Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-5543592-20140906173711/@comment-11457306-20140907033844

(Night.)

Peri found him, finally, at the bottom of a circular flight of stairs in a small room. She pushed open the door quietly and watched as he stirred liquid in a scyring bowl. The room had been set up for a mage, with an enchanter and an alchemy table and lots of shelves which held potions, bags and jars, numerous books, spell tomes and soul gems. The ceiling was hung with drying herbs and flowers, garlic strands and various other alchemical ingredients in various stages of curing. He had to have found the room in his explorations and just cleaned it up and added to it. She was impressed.

"Cathal," she said softly, "If your mother finds out about this she's going to kill you."

The boy jumped about three feet and whirled. "Gods, Aunt Peri--you scared me to death!"

"Good.  Now come on back to bed before you get caught."

"I can't!  Not yet!  I've got to see!"

"See what?"

"You promise you won't tell?"

"I promise nothing.  I'm still trying to decide what to do about all....this." She waved her arms to encompass the whole room. "Why can't you have a secret playhouse like any other little boy?"

"I'm not like any other 'little boy', Aunt Peri," he said with scorn. "I'm a mage.  I've always been a mage and I will be a more powerful one when I grow up."

"Don't I know it.  But you're rushing it, Cathal.  You need to slow down and enjoy your childhood while you can.  There's little enough to enjoy as it is--I know.  I had to grow up fast myself.  I didn't have the luxury you have."

Cathal shook his head. "You don't understand, Aunt Peri.  No one does.  I'm here for a reason.  I've got to be ready when---"  he stopped as if he'd been about to let out a secret.

"When what?"

"No.  You wouldn't understand.  Come here and watch." He turned back to the bowl. "You'll want to see this too."

In spite of herself, Peri walked forward to look into the bowl. Cathal composed himself, taking several deep breaths, then began to stir again. This time he began to chant. Peri felt the little hairs on the back of her neck stand up and a chill ran down her spine. Cathal's voice, much deeper and older sounding, intoned words in the Old Tongue, just like his mother and grandmother. A vision began to form in the bowl.