The Sorceress's Apprentice Read online

  The Sorceress’s Apprentice

  By Joshua Jackson

  ©2017 by Joshua Jackson

  TABLE OF CONTENT

  Chapter 1-Athala

  Chapter 2-Athala

  Chapter 3-Athala

  Chapter 4-Zimri

  Chapter 5-Zimri

  Chapter 6-Zimri

  Chapter 7-Zimri

  Chapter 8-Zimri

  Chapter 9-Athala

  Chapter 10-Athala

  Chapter 11-Zimri

  Chapter 12-Athala

  Chapter 13-Zimri

  Chapter 14-Athala

  Chapter 15-Zimri

  Chapter 16-Athala

  Chapter 17-Athala

  Chapter 18-Zimri

  Chapter 19-Athala

  Chapter 20-Athala

  Chapter 21-Athala

  Chapter 22-Athala

  Chapter 23-Athala

  Chapter 24-Zimri

  Chapter 25-Zimri

  Chapter 26-Athala

  Chapter 27-Athala

  Chapter 28-Zimri

  Chapter 29-Athala

  Chapter 30-Zimri

  Chapter 31-Athala

  Chapter 32-Athala

  Chapter 33-Athala

  Chapter 34-Athala

  Chapter 35-Zimri

  Chapter 36-Zimri

  Chapter 37-Zimri

  Chapter 38-Athala

  Chapter 39-Athala

  Chapter 40-Zimri

  Chapter 41-Zimri

  Chapter 42-Zimri

  Chapter 43-Zimri

  Chapter 44-Athala

  Chapter 45-Zimri

  Chapter 46-Zimri and Athala

  Chapter 1-Athala

  It was a rare, clear spring day on the edge of the Eisenberge. No clouds or fog obscured Finsternis Tal and we had a clear view from the Olympic Tower down the Tal to the wide open Alkite plains stretching out for hundreds of miles below.

  Even rarer was the peaceful moment I shared with my Mistress. Instead of ruthlessly testing my knowledge of spells or pushing me beyond my abilities to learn new spells, we reclined together on the top of my castle’s tower, enjoying a drink and the view. My province had been quiet for two months with no hints of uprisings or sedition and crime was down. Leaving the day-to-day in the hands of my administrators, I could focus on my studies. Apparently, my progress had impressed the Mistress, enough so she forwent the last few hours of training and we shared this moment.

  “Have some ale,” the Mistress offered, handing me a cup of the amber liquid.

  I couldn’t help wrinkling my nose at the strong drink but I didn’t dare turn down the Mistress’s offer. As the stuff burned down my throat, I was reminded why I hated it.

  “Still cannot handle ale?” the Mistress mocked me slightly.

  “I will not get drunk but I still do not like it, Mistress,” I defended myself, scowling at the drink for making me look weak.

  “An Eisenbergian who does not like ale?” she laughed, a cold, humorless laugh. “Perhaps you would better be suited as an Alkite.”

  “I am no gebraten,” I sharply retorted.

  “No, but you have not had their wine either,” she gave me a knowing look. “Perhaps you would change your mind then, ya?”

  “That is not likely to happen anytime soon,” I snorted, looking down at our old enemy sprawling out into the horizon. Alkite traders hadn’t been in the Eisenberge for decades.

  “It will happen much sooner than you think, my apprentice,” the Mistress gave me a cold, knowing smile. “Soon we shall all share in Alkilion’s riches and you shall drink your fill of good Alkite wine.”

  It took a moment for the import of her words to sink. Then my jaw dropped.

  “It is time, Mistress?” I asked breathlessly, unable to conceal my excitement.

  “You and Aidan are ready,” she nodded. “Alkilion is fat and sleepy, like a hog just before the slaughter. They will never see us coming until it is far too late.”

  Looking down at the plains of Alkilion, I felt a shiver run down my spine, a combination of excitement and fear. All the training I had gone through, all the torture I had endured had been to prepare me for this task: the conquest of Alkilion, the richest and most powerful nation in the world. Once they were gone, the world would be ours for the taking.

