The Youngest Mage [Completed]

(20) Niland

That night after Dalbreath got ready for bed, and after he and Deearo stopped knocking on the wall in secret code (their rooms were next to each other), Leanha walked into his bedroom with a big smile and a mischievous look in her eyes.

"You're back!" cried Dalbreath.

"Only until Deearo decides what he will do," she said.

"I hope he comes with us," said Dalbreath.

"Give him time to decide," said Leanha.

"I will," said Dalbreath. Then he paused before asking. "Can we have a dream adventure after the story you've come to tell me?" said Dalbreath.

"Oh you think you deserve a story after eating half of Mrs. Nunn's blackberry patch. I heard about that."

"It was Ontiwa that ate the bear's share," said Dalbreath. "Deearo and I just ate a few handfuls." Just then a series of knocks sounded on the wall behind Dalbreath's bed. Dalbreath gave three short knocks in return, and smiled at Leanha.

"What kind of shenanigans is that?" Asked Leanha, holding back a big smile.

"Deearo and I have a secret code we use until we fall off to sleep. We invented it ourselves, you know. It's pretty cool."

"Wow, impressive. What did he just say?" said Leanha, amused.

"He asked me who I was talking to."

"And you said me?"

"Yep!" said Dalbreath.

Aren't you too tired for a story?" said Leanha .

"Not really, it's been a sad day, true, but I'm not one to be sad forever. Five year olds can only be sad for so many hours in a day before something happy enters their brain and makes them smile. I don't get tired after I smile. I just don't."

"Maybe a story will help then," said Leanha, "but it's okay to be sad for more than one day. I'm sure Deearo will. Don't try to be funny while he is grieving, and he will be grieving for a long time."

"I will," said Dalbreath, seriously. "What's it going to be about? Tell me one you've never told me before. Yes, a brand new one, and don't make it up."

"Okay, I'll see what I can remember. Maybe a short story from my childhood, a story that my father told me when I was a little girl many centuries ago. Maybe a story about the oldest Mage, Oswaa."

"Oh goody! What's it about?" asked Dalbreath.

"Well, a long time ago, when even Oswaa was young, he went in search of the first word of power. He had heard from an old sailor that in order to find the first word of power you must first find the Isle of Ys. And that was no easy task, he told him."

" How did he find it?" said Dalbreath, yawning.

Leanha looked at him and smiled as Dalbreath's eyes slowly shut. "Perhaps another time," she whispered. "Goodnight sweet prince."

Dalbreath yawned again, and said, "Another time," and then he fell right to sleep.
_______________

Leanha let herself out quietly. It was not long before Dalbreath found himself in a beautiful dream valley nearby a range of mountains. He decided to have a look around, so he shape-shifted into a mere falcon and was soon sailing high above the wide glacial valley, soaring on the rising air. Then he looked over to his right and saw another mere falcon flying beside him. She let out a cry, and Dalbreath knew it was Leanha. He cried out in return, but then something strange happened. An indigo colored star glider came up along side them, and then before they could react they were on board the flying disk in their real forms as boy and woman. There was an unusual man flying the machine, who did not look up, so preoccupied with flying the disk was he. They sat down across from the man, and Dalbreath found himself very upset.