The Youngest Mage [Completed]

(26) The King and His Daughter

Dalbreath hated the way his mother fussed over him, but he had never been away from her for long. "You won't be a nuisance, will you, Dalbreath?" she asked, as she straightened out his collar.

"No mommy," he said, patiently.

"And you'll brush your teeth before bed," she said.

If they give me one to brush with," he said.

She reached out her left hand and with the right used a gesture which created a new tooth brush. "I'll be so glad when you're in school and can learn to do this kind of thing for yourself. Put this in your tunic pocket."

"Yes mommy," he said, trying hard not to roll his eyes. "How come you don't do this to Deearo?"

"He falls under Bekma's jurisdiction until the end of the summer. After that, you can bet I'll ride him too."

"Oh," said Dalbreath, "well, it's not easy being your son."

Maurinn smiled. "He'll find that out soon enough," then she paused for a moment. "I expect I will miss both of you every second of the day. so expect to get smothered with love whenever I come to visit. Bekma has his way of telling me when is a good time to visit."

"I'll be good, mommy, I promise," he said.

"You had better," she said, messing up his hair. He calmly took out his ebony comb and combed it back into a curly mess, just like he liked it.

"I wish Leanha was coming," said Dalbreath.

"She's selling Deearo's stables for him. I forgot how useful she can be." Then she kissed him on the forehead and escorted him from his room to the terrace of Islann's house. Bekma and Deearo were already waiting there.

"You'll send word in three days?" said Maurinn.

"You have my word," said Bekma. "Say goodbye to Islann," he told the boys.

"Thank you for a wonderful time," said Dalbreath.

"Thank you indeed," said Deearo. "I look forward to coming back in a few weeks."

"It will be good to see you again," said Islann, "have a productive trip."

"Bye my mysterious adventurers ," said Mauriel.

"Bye, bye," said Fieatra Nunn. "See you two young men when you come back to the mansion."

"Bye to all," said Dalbreath, and ran to give his mother one last hug. Then he ran back and grabbed onto Bekma's cloak and they all disappeared in a whir of light and sound like the sudden rush of a fall wind carrying leaves away into the woods.
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Again there was the long tunnel as before, but Dalbreath caught a glimpse of a rocky isle with many black rocks shortly before they landed. They landed in a busy sea port, with a great crystal palace in the distance on a promontory rock overlooking the sea.

"Why aren't we up there?" said Dalbreath, pointing to the crystal palace.

"I don't know very much about the King of Eslor anymore," said Bekma, "what better way to find out about him then to mingle with the common folk?"

"Oh," said Dalbreath. still puzzled, "why can't we just ask the king about himself?"

Deearo shook his head. "He still hasn't learned anything, Bekma," he said. Then he punched him in the arm. "Watch and learn."

The first person they met was a fisherman. He was middle-aged, and had a hardened look about him. "We hear the king has a daughter," said Bekma to the fisherman.

"Yes," said the fisherman, looking up from mending his nets. "She's too old for these two," he said, with a chuckle.

"No, you misunderstand our intent. We seek an audience with the king."