Though the days were growing longer, the strain of seeing each other for short periods of time each day was starting to drive Eldrick and Sebastian to distraction. Knowing they could not afford distractions; they worked out a way to accomplish both objectives at the same time. Sebastian would assist Eldrick in his studies when he failed to understand. This gave them more time together without incurring Sergei’s ire. Seeing his protégé was progressing faster with Sebastian’s help he added more advanced tomes to the study routine.
Sebastian was surprised to encounter the same tomes Sergei had originally handed him in Eldrick’s pile of books. He knew Eldrick was catching up to him, thanks to the learning trance. He asked Sergei for tomes on human magic, he was spending as much time in human form as dragon lately. He figured it would be a good idea to learn those as well. This way if he had to pass himself off as a human during the journeyman trials, he could be working the appropriate magic. Sergei agreed as this made sense. Sebastian began spending most of the night in a trance while Eldrick slept. His draconic form needed less sleep and could devote more time to study.
It came as a surprise when Sergei refused to offer Sebastian any more books.
"Sergei, have I done something to offend you? I was asking since I have finished the others."
“My dear boy,” Sergei chuckled. “You have done nothing wrong. I have no more books for you to read. You have gone through my rather extensive library in your search for knowledge. Both you and Eldrick, now have the same knowledge I do. I believe both you will be better equipped to utilize that knowledge. At least in the form of book knowledge. I can passs along other types of knowledge. Some may come during the travels from here to the conclave.”
With the understanding he and Eldrick had gone through the entire library, he vowed he would increase the library during Eldrick’s time as a journeyman. What bothered him was how he could make it possible. They would need either money some form of trade.
Eldrick learned to craft leather, creating new travel clothes out of the moose hide. It was not easy to work, he had to soften the hide before he could work it. The first few days he spent rolling the leather to make it supple enough to work. Cutting out the patterns was a tedious task; he could not just slice clean through it. He had to score it over and over again until it came free. Then he had to trim the stitched edges so they would bunch and bulge where the stitching went through but not enough to weaken it. The hide was large enough to make two sets of travel garments. One he gifted to Sebastian for the journey to the conclave. The most depressing point would be when they had to part ways in the nearby village as only druids and apprentices were allowed to attend the grove ceremonies.
“Why can’t Sebastian act as your apprentice as well? He has all the knowledge and training that I do,” pleaded Eldrick with a strained voice.
“A master may only have one apprentice at a time. Otherwise, some masters would start a school in order to increase their own prestige. It is all part of the checks and balances agreed upon when the order was created to ensure the prestige of the order itself.”
The look of pity on Sergei’s face expressed he was truly sorry for the hardship he was about to enforce upon his protégé. A youth that he truly cared for like his own flesh and blood. What Sergei could not tell him, was Sebastian would be accompanying him in the guise of his horse. It was Sebastian’s own suggestion since he could not bear the separation.
As they began preparing for the journey to the conclave Sebastian approached Sergei with his concerns.
"Sergei, I was considering the proclivities of this journey. Are we not going to need some money for food and lodgings or is it to be a survival training type journey?"
“I have considered that, since no, it will not be all outdoor survival. I have money set aside for this journey, also we will be staying with friends on our way. I have many friends from my druid travels," he paused raising his hand to stroke his beard. "People I have helped, or those who turned to me for judgement on legal issues. While we are travelling you and Eldrick will be learning law. We will be travelling through at least one other kingdom to get to the conclave and the laws there are different from ours. The kingdom isn’t so much a true kingdom, it is not ruled by a monarch but by a ruling council. You will have certain protections because of our order." Sergei pulled a sheet of paper out of his pocket, handing it to Eldrick. "I will be in my regalia, everyone who sees us will know I am a druid. Eldrick needs to attain the rank of a journeyman before he earns the right to wear regalia other than at specific occasions. It will be different from mine since I am a master. The Grand Druid, has even more majestic regalia when acting as the high druid.”
They packed what they thought they would need for the journey. Unpacking and repacking several times before they were convinced, they had everything. Eldrick consulted the list Sergei had given him. Several sets of clothing each, bedrolls, slickers for when it rained, utilitarian knives, a bow, cooking essentials, and walking sticks. The funds they would need were secreted about their clothing in hidden pockets. Sebastian decided to travel aerially, so as not to draw attention to the group. He would join them in the evenings with his scouting report. Sergei thought this idea had merit but also drawbacks. They would have forewarning of any dangers ahead, but Sebastian would not be able to partake in the lectures. Considering this, Sebastian decided on an initial scouting first thing in the morning to look for possible ambush locations, then travel with them so he could participate in the lectures.
Sergei became apoplectic when Eldrick suggested travelling in a learning trance.
“I wish that were possible. You cannot travel in a trance; you will miss turns and warning signals. Once you enter the trance, the only things you can move are your hands and eyes." He glanced over at Sebastian, "If you know of any way in which it is possible to travel while in the learning trance both Eldrick and I would be grateful for the knowledge. It would make passing information along easier and require less recitation,” hinted Sergei sardonically.
"There is a way to travel while in trance but unfortunately it only works for those of us who are draconic and in our true form. You see our wings function as arms in many respects, that is while we are in trance it is our wings and eyes that are capable of moving. I had a tremendously hard time studying the books you loaned me originally because I had to manipulate the pages with my wings. That was until I learned the art of transformation, then I was able to read the books as a human using my hands instead of my wings," rejoined Sebastian. "The other option is that we could all fly to the conclave. It would save time, but we would need to leave the horse, and Sergei's travel home would be more difficult after the ceremonies."
“What are you talking about? Aren’t you travelling back with him?” inquired Eldrick warily.
"Unfortunately, I will not be travelling back with Sergei. I have some things requiring my attention for a time. Sergei and I have discussed this, and he agrees I should attend to them while you are on your journeyman trials. That doesn't mean I won't be worried about you. But, My Heart, if I cannot travel with you, I must attend to other matters, some dealing with family," Sebastian let out a long sigh. "If I can, I will try to send you messages. Not knowing where you are will make it harder for me to do so. You need to focus on your trials, stray thoughts of me could be a hindrance or even a weakness in the eyes of the one who must accompany you. If Sergei were accompanying you, it would be an entirely different thing. Unfortunately, at his age just going to and from conclave is difficult. I am going to try to find my uncle and ask him to check up on Sergei from time to time. This way I won't be overly worried about him. I cannot be there for him, and he has come to feel like family to me. I would rather see him safe than lose him. The only thing I fear losing is you more." Sebastian’s tone was loving and replete with anguish at the thought of being separated from his soulmate.
