The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt

know how I got there to tell you the truth.” It was the truth in that he couldn’t tell her exactly, but he did have a few unsubstantiated theories.
    “Poor boy. Are you planning on returning home when your leg heals?”
    James nods. “I intend to, but I may stay around here, at least for a while.” Finishing the last of the breakfast and feeling very satisfied, he sits back and watches her extract peas from the next couple of pods. She has a large pile of them yet to shell. “If you like, I could help you with that. I used to help my grandmother when I was back home.”
    “That would be nice, thank you.”
    Rising, she removes his dirty plates and brings him a bowl. Placing it before him, she divides the pile of peas, giving herself the larger portion, and then they begin shelling in earnest. He feels good about his progress, his bowl fills at a steady pace and soon his hands are shelling like a pro. His pile is nearly reduced by half when Cyanna comes in with the dogs trotting beside her. Spying James shelling peas with her mother, she comes and sits in the chair next to him. The dogs take up position on the floor beneath the table.
    Mary kicks at the dogs and exclaims, “Outside you two!” The dogs hop up and race back outside. “They’d stay in here all day if I let them.”
    James nods and gives her a grin. Taking another pod he splits it open, deposits the peas into his bowl, then reaches for another.
    “Would you like to go see the pond out back?” Cyanna asks. “It’s got lots of ducks in it.”
    James looks at Mary who nods and smiles “Don’t be too long, lunch will be ready in an hour or so. Thank you for your help, James.”
    He had just enough time to blurt out a quick, “Thank you,” before Cyanna grabs his hand and pulls him toward the door.
    Unable to go as fast as she would like due to his leg, she continuously encourages him to hurry up with a firm, steady pull on his arm. “If we don’t hurry, the ducks will all be gone before we even get there.” Once out the front door, the dogs run over to join them on their walk.
    On the way she gives him the grand tour of all the different things to be found on their farm. She points out the chicken house, the dog houses, and all the other things a little girl is interested in.
    Continuing a little farther brings the pond with the ducks into view. He agrees with her that there are a lot of ducks out on the water. There are several different species, none exactly matching any he’d ever seen back home. But ducks are ducks and finding a good spot to sit, they relax and do nothing more than enjoy watching their antics.
    James finds a comfortable spot nestled against the side of a tall tree. Once he’s settled, Cyanna sits right next to him. He couldn’t help but smile.
    “When I was little, my father would take me camping in the mountains near where I grew up. We would hike a long way through the mountains, sometimes taking as much as two days before reaching our campsite. Often, we would camp near a lake and it always felt like we were the first people to have ever been there. Many times we watched the geese as they came in to rest on their trip south.”
    “Where is your father now?”
    “Dead. He’s been gone for some time now.”
    “That’s sad.”
    “Sometimes I really miss him. But he’s never really gone, not as long as I keep him alive in my memories.”
    “Mama and papa are never going to die. They said so.”
    James smiles at her innocence. “That would be good.”
    “And I’m never going to leave them, ever.” The look in her eyes said she meant it wholeheartedly.
    “Later on you may change your mind. Just enjoy the time you have with them now.” Enjoying the peace and quiet, he changes position and lays flat on the ground. Far above them, clouds drift lazily across the sky. Cyanna lays her head next to James’ and over the course of the next hour, they alternate between finding different shapes in the sky and watching