The Mage (a reworking)

The Mage (a reworking)  6/1/2011



I hope you like this. Please give me a review so I can tell if I'm on the right track. I know the grammar isn't the best and i'd like your feed back on that also. I'm still learning and feedback is the only way I can learn sometimes. Thanks for taking the time to read this and write on.



Knock, knock, knock. “Sam, could you get that, I’m in the kitchen. Sam?! Where is that man?” Kara walks to the door while she wipes her hands on her apron. The knocking starts again,

“I’m coming; I’m coming just hold your pants on.”

Kara opens the door and see an elderly man with a long white beard. “Ahh, Elder Andros come in, come in. can I get you a cup of Oak Leaf tea?” Kara asks.

Andros says, “Yes please Kara and how are you and Samuel doing?”

Kara answers,” We’re doing fine, and you?”

“Not to well I’m afraid, I’ve just come from the Hall of the Elders.” Elder Andros says.

“The Hall of Elders? I didn’t hear about a meeting tonight.” Kara says.

“Yes, well… it was a special meeting. Only the Elders of the Archives were there.” Elder Andros explains.

“The elders of the Archives? Then that means that you have heard some news from one of the seekers?” She asks worriedly.

“Yes we have had some news I’m afraid.”

“Bad news it would seem. We had better wait for Samuel to come back, he shouldn’t be long, and he must have gone down to the workroom. He’s been down there a lot lately.” she explains.

“He has? What has he been keeping him so busy lately?”

“Samuel says that in the scrolls there must be a clue to find where and when the chosen one is to be found and he’s been looking for the unwritten hints into finding the chosen ones lineage. He says that the ancient ones knew how to hide things in their writings.”

Samuel walks into the room and says, “Kara, have you been talking about me again? “

“Of course I have dear, what else is there to talk about?”

“Well,” he chuckles,” there are always our two beautiful little girls that are doing splendidly in the academy.”

“Hello, Elder Andros, I see that Kara has gotten you some of her Oak Leaf tea. Would you like something special to add to it? I have some very nice Cloudberry brandy that goes quite well with it.”

“Cloudberry brandy? Yes, that does sound nice. Where ever did you get it?”

“When they were in season last year I made it a point to harvest as much as Kara and I could find. This time next year we should have a whole crop in our northern fields.’

“What are you doing? Taking up farming now?”

“No, not at all. I’m just adding to my vineyard, expanding you could say. Since the last pressing was so prosperous and in so much demand I thought that in a couple years there would be some amazing pressings.”

“Ah, that brings me back to the reason why I have come to see you. We have gotten some news about the seekers and it’s not good. There is only one group left.”

“One group? But there were fifteen groups sent out just five years ago.” Kara exclaims.

“Now Kara, they knew that it was dangerous when they volunteered to find the chosen one. I have the great responsibility to ask for more volunteers. That is why I have come to see you and Samuel. I would like you both to volunteer.”

“Us?, Us?, Why do you want us to volunteer for this? We still have young children. Gabrielle is only twelve and Rebecca is a younger than her. There’s still so much we have to teach them,” Kara says.

“Kara, others have been asked also. Not just the two of you, others with children. I know, when we first sent out seekers, they were younger people without any children at home, but times have changed. We have been sending seekers out for five hundred years,” the elder explains.

“Five hundred years? But it’s only been know for a hundred,” Kara exclaims.

“No Kara, we, the elders of the archives has been secretly sending select small groups, couples to tell the truth, to find the chosen one. They set up households in the other realm to try to find out everything they can about the chosen one and where he or she is. They get jobs and blend in to their communities; they have even started new families while they are there,” explains the elder.

“So you want us to take Gabrielle and Rebecca on this mission?” Kara asks. “Possibly to even die? They must finish their training here. We just enrolled them into their advanced classes,” say Kara.

Samuel interrupts Kara, “Dear we can let them live at the academy and there they could immerse themselves in their studies and knowing our girls, they will learn and train to become adepts.”

“The Elders will take care of any and all financial needs they will have. We will give them the best of everything. We have done this for the other parents that we sent out that had children. Though there have only been a few,” say the elder.

“Kara,” Samuel says looking deeply into his wives,” we must do this. This is why I have been studying the scrolls. I knew it would come to this. I foresaw these things. We will have a good life in the other realm and our girls will; they will become adepts of the highest caliber.”

“Samuel, you’re not just telling me this, just to make me feel good about going are you?” Kara asks knowing the answer.

