconvenienced. Berenene has even threatened monetary repercussions on Emelan if Vedris does not use his influence on his great-niece to send her north. The empress wants Sandry to come to Namorn to see her lands and her mother's country. Vedris fer Toren is put under pressure from Empress Berenene, the powerful female ruler of the Namorn Empire, and Sandry's second cousin. He is afraid of opening up to his foster sisters and of how they'll treat him, so he doesn't tell them much of what happened while abroad. Two years after this, Briar Moss returns from far lands where he was caught in the midst of a war, which gave him post-traumatic stress disorder and extremely bad nightmares about what happened. She also brings Chime, a living glass dragon. Trisana Chandler is the next to return and is distrustful of her old foster family and is afraid they'll treat her differently for mastering new magic techniques. They fight and are tense around each other, as Daja is saddened that she cannot live at Winding Circle anymore as a sixteen year old accredited mage. Daja Kisubo returns not long after and will not speak telepathically with Sandry like the other girl wants her to. The book opens with Sandrilene fa Toren when she is just sixteen, having just received reports of her lands in Namorn which she doesn't want to go over. ![]()
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