Dragons Shining Read Free

was deep inside, when he was only seven years old. He had no trouble with school, absorbing everything like a sponge. When he sensed jealousy from others he learned to make mistakes, just like them.
     
    Baird had given the kids a challenging puzzle to solve when trying to teach the children logic. “Consider this”, he said. “Three prisoners were given a chance for release, except only one of them was to go free. One was blind. The jailor put a small hat on each of their heads and said if you take your hat off you lose. The men could only see the hats on the other two men, and not the one on their own head. They were told there were three blue hats and two red hats in all, before three were selected and placed on the three men’s heads. The men were asked one at a time if they could determine the color of their hat by logic alone, to win his freedom. The jailer asked the first man, who said, “I cannot tell”. He asked the second man who said the same thing. He then asked the blind man, and the blind man said, “I have a ‘What Color?’ hat on and ‘this’ is how I know”.
     
    Baird had then asked for a show of hands of who could say what color hat the blind man had on and also tell him logically why. No one raised his or her hand.
     
    After class, as Owen was leaving, Baird said. “Owen, I would like you to stay a while today.” The rest of you can go.
     
    After the other kids had left, Baird asked, “Owen, I know you solved that puzzle. Why didn’t you say so?”
     
    “How do you know?”
     
    “Because I can use a little magic.” He then held his hand over his pipe and said “Flamar”.  A blue flame shot from his hand to light the pipe.
     
    Owen jumped back and said, “Wow. Oh how neat. Can I do that?”
     
    “If you let me teach you, yes. But you must be honest with me at least. Don’t hide things from me, because I am your friend.”
     
    The way he said that caught Owen’s attention. Suddenly he has a suspicion, but he only said, “The hat was blue. Logically the first man did NOT see two red hats or he would have known his was blue. So, the first man saw either two blue hats or a blue and a red hat. The blind man’s hat could not have been red because: If the blind mans hat was red then second man would have known his hat was blue, or else the first man would have seen two red hats and would have won. Therefore the blind man’s hat was blue.”
     
    “ This boy will have a powerful mind when mature ”, thought Baird.
     
    “Very good”, said Baird. “Now I will teach you a spell. Not the fire spell just yet, but one to calm animals. I think you need that one first”.
     
    “Why are the animals afraid of me, Baird?” This disturbed Owen more than he let on.
     
    “Let’s just say they sense a predator in you, Owen. Can’t you feel that deep inside?”
     
    That did bother Owen. He could deep down in his soul feel something wild and ancient. A powerful something held at bay - by his own fear mostly. But that something wanted OUT. “Yes, how did you know?”
     
    “A little magic, remember? Here, what is magic but the talent and then the belief and training to go with it? You have the talent, without question. First though, you must understand yourself a little better Owen, and accept what you are. Come here.”
     
    Owen approached the old man, who put his hands on Owen temples. “ Hear me Owen?”
    He tried to jump back but Bard had firm grip on his head. “Yes, I hear you. How is this possible in my mind?”
     
    “Relax Owen, relax. Let me in.”
     
    At first, Owen would not. Fear froze his thinking, and closed his mind tightly. But he finally did relax. He sensed that the old man really was his friend. Baird’s tickling presence began peeling back the layers within Owen’s consciousness. What he saw made his heart race and bile rose in his throat as Baird led him deeper and deeper, until the old man became afraid and withdrew.
     
    Owen turned and threw up in the