“No, my darling, I’m not. The girls will be fine, of that I’m sure. We can even get your sister to be with them,” suggests Samuel.

“Elder Andros, how long do we have to give the elders an answer?” Kara asks.

“We’d like to know by the end of the week. As you have already stated, time runs differently between our realms.”

Samuel looks at his wife,” is that good enough for you? We have a week to make up our minds and to get everything in order.”

“Yes, I think that will suffice. At least I’m not being rushed into it.”

“Ok, Elder Andros, by the end of the week. But I need access to all of the scrolls that the Elders have. That doesn’t mean that we’re going, but if anything, I might be able to find something that others have missed. I just need to see the originals.”

“That, we can do for you Samuel. I hope that you do find something we all have missed. I’ll also have copies of them all for you to take with you. Even copies of all of the notes and manuscripts from those that went before you. The Elders will give you both all the help that we can.” Elder Andros says.

Samuel and Kara quickly make up their minds and send for Kara’s sister Vivian. They explain the her about being asked to become seekers again and that they have agreed to come out of retirement.

“We want you to look after things here while we’re gone Vivian,” Kara and Samuel ask Vivian. “We have hired a man to take care of the vineyard, but we’d like you to be here for the girls. There’s no telling how long we’d be gone and…. Well you know.”

“Yes, yes Samuel I do know. You want me to prepare the girls for what might happen.” Vivian says angrily.

“Oh, no, not that Viv. We want you to round out their schooling with your healing lore. You know that there’s nobody better to teach them about healing and herbs.” Kara says quickly.

“WE have already told the girls where we were going and why.” Samuel says.

“You have, have you?” Vivian asks inquiringly.

“Yes, we have.” Samuel says strongly.

“Their still young Viv and we don’t want them to worry about us. We told them that we’d come visit when we have the time. And we will be coming back to turn in our reports every other month or so.” Kara explains.

“I see, so I’m babysitting?” Vivian asks inquiringly.

“In a sense yes, but we’ve made you their legal guardian. We figured since you’re their godmother and all. Just in case.” Kara tells her.

“Okay, but this is just till you come back.” Vivian says.







“Are you sure this is the right family? “

“ Yes, from what we found in the scrolls this is the only family that it could be.”

“ But I can’t understand it, they don’t have any magical abilities at all.” Kara says.

“  It may be that it hasn’t come into being yet. Or it skipped a couple of generations. We have only been watching this generation; it may show in the next generation or the next.” Samuel explains.

“ What are we suppose to do? Watch them the rest of our lives?” Kara asks angrily.

“ If we have to my dear, then that is what we must do! If we don’t find the one that has been prophesized, then the others will, and you know what that means to our people. “ Samuel says.

“Yes, the others will destroy us all and then the worlds will be thrown into total chaos.” Kara sighs.

“We are getting old, even for our people. We must find someone else to take our places.” Samuel states.

“Yes, we were old when we were sent in this mission. We are also fortunate that we have lived this long. The others that were sent on this mission met unfortunate fates.” says Kara. “Who should we get to take our places?”

“We have to go back to the elders to turn in our report, and to get them to find our replacements.” Samuel says. “At least we can tell them that we found the right family.”



(about at this point I want to have them get into a battle with the dark ones, they’ve been found out and sam get’s killed while protecting Kara’s escape. As Kara escapes she is mortally wounded and dies soon after reaching home.)



This is getting old. I’ve been sitting here at the bar since it opened at noon, and here it is around nine at night and I’m still here drinking. I’ve been listening to the music that I’ve played on the jukebox and talking with some of the people at the bar around me. I like this place with the bar running down the right half of the length of the room and round tables with stools running down the length of the left side. The other half of the right side has larger round tables that they move to make room for bands when they have them. What do you expect with a strip mall store, it’s long and thin? I think they did a pretty good job with it, except when it gets crowded there’s not much room to walk from the front door to the bathrooms, which are all the way at the back of the room across from the kitchen. Being an Irish Sports bar with a name like O’Bannon’s you would have thought that it would carry more Irish themed things, but not here. Mostly high school sports stuff and pictures of the winners from the nearby race track. The ceiling is painted dark Kelly green with big ceiling fans that helps move the air when it’s crowded. This is the place I call my second home, it has one added benefit, it has air conditioning that I don’t have at home.

A nice looking woman sits down on the stool next to me and orders a Captain and Cola. She turns to me and says, “hi my names Gabrielle.” I say, “Hi I’m Colin.  I haven’t seen you here before. Are you new to the area?”

