Ardeneaux placed a hand on Ethan's face, lightly touching the bruise. Ethan could feel the slight pain melt away until it was completely gone. He watched his professor flinch as the "rebound" occured. A large bluish purple bruise formed on Ardeneaux's cheek, spoiling his perfect features.
"That, Ethan, is what a rebound is like. Lose your concentration, distribute the energy unevenly, or any number of other mishaps and you'll still heal your patient, but you'll know exactly what their pain was. I want you to be able to do it perfectly in oh, I think I'll give you about two weeks. We'll see just how much you really want to learn this." Ardeneaux smiled and waved a hand past his cheek and instantly the injury vanished.
Ethan nodded, "I'll do my best professor."
Ardeneaux nodded in return and continued with the lesson, "Now, healing oneself, as you just saw me do, is one of the most difficult of the healing arts, since sustaining an injury taxes life energy, as does using a healing art. However, if you'll have a look at this formula..."
Ethan relaxed a little as his professor continued. He was still so excited he thought he might burst. Most of today's lesson was going in one ear and out the other. He'd just take the textbook home and make sure to study it before next saturday. Ardeneaux was actually a very kind person, taking Ethan on as an apprentice, not even charging him for it either. All he asked was that Ethan gave it his best, and usually Ethan was more than happy to give a hundred and ten percent.
"Ethan Fawks are you even listening?!" Ardeneaux slammed his hands on the table in front of Ethan.
"Yes sir!" he quickly parroted the last thing he remembered Ardeneaux saying. Apparently it satisfied him and Ethan watched the harsh look disappear from his eyes. He'd better concentrate on the here and now or Ardeneaux just might decide he didn't really need an apprentice.
Ardeneaux raised a delicate eyebrow, "Very good Mr. Fawks." He rubbed his temple carefully, "I'm going to go brew some tea, I want you to practice the basics."

* * * * *

"Moooooom!" came the sob of a practiced whiner. "It doesn't look at all like the pattern I gave you!" Briar Rose stood before her mother's full length mirror, examining the dress with a scowl.
Her mother hustled and bustled about her, pinning here and there, and tugging at the fabric. "Of course it doesn't. The basics come first Bri, the basics! I have to have a simple pattern to start with before I add or take away the pieces to make the dress. You should know that by now, you've watched me sewing hundreds of times."
This seemed to appease her. "And it'll really be done by Friday?"
Her mother gave a sigh, "Why do you think I had so many deliveries to make today? I'm not taking any orders this week, so all the ladies that wanted their dresses for the ball ordered them last week. I'm not crazy you know. Even I have limits."
Briar Rose smiled brightly as her mother put in a few more pins, then motioned for her to go take off the dress. "Thanks Mom!"
The twins decided that was the most opportune moment to burst through the door. They were quite a sight, most of their tiny bodies covered in mud and filth. Before their mother had a chance to get a word out, they started pointing fingers.
"He started it Mom!" claimed Lark.
"Nuh UH! He pushed me first!" countered Oli.
"Well that's 'cause YOU chased away the neighbor's puppy!"
"I didn't chase it away, it got scared o' yer ugly face!"
"Maybe you din't notice, but we'fe got the SAME face ya stoopid poo head!"
"OLEANDER RYAN MORLEY AND LARKSPUR MICHEAL MORLEY YOU GET YOUR REAR ENDS INTO THE TUB RIGHT THIS MINUTE!"
Their screaming mother immediately quieted them and their eyes grew to the size of plates as they realized that neither of them would get out of this incident without punishment. Their tone immediately changed to one of deepest sorrow. Not necessarily for the crime commited, but for fear of what punishment might be to come.
"We're sorry Mommy!"
"We didn't mean it!"
"Yeah, we'll go right now!"
"Squeaky clean!"
Briar slipped out of the pin cushioned dress and handed it to her mother. "Don't worry about it Mom, I'll clean them up and make sure they clean up the mess I'm sure they made on their way upstairs..."
Her mother rolled her eyes and took a deep breath before running her hand slowly through her hair, "Don't remind me..."

