Chapter 2
During the next three years, Damion demonstrated his strange new ability with numerous displays that frightened many of the servants out of their wits. His magic seemed to grow as quickly as his body, and started to become more and more radical in effect. Rarely a day went by that he didn't startle his father or nanny with some new display of power. Sometimes he would cause heavy objects to float around the room when no one was looking, then let them to fall to the floor with a crash before it was seen, or he would cause books to fly from the shelves and slam into the opposite wall, frightening everyone who was nearby. He seemed to find this game quite amusing, and it wasn’t long before rumors began to circulate that the nursery was haunted by a violent spirit. Many servants became quite skittish whenever they entered, never knowing what they should expect.
But Damion never openly demonstrated his powers to anyone other than his father and his nanny. It was almost as if he understood that no one was to know about his gifts. Then, after one unexpected display of power, it became apparent that something had to be done quickly.
It happened not long after Damion's fifth birthday. Lady Skie had been sitting quietly in the nursery, pouring over an ancient text on past sorcerers in search of any stories of anyone that had displayed their abilities early in their childhood. She wasn't having much luck, and was ready to give up on her search when the sound of the nursery door opening caught her attention. She looked up from the ancient book and saw Sara, a loyal serving girl in which she was rather fond, entering the nursery with a large tray of venison and cheese, and a small bottle of elven wine. Lady Skie motioned for her to sit the tray on a nearby table, and then returned to her book in hopes of discovering something useful in Damion's situation.
Sara quietly sat the tray on the table, and then turned to leave. As she did, the hem of her dress caught the handle of the tray, pulling it off the table, and sending it crashing to the floor.
Damion, who had been sleeping soundly in the beautiful canopy bed his father had constructed for his birthday, awoke with a start, and sent a powerful shock wave of energy blasting through the room, blowing the door from its hinges, and shattering the windows into a fine dust. The shock wave knocked Lady Skie hard to the floor, and sent Sara flying across the room, where she crashed hard into the unforgiving stone wall. The force of the shock wave shook the entire castle to its foundation, and was even felt by those in the village.
Lord Michael, looking pale and shaken, rushed into the room followed closely by a dozen armed soldiers. Amazed by the devastation he found, he dashed to Damion's bedside to find his son looking around the demolished nursery with quiet interest.
Once he was reassured his son was safe, he rushed to Lady Skie, whose crumpled form lay near the overturned table. He carefully rolled her onto her back, and was relieved to see her eyes flutter open.
“Sara!” She exclaimed, sitting up in alarm. “Where is Sara? Is she okay?”
One of the soldiers stepped forward. “She will be fine. She has a nasty bump on her head, but nothing life threatening.”
“Help her to her quarters,” Lord Michael ordered the soldiers. “then summon the clerics to tend to her injuries.” He watched in silence as the soldiers exited the room, carefully carrying the unconscious serving girl's limp body. As soon as they were out of sight, he turned back to Lady Skie. “What, in the names of the gods, happened in here? It looks as though a whirlwind struck this place! The entire castle shook like a leaf on a tree! Everyone thinks we’re under attack!”
Lady Skie rose a bit shakily to her feet and brushed herself off, then walked over to Damion's bed and gently lifted him into her arms. “It seems our little sorcerer is a bit more powerful than we thought. I have never seen anything quite like this before.” She quickly explained what happened, then added. “If this is any indication of his power, then we have our work cut out for us. I have never heard of anyone with such power, let alone a child.”
“This is grave news indeed.” Lord Michael's face was troubled. “There is no way that we will be able to keep his powers secret if he brings the entire castle down around our ears.” He looked around wrecked the nursery, then sighed helplessly. “How am I going to explain this to the visiting nobles? They are probably still cowering under my desk!”
Damion giggled mischievously, and then gave his father an impish grin.
Lord Michael glanced at his son, and then smiled gently. “When your mother told me that you were special, I never dreamed of anything like this.” He sighed again, then turned back to Lady Skie. “It is obvious that we cannot keep him here any longer. It is no longer safe for him to remain here.”