Gabrielle say, “No, I’ve live around here for a while and I’ve heard about this place from some friends, so I decided to give it a try tonight.”

“Well? How do you like it so far?” I ask.

She says, “It’s not too bad of a place, a little small.”

I tell her, “They’ll have a band in here tomorrow night.”

“Where are they going to fit it?” she asks.

I point to the back of the room, “Over there in the back corner. They move the tables around to fit them in and still keep seating for as many people as they can.”

The bartender comes over and set her drink down in front of her on a coaster and says, “That’ll be five dollars.”

She reaches in her back pocket and pulls out her money. As she hands the bartender a twenty, she says, “Give Colin another of what he’s drinking.”

The bartender turns to me and says, “Another Southern and Cola, Colin?”

I say, “Yeah, the usual way. Thanks Mike.”

I turn to Gabrielle and say, “Thank you, but you didn’t need to do that.”

She says, “No problem, you can get the next round.”

“Oh,” I say, “so I guess you’re going to stick around for a while?”

“I don’t see any reason for leaving yet.” she says.

The bartender Mike comes back with my drink and her change. She takes her change from him and hands him back a five and says, “Here you go, thanks.”

Mike looks at her, smile and says,” no thank you.” Then goes and helps someone else that’s yelling for him.

I finish up my old drink and start on the one Gabrielle got me. Taking a couple large pulls from the straw, I finish off about half of it. I put the drink down with a big “ahhh.”

Gabrielle says, “Whoa, what are you? A magician or something?”

Laughingly I say, “Or something. I’d love to be a magician but that’ll never happen. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’ve learn how to do magic. Close-up and stage magic, but not the type that I’d really like to do. I worked in a magic shop years ago and I got to learn all the tricks they had in the store. I had to learn them all to sell them. And I read all the magic books they had too for the same reason.”

“A magic shop?” Gabrielle asks.

“Yeah, we sold supplies and make-up to magicians, clowns, and theater groups. And then at Halloween we sold costumes, accessories and make-up.” I tell her.

“That must have been fun.” she says.

“It was, and I met a lot of interesting people.” I say

“How did you get into that job?” she asks

“I was playing Dungeons and Dragons at The Days of Knights, that’s a gaming store that sells different role-playing, board, and card games. Along with figurines, paints and supplies. They even sell tarot cards and books. Well, I was playing games and I saw one of the empty stores being remodeled, so I asked if they needed help. They said yes, so I started helping them out. We made the shelves, counters and a couple of changing rooms. I asked what kind of store it was going to be and they told me it was going to be a magic shop. I said, wow can I get a job when we’re finished construction? They told me that they’d give me a shot, just part-time. So, that’s how I started working there.”

Gabrielle says, “So you persuaded them into giving you a job and teaching you magic?”

“I guess you could say that.” I say as I stand up. “I’m going out for a smoke; do you want to come out with me? Our drinks will be safe here. You don’t have to worry about them; no one will mess with ‘em.”

“Sure, I’ve got something I want to show you any way, and it’ll be better if there’s not too many people around.”

“What do you mean by that?” I ask.

“Just come on, we’ll sit in my car.” she says

“Oookay?” I said questionly

I tilt our stools against the bar as we turn to leave.

Gabrielle looks at me curiously.

I say, “It’s so no one will steal our seats.”

We walk to the door and I hold it open for her.

She says, “thank you.”

“No problem” I say with a smile.

We get outside and she points across the parking lot and says, “My car’s over there.

She pops the locks with the remote to a new Tahoe. I know it’s new because she pulled into the spot front forward and I saw the T-tags. I light up as we’re walking and I open the door and slide into the seat.

“Nice” I say.

“Thanks” she say. “I just picked it up yesterday.”

“You sure it’s alright if I smoke in here?” I ask

“Yeah, I’ve already smoked in it, I did as I drove it off the lot.” she says with a smile.

We hop in and she slides the key in the ignition, the radio comes on loudly as she turns the key and puts the windows down.

“Now here’s what I wanted to show you.”

She hands me an amulet and asks, “What do you think?”

I look down at it and I see the stone in the center of the amulet softly glowing from the lights of the parking lot. It appears to start pulsing slowly. And as I watch it, the light grows stronger, brighter and the pulsing quickens. As if it had a heartbeat of its own. I glance up at Gabrielle and ask, “What’s going on here?”



