by Nick McNeil
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” Devdan added. “I feel the exact same, only I don’t complain as much.” And just like that, Devdan was out of sight and back in the castle.
“Should we give Master Thel a visit?” Polly asked. “Or did you want to get some rest first?”
Bertly was fatigued and knew he should rest, but he was much too eager to visit Master Thel. He had been flying all night, and unlike Polly and Devdan, he hadn’t taken a nap. “Do you think he will be in his classroom this early?”
“He never seems to leave,” Polly said. “I think he may live in there.”
“Hmm, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him wandering campus.” Bertly tapped his finger on his chin. “Come to think of it, he’s the only master I haven’t seen outside his classroom.”
“I rest my case,” Polly replied.
Bertly pointed with his finger. “To Master Thel’s room it is,” he exclaimed.
“Lead the way, Winter Wizard.” Polly winked.
Bertly did his best not to blush as he headed into the castle. “Polly?”
“Yes, Bertly?” she answered.
“What’s your game plan with the dragon?” he inquired.
“When people ask, I will be honest.” Polly’s dragon zipped around her head and body like a dwarf bee, yet she didn’t seem to mind. “I’ll tell everyone I soul-bonded with him and he’s my new companion.” She rubbed her hand across the dragon’s smooth scales. “I presume you’ll do the same with Bear?”
“I haven’t given it much thought, to tell the truth. I was forced to hide Clia, so naturally, I assumed the same about Bear.” The sides of Bertly’s mouth pulled backward. “But we don’t have to hide our spirit animals.” He bit his bottom lip as he smiled. “Everyone else is going to bond with a small bird or lizard. Maybe a koko or dog at best.” His eyes rounded out like coins. “But we will have a dragon and a bear.” Bertly looked to Polly. “You and I will be the most popular students on campus.”
“Oh, Bertly.” Polly sighed. “We already are. You don’t realize it because you haven’t made any new friends since we arrived seven years ago.”
“Polly, this isn’t the same. That was because of who we are. We are humans with red eyes,” Bertly explained. “This time it’ll be different. It’ll be for something that we actually did.”
“Bertly, we already conjured magic before thirteen and were the youngest students to ever get into the Mastery program…I am pretty sure our accomplishments have contributed,” Polly countered.
Bertly grunted. “How many friends have you even made anyhow?”
“Dozens, Bertly.” Polly stiffened her back and folded her hands. “The Academy is filled with fascinating classmates from all over the world.”
As they kept walking, it didn’t take long before Polly’s dragon started to catch the attention of the always busy Academy. Polly didn’t have the chance to continue before hordes of students clogged the halls like a dam.
“Is that a dragon?” one dwarf shouted.
A voice from the crowd resounded, “It’s fake! It must be a spell.”
Dwarves and elves alike were jumping and prodding at a chance to touch Polly’s new friend. The small red dragon flew high toward the ceiling as the students’ fingers came just short of touching him.
Bertly and Polly came to a standstill. The halls were more packed than Bertly had ever seen, which was saying something. “How do we get out of here?” the Winter Wizard yelled over the crowd.
Polly gave him a brief look of anxiety before focusing her attention back on her dragon.
Bertly knew she did not appreciate the entire school prodding at her new acquaintance. “I wish Bear were here; she could scare off every student in this place.”
A screech came from the back of the crowd, followed by an immediate array of screams. The scores of students looked like the parting seas of the Decomposite that Bertly had always heard about. The indent in the crowd grew closer as the students squealed and ran off. Polly’s dragon shrieked and flew into her arms. Emerging from the masses was Slithers, Thel’s spirit animal. The long snake circled around Bertly and Polly, forming a barrier between them and the student body.
“Back early, are we?” the young elf interjected.
“Master Thel!” Polly shouted.
“I can see things went satisfactorily.” Thel’s hair was cut and his face recently shaven. He looked even more youthful than before. Bertly glanced down and saw Master Thel snap his fingers—the school bell echoed throughout the hallways. “Everyone get back to your studies,” he instructed. The students mumbled under their breaths and scuffled back to class.
