The Youngest Mage [Completed]

(25) An Airshow

They had a wonderful dinner of roast lamb cooked with seasonings, and cooked vegetables, and they had baked apple with cinnamon for dessert. After dinner Islann took them on a tour of the neighborhood, which had many pleasant sights. Bekma bowed out. The boys liked the local park, and some of the fancier houses in the neighborhood. The women loved it all. It was nearly dusk when they got back to Islann's house.

"I shall call for an airshow," said Islann.

"Call?" said Maurinn.

"On the phone. It's a little like your telegraph, only better, because you can actually hear the person talk," said Islann.

"They are a people of gadgets," said Bekma, who looked up from reading a book about the history of Magery of Ha Mesh.

Islann pulled out a phone similar to one of our old Blackberry phones. He punched in a bunch of numbers and then held the device to his ear. "Yes, Estavan," he said, "can about six of you fly over the house? Make it colorful. Yes, that's great. Thanks!"

"I didn't hear anyone speaking," said Dalbreath.

"You have to hold the phone to your ear to hear the person speaking. Too bad your daddy doesn't have a phone, you could call him."

"Even all this far away?" asked Dalbreath, surprised.

"Yes, even all these miles away," said Islann with a smile.

"Why did the Tilithni Tegg come to Ha Mesh," said Dalbreath.

"Ah," said Islann, "well, many of us did leave this world, but many of us came here, to Ha Mesh, because you, the Tilithneaa, were resistant to change, to new ideas, so we found a new way to live in a new land. You didn't trust technology anymore. We did, and still do."

"Why did you keep it a secret for so long," said Deearo.

"We didn't want invaders, so we created a myth that we spread far and wide, that this is a dangerous land, stay away, and all that sort of thing."

"Well, it worked," said Dalbreath. 

"You could teach us so much," said Mauriel.

"We think you are doing fine. You have the train now, and the telegraph. So much is sure to follow now that you are on the road to science again," said Islann.

"I hope so," said Deearo.

"It will," said Islann, and then he pointed to the sky. "Look!" Suddenly seven bright object flew overhead in a V formation. Then they split away from each other at great speed. Trails of many colors came out of the back of each silvery blue disk. Then as they began to circle around the colors changed to reds and blues.

"Ooh," said Dalbreath and Deearo in unison.

The show went on for twenty minutes, and became truly spectacular in the end, with flares of rainbow color that streaked across the whole sky.

"That was truly satisfying," said Maurinn after the star gliders all flew off and disappeared.

"Well done," said Bekma.

"My pleasure," said Islann.

Islann then taught them all a guessing game called Bekwatus, and they played it until way past their bedtime. At half past twelve they all went to bed, disappointed that Bekma had won so many times. The next morning Deearo and Dalbreath came out to the terrace and found the adults deep in conversation about the boy's future. Maurinn informed them that: "Well, it seems that since there are a few weeks left in the summer, Bekma feels that you should spend that time in the library on the Black Isle of Eslor, researching antiquated towers where his ancient book might be."

"Where is the Black Isle of Eslor?" said Dalbreath.

"Off the coast of Rhean-Rhe several hundred miles, in the Black Sea," said Bekma. "There is a crystal palace there, with an ancient library. Hopefully Eslor's crazy king will let us use his library."

"When you come back from your travels, boys," Islann interjected. "I will have your cat-dragons ready for you.

"Hey, I never got to see yours," said Dalbreath.

Islann pulled out a new pair of glasses from inside his robe and handed them to Dalbreath. "They're right over there, but don't get up, or they'll fly away again." He pointed to the far side of the terrace.

Dalbreath took the glasses and looked, and was surprised to see a green and a red dragon the size of small cats perched on the rail of the terrace. "Ooh, wow," said Dalbreath.

Dalbreath sat and stared at the dragons preening their scales, until Islann said, "Come inside now, boys. I'm sure my servant has a nice breakfast for us."

They all had a wonderful breakfast of Rhetian waffles and fresh berries and maple syrup. They were so good they all had seconds.