Chapter 1 Part 4

Dylan spent the next two weeks following the same routine. Most of the lessons were of similar nature. One lesson consisted of a handful of oddly shaped blocks of wood accompanied by a card showing an outline. His task was to arrange the blocks to match the outline. They had given him dozens of those cards and made him do each and every one. The game got easier as the day went on, though. Dylan began to see patterns as to how one or two blocks almost always were together. There were other examples, of patterns, and when Kayla finally came to speak to him, he questioned her about his discovery. She appeared very pleased and encouraged him by telling him that he was beginning to think in the right way. She confided in him that if he kept learning as he had the first five days, that he would be moving out of the meditation phase very soon. That was fine with Dylan. He was ready to start studying anyhow.

The weeks dragged out. Dylan lost track of how many days the same routine continued. The only thing that varied from day to day were the occasional changes in the faces of his fellow initiates as they were also led to and from their cells.

A young boy with bright red hair had been in the cell next to him for some time. Since forbidden to speak, their conversations consisted only of brief glances and smiles as they passed each other every day.

Then one day the boy was no longer there. Dylan wondered what happened to him, but refrained from using what little freedom of speech he had on a question that was irrelevant.

The cell his friend had occupied was soon occupied again by a child with long jet black hair. Dylan could not tell from the brief glances as to whether it was a boy or a girl.

He had been there for what must have been several weeks when one morning instead of the usual escort to his lesson, Master Tesron entered the cell. Dylan stood attentively awaiting instructions.

The mage eyed him as if performing an inspection. "You may speak," he informed Dylan. "Tell me, how do you feel?"

"I only woke up a short while ago," Dylan answered automatically. "But I’ve eaten and I’m not sick or in pain, so I can only say that I feel well."

Tesron nodded. "I’ll send Kayla to fetch you later this morning," he told the boy. "When she arrives, you’ll no longer be bound to silence. You are now ready to begin your studies."

Dylan could not help the smile that crept on his face. If Tesron saw it, he made no indication that it was improper or that it was unexpected.

"I suggest you take a few minutes to clean this cell. You won’t be needing it any longer so gather your things." Tesron did not wait for a question or a reply. He simply turned and left the cell.

Dylan wanted to shout for joy. He had grown used to the treatment over the last few weeks, but still it was much like captivity, and he was finally being given a degree of freedom.