Their spirit quest master looked them both over. “I can see the quest went better for some than others.”
Bertly placed his hand over his heart. “Oh, it most certainly did.”
Thel’s face went blank. “I was referring to Polly.”
“Bertly bonded with a spirit animal, too,” Polly replied with excitement.
Slithers uncoiled himself, breaking the barrier he had formed, and slid next to his master. “Is that so?” Thel asked as he started to stride down the Academy hallways—Bertly and Polly followed close behind. He did not seem in the mood for conversation.
“Tell me, what have you decided to call this flying lizard of yours?” Bertly asked Polly.
“His name is Dreki.” Polly’s dragon zipped back and forth down the corridors, spinning and flipping around.
“Dreki?” Bertly questioned.
“Yes.” Polly whistled and Dreki came whizzing back. “I think it is rather cute.”
Bertly clapped. “Good name, Polly. Will be really fitting when he’s big enough to burn down a village.”
“Stop it, Bertly.” Polly nudged the Winter Wizard and extended her arms. “Dreki isn’t burning down anything.” The little red dragon swooped down and huddled in her arms.
Master Thel stopped in the hallways and riffled through his pocket. He jingled several sets of keys before finding the one that opened his classroom. Slithers wedged himself through the doorway before his master could finish opening it all the way. The long snake slipped to the corner of the room and spiraled into a ball, tucking his head away. Thel walked to the head of the classroom and filled the chalkboard with notes. “Do you two need something?” he tested. “You don’t have class for two more days.”
“Well, sir,” Bertly responded, “we wanted to stop by early and show you what we accomplished.”
Thel stopped writing and turned around. “I can see what Polly has accomplished; however, I am failing to see your successes.”
Bertly pursed his lips.
“Assisting someone is not accomplishing your spirit quest, young human.”
The Winter Wizard clenched his fists as his neck and face turned red.
“I believe both of your missions were to retrieve a scale from the King of all Dragons, no?” Thel looked back and forth between Bertly and Polly. “May I see your retrieved scales?”
Bertly pointed at Dreki. “Sir, we have thousands of scales right here.”
“I can see that, young wizard; however, your mission was to retrieve scales from the greatest dragon of all time—you were quite insistent that you could accomplish this.” Thel reached out his hand. “May I please see your scales?”
“But, sir.” Polly stepped forward. “Certainly, no student has ever come back with a dragon.”
“No, you are the first,” the quest master acknowledged. “But that was not your mission.”
Polly twirled her long blond hair around her finger. “I understand, sir. But you must be able to make an exception. You see—”
Thel raised his voice and emphasized each word with a stern point of the finger. “Did you or did you not retrieve a scale from Cordelia’s dragon?”
Polly looked down. “We did not.”
“Then why are you in my classroom?” Thel turned back around and continued to jot down notes on the chalk
board.
Bertly’s heart started to race; he couldn’t hear his own thoughts over the thumping. “Master Thel, you don’t understand.”
The master’s fingertips tightened, breaking the piece of chalk in his hand. “No, I understand.” Thel whipped his body around. “I understand that you two have had most things come easy to you. I understand that you thought you could accomplish a mission way beyond your pay grade.” The spirit master approached Bertly and Polly. “I understand that despite most advice, you two choose to do whatever you please. I understand that when you arrived in Noskar, you did not find what you were looking for because what you sought does not exist.” Thel stood face-to-face with Bertly, looking up slightly; his head came just under the wizard’s chin. “Now tell me, is there something I do not understand?”
“Master Thel.” Bertly’s anxiety turned to anger. “You’re failing to realize the prestigious accomplishments that Polly and I have just achieved.”