Lady Skie was quiet for a moment. “Would you consider allowing me to take him somewhere remote and out of danger? He is almost old enough to begin his education anyway, and he cannot remain here any longer. He is a danger to himself, and all of those who are around him.”
Lord Michael looked skeptical. “Where exactly would you take him?”
“There is a small valley, about twenty miles northeast of here. My father has a cottage there, and he is quite skilled in the ways of magic. He would be able to teach Damion how to control his power. The valley is very difficult to reach, and is surrounded by steep cliff sides which are nearly impossible to scale, so he will be perfectly safe, and we will not have to worry about any of the distractions of the castle interfering with his lessons.”
Lord Michael's face mirrored his worry. “Are you sure he would be safe there? It would only be you and your father there to protect him. His safety is my first concern.”
“It is probably the safest place in the entire mountain range. My father has set up a magical barrier that alerts him whenever someone enters the valley. I was raised in the cottage there, and I cannot think of a safer place to take him.”
“I guess we haven't any other option.” His voice was thick with sadness. “Send word to your father with news of our request, and I will arrange for an escort to accompany us to the valley. We will leave as soon as the messengers return with his consent.” He looked miserable. “I wish there was another solution,” He glanced around the wrecked nursery, then shook his head. “but it is obvious that he cannot remain here any longer.”
Lady Skie lowered Damion to his feet. “I will send the messengers immediately.” She laid a caring hand on his shoulder. “Do not worry, my Lord. We will make sure that Damion is safe and well cared for.” She quietly left the destroyed nursery, leaving him alone with his son.
Lord Michael stood for several moments gazing around at the mess, then ordered some passing servants to clean and repair the room. He gathered a few of Damion's toys, then hoisted his son onto his back and set off for his study, a heavy sadness in his heart. He left orders not to be disturbed, then carefully placed his son on the carpeted floor to play, and settled wearily into one of the overstuffed chairs, wondering dazedly what would happen next.
After a few moments, he noticed Damion staring at him with a confused expression. “What is it, little one? You look confused.”
“Why must I leave, Papa?” Damion's large chestnut eyes shimmered with tears. “Did I do something wrong?”
Lord Michael nearly fell out of his chair in shock. Even though he was five years old, Damion rarely spoke, and even more rarely in full sentences. At first, he didn't quite know what to say. It had never occurred to him that Damion might understand what they had been discussing. “Well... uh..” He stopped, wondering why he was always so surprised by his son. He should be used to it by now. He gently lifted Damion into his lap, then smiled sadly. “You have done nothing wrong, my son. It was not your fault.”
“Then why are you sending me away? I don't want to go! I want to stay here with you!” Tears began to flow freely down the young boy's cheeks.
“And I want you to stay.” He answered, his heart nearly breaking. “But you are no longer safe here.” He gently traced a finger over his son's brow scales. “You are not like oth
er children, little one. You are a very special child. You can do things that most people can only dream of."
Damion wiped his eyes with his sleeve. “Is it my magic? I try to control it, but sometimes it gets away from me.”
"Yes,” Lord Michael admitted. “That is part of the problem. People fear those who are different from themselves. You must go somewhere that you will be safe. When you are a little older, you'll understand why we must do this.”
The boy stared at the floor for several moments, then looked up at his father. “Will you come to visit me?”
He smiled. “An army of ogres could not keep me from coming to see you.”
Damion threw his arms around his father and hugged him tightly. “I love you, Papa.”
“I love you too, little one, and nothing in this world could ever change that.” He hugged his son fiercely, then sat back, still cradling his son in his arms. After a moment, he was struck by a sudden thought. “Damion? May I ask you a question?”
His son, who had begun to doze off, content in his father's embrace, looked up sleepily. “Yes, Papa?”
“There is something that I don’t understand. Why haven't you spoken before now?”
Damion shrugged. “I never really had anything to say. People talk way too much anyway. I would much rather listen. You learn more that way.”
Lord Michael didn't know what to say to that. Finally, he smiled and asked. “Do you have any more surprises in store for us?”
“I really don't think so.” Damion answered innocently.