The Youngest Mage [Completed]

(14) A Day on the Mound

Dalbreath and Deearo slept in the loft, but they talked way into the night, despite Bekma's threats to change them into fat little rabbits that he would serve to Ontiwa on toast. They didn't listen, but a few hours before dawn they finally fell asleep. Of course Bekma woke them a short time later.

"Come on, sleepyheads," said Bekma cruelly, "it's time to wake and fix breakfast. We have many things to do, many things to do today."

"But it's still dark outside," complained Dalbreath.

Bekma just laughed. "That's the best time for breakfast."

"Don't argue," said Deearo. "It just makes things worse."

Bekma went outside to see if Ontiwa was nearby, which he wasn't. Breakfast was hurried, and they were out the door before the sun was up. He took them to a local hill north of the mound, where they sat silently until the sun rose. The sunrise was golden, and when the color finally reached its peak Bekma finally spoke. "When you start to think your power is great come and climb a hill like this one, and know that while the sunrise is but a small thing for NaGoeVoDaa, yet it is a million times bigger and more powerful than anything you can do with your power."

They watched the rest of the sunrise in silence, and then walked back to Bekma's treehouse to start the day. "Will I learn about magic today?" asked Dalbreath.

Bekma chuckled and said, "First learn how to sweep my porch, then you can learn about magic."

Dalbreath was confused, but he picked up the broom by the door and started sweeping without complaint.When he had a good pile of leaves to sweep off the porch a determined little breeze came and scattered the leaves over the porch again so that it looked unswept.

This happened three times, and then he heard a familiar voice in his head. He looked up and saw a jay in a nearby tree looking at him intently. Use the wave gesture to counter his Magery, she said, and flew off.

He tried it and was surprised to see the breeze carry the dust and leaves off the porch and into the sacred grove. Bekma came out and demanded to know how he had done that.

Dalbreath smiled and said, "I don't know, I just did it."

Bekma laughed then. "Well, keep just doing things, it seems to work for you. Go find Deearo, he's on top of the sacred mound. Then after lunch we'll teach you something about magic."

"Really?"

"Really!" said Bekma.

"Will it be safe for me to go find Deearo by myself?"

Bekma made a series of hand gestures, and suddenly a bright fiery silvery blue aura surrounded Dalbreath's whole body, then it faded and became almost transparent. "That should give her second thoughts should she be brave enough to enter the sacred grove, but there are powers there that even she can not overcome."

Dalbreath smiled, feeling invincible. "I'll be right back with Deearo, and we'll make lunch," he said, and ran off.
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They made grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. Dalbreath noticed that Deearo was silent during lunch. The truth was that Deearo was feeling a little jealous of Dalbreath. Shape-shifting was a skill he had just recently learned. The mere falcon was his signature animal. He felt ready to move on and and learn new things, but the master had sent him to the top of the mound to practice shape-shifting into his signature white falcon all morning. He tried to let it go, but it irked him a little.

After lunch Bekma took Dalbreath up the mound, to the top of the sacred grove, which had a large Rowan tree on top. "Do you know why you can't shape-shift?" asked Bekma.