The young mouse scrambled up the steep hill that led to Ealdræd’s hut. He stumbled over a rock, but regained his footing and continued his frantic climb. As he reached the crest of the hill, Ealdræd’s hut lay before him. He hurriedly rapped on the wooden door. An aging gray mouse leaning on a staff opened the door. He wore large spectacles, and was dressed in the traditional robes that designated him as a wizard. He smiled when he saw the young mouse panting on his mat.

“Well hello Leo. What brings you here?” he asked gently.

“Oakley is very sick, Ealdræd,” the mouse said respectfully through his gasps for air. “Father requests your aid in healing him, for the sickness is beyond his ability to cure.”

The old mouse suddenly looked grave. “It has been many winters since I have encountered any sickness that was beyond the abilities of Woodrow Everett. These are ill tidings indeed. Take me to your father. I must see to this immediately.”

Leo nodded. The two started down the hill. When they reached the healer’s hut they found Leo’s father hunched over Oakley. He glanced up when he heard the door open, but his attention quickly returned to Oakley. Ealdræd walked over to his friend. The two spoke in hushed tones. Straining his ears, Leo could just make out what they were saying.

“Is it the Nameless Plague?” Ealdræd asked quietly.

“I fear so. All of my herbs have done nothing. I fear it is the same one, the Nameless Plague.”

“How is the boy doing?”

“Oakley is faring better than most. But these are just the early stages. And we both know that there is only one outcome for those infected with the Plague. Death.”

“One outcome, unless one goes to great lengths to save them. I shall climb Mount Sebux, and obtain the root of the Zohar tree. Until the root has been collected, our village will be in great peril.”

“Ealdræd, we both know you can never ascend those great mountains alone. Wizard or not, you have seen too many winters to survive such a quest.”

Leo stepped up to the two older mice. “Father, if I may, I will go with Ealdræd on his quest to obtain a cure to this vile plague.”

His father looked appalled. “Leofwine Everett, eavesdropping on your elders!”

Ealdræd cut in. “The boy has shown much courage in offering this Woodrow. Scold him not.”

His father nodded curtly. “Leofwine, your offer is generous, but you are inexperienced, and unprepared for the dangers that lie beyond our borders.”

Ealdræd glanced at Woodrow. “Can the boy shoot?”

Woodrow nodded. “His bowmanship is impressive for his age, and has some ability with a sword, though he lacks my skill with herbs.”

Ealdræd nodded. “Then he is prepared for what lies beyond our village. Leofwine, pack your things. We depart at sunrise.”

 

*****

 

It seemed the entire village had come to see the two mice off. Mice, squirrels, and even a few hares all waited at the gate to wish them luck on their quest. Ealdræd ignored them, but Leo couldn’t help glancing around the assembled crowd. When they reached the gate they were met by his father. Woodrow was brief, wishing them luck on their quest and presenting Leo with both a dagger and a bow, as well as a quiver full of arrows. Then they were through the gate, and it closed behind them. As soon as the gate closed Leo heard a rustling in the bushes behind them. Leo dropped the bow and quiver and drew the dagger. He spun around, only to find he was facing nothing but a rather large squirrel.

“Bushtail sir, at your service,” the squirrel said in a rather energetic voice.

Leo blinked. He glanced at Ealdræd, who made an I'll-explain-later gesture, and stepped up to Bushtail. The two briefly discussed something about fare and destination, before Ealdræd walked back to Leo.

“Good news. Bushtail will take us to the shore of Lake Glacier. From there it is but a short hike to Mount Sebux.”

Bushtail nodded energetically. “Oh yes. Climb on!”

Leo, now thoroughly confused, followed Ealdræd’s example in climbing onto Bushtail’s back. As soon as the two mice were seated, Bushtail took off. The squirrel was surprisingly fast, and in a few minutes the village was lost in the trees. The forest stretched for miles in every direction, but Bushtail seemed to know exactly where they were. After only a few hours the distant forms of mountainous peaks emerged in the distance. Finally, they stopped at a massive lake. Across lay the mountains, their peaks cold and unwelcoming. Much of the lake was frozen, and massive icebergs floated in the places where liquid water still remained.