Briar Rose carefully drained the tub as the twins scampered off to change into clean clothes. It was caked with mud and would require a thorough scrubbing if she didn't hurry and wash it out now. Briar Rose rolled up her sleeves and grabbed the nearest washcloth.
She trudged wearily to her room after helping the boys scrub the stairs and the foyer. It had been quite a long, eventful day. Her dress was nearing completion and she would be going to the ball with someone she didn't absolutely loathe. Ethan was a pretty nice guy. Very charming. Her mother would love that. He wasn't too bad looking either. Except that big bruise on his cheek, but that would heal before Friday. I don't know much about him though... What part of town he's from... He's just not someone that stands out a lot.
Well, she'd have plenty of time to get to know him at the ball. It wasn't like she was giving her heart away, she was just going on a date for goodness sake. She quickly changed into her soft, clean pajamas and fell face down on her bed. The blankets were fluffy and inviting and smelled of soap and sunshine. She lay her head down on the pillow and her hand hit something hard. The journal. She'd completely forgotten.
Briar Rose sat straight up and pulled it from its hiding spot. She looked around warily, then opened it and started reading where she'd left off.

August 21 -
I met with Ardeneaux again today. I don't think I like the answers I'm getting. There's some magical item that he would only refer to as "The Book." It sounds like the only thing that could be capable of accomplishing such powerful spells. It's mere existence gives me chills. Ardeneaux seems doubtful though. The book is kept under horribly tight security. Hexes, curses, deathtraps, guards... all the standard goodies to keep away the sticky fingered. He says he'll keep looking for answers, but if "The book" has been stolen, will the answers even do us any good?

Briar Rose frowned. She had never studied Rune Arts, so all this talk of magic and hexes might as well be another language. It didn't make any sense.

* * * * *

"Woah! Slow down 'Topher! You're not making any sense!"
Christopher took a deep breath and tried to calm his shaky, excited nerves, "We got in! We're playing this Friday!" Chris paused and waited for a reaction from his friend. It took a moment before it finally sunk in.
"We're playing?!" Ethan's eyes widened, "Oh snap are you serious?! I mean, I knew you were good 'Topher, but I mean, wow, this is really something."
Christopher nodded, "I know! We still have to practice and we need to think about what to wear... do you even have something for formal occasions?"
Ethan frowned, "I think you know the answer to that."
Chris, "fine fine, I'll take care of it, it doesn't matter. Then what order should we play them in? Do you think they'll like us? I don't know if I can do this Ethan. I mean, it was hard enough playing for those judges, but this is the real deal, there's gonna be tons of people there... this is going to be just like the school play in Mrs. Fleisher's class and they'll all laugh and call me---"
"No they won't." Ethan reassured, "This is totally different. These people are adults, not little name-calling children. They're going to be so impressed with you that they'll snort their frilly champagne right out their rich little noses."
Christopher calmed down a bit. "ok... ok, you're right. sorry."
Ethan was beaming with his own story to tell, "'Topher, guess what." He barely paused to catch a breath, "I ran into Briar Rose today and asked her to the ball and she said YES!"
Chris took a step back, "No way! That's great! Congrats man. Just make sure she knows we're gonna have to cut out for at least a little bit to perform. Otherwise it's cool."
Ethan patted his shoulder, "don't worry about it. Look, we'll practice Monday after I get outta class ok? I'll try to get practicing over there as often as I can."
Chris still looked a little nervous, "yeah, alright." He pulled the badge and papers from his pocket. "Oh yeah, before I forget, they gave us these. We have to wear them Friday or we can't get onstage. And fill out the paperwork too so you can get paid ok?"
Ethan nodded, "excellent. This is gonna be great and don't you think otherwise for even a second!" He threw Chris a high five before running back toward home.
Chris nodded slowly, "right. great. it's gonna be great."

"Hey, sorry I'm late. I'm home!" Christopher mumbled as he locked the shop door behind him. It was well after dark by the time he got home and put the horses away.
"Christopher! It's about time. Really sweetie, did the deliveries take that long?" his mother Tabitha was quick to inquire.
"No Mom, that's not what it was. I've got some really good news..."

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