“No, Bertly. You are failing to see where you have failed.” Thel pressed his finger against Bertly’s chest. “If your mission had been to retrieve a dragon, then you would have accomplished that mission. But it wasn’t. You cannot fail a task, stumble into a success, and then say you never failed your original mission.” Thel placed his hand on Bertly’s shoulder. “By the way, congratulations, Bertly, on the success of your supposed spirit animal.” The master held out his arms and examined the empty areas of the room.
“Sir, you are right,” Polly interjected.
Thel glanced over to her.
“We bit off more than we could chew. We thought we were an exception to a rule, but we aren’t. We still have so much to learn and we realize that.” Bertly’s anger was dissipating; he didn’t know why he hadn’t let Polly do all the talking in the first place. “This whole process is new to us—we didn’t have brothers and sisters to mess up before us. Or parents to tell us the easiest places to go.” She placed her hands out in front of her, palms up. “We have so much to learn, and hopefully, you’re still willing to teach us.” She sniffled. Bertly had never seen Polly come close to crying before. She was putting on the performance of a lifetime.
Thel sighed. “I presume she speaks for both of you?”
Bertly nodded.
“I suppose I have been rather harsh on you two.” The master stepped over to his desk and sat down. “You two are not the only ones to fail your spirit quest this term. Most masters fail their first time trying anyway.” Thel riffled through a stack of papers. “There was a group of elves who failed to retrieve a shell from the Leviathan Lake. Unfortunately, this is their second failed attempt, and the next time they come up short, I will unfortunately have to cut them from the program.” The spirit master offered Bertly and Polly several pieces of paper. “These are their mission summaries and profiles. I will give you a one-day extension. If you can take this group and return with a shell, then all will be forgiven.”
Polly snagged the notes. “Sir, I know these students.” She looked up. “I was surprised they were even let into the Mastery program.”
“So was I,” Thel replied. “Regardless, it is my job to make sure each student passes this course. I do not plan to make a mockery of this program like the professors before me.”
Bertly looked over Polly’s shoulder. “Who are they?”
“You wouldn’t know them,” she retorted.
“I understand I am handing you a full plate with these students, but this mission is more appropriate for a new master’s spirit quest.” Thel started to scribble on a piece of parchment. “Here is a permission slip to take up to three additional students with you, not including your apprentices.”
“Thank you, sir.” Bertly snatched the piece of paper from Thel. Retrieving a shell was the last thing he wanted to do. Still, it was better than having to wait until the following year.
“You won’t regret this, sir.” Polly beamed.
Thel shooed them away. “I have a feeling I might.”
As Bertly was exiting the classroom, he froze in the doorway. “Master Thel?”
Thel kept his head down and continued to work. “What is it, Bertly?”
“Is it true that all professors have access to the school’s shippers?” Bertly asked.
“I am not shipping you to the lake, if that is what you’re asking,” his teacher replied.
“No, sir. It isn’t for me.” Bertly walked back into the classroom. “What if I told you I could show you an Eskosian bear?”
Thel stopped working and placed his hands behind his head. “You have my interest, young human.”
“I know Polly bonded with a dragon.” Bertly’s voice grew and his walk formed into a strut. “But you see, I—”
“You’re going to tell me you bonded with an Eskosian bear?” The master raised one eyebrow high. “Those are rare, even in Eskos. How can you know for certain?”
Bertly chuckled. “Hmm…maybe by the fact that she’s the size of a mammoth.”
Thel stood up. “Show me.”
XX
“You see, once Master Thel caught a glimpse of this glorious, magnificent beauty of a creature…” Bertly patted Bear’s head and scratched under her chin. “He had no choice but to ship her straight to the Academy.”
“We heard it was because he thought she was going to rip his head off,” Orin and Orîn hollered.
“Now, Orins.” Bertly stood next to Bear just outside the Academy walls. Accompanying him was his apprentice, along with Polly and Devdan. They stood adjacent to the twins—waiting for the students Master Thel had instructed them to travel with. “Does this really look like a creature that would harm poor Master Thel?” Bear rolled over onto her back and wiggled around in the grass. “You see, harmless.” As Bertly gestured toward Bear, a drizzle bird flew across his furry companion’s face, and without hesitation she snatched the bird out of the air, leaving behind a single blue feather.