“Becky! Hurry and finish the spell. I feel someone trying to break the shields and I can’t hold them.” Gabrielle says excitedly.

Becky continues, “And makes Colin into the man he was meant to be.” As Becky finishes the spell the amulet flares with a brilliant blue light, causing all of them to squeeze their eyes tightly closed. At the same time Colin lets out an anguishing shout and falls to his hands and knees moaning.

No matter what Gabby does to reinforce the shields to the workroom, they fail. And they hear menacing laughter coming from the top of the stairs on the other side of the basement door. Gabby and Becky both try to be spell the door to buy them time.

Then they hear, “Did you think I wouldn’t find out that you found the chosen one? Once you started the ritual of awakening, I knew that you had found him, so I came knocking. Sorry, I knocked a little too hard and broke your shields, but you know how I get when I get excited. I don’t know my own strength. And this is so exciting. I finally get to finish the job that I started so many years ago. You two are the last of the searchers, and tonight there will be no more reason for your kind. You see there won’t be a chosen one to search for anymore.” the menacing voice says.

The basement door starts to buckle and then is blown into splinters. Then a large cloaked figure descends the staircase.

Gabby and Becky combine their personal shields to include Colin, who is still on his hands and knees moaning.

“Colin, get up!” Gabby pleads. “We have to get away from the Dark One before he kills us all.” Becky stands in front of Gabby and Colin, with her hands glowing brightly with magic. She stands there ready for anything, to defend or attack. But first, the spell of changing must finish with Colin before they can jump out. That could take mere minutes or hours. Neither of which they had time for.

Gabby sees her sister preparing to defend Colin and she knows that Becky will lay down her life to ensure the chosen one lives. But Gabby wasn’t prepared to loose anyone today. Gabby stands and takes a few steps to stand next to Becky and whispers, “Can we hold him off long enough for Colin to finish changing?”

Becky whispers back,” I don’t know, but we must if Colin is going to live to full fill his destiny.

Colin can see and hear what’s happening and he knows the two of them are prepared to give their lives for him which he can‘t believe, but he barely has the strength to stand, let alone fight.

“I have to do something.” Colin says to himself. “I can’t let them die for me.”

He shakily gets to his feet and sees a hooded figure dressed in black flowing robes walking down the stairs coming for them. He heard what the man said, as if it were a dream, a bad dream.

“I’m not afraid to die,” Colin says to himself.” I’ve tried to kill myself twice before and it didn’t work. They say the third times the charm.”

He staggers over to Gabby and Becky and says, “Help hold me up; I know what I have to do. Don’t ask me how I know, just don’t let me fall.”

The sisters look at each other for a moment with a fearful expression on their faces and say at the same time. “Colin! You’re not supposed to use your powers yet. You don’t know how to control them.” they quickly glance at each other and say,” jink” at the same time and start to laugh. They each grab hold of Colin helping him to stand.

Colin glances at each of them and says, “I’m glad you two are having so much fun, but can we get back to the big guy dressed like Death, all he needs is a sickle.”

“Ah, I see that you are going to try and defend yourselves. I hope that you give me a better fight than your parents did. How long did they live after they escaped me? A day? No, I don’t think they lasted more than a few hours.” the Dark One mocks.

The girls almost let go of Colin with these words. This is the one that had killed their parents and now he was gloating about it. They look at the man with a deep desire to rend him to pieces with tooth and nail.

“Awe, did I hit sore spot ladies? Didn’t you know who it was I that killed them? Didn’t they tell you? Yes, it was me, Fasil the Dark Mage. What? You still don’t know me? Your father never mentioned his long lost brother? The one that he left to die in the crystal caverns when we were attacked by the Dark Ones while we were looking for that same stone that hangs around the chosen ones neck. I see that he didn’t spare any expense for that tacky setting that it’s in. what is that? Platinum?

Gabby says, “Yes, it’s the setting from He Who Sleeps.

“What! That old dead fool? My masters trapped that old fool in that block of crystal hundreds of years ago. There is no way he can escape it.” The Dark One says.

“He Who Sleeps is not dead as your masters believe. Yes, he is entombed in the block of crystal. But even though it has been hundreds of years since his entombment, his power is still strong. It is said that when the chose one has been found He Who Sleeps will break free and join him to finally rid the worlds of you and your evil masters.” Becky says.

The Dark One says, “Ha, don’t make me laugh. That old fool won’t escape the crystal block, because tonight the Chosen One will die and the same for his protectors.”