  “What am I to do?” I inquired.

  “Wait for my instructions,” the Mistress answered, rising. “You have done well, my apprentice, and I am confident we shall end Sennacheriv and his cursed people.”

  “And you shall have your revenge,” I added, letting the enthusiasm of the moment sweep me away.

  The Mistress paused and leveled a dangerous glare at me. For a terrifying moment, I thought perhaps I had said too much.

  “Ya,” she nodded, turning the glare out to Alkilion, “I shall have my revenge.”

  Chapter 2-Athala

  “Blitze!”

  Lightning erupted from my fingertips, striking copper rod on the far side of the room. Electricity raced from one end to the other, burning into a piece of paper set up against the wall. A brown-black circle quickly expanded out from the point of contact with most of the paper burning up.

  “Hmm,” I examined the burn, comparing it with other similarly burned sheets of paper. “How does the copper look, Elske?”

  “There appears to be no damage to it, my lady,” my servant informed.

  “It looks like copper is an excellent conductor then,” I jotted a couple of notes down “Silver is still the best of course, but it is too rare and corrodes too easily to use effectively. Copper it is then. Now if there was only someway to contain and store the electricity…” my foot began tapping as I sorted through the problem.

  “Excuse me, my lady,” Elske spoke up.

  “Perhaps if I coiled the copper, kept the energy moving in a loop,” I ignored Elske.

  “My lady?”

  “Of course I would have to insulate it properly. Glass perhaps?”

  “My lady?”

  “WHAT?” I rounded on my servant.

  “Uh, um, uh,” Elske turned ghostly pale under my glare.

  “Spit it out!” I barked angrily. “You better have a damn good reason for interrupting me!”

  Elske muttered incoherently, gesturing over my shoulder.

  “What your witless attendant is trying to say is that Lord Aidan is here,” a male voice sounded behind me.

  I spun on my heel to face my rival apprentice. “What are you doing here?” I demanded, trying to wrestle my anger under control. How dare he come to my castle without my permission?

  “Doing the will of the Mistress, of course,” Aidan flashed that insufferable smirk of his. “What else would any of us be doing?”

  “Of course you are,” I sniffed. “Can you explain why you did not inform me of your visit first?”

  “The Mistress did not tell you I was coming?” Aidan looked genuinely confused. “I suppose that explains your lack of hospitality.”

  “All she told me was to await orders,” I clarified, crossing my arms under my breasts and giving him my best death stare.

  “Ah, ya, those I have,” Aidan produced a rolled-up sheet from under his cloak and handed it to me. It bore the seal of the Mistress and was addressed to me.

  Sighing, I broke the seal, irritated the Mistress chose to give Aidan my orders instead of telling me directly. As I read, though, my irritation quickly turned fury. I read the simple note again and then thoroughly examined the paper for a hidden message. The magic began calling to me, tempting me to blast Aiden into ash. This couldn’t possibly be it!

  “Did you forge this?” I demanded angrily, studying the seal and writing for any irregularities. There weren’t any; if it was f
orged, it was impeccably done but I wouldn’t put it past Aidan. Magic could do a lot.

  “Of course not,” Aidan snapped defensively, momentarily dropping his smug veneer. “I learned my lesson from the time you did. As I recall, the Mistress nearly executed you.”

  “It got rid of one of the apprentices,” I responded suppressing a sigh. The letter had to be legitimate. For all his bravado, Aidan didn’t have the stones to try forging one of the Mistress’s commands. Nor would he admit it if he did. “So I am ‘to provide you whatever aid you require’?” I quoted the directive, swallowing the bile rising in my throat at the insulting orders.

  “So the Mistress commands,” Aidan’s intolerable cockiness returned.

  “What do you need?” I sighed heavily.

  “I need you to turn me into an Alkite,” Aidan requested.

  “What?” My eyebrows shot up. “I do not know the metamorphose-spell and even if I did, I do not exactly have an Alkite lying around.”

  “I know,” Aidan waved off. “I do not need anything permanent; just something to make me pass as an Alkite for a few days. The Mistress said you knew how to make me look like a gebraten.”

