The Youngest Mage [Completed]

(21) Ni Sheilo

It had been three tough days of shape-shifting drills under Bekma's watchful eye, and it had also been three days since the funeral, when Dalbreath decided to get Deearo back for sitting on him. "What, what?" yelled Deearo when Dalbreath sat on his stomach while he was sleeping, but Deearo being the bigger boy pushed Dalbreath onto the floor, which was when Dalbreath burst out laughing.

"You should have seen your face," said Dalbreath.

"I'll get you for that," said Deearo, but then smiled remembering the look on his face when he sat on Dalbreath's chest a few days earlier.

"It will be worth it," said Dalbreath, continuing to laugh. "Come on, sleepy head, let's go find Ontiwa before breakfast."

Deearo slugged Dalbreath in the arm when he got up. "Good idea, let me get dressed."

"Ow, you hit too hard," said Dalbreath.

"I have to toughen you up. You're city soft. Besides, try dodging next time. You always just take the punch."

"Maybe I will," said Dalbreath.

"Maybe you should," said Deearo, putting his pants on and a shirt, then putting his shoes on too. "Let's go."
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They found Ontiwa in Oswaa's old study, lying amongst seven empty honey jars fast asleep. He did not look like Ontiwa, for his face was crusted with honey, and he looked fatter than usual.

"Ontiwa!" yelled the boys.

"Huh, what?" mumbled Ontiwa. "No more honey, no more. I'm drowning in honey.

"You need a bath, Ontiwa," said Dalbreath.

"Let's get you in the lily pond," said Deearo. "Seriously, you need to wash your face."

"How come you left me to drown in honey, anyway?"

"Deearo's Da died," said Dalbreath, "and we got sidetracked."

"Sorry to hear about your Da, Deearo," said Ontiwa. "He was a good man. The best, really."

"Thank you," said Deearo.

"Hey Ontiwa," said Dalbreath, "why don't you take us to your cave. I have something to share with Deearo."

"We'll miss breakfast," said Deearo.

"Are you a spy or not?" said Dalbreath.

Deearo smiled. "I'm a spy," he said, and punched at his arm, but Dalbreath ducked this time. "Very good, see, you're learning."

Ontiwa got up. "Come on cubs, we'll get breakfast on the way, but first, the lily pond."

Ontiwa washed his face in the lily pond, and then showed the boys a path that led out of the garden and into some woods north of the Nunn mansion. The woods skirted Deearo's stables, and lead into the hills north of the sacred mound, and then at last to Ontiwa's cave. They ate berries along the way.

"I'd rather have them on pancakes," said Dalbreath.

Deearo smiled. "It's good spy food, though."

Dalbreath giggled. "I guess."

Once inside the cave Dalbreath told them about his dream, and all that the princess had told him."

"You're sure she's in that cave?" said Ontiwa.

"Positive!" said Dalbreath.

"I know where that cave is, but first we must find Ni Sheilo and gather all the animals that owe their lives to the princess," said Ontiwa. "We all do really, for she is especially our princess, The Princess of the Animals."

"Who is Ni Sheilo?" said  Dalbreath.

"Better to show you than tell you," said Ontiwa. "If we walk briskly we can probably make it to where Ni Sheilo is sure to be. You okay with that cubs?"

"Lead the way," said Deearo fiercely.

"I'm with you," said Dalbreath, both forgetting all about Maurinn's orders to never leave the garden.

They walked briskly all day until they came to a beautiful small lake toward dusk. There on the other side of the lake they saw a black horse grazing on the lush grass at the water's edge. "Ni Sheilo, you old donkey," bellowed Ontiwa.

The horse neighed, and then spoke. "Ontiwa?" he asked in a beautiful voice.

"Yes, it's me, we have a plan on how to save the princess, and we know where she's at now," said Ontiwa.

"Stay there," said Ni Sheilo. "I'm coming over."

"Since when do horses talk?" said  Dalbreath, once again stunned by another talking animal.

Ontiwa chuckled a big bear chuckle. "Ni Sheilo is a special case like me."

Ni Sheilo trotted over in perfect form. He was the most beautiful horse either boy had ever seen, and both had seen their fair share of beautiful horses, including Dalbreath's Rubadon, who was no ugly horse, indeed. Ni Sheilo was black as darkest night, and perfect in every way. "Tell me of this plan," he said, as he stood stamping the ground with his hooves.

Dalbreath first told him of his dream and all that the princess had said.

"It is midsummer's eve tomorrow," said Ni Sheilo.

"We don't actually have a plan, yet, but let us make a bonfire, and we can proceed to make one," said Ontiwa.

They all gathered firewood, including Ni Sheilo, who gathered sticks in his mouth. It was comical to see see Ontiwa walking upright with a large bundle of sticks, but he gathered the most wood for the fire by far. Both boys had flints, which Bekma had given them, and so by dark they had a nice fire going. It was not a bonfire, but it would do.

They made plans to gather the animals by sending the crows out with a message in the morning. They would gather near the cave, which was only ten miles away, Ontiwa figured. Then suddenly the crickets, which had been loud, went silent. Even Dalbreath looked around, wondering what had made them go quiet.

"You two up here on Ni Sheilo's back." Ontiwa picked them and set them up on his back. "I'll be back. Ni Sheilo, if you hear me growl, you run like the wind and don't stop until you reach Bekma's treehouse. Hear me?"

"Who is it?" said Ni Sheilo, nervously.

"That's what I'm going to find out," said Ontiwa.

"Let it be no one," said Dalbreath under his breath, obviously scared.

"I'll be back," said Ontiwa, disappearing quickly for such a large bear.

He was gone only a few minutes when they saw a familiar sight, a black panther that came into the light of the fire. Ni Sheilo froze, and waited to hear his friend's growl, while the boys struggled with their fierce emotions, and prepared for their own attack, if necessary. Both boys suddenly felt it would have been better to stay home.