The Dark One raises his hands to cast a spell and suddenly Colin stiffens and throws his own hands forward throwing a spell right into the Dark Ones face. When the spell hit’s the Dark One, his hood falls back revealing a man of about sixty with long gray hair and beard, big bushy gray eyebrows and a weathered craggily face. His hair bursts into flames and then all Colin sees are stars in the inky blackness of space, and then… nothing.











Chapter 2



“Are you sure we didn’t flash out too soon?” Colin hears off in the distance. “I wasted as much time as I could baiting him on and getting him to talk. I don’t know which spell he was going to use, and I wasn’t going to wait around and find out. But what did Colin do? I didn’t even know that Colin could use his magic so soon after the changing. I know it wasn’t neither of us. Did you see The Dark One burst into flames as we flashed out?” Becky says.

Gabby says, “yeah, and I almost lost my grip on Colin as he threw his hand out like that. I wasn’t ready for that. Mistress Vivian is Colin going to be alright?”

“I believe he will live, but he should not have been casting spells so soon after the changing.” Mistress Vivian says.

Becky says, “What do you mean by spells? He only cast one spell. It must have been flame arrow or magic missiles, something like that.”

“No my child. As far as I can surmise he cast no less than three spells at the same time.” Mistress Vivian explains.

“Three?” Gabby asks

Becky asks, “at the same time, how’s that possible?”

“Girls, girls, please keep your voices down. This is only a small cottage and the interior walls are quite thin.” Mistress Vivian says

“Sorry” the girls say in unison.

“Okay, let’s grab our tea and go outside to sit on the porch. It’s such a beautiful night.” Mistress says s.

“Yes mum.” the girls say

They all grab their tea and file quietly out the front door.

Colin hears all of this as if it were a dream, something separated from him. Like when you’re between waking and still dreaming.

“It’s true! They made me a mage, a… a magic-user like I‘ve dreamt of for years. And I cast my first spell and it kills me. No, I’m not dead. I can feel the bed underneath. It’s nice and soft, like a big fluffy cloud enveloping me, cradling me. My head feels disconnect from my body though. Why do I feel this way?” That’s the last thoughts Colin has as he drifts of to sleep again.

“Mistress Vivian, how much longer is he going to be this way?” Gabrielle asks.

Mistress Vivian calms her and says,” He should be coming around soon child. All this time his body has been changing to accommodate for his new powers. It seems as though the spell you used has done more than just bring his powers out. The changing has been hard on him and casting those spells so soon afterward didn’t help him any.”

Becky says, “If it weren’t for him. I don’t think we could have gotten away from the Dark One. He saved us as much as we saved him.”

“Girls, people who have undergone the changing usually sleep afterwards, but they never, ever do magic so soon afterwards. The magical pathways are too new for magic to be forced through them. That is why I’ve dosed him so heavily with the sleeping draught when you brought him to me. The way he was mumbling and tossing and turning in his drug induced sleep proves that point. Are you sure the Dark One never unleashed his spell?” Mistress Vivian asks

Becky and Gabby looked at each other searchingly. “I don’t know” Gabby says, “I saw him raise his hands and then Colin jerked forward and then I saw the Dark One burst into flames, then we blinked out. Becky? When did you flash us out of there?”

“Just as the Dark One burst into flames. At the same time I almost lost my grip on Colin. Then I saw him throw his head back to scream. That’s when we flashed out.” Becky says.

“Yes he did get a spell off, but I turned it back on him.” Colin says. Startling everyone. “Well, if you didn’t want me to wake up? Maybe you shouldn’t ‘ave be talking so loud around me.”

Gabby and Becky throw themselves onto Colin hugging him roughly.

“Harrumph frump merph!” Colin umps.

  “Girls, Girls get off of him. He’s still weak and it would be a horrible thing to have him die now, after everything he’s been through.” Mistress Vivian reprimands laughingly.

“Sorry Colin,” Gabby says as she sits back on her chair.

“Yea, sorry Colin.” Becky says as she goes to stand next to Gabby.

Mistress Vivian asks, “Do you think you could keep down some broth?

“I could drink a tub full,” Colin croaks “I’m as dry as a desert.”

“Becky pours him some wine from that pitcher on the nightstand and I’ll go get him some broth that’s been simmering. Drink it slowly, I don’t want you choking.” says Mistress Vivian

“Yes Mum,” Colin says

Becky pours him some wine and says, “Now be careful and don’t spill it. “

Colin takes a big sip and starts to choke.