  “Sure, stick you in the oven,” I retorted.

  “Amusing,” Aidan rolled his eyes. “You must have something in one of these vials that will do the trick. I would just hate to have to tell the Mistress you failed her.”

  “Do not get a dragon up your ass.” I appraised him for a minute. Aidan was tall, nearly 190 centimeters, which was going to make him stand out. Few Alkites broke 180. His short blond hair would stand out too, along with his pale skin and blue eyes.

  “Your hair is not a problem,” I concluded. “That can be easily dyed. I do have a formula that will darken your skin a bit but it will not be exactly like an Alkite’s. More of a dark orange.”

  “Orange?” Aidan did not look pleased at the prospect, which amused me greatly.

  “Best I can do,” I held out my hands in mock apology. “I would strongly recommend spending as much time in the sun as you can. A good tan will help you blend in. As for your eyes, nothing I can do there. How long are you planning on being in Alkilion?”

  “Who said I am going to Alkilion?” Aidan reflexively denied.

  “So you are wanting to look like an Alkite for the hell of it?” I raised an eyebrow skeptically.

  “Fair point,” the sorcerer conceded. “I am not sure how long; several weeks I imagine.”

  “It would be much easier if you just went down and snagged an Alkite from Schwarztor and have the Mistress work the metamorphose-spell,” I remarked. “What are you doing down there anyway?”

  “If the Mistress has not seen fit to inform you, then neither shall,” Aidan haughtily answered. “Perhaps if you spent less time playing with your potions, she would make you part of her master plan.”

  “I am not ‘playing…’” I started to protest but stopped myself. Aidan was too stupid to understand my work so what was the point? “I am part of her plan; I was told to await her orders and that is what I am doing.”

  “Of course you are,” Aidan condescended. “And your orders are to assist me, which makes you my servant.”

  This time I didn’t bother trying to resist the magic’s call as I let if flood me. “And how would the master like to become a gebraten the hard way?” I snarled, hand raising a hand.

  “Ah-ah,” Aidan warned. “You know the rules; we are forbidden from killing each other…for now. But when I return with Alkilion on a silver platter, the Mistress will unquestionably name me her heir. And when she does, I shall finally be able to get rid of you once and for all.”

  “Do it now, if you are so confidant,” I challenged, hoping to goad him into a fight. “I have got more than enough life force in me to turn you to ash.”

  “Ya, I imagine you do, judging by the pile of dead soldiers,” Aidan said casually. “I doubt the Mistress will be pleased with your use of her resources for frivolous experiments.”

  “They are not frivolous!” I was so close to exploding, to hell with the Mistress’s ban on killing fellow apprentice’s.

  “Temper, temper Athala,” Aidan said. “I wonder what the Mistress would do to you if you defied her command? I cannot imagine it would be pleasant.”

  Aidan was goading me, I realized. While not particularly powerful or bright, Aidan’s one gift was the ability to manipulate people. If I struck first, I lost no matter what. He was right; the Mistress would punish me horribly if I broke her ban. Of course, that was precisely what he wanted.

  With great effort, I pushed the magic away with a calming breath. “I can get a close approximation but it will take several days. The servants will get you settled.”

  “I think I shall take your apartment,” Aidan goaded.

  I felt the call of magic again as my temper rose. “I shall assist you with your mission but until I receive explicit orders from the Mistress herself, Black Falls is still my castle. I suggest you remember that if you do not wish to sleep in the courtyard.”

  “Of course Athala,” Aidan simply nodded. “How long until we begin?”

  “I shall have the potion ready in a couple of hours,” I informed. “Elske will take care of your hair.”

  “I would like to get started immediately,” Aidan nodded to Elske.

  “I shall send her shortly,” I held Elske up. “She shall meet you in room.”

  Aidan took the hint and briskly exited the room.

  “For the dye, you will need this walnut powder,” I fetched a bag from a cupboard across the room. “Take a handful of this power, stick it in a light canvas bag and steep it in boiling water for a couple of hours.”