Orin snickered. “Very harmless.”
“Wouldn’t hurt a fly,” Orîn added.
Bertly grumbled under his breath. “Polly,” he demanded.
“Yes, Bertly?” she responded.
“Where are those useless elves?” Bertly placed his hand on his hips. “They were supposed to be here half an hour ago.”
“Devdan is right here, sir,” Bertly’s apprentice cracked.
“Shut up, Roderick,” Devdan snapped. “You’re an elf, too.”
“True, but I’m not a useless one.” Roderick shrugged.
“Roderick, my chap.” Bertly fought back a fit of giggles as his cheeks swelled with pressure, but it was no use. His laughter erupted as he bent over and slapped his knee.
Devdan stood motionless while he looked Roderick up and down. The blond elf pulled back his shoulders and stuck out his chest. Roderick mocked him as though he were Devdan’s mirror image, although he barely came up to Devdan’s chest. Polly’s apprentice lunged toward Roderick, sending him screaming and falling to the ground. Devdan’s face changed from a mask of anger to one of amusement.
“Oh, Roderick.” Bertly smacked his palm against his forehead. “It seems you’re just as useless as the rest of them. Speaking of which…” Bertly tapped his foot. “Where are those good-for-nothing elves?”
“You mean those ones, sir?” Roderick pointed.
“Yes.” Bertly frowned. “Where have you been?”
Three elves exited the castle, walking shoulder to shoulder. There were two boys and one girl, who all wore long shiny green cloaks. Their hair was braided and they all look freshly bathed—with no dirt under their nails or knots in their hair. Each had light brown locks and walked at a slow pace.
“Sorry we’re late,” the female elf replied. “Master Thel never told us where to meet.” Her voice was soft and gentle, but still the elf maintained a certain confidence, as though she knew something Bertly did not.
The Winter Wizard’s face remained rigid. “It’s called ‘deductive reas
oning.’ You should have been able to guess,” he snapped.
“Your reputation precedes you, Master Bertly,” the woman elf responded. “My name is Faythe. Here to my right is Alwin, and to my left is Sunrel. As you can most likely tell, we are triplets.”
“You hear that, boys?” Bertly slapped Orin and Orîn on the backs. “It looks like you have some competition.”
“What do you mean?” they asked.
“My apologies.” Bertly pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. “I forgot to mention why I’ve invited you here today.”
“We thought it was for the bear,” the twins replied.
“Believe it or not, that is not why I summoned you.” Bertly pulled a piece of paper from his inner cloak pocket. “Polly and I have received permission to bring up to three additional patrons on our trip.” Bertly pointed with his index and middle finger. “And we have chosen you.”
“Splendid!” Orin shouted with joy. “Wonderful, indeed!”
Orîn chimed in, “Who’s the third?”
“Three’s a crowd,” Bertly replied as he smirked at the triplets.
“Bertly, enough teasing.” Polly stomped her foot. “Can we please go over the plan? I am not sure if you recall, but we need to go to the Leviathan Lake and back in just three short days.”
“Right,” Bertly agreed. “We absolutely need to go over the plan.” He clapped his hands and overlooked the group. “Plans have changed.”
The group talked under their breath. Then Faythe spoke up. “Master Bertly, do you think it wise to deviate from the plans, considering we are in…unfortunate circumstances? I believe we should stick to retrieving a shell.” Her brothers remained silent at her sides.
“I still plan to retrieve a shell from the lake if I must. I will not make the same mistake twice. I have learned that having a plan B is not a forgettable option,” Bertly explained.
“Sir, if retrieving the shell is plan B, then what is plan A?” Roderick asked.
“Wonderful question, my apprentice.” Bertly stood tall and crossed his arms behind his back, which had the effect of puffing out his chest. “We are going to the Decomposite.”