They all hear from the other room. “I told you to drink it slowly.” Mistress Vivian says scolding.

As Colin is catching his breath he says,” What is this?”

It’s mulled wine, with some herbs and spices in it.” Becky tells him.

Mistress Vivian walks back into the room and takes the wine from Colin and sits it on the nightstand and hands him a mug of broth. “Here, sip on this and do be careful this time, it’s hot.”

Colin takes the mug and blows on the broth then takes a small careful sip. “ Mmmm, delicious,” Colin says, “Thank you.”

“I added some herbs to help you regain your strength.” Mistress Vivian says.

“ I feeling better already,” Colin says as he finishes his broth. “Could I have some more, please?”

“Not right now, drink some more wine and let the herbs start doing their job. By tomorrow we’ll have you up and moving about.” she says.

Colin finishes his wine and then quickly falls asleep.

“Do you think we should have given him more sleeping potion Mistress Vivian?” Gabby asks

“Who is the healer here? He needs this last dose. Tomorrow will be a trying day for all of us. We have a lot to do before he wakes, so let’s get started. Becky I want you to go get the members of the high council. Tell them all to be here by noon and to bring the book. He should be up and around by then.” Mistress Vivian says.

Becky asks, “Why are you sending me to get them so soon? Colin needs to get his strength back before they start in on him.”

Mistress Vivian says, “ Look girls, Colin will be just fine by tomorrow noon. He’ll be up and about as if he’d been in bed for a week. That’s why I dosed him again. I don’t want him running around worrying about anything. He’s a very powerful mage with no training what so ever. He’s a danger to us and himself. Without the councils help we won’t be able to protect him against himself. Do you want him to accidentally blow us all up?”

Gabby asks, “Do you mean he’s recovered that much?”

Mistress Vivian tells them both, “Yes, the power that has been awaken in him has healed him. Don’t you see how well he is?”

Gabby says angrily, “No, I see how thin he is. How pale his skin is. How hollow his eyes and cheeks are. He hardly looks like the man I met at the bar and brought home. Did we do the right thing? Did we make a mistake in the spell? Did we rush thing too quickly because of the Dark Ones‘ appearance?”

“Yes, you did the right thing and no you did mess up the spell. You may have been rushed, but everything has turned out fine. He is the one that everyone has been searching for all these years. He is the one that so many have died to find. We should have found him when he was just a child, so he could have been trained properly by this time. This is the time of need. The Dark Ones are about to take over both our worlds. And here we have just found the one person that can save us all from becoming slaves to the Dark Ones. And he is untrained, undisciplined and a danger to everyone around him. We have mere days to train him. You know it takes years to learn how to control the power properly. Help me add to the shields on the house, we must hide him from the Dark Ones for as long as possible.”

“Yes Mistress Vivian,” Gabby says dejectedly. “I was hoping we’d have more time, that’s all.”

“What did you say Gabrielle?” Mistress Vivian asks.

“I said I wish we had more time.” Gabby repeated.

“Hmmm… let me think. Could you go make us some tea? Please child.” she asks.

As Gabby walks into the cottage to make the tea. The Mistress sits in her rocking chair and fills her pipe. She snaps her fingers and a flame appears on her thumb. She lights her pipe and blows out the flame. She slowly puffs on her pipe while deep in thought.

Gabby come out of the cottage carrying a tray with the tea pot, mugs, sugar and cream.

“Here you go Mistress, Mistress?” Gabby sets the tray on a table and tries again to get her attention. “Mistress?” Gabby says loudly.

“Oh, I’m sorry child. I was deep in thought.” she says

“Here’s your tea. And did you know that your pipe has gone out?” Gabby asks.

“Thank you and no. I didn’t notice. I was thinking about what you said, about having more time. I think we can get the time we need, but we must travel to the crystal caverns. That’s the only place that I can think of that will be safe enough to do what I have in mind and where we can hide Colin from the Dark Ones till he’s ready. Yes, it should work. But we must do it tonight. Can you contact your sister Rebecca and tell her to return here as soon as possible. Tell her to forget about the council. Just get back here as fast as she can. Tell her that it is alright to use magic for we will be leaving within the hour.” she says.

Gabby asks worriedly, “What about the Dark Ones tracking Colin?”

She says, “Colin will still be sleeping as we travel, so there is nothing to worry about there. And as soon as we get to the crystal caverns, they won’t be able to track us.





















crystal caverns, they won’t be able to track us.