“Well, here we are!” announced Bushtail in his energetic way. The two mice dismounted and thanked the squirrel, who then bounded away back into the forest. 

“Ok, now do you care to explain what that was about?” Leo asked Ealdræd. Ealdræd laughed.

“Many of the squirrels of the forest will help us smaller races around the forest in exchange for food,” he explained. “Bushtail is an old friend of mine, and he trusts me to fulfill my promises, so he is fine with being paid shortly upon our return to the village.

Leo nodded, trying to wrap his head around the alien concept.

“Now,” Ealdræd continued, “we need to decide how we should cross this lake. By raft, or by foot. Regardless of whichever we chose, our way will be fraught with peril.”

Leo thought. At last he spoke. “I think we should cross over the ice. While I don’t like the thought of it breaking beneath us, I doubt any raft could survive in such a river.”

Ealdræd nodded. “I agree. On foot it is.”

 

*****

 

As the sun began to set behind the mountains the two mice set out across the frozen lake. The ice was thin in some places, but Ealdræd knew what to look for, and they proceeded without incident for some time. It wasn’t until the last rays of light were fading that they encountered a problem.

“Delightfull,” Leo commented, glancing at the hundred-foot deep crevasse of death before them. The sound of rushing water came from below, although none could be seen. The crevasse was at least ten feet across, far too large to jump.The light of twilight was fading quickly, making their odds of finding their way back to dry ground effectively zero. Any attempts would likely result in bumbling about in the dark before stepping on a patch of thin ice and plunging into the frigid depths, never to resurface.

Ealdræd pointed. “We can cross over there.” In the distance Leo could make out the outline of an icy arch spanning the gap. Leo nodded.

“Can we make it?” he asked. It was getting dark, and the ice would be treacherous in the night. Ealdræd smiled.

“Sometimes you forget that I am a wizard, young Leofwinef. We need not fear the night.”

Leo gasped. Up until then he had all but forgotten about Ealdræd’s abilities. Now he remembered. Ealdræd could easily conjure up light from his staff. He did it back home to please the young ones all the time. Surely he could do it now.

Ealdræd picked up a shard of ice that was lying nearby. Speaking a few words of power, he threw the ice into the air where it remained, suspended midair by his spell. Ealdræd then gently touched the tip of his staff to the ice, and a pale, ice-blue light began to emit from the shard. Leo was amazed. He had never seen Ealdræd take this approach before.

“The ice is a little known trick,” Ealdræd explained. “Magic is always costly, but the ice refracts the light, allowing me to provide less of my energy to fuel the spell.” Leo nodded, and the two mice set off across the frozen plains. Ealdræd’s light was only enough to see a few feet ahead, and they soon lost sight of the arch. They trudged onwards, keeping close to the crevasse whenever possible, returning to it as quickly as they could whenever a patch of thin ice forced them otherwise. 

Suddenly piercing howls rent the night air. Ealdræd grimaced.

“The wolves of the mountains are hunting. We must make haste.”

Leo nodded. They quickened their pace, practically sprinting the final mile to the arch. But as they reached the arch Leo’s heart sank. In the distance he could see the shape of several large wolves, approaching the far side of the bridge.

Ealdræd saw them too. “Quickly Leo, across the bridge.”

“But the wolves-”

“Do you see another way to the mountains? We have no choice.”

Leo grimaced, but complied. The two mice scampered across the arch. The wolves were still some distance away, but they were swift. The mice began frantically climbing up the steep mountain, the wolves ever approaching.

Suddenly Ealdræd collapsed in a heap on the snowy ground. The shard of ice that had been lighting the path for so long fell from the air, shattering into tiny fragments. Leo frantically turned Ealdræd over, feeling for a pulse. It was faint. Ealdræd groaned.

“It… It was foolish of me to come here. Your father was right. The journey… it has taken its toll on me. Help me… help me stand up.”

“Ealdræd, no,” Leo protested. Ealdræd smiled sadly.

“I will not live to see the day, young one. Let me at least have one last blaze of glory.”

Leo sadly lowered his head, and gently helped Ealdræd to his feet. The old mouse smiled at Leo. Then, slowly, he walked down the mountain, to the wolves.

The wolves howled with glee as the elderly mouse walked up to them. They failed to see the look in his eyes until it was too late.

