| Keenan sighed and glanced around at the tall trees standing all around him. He suppressed a shiver and pulled his cloak tighter about his shoulders. It wasn�t that the forest was cold, it was that being among so many tall trees unnerved him. Sighing deeply, the young mage wished, for probably the hundredth time that Yarneraj had chosen a different wizard to perform this task. The last thing he wanted to be doing was to be wandering through Master Shadow�s forest on some quest for an object he would likely not be able to return to the evil wizard. Meadows, however, had learned over the past few years that it was better to just do as you were told. Defying Yarneraj�s orders only made him angry and when the wizard became angry with you, you typically would not live for very much longer. So, Keenan took a deep breath and crept closer to the object he had come to retrieve � the Eye of Wonder. It was a simple silver broach with a blood-red cabochon stone set at its center. As its name indicated, it looked very much like an eye. It was said to bestow the deserving person with an amazing power � but those unworthy would �die in the unquenchable flames of its anger.� �Sounds like just the thing that should be stolen from a good mage,� Keenan muttered under his breath, as he stared at the jeweled broach. Shadow had set it on a stump in the heart of his woods, knowing that if anyone dared trespass he�d know before they reached their goal. Shaking his head, Keenan muttered, �Why am I doing this?� �I was just about to ask the same thing,� said a cheerful voice. Keenan whirled around and came face-to-face with Shadow of Kaigan. �Master Shadow,� he said softly. The man was only slightly taller than Keenan, with soft dark curls and wide blue eyes. He rarely ever frowned, and when he did it was not a pleasant sight. The man could look downright chilling when the mood struck him, as it seemed to have on this particular evening. Keenan reflexively brought his staff up in front of him in a defensive posture and swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. �Hmm,� Shadow said, still frowning darkly. �Strange that an evil mage � at least I�d assume you were evil, since you came to steal the Eye � that an evil mage would chose a defensive stance,� he said softly. �It�s been my experience that you usually rush into an attack, yet you seem to be waiting for me to strike. How curious.� All of this was delivered in a soft and gentle voice, almost like one would use when giving a lecture to a group of students. �What�s your name, Wizard?� Shadow asked, locking eyes with the other man. �Why?� Keenan asked, tensing slightly and getting ready for the other to attack. Shadow shrugged. �I just like to know who has the audacity to not only trespass in my forest, but to walk boldly among the evil mages, when he�s really a good mage.� Keenan blinked in surprise. �I�m not good,� he said, shaking his head and indicating the dark robes he wore. Shadow smiled. �Yes, evil mages� robes are dark and good mages have light robes, but only if those robes are of the sort of cloth that changes tint to match your bent,� he said, nodding slightly. �But those,� he added, �are plain cotton robes. They can be any color you wish. So I ask again: who are you?� The young wizard sighed and relaxed his stance slightly. �Keenan Meadows,� he whispered. �Keenan,� Shadow replied. �Means �little and ancient�. You seem to be neither little nor ancient.� The spellcaster eyed him speculatively for a moment. �The Shynians use ancient to mean wise,� Keenan explained. �My name is Shynian.� �And you cast an illution about yourself to make you seem taller,� Shadow said, grinning. �Clever,� he added, watching the wizard�s eyes widen nervously. �But easily dispensed.� Shadow waved a hand toward Keenan, and he blurred for a moment, seeming to shrink in on himself. A moment later, his form came back into focus and Shadow could see that he actually stood a little over five feet tall � rather close to his own height. The spellcaster smiled at the revelation. �You came for the Eye of Wonder, little ancient one,� he said teasingly. �Take it, if you will, but know this: if you take it, it will either kill you or claim you � either way, Yarneraj won�t have it.� Keenan frowned and glanced at the Eye. Tentatively, he reached out and gently lifted it off the stump. The stone glowed briefly and then the light died and the broach looked perfectly normal again. �How about that,� Shadow said, startling Keenan out of his own thoughts. Grinning impishly, he added, �It likes you, Keenan Meadows.� �Great,� the wizard huffed. �Can I go now?� �No,� Shadow replied gently. �I have a proposition for you.� �What kind of proposition,� Keenan asked suspiciously. Smiling broadly, the spellcaster said, �Spy on the evil mages for me.� �What?!� �You�re a good mage,� Shadow argued. �Living among and working with the evil mages. Become a double agent and tell the good mages any plans that you discover.� �They � they�d kill me if they found out!� Keenan protested. �Then don�t let them find out,� Shadow reasoned. �You�ve a perfect disguise using that illusion spell.� �No,� Keenan said adamantly, shaking his head vigorously. �I won�t do it!� �Very well,� Shadow sighed. �Then you will have to remain here, until I can decide what to do with you.� The spellcaster turned to walk away; then paused. �I�ll warn you though,� he added. �It could be quite some time, I have a lot of things going on in my forest right now and I tend to forget small things when I�m busy.� Before Keenan could react, he felt strong arms grab him by the shoulders. Looking up, he realized it was the trees of the forest that were holding him. All his old fear and anxiety bubbled up from where it was buried and he screamed and then began to struggle in the tree�s hold. Suddenly, the tree dropped him and he sat up and looked around wildly. Shadow was kneeling beside him frowning slightly. �So, you�re dendrophobic,� he said softly. �Then I guess you don�t want to stay here, do you?� �N-no,� Keenan stuttered. Shadow grinned. �Then spy on the evil mages for me,� he said softly. �Fine,� Keenan spat back. �Just leave me alone and let me go home!� Very softly, Shadow said, �Touch the stone in the center of the Eye.� Keenan frowned and looked down at the silver brooch he still had clutched in his hand. He hesitated for only a moment, then did as Shadow told him. The stone glowed briefly and then it seemed to become clear. Within the depths of the stone, Keenan could see his mother and sister preparing their evening meal. �What � what kind of trick is this?� he whispered. �That�s your home, Keenan,� Shadow replied. �But you may return to the Dark Castle, I expect Yarneraj is waiting for you. I�ll contact you in one week to learn what you know.� Keenan nodded and got to his feet. He pinned the Eye of Wonder to the front of his cloak and then said, �That�s the power that the Eye gives you?� �It lets you see whatever you ask for � but you have to be specific and honest,� Shadow said, nodding slightly. �You�re free to go, the trees won�t trouble you.� Keenan sighed and then turned to head out of the forest. What had he gotten himself into? He�d come to retrieve the Eye of Wonder for Yarneraj and now it was bound to him. Not only that, but Shadow had discovered his secret and was now going to force him to spy on the evil mages. Keenan didn�t want any of this. He just wanted to disappear into the background and be forgotten. �Play the cards fate dealt you, Keenan,� the young wizard whispered softly. End. |
| The Eye of Wonder |
| Young Keenan Series - Three |
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