The Youngest Mage [Completed]

(13) Ontiwa

The next morning Maurinn walked Dalbreath all the way to Bekma's treehouse, because she wanted to spend some time with her son, and she was determined to protect him. It took them an hour to walk there. "I expect to see you on the weekends, but we both agree that it's safer for you to stay at Bekma's during the week." Then she lectured him on the dangers of going too far with his powers. When they got there she gave him a big hug and a kiss, then before he could complain there was a flash of light and she was gone.

"Wow!" said Dalbreath.

Bekma was sitting on his porch whittling a small bear out of wood. "I think that's the first time I've seen her use her powers in a millennium. You'll be much safer now," he said.

"I wish I knew her better," said Dalbreath.

"How well can you get to know somebody in five years, when three of those years are spent as a toddler?"

Dalbreath giggled. "Not very, I guess."

"What can you do?" asked Bekma, changing the subject.

"Not a lot," said Dalbreath.

"Let me be the judge of that," said Bekma.

"I can create an orb light, and send it to fetch somebody."

"I already know that," said Bekma. "What else can you do?"

"I transported myself several miles, while moving a storm in the process," he said.

"That's what I was looking for, what else?" asked Bekma.

"I can change flowers."

"Into what?" asked Bekma skeptically.

"Butterflies mostly."

"So you think NaGoeVoDaa didn't put enough butterflies on our world? As long as you're my student you will stop this practice, understood?"

"Yes master," said Dalbreath. "Leanha is a good teacher, though."

"She is, but I reserve the right to disagree with some of her methods. She should have taught you something about shape-shifting. Despite what your mother says, shape-shifting is the best way to get away from danger. The cat-girl can't shape-shift into a bird. Remember that in the future."

She tried to teach me shape-shifting, but I couldn't get the hang of it. It's not her fault."

"Not true," said Bekma, "if the student doesn't get something it's because the teacher is using the wrong technique."

"I disagree," said Dalbreath.

"It's your right, but the student's duty is to obey. If the student refuses to obey then that is their fault."

"Yes master."

"As long as you and Deearo are staying in my loft you two will do the cooking. Deearo's father has agreed to let him stay here during the week, and I don't want to hear anything about having too many chores," said Bekma with a grim face.

Dalbreath smiled, eager to learn. "Don't worry, I won't."
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It took Deearo a while to teach Dalbreath how to peel the potatoes, but he finally got the hang of it. "It takes a few hours to cook a proper stew, with lots of stirring by the junior Mage, which in this case is you," said Deearo with a smile.

When the stew was nearly done a few hours later, Bekma took a pinch of some kind of dust from a pouch at his belt and put it in the stew while Dalbreath stirred. "Now it's true Jildawilder stew," said Bekma.

"Jildawilder-what?" asked Dalbreath.

"Jildawilder, it's what you call--everything in it--stew," said Bekma.

Dalbreath was going to ask him more about that, but there was a heavy knock at the door. Dalbreath answered the door, but then fell back on the floor as a big bear pushed himself part way through the doorway.

"What's that I smell old wizard? Did you finally break out the good stuff?" bellowed the great bear.

"Ontiwa, you old rug. I see your nose still thinks for the rest of you," said Bekma.

"He's talking," yelled Dalbreath, "that bear is talking."

"He's an unusual Amenadon bear," said Bekma philosophically, "with a nose unlike any bear I've ever met. Better feed him, he gets grumpy if you exclude him from a meal."

"He'll eat it all," complained Dalbreath.

"No, just give me half, and I won't eat you for dessert," said Ontiwa.

"Better do as he says," said Bekma, smirking. "I imagine he's eaten a few young ones in his time."

Deearo laughed. "Don't believe a word of it. He's as gentle as a flock of lambs, but maybe we should feed him. I'd hate to test Bekma's theory."

Dalbreath and Deearo got a big iron pot, and ladled stew into it. It was too hot and heavy by the time they were done to pick up, so they sat down and pushed it to the door using their legs and feet, pushing and pushing till it was close to the door. When it was near the door, Ontiwa, who was too big to fit inside the tree house, stuck his head through the door and started lapping up the hot stew.

"How's school going, Ontiwa?" asked Bekma, as Deearo and Dalbreath started slurping up their own bowls of Jildawilder stew, after ladling out bowls for themselves and Bekma.

"I'm off for the whole summer as of yesterday, but I'm smarter than I look, or so they say. So I might not go back until next spring semester."

"This is really good," said Dalbreath, happily slurping his stew.

"Who is your professor?" asked Bekma, ignoring Dalbreath's compliment.

"Brandis Brundal," said Ontiwa.

"I know him, he's good," said Bekma, pausing a moment. "So you have some time off?"

"Yep," grunted Ontiwa, as he lapped up the last of his stew.

"Good, I want you to teach this little one how to shape-shift," said Bekma, pointing to Dalbreath.

"I can teach him how to be a bear," said Ontiwa, licking the pot.

"That will do," said Bekma, motioning to Dalbreath to get Ontiwa some more stew.

"I like that idea," said Dalbreath. "I think I'd like being a bear."

"It's better than being a butterfly," said Ontiwa.

Bekma laughed and laughed. "Ontiwa, you have no idea how accurate you are."

Dalbreath frowned, but he still liked the idea of being a bear.