The Fuller's Apprentice (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 1) (55 page)

“Other wizards would step up to take your place.” Master Dabiel came to stand beside him. “The burden isn’t yours alone to bear. The Mother would call those she needed to carry on her work.”

He turned to her. “But she called
me
. I stood before her and promised to serve her. I can’t abandon her now, can I? Wouldn’t that violate everything I’ve ever claimed to believe?”

Dabiel’s voice was gentle. “What do you think, Elkan?”

“I don’t know! Please, master, tell me what I should do. I trust you; I know you see far more clearly than I can. I’ll do whatever you say.”

“I can’t do that, journeyman. The choice is yours alone. Even when the Mother’s gift of free will is more a burden than a blessing, we each must bear it for ourselves.”

He looked at her ruefully. “You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?”

“Have I ever?”

He gave a brief dry laugh. “No.” The humor faded from his face, and he turned to stare out the window again. For a long time he was silent.

Josiah put his arms around Sar’s neck.
I wish there were something I could do to help him.

The donkey leaned into him.
Me, too. But we can only wait.

Finally Elkan turned back to face them. His expression was calm, and resolved, and a little sad. “All right. I’ve made my decision.”

Dabiel nodded. “What will you do?”

“Do you have to ask? I will serve the Mother. Of course.” He smiled bleakly at her. “Is it really a free choice, if you can’t make any other?”

“I believe it is. As long as only your own heart compels you.” She raised an eyebrow and grinned wryly at him. “Others might disagree. It’s a controversial point. You could do some research, maybe organize a debate on the subject.”

Elkan snorted, his smile growing wider and more genuine. He turned to Josiah. “I’d be honored to take you as my apprentice, if you’ll have me.”

Josiah couldn’t imagine anything in the world he wanted more. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

Dabiel beamed. “It’s all settled, then. I’ll put both of you on the list for the Springtide ceremonies. Your mastery, Elkan, and the apprenticing for the two of you, and we can confirm your bonding, Josiah. Who knows, maybe the Mother will have sent us another Mother-touched animal by then and we can see to your next bonding as well, Elkan. If not, you’ll be first in line when one comes along.”

The moment Josiah dreaded had come. He couldn’t put it off any longer. But he found, strangely, that he didn’t mind as much as he’d though he would.

He pulled his knife from its sheath on his belt. The pain would last only a moment, and Elkan and Dabiel would keep him safe. It wasn’t right that Sar should stay bonded to him, not when he and Elkan so clearly belonged together. If the Mother still wanted him, there’d be another familiar for him eventually. Maybe at Springtide a year from now, when he’d be the right age.

Should he say anything? No, they’d only try to dissuade him. He braced himself. With a quick motion, he drew his knife across the ball of his thumb and flung the bright droplets of blood into Sar’s face.

The pain he expected didn’t come. He stood there, feeling foolish, blood oozing from his thumb. The cut hurt. Sar and Elkan and Dabiel all looked at him, their expressions changing from surprise to comprehension.

“That’s not how it works,” Dabiel said, at the same time Elkan said, “You can’t break your bond, Josiah. Only Sar can.”

Sar’s voice echoed in his mind.
Do you wish to renounce your service?

Confused, Josiah tried to answer them all at once. “No. I mean, I don’t think it’s fair I should be bonded and Elkan not. He could do so much more with it than I could. At least at first.”

Dabiel gestured Elkan to silence and addressed Josiah. “Breaking a bond isn’t something to be done lightly. If you’ve decided you’re not willing to serve after all, Sar will accommodate you. But if you intend to stay a part of the Wizards’ Guild, your bond remains as the Mother made it.”

“Believe me, it’s not something you want to go through if you have any other choice,” Elkan told him earnestly. He shuddered. “It’s a terrible, terrible feeling. I hope you never have to experience it.”

Josiah looked at Sar. “Are you sure? Because I am willing to serve, if the Mother really does want me. For good, not just because that’s how things turned out.”

“She does,” Dabiel and Elkan said at the same time, and Sar’s voice sounded in his head, the only one, Josiah knew, that really counted.
She does.

Sar touched his muzzle to Josiah’s hand. Golden light glowed, and Josiah felt a slight sense of effort and a brief burst of sound and taste and scent. The pain in his hand vanished, and the cut grew into a neat, straight scar.