  “Ya, my lady,” Elske acknowledged in a quavering voice.

  “For my potion, I will need oil, charcoal, water, and every carrot we have,” I continued. “Have the sent to my lab immediately. Also, send someone to Gletcher to get more carrots, a lot more. A couple dozen kilos would be good.”

  “Immediately, my lady,” Elske bobbed her head dutifully

  “Also, send for Nindar immediately,” I added.

  “My lady?”

  “Did I stutter?” I snapped, leveling a reproving glare at my servant. Elske yelped an acknowledgement and scurried, leaving me alone with her thoughts and frustration.

  I couldn’t believe this. For almost all of my sixteen years, I had been training for the confrontation with Alkilion. It was my sole purpose for existence. And now that the moment had arrived, I was being sidelined?

  It made absolutely no sense. I was smarter, stronger, and far more ruthless than the spineless apprentice. I had fought and clawed my way to my place at her side while Aidan had hidden himself away, avoiding any challenge and conflict. If anyone would be her heir, it would be me.

  But it was Aidan, not me, who was the center of the Mistress’s strategy. He would get the glory and be elevated to the prime position in the Mistress’s court while I would be relegated to the shadows. If he did well enough, he might even receive permission to remove me.

  Had I done something to displease the Mistress? She had certainly seemed pleased enough with me during her visit a week ago. Surely she knew I was the better sorceress than Aidan.

  Could this be a test, the final test to see which of us would stand by her side? Whoever brings her Alkilion would be her heir? But then why the command to assist Aidan however he needed? But if Aidan succeeded, he would become her heir. That much I knew for sure.

  I couldn’t let him succeed but at the same time, I dare not sabotage the Mistress’s designs. That would unquestionably be worse than Aidan winning. But if I could figure out what Aidan’s mission was, I could beat him to it. Then I would be the one to stand by the Mistress’s side and I would be rid of Aidan for good.

  “Pardon my lady,” the dark-skinned Nindar poked his head into my lab as I puzzled over the problem. “Elske said you requested me.”

  “Ya, Nindar, come in,” I waved in my Alkite spy.


  “What does my lady wish of me?” Nindar inquired, entering the lab.

  “Tell me everything you can about Alkilion.”

  Chapter 3-Athala

  Nerves wracked me as I headed up to the roof of the Olympic Tower. Tonight was the night. So many things could go horribly wrong. Yet I resolutely climbed the stone steps up the tower.

  Figuring out Aidan’s objective hadn’t been difficult. According to Nindar, tonight was the birthday of Princess Ariadne, the only child of King Sennacheriv. Given the irritatingly patriarchal succession laws of Alkilion, whoever married the princess would inherit the throne. Ariadne was the key to the future of Alkilion. Aidan was after the princess; I just had to get their first.

  Stepping onto the tower, I cursed. Late spring rain poured, slicking the stones and drenching me. It was nearly pitch black, the only light coming from a pair of covered torches next to the trapdoor. As if what I was trying wasn’t hard enough, I had to do it in the rain and the dark. No matter. I had to do this, regardless of the challenges.

  “Elske, is he here?” I called to my servant.

  Emerging from the darkness, a shivering Elske ushered a terrified child towards me. He was the perfect age, about nine or ten, and was struggling violently against Elske’s grip. She looked sick and was having a hard time keeping a grip on the boy.

  “You two, hold him!” I barked at the nearest pair of soldiers.

  Dutifully, the soldiers came up and took the boy from Elske, clamping down an iron grip on his shoulders, holding him still, eliciting a squeak of pain. Elske quickly scampered back, wanting to be nowhere near the spell about to happen.

  “Quiet and hold still!” I ordered sharply. I couldn’t have him squirming around or hurting himself; I needed all the power I could get for this spell.

  Terrified, the boy stilled. I couldn’t see his face in the dark but I could sense his eyes pleading with me.

  Opening myself up, I felt the magic consume me, trying to take over. After a brief moment of wrestling and I gained control over the power. Then my hand closed around the boy’s throat.