A mountain of snow came hurtling down the side of the mountain, uprooting trees and sweeping up anything in its path. Leo braced for the impact, but the avalanche parted around him. Below him, the wolves panicked. Some stood, riveted to the spot by the sight of thousands of tons of snow and ice crashing down the mountain. Others attempted to flee from the incoming carnage. But no wolf can outrun an avalanche, and the avalanche soon overtook them, sweeping them down the mountain until the mounds of snow and debris went crashing off a massive cliff. Leo watched until the avalanche had ceased. There was no sign of Ealdræd. 

Leo bowed his head. The old mouse had gotten his final blaze of glory, and it had outdone everything he had done in life.

Leo never knew how long he stood there, just staring at the destruction, wishing to see some sign of Ealdræd, some indication he was alive. But there was nothing. Out in the distance he heard the sound of some soft whimpering. The wolfs’ cubs probably. Chances were they had heard the avalanche, and had realized what had happened. Leo sighed. Was there any point in continuing on now, without Ealdræd? 

Ealdræd would want you to finish the quest, said a small voice in Leo’s head.

Leo glanced up at the mountain. He knew the voice was right. Slowly he began to trudge up the mountain. Just as the canyon where Ealdræd lay was about to pass out of sight Leo stopped. Drawing his sword, he raised it in a final salute to Ealdræd. Then he sheathed it, and resumed his climb.

 

*****

 

The early rays of dawn were just beginning to shine over the mountain top when the young mouse reached the peak. Before his eyes lay the strangest tree Leo had ever seen. It was perhaps twice as wide as it was tall, and its leaves were a brilliant golden color. It had to be the Zohar tree.

Leo immediately began to dig in the snow at the base of the tree. He found a small root and grabbed his knife. Carefully he dug the root out, and placed it in a small pouch. He then turned his back on the strange tree. Normally he would have taken time to marvel at such a plant, but now he just wished Ealdræd could have seen it with him. It didn’t feel right to stand here, alone.

 

*****

 

Bushtail was waiting for Leo when he crossed the river. He opened his mouth to ask something, probably about Ealdræd, but then, seeing the look on Leo’s face, closed it. He seemed at a loss for words.

Leo climbed onto the squirrel’s back. “Take me back Bushtail. I can see about your pay when we get there. Just take me home.”

Bushtail quickly shook off his stupor. “Oh-righto. To the village!”

Leo clung onto the squirrel’s back as Bushtail sprinted through the forest. All the while his mind remained in the canyon, where Ealdræd had fallen. Leo could still picture him, standing peacefully as the avalanche engulfed him. The old mouse had known his fate from the beginning. Leo was certain of that. But Ealdræd had gotten the death he chose, and Leo could accept that.

 

*****

 

By the time Bushtail reached the village a small crowd had gathered outside the gates. Leo ignored them. He could see their excitement at his return quickly vanishing as they realized that he was returning alone. He knew they had questions, but he didn’t want to answer them. Instead he rushed to the healers hut, his head down.

When he stepped inside he found Woodrow hunched over Oakley. It appeared that Oakley’s condition had worsened. Woodrow glanced up.

“Do you have it?” he asked Leo, who nodded. He passed Woodrow the root segment he had taken from the tree. His father quickly extracted some juice from the root, and dripped the juice into Oakley’s mouth. He sighed in relief as Oakley let out a faint groan.

“The magic of the Zohar tree is working. The Plague will not manage to overtake us.”

Leo slumped in relief. He had been worried that he was too late, that the Plague would be able to overtake the village. Then Woodrow frowned

“Where is Ealdræd?” he asked quietly.

Leo lowered his head. “He… he didn’t make it,” he said quietly. Woodrow nodded.

“Leofwine, don’t blame yourself for his demise. Ealdræd always knew that he was not destined for a quiet death. I won’t ask for answers you don’t want to give, but I know that whatever happened, he would be proud of you. Because of you our village is saved.”

Leo nodded, and stepped back outside. He glanced up at Ealdræd’s now empty hut. Ealdræd had been willing to sacrifice himself for the village. Leo hoped he could be that brave.

The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and it was a beautiful spring day. For the first time since Ealdræd died, Leo felt at peace.