The old man set a bowl on a stand and motioned to the children. Allian glanced up at his father nervously and received an encouraging nod in response. Sighing deeply, he stepped forward and took his place in line. Allian watched with growing apprehension as each of the older boys stepped up and shoved their hand in, boldly pulling out a slip of paper and handing it to the county elder.
Finally, his own turn came and he glanced over at his mother nervously. She smiled and he looked up at the elder, who was also smiling. Meadows closed his eyes tightly and reached in, withdrawing it a moment later clutching a piece of paper.
He held it for a moment; then handed it to the elder. �Bartholomew Northreach,� the elder read softly. The people nearest the podium chuckled derisively and Allian scowled. He�d never heard of the mage, but he�d never heard anyone laugh about any wizard before.
After glaring up at the elder, he stepped over to where the other young people were standing. An older boy, a journeyman if the robes were anything to judge by, was handing crisp white robes out to them.
�Master Bartholomew�s gonna teach you?� an older boy asked, chuckling.
Allian shrugged. �Yeah, so?�
The journeyman silenced the boy with a glare; then turned to Allian. �A wizard�s status is decided by the potential of his past apprentices,� he explained. �Master Bartholomew�s had a string of bad luck where apprentices are concerned. Most haven�t even been able to master the craft.�
Allian nodded to himself. �Just because he�s had bad apprentices, doesn�t mean he�s not a great wizard,� he mumbled.
The journeyman nodded and held a robe out to him. �It�s all up to fate,� he agreed.
The young mage smiled at the older boy and then took the garment from him. He glanced around and saw that the other boys were pulling the robes on over their head and followed suit. Soon afterwards, he noticed that his robe began changing color. Looking at the boys around him, he noticed that some of their robes were changing too. Where most stayed the same soft white color, some began to look faded and others seemed to brighten. After glancing down at his own robe, he rubbed his eyes. The robe was becoming such a bright shade of white that it practically glowed.
�Why�s it doing that?� he asked an older man with soft brown hair and warm blue eyes.
�Because, my boy,� he replied. �You are going to someday become a great mage.�
Allian blinked in surprise. �You can tell that by looking at my robe?� he asked in amazement.
�Your robe says a lot about who you are,� he explained. �Looking at your robe I can tell what kind of person you are, how powerful you�re going to be and what bent you are.�
�Cool!� Allian exclaimed. Turning around, he called. �Look, Mama! My robe�s glowing!�
Not only his parents, but also anyone nearby turned to look at the excited boy. The elder�s eyes widened in surprise and he said, �He�s going to be your apprentice, Bartholomew?�
�So it would seem,� the man beside Allian replied.
�You sure you can handle him?� another wizard sneered.
Allian glared darkly and felt his skin start to tingle, a tingle that dissipated almost as soon as it started. As the boy looked up in surprise, he felt a hand rest on his shoulder.
�I think so,� Bartholomew replied, smiling. Then he drew Allian around so that he was looking into his eyes. �What�s your name, my boy?� he asked gently.
�Allian Meadows,� the child replied shyly.
Bartholomew nodded. �From now on, I�ll call you Keenan, all right?� Allian nodded and smiled nervously. The older man frowned. �Now, then, Keenan, the first thing we need to work on is getting control of your temper.�
�You did that?� Keenan whispered.
�Blocked the magic you were drawing?� the man asked. When Keenan nodded, he smiled. �Of course I did, my boy. We can�t have you breaking rules on your first day, can we?�
�Rules?�
Bartholomew chuckled. �Let�s get back to my cottage,� he said. �I�ll tell you all about the rules and why it�s important to obey them.�
�Yes, Master,� Keenan answered softly.
**
Keenan sighed deeply and glanced around the little room he was sitting in. He�d come a long way since that day so long ago. While he�d done some things he was sure Bartholomew would approve of, he also knew he�d broken many of rules that Bartholomew so patiently taught him.
�I�m sorry, Master,� the wizard whispered to the night sky. �I � I wasn�t strong enough, I guess. I � I failed you�� Rubbing the tears from his eyes, he stood and headed down to the council chamber.
In the room behind him, his familiar sat under a chair. �Oh, Keenan,� the rabbit sighed. �Haven�t you realized that you could never fail me?� Hopping out into the room, Bartholomew added, �I have faith that you�ll find the path to the light once again. You�ve always been a good person deep down inside and you always will be.�
End