A commotion of voices came faintly from downstairs. Dabiel shook her head and went to the door. “I should go see what that is. Are you feeling well enough to come down to the dining hall, Elkan?”

“Yes. I’m starving. Just let me clean up a bit first.” He moved to take a fresh tunic from the wardrobe, but stopped in surprise.

Tobi rose from her contented sprawl by the fire. She strolled to Elkan’s side and looked at him, her tongue lolled out in the way Josiah always thought looked like she was laughing. She twined about his legs and butted her head under his hand.

He scratched at her ears, looking from Tobi to Dabiel. “Do you think… But you’re supposed to bond with Kalti. I can wait. I wouldn’t want her to miss out on bonding at Springtide.”

Dabiel cocked her head and studied the mountain cat. “Hmm. I wonder…” She shook her head. “Come along, Elkan. You look fine. You can freshen up after we get some food in you.”

Elkan assented and followed, though Josiah noticed him rub at the stubble on his cheeks.

When they arrived in the dining hall, they found a ring of people gathered around the hearth. Dabiel hurried forward, beaming. “Hadara! Welcome home.”

Hadara and Dabiel embraced. “And Kalti. It’s so good to have you back. Who’s this?”

Kalti stroked the tiny lamb nestled in her arms. “I named her Amia, Master Dabiel. We found her yesterday on a farm outside the city.”

Dabiel touched the lamb’s shoulder, where Josiah could see a neat brown oval of darker wool. She cocked her head at Elkan, whose hand rested on Tobi’s head. “I take it she’ll be ready to bond at Springtide?”

Hadara followed her gaze to the mountain cat. “Tobi, you did find them! We worried when she disappeared, Elkan, but we figured she’d track you down.”

Kalti’s arms tightened around Amia. “I know it was all arranged for me to bond with Tobi. But please, Master Dabiel, Amia chose me. I’m sure of it! Let someone else have Tobi. She won’t care.”

Dabiel turned to hide her smile from Kalti. Her eyes twinkled at Josiah. “Who are we to argue, when one touched by the Mother has made her choice?

Josiah grinned. He petted the lamb when Kalti thrust her at him. Elkan moved to take a seat at a table; Josiah followed him.

Elkan was pale and a little shaky, still showing the effects of his ordeal. He sank into the chair and leaned his head on his hand. “Josiah, could you bring me some food, please? I’ve got to eat, but I’m still so tired…”

“Of course.” Josiah hurried off and returned balancing heaping plates of food for both of them. Sar and Tobi were already digging into their own repasts.

Elkan perked up as Josiah set the food before him. “Thank you so much—apprentice.”

Josiah returned Elkan’s smile mischievously. “My joy is in the service—master.” His grin widened. “Although maybe I shouldn’t call you that yet. Since you won’t actually be my master until Springtide.”

Elkan laughed. “I don’t think anyone will mind if we start using the titles a few days early.” He began to eat. After a few bites, he paused and studied Josiah. “As soon as we’re through here, I want you to come back to my room with me. We can go over the first chapter or two of the Law together before bedtime. You can borrow my copy until we can visit a bookseller and get you your own. You’ll have a lot of studying to do to make up for missing two years of your apprenticeship. Then tomorrow, Sar can give you some instruction in healing, and Master Firah will want to get your measurements for your cloak…”

He went on, detailing the many tasks that would fill the days to come. Josiah swallowed. A great deal of hard work awaited him. But he looked at Elkan, and over at Sar, and smiled to himself. At least it wouldn’t be boring.

Thirty-One

J
osiah stood with the other new apprentices on the dais that had been erected at one end of the Mother’s Hall. He felt awkward; he was more than two years older and at least a head taller than any of them. He pressed his hand into Sar’s back. The donkey’s presence, too, set him apart from the others. Sar had been willing to wait back at their seat, but Josiah had insisted he wanted him by his side.

He looked out over the packed hall. The chairs were arranged in rows tonight, instead of the usual Restday circle. Many lanterns cast their warm glow over the assembled wizards, familiars, family, and friends gathered to witness the Springtide ceremonies.

The girl next to him bounced on her toes, unable to contain her excitement. She must have learned just a month ago that she’d been chosen by the Mother to be a wizard. Josiah wondered if she had any idea what that really meant. How could she?

