The Youngest Mage [Completed]

(7) They Leave for Mage School

Dalbreath's father wanted to come along, but it was turning out to be an exceptional year for his book publishing business, and he was needed to make important decisions on a daily basis. Leanha was fired, and then rehired after Dalbreath begged everyday for seven days straight. "Please mommy, hire her back, please."

It was Maurinn's idea that they would take all summer to make a scenic trip to the Mage School, and that they would not take the train. She decided it would be Dalbreath, herself, and six household servants that would make the trip together, with two small ox carts full of clothes and necessary items, and a coach for Dalbreath and Maurinn.

It took some doing to get Leanha included in the list of six household servants, but Dalbreath was able to charm his mother into letting her come. Her main purpose was to tuck him in at night and read or tell him a bedtime story, but over time Maurinn found plenty of other things for her to do.

"Well, I thought we would take the scenic route to the Mage School," said Maurinn after they had said goodbye to Lianonn. They had all cried through that goodbye, and Dalbreath knew he was really going to miss seeing his father everyday.

"Your father and I have discussed it, and we think it would be better if I lived nearby the school, or--we--should, if they will allow that," she said. "Your father will catch up to us when he can, for little visits. You'll like the route I've chosen, Dalbreath, it's very scenic. We go along part of the seven falls road." Then suddenly she was almost in tears. "Do you hate me for meddling in your affairs?"

Dalbreath just gave her a big hug. "I love you mommy," he said. "I would have cried and cried if you had left me to live in the dorms."

Maurinn was in much better spirits after hearing that. Dalbreath was her baby. She admonished herself for the way things had gone with him. If she had been taking care of her son instead of gabbing with the ladies of the Cultural Center, this Mage business never would have happened. The morning that they left she suddenly felt that he needed a little responsibility.

In the afternoon of that first day on the road, she said, "Dalbreath, I want you to feed the horses tonight. Can you do that for me?"

Dalbreath made a face. "I don't know why you brought so many servants if you were going to make me into a stable hand," he said, ever the complainer when it came to chores.

"Be a dear, will you?" she said.

"Okay!" he said, but the face was there all afternoon.
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Over the next two days they remained on the plains of Rhet, but about midday on the third day they came to the foothills that stretched for miles along the centennials called the Thunderbird Peaks. It was the stalwart range that protected Rhet from attacks from the Before People, the evil aliens that came to Avalon long ago, and who started the Techno Wars that that raged over most of Avalon long ago, and even decimated a large region that was now called The Blackened Lands, a place where nothing grew anymore, not even a weed. The wars even caused a lot of tension between the Fae and the Tilithneaa, and even though there was a tentative peace in Dalbreath's time between the Fae and the Tilithneaa, the great peaks brought comfort to the people of Rhet.

Dalbreath was impressed by the height if the Thunderbird Peaks. Often their tops were obscured by clouds, for they were 18,000 to 20,000 feet above sea level, and home to the illusive thunderbird, giant red birds capable of picking up a full grown person. The Thunderbird peaks were an impressive snow covered sight, thought Dalbreath.