The Youngest Mage [Completed]

(31) They Leave for Mage School

Dalbreath awoke from the dream in the morning with many questions in his mind, not the least of them was "Is Finn the same as NaGoeVoDaa?"

"Yes and no," said Finn to Dalbreath.

"Yes and no what?" said Dalbreath.

"Yes and no to the question rattling around in your brain," said Finn.

"How does that work?" said Dalbreath, getting up from the warmth of his blanket. He loved his cold smoky breath in the north, and blew puffs of cold air subconsciously.

"I'm the High One of this earth, and like NaGoeVoDaa I have no beginning and no end. I am the motherless one."

Just then they heard a humming sound come down from the sky outside the cave. "What is that?" Asked Maurinn, wiping the sleep from her eyes.

"That is your friend Islann," said Finn, "he has figured out the riddle I gave him as to where I live."

"Right," said Dalbreath, "everywhere and nowhere, of course, the north pole."

"Your boy is smart," said Finn. "He should enroll in science classes when he goes to school. He has the mind for it."

"Has something happened?" said Mauriel, wiping the sleep from her eyes.

"I should go out to meet our guest," said Finn. "Theona?"

"You do it daddy, I'm sleeping."

"Get up, Theona," said Finn in a thunderous voice. "You can sleep for a century in that ice palace of yours, dreaming the dream fantastic, but later, after our guests have left."

"Are we leaving?" said Bekma with a smile. He was feeling much better.

"Shush, soon," said Finn, "but that's beside the point."

Finn and Theona went out and soon came back with an underdressed Islann. "I knew I would find you all here," said Islann. "I dropped off Fieatra in Sylnaberneath before coming north."

The others were reviving the fire from a pile of firewood nearby that never seemed to get smaller.

"Why are you here?" said Bekma, amused.

"I felt inclined to find out if Finn and Theona really lived at the north pole," he said.

"And is it the north pole?" said Finn with a smile.

"Almost exactly," said Islann.

"It is only right that I should be on top of the world," said Finn, chuckling. Then he got serious. "I have a proposition for you all."

"Really?" said Bekma.

"Yes," said Theona, "Islann, you are right on time."

"For what?" said Deearo, looking around and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"To take all of you back to Ha Mesh," said Finn.

"Ha Mesh?" said Maurinn. "We are going to Sylnaberneath, and then to Mage School. I'm through fooling around."

"Good," said Finn, "but wouldn't it be better to go to a Mage School in a place where the cat-girl will never set foot?"

"Never?" said Maurinn.

"Never!" said Theona.

"Tell me more," said Maurinn, intrigued.

"She hates places she knows nothing about, and she believes that there is some ominous presence in Ha Mesh, because plenty of people have gone there but none have returned. Plus if she knew the Tilithni Tegg lived there she would avoid it like the plague. She fears them and their many gadgets. There is an excellent Mage School in Islann's city of Asban, and not far from where he lives. What do you say?"

"What do you think?" said Bekma, "Maybe Islann could provide Lianonn with one of those phones so you can talk long distance. Plus I'm sure I could get a job at the Mage School there."

"You would do that? Leave your tree house?" Asked Maurinn.

"To keep an eye on these two whipper snappers? You bet," he said.

"I'm sure I could teach a course in divination," said Mauriel.

"I will have to return to the Nunn mansion for my stuff," said Maurinn.

"Not advisable," said Finn. "She is sure to be waiting for you there, for all of you there."

"But my money," said Maurinn, sadly.

"I will give you something to sell that will keep you in comfort for as long as it takes these two to finish school."

"How do you boys feel about this?" said Bekma.

Dalbreath and Deearo exchanged glances, "We're in," said Deearo.

"Good," said Bekma and Finn in unison.'

"When do we leave," said Dalbreath.

"After breakfast," said Finn.
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They all said Finn and Theona's pancakes were the best pancakes in the world. They ate their fill, and wanted more, but they had no room for more. After breakfast Finn gave Maurinn a large rare ruby worth a million cresaith. "I'm sure Islann can point you in the direction of a fair buyer," said Finn.

"I can't thank you enough," said Maurinn.

"I have quite a stash of such things," said Finn, "Just in case I ever did decide to get involved in the affairs of Avalon again."

"Do I have a say in any of this," said Islann.

"No, but we'll hear you out," said Bekma, chuckling. "Of course you do, what is it?"

"Well then I would like you all to stay in my home," he said.

"We can get accomedations," said Maurinn, staring at the ruby in her hand.

"Nonsense, you will all stay with me, end of argument," said Islann with a peerless smile.

"You're too kind," said Bekma.

"Are our cat-dragons ready yet?" said Dalbreath.

"Almost," said Islann, "I imagine they will be hatching any day now."

"Fantastical," said Dalbreath.

"Stupendous," said Deearo.

They all laughed, and then suddenly it was time to go. Deearo and Dalbreath thanked Finn for saving their lives from the blizzard, and for saving their master from certain death.

"Remember to call on me in times of great stress, boys," said Finn.  "Pray, too, that is important, every morning and every night."

"I always wondered if you were still real," said Bekma, "now I know, and I do like your tea."

"Thank you Bekma, you teach these boys everything you know, which is considerable," said Finn.

"I will," said Bekma, standing up.

"I wish you all would let me pay the Nunn couple a visit, they deserve an explination," said Maurinn.

"I will pay them a visit myself," said Finn, "and send you your servant Leanha."

Maurinn got emotional. "Will you, I feel so bad."

"Consider it done," said Finn. "We will miss having company, Theona and I."

"We will miss you too," said Dalbreath.

"I'm as close as your own breath if you ever want to talk to me, Dalbreath, Deearo. I'm that close, always."

The boys smiled and followed the others outside and into Islann's saucer ship. They were excited for a new chapter to begin in their young lives. Islann pressed a button on a wristband on his wrist, and the ship's door opened, and they piled in, waving goodbye as they went.

Finn and Theona watched as the ship shot straight up a few hundred feet into the air, and then zoomed off to the south at tremendous speed. Then they too disappeared into the spirit realm they loved so much.