All over Tevenar tonight, apprentices were being inducted into their new guilds. The choices they made would shape their lives in ways they couldn’t predict. Josiah had certainly never anticipated, two years ago when he’d been accepted into the Fullers’ Guild, that he’d be standing here now.

Nirel should have been apprenticing tonight, to whatever craft she might have chosen. Instead she was somewhere far away, maybe already beyond the borders of Tevenar, in unknown, forbidden waters. Josiah wondered if he’d ever find out what became of her. Probably not. He sent a brief silent prayer to the Mother for her well being.

He turned his attention to the podium as the first name was called. The boy went up and the line shuffled forward. Master Dabiel, Buttons beside her, presented him to the crowd, and his new master welcomed him and led him off.

At last it was Josiah’s turn. Master Dabiel beckoned to him. He went to her, and she put her hands on his shoulders, turning him to face the crowd.

His family hooted and waved from their place off to one side. The messages had traveled quickly, allowing them just enough time to make the long trip from Korisan. They’d arrived the day before, bearing the papers from Master Sef that made his transfer from the Fullers’ Guild to the Wizards’ Guild permanent.

Kefira sat with them, holding Yered’s hand. The loss of her ship had been a great blow to her, along with all the other sailors whose plans had been disrupted. A smaller ship was being readied to make the journey in its place, for the outpost could not be left unserved. But in the meantime, she and Yered had decided to go along with the wedding while his whole family was in the city. That would take place next Restday, a week hence.

Master Dabiel’s voice carried to the far corners of the hall. “And finally, I’m pleased to present to you a very special apprentice. Though Josiah comes to the Wizards’ Guild by an unusual path, we’re very lucky to have him. His heroic actions during the flood saved many lives. Including that of our own Elkan, who will be receiving his mastery tonight and has agreed to take Josiah as his apprentice.”

Josiah’s face grew hot as applause burst out. Master Dabiel knew very well it wasn’t that simple. He didn’t deserve that sort of unqualified praise. Elkan grinned wryly at him from beyond Dabiel.

“The Mother chose him and bonded him with one of those she has touched, the donkey Sardonyx.” Sar swished his tail and flicked an ear forward in response to the renewed applause. “Please join me in welcoming to the guild Apprentice Josiah Potterkin Wizard.”

The crowd’s noisy response thoroughly embarrassed Josiah. He blushed and looked at his feet.

Elkan stepped forward, arms full of familiar brown cloth. He settled the new cloak around Josiah’s shoulders. Josiah fingered a fold, tracing the path of the blue and gold threads. He looked sideways at Elkan, who met his glance with a quirked eyebrow.

Elkan put a hand on Josiah’s shoulder and squeezed gently. The two of them made their way down from the dais, toward the place reserved for them with the other new apprentices and their masters. But before they could take their seats, a waving hand at the back of the hall caught their attention.

Elkan looked at the stage, where Dabiel was presenting the first of those being promoted from apprentice to journeyman. “Sit down, Josiah. I’ll be right back.”

“That was Savir, wasn’t it?” Josiah and Dabiel had told Elkan all about the bandits’ escape and Savir’s mission. “Do you think he caught Ozor and the rest? Please, I want to find out, too.”

“All right. Just try not to disturb anyone.”

Josiah did his best to be quiet as they made their way past the rows of chairs to the rear. His footsteps were soft enough, but Sar’s hooves clattered.

Savir pulled them back by the far wall. He spoke in a low voice. “Our ship just got back to the dock. I’m glad I didn’t miss the whole ceremony. And especially not the party afterwards!” He grinned, but Josiah could tell his cheerfulness was forced.

“Any luck?” Elkan tried to keep his voice dispassionate, but a trace of urgency leaked through.

Savir’s shoulders slumped. “I’m afraid not. Ozor used all sorts of tricks to throw us off their track. We kept losing the trail and wasting time finding it again. For a while we were sure they’d turned north. By the time we realized they’d cut south again, it was too late.” He ran a hand over his forehead and stroked the dog at his side. “I’m sorry. They were a full day ahead of us when they passed the boundary stones and left Tevenar. I tried to persuade Music to set aside the Law of Isolation so we could keep pursuing them, but he refused.”

Elkan shook his head. “You did your best. Sit down and rest. I’ve got to get back to my seat; they’ll be calling me for the mastery ceremony in a minute.”