Apprentice

by Nicholas Hale

  "I hope you've been well," continued Gawain with a small hint of malice in his voice. Thaugmir's expression froze for a moment, betraying his anger, before relaxing once again. Nobody had a sense of humor these days, thought Gawain.

  "I am well enough. But I'm doing better than I should be doing, don't you think?" Thaugmir asked, smiling. If the words were meant as an insult, Gawain didn't care. He was far too old to let such meaningless jibes affect him. Stepping into the tower had already given him a better understanding of how Thaugmir was still alive. The fact that Thaugmir's own strength had little to do with it made his insults even less meaningful.

  "I do hope you will be staying for lunch, Master?" asked Thaugmir. Gawain had been afraid of this. He hadn't intended on staying that long, but despite wanting to smite down the man in front of him, Gawain could never refuse hospitality. It was simply too rude, in his opinion. Yet, the man standing in front of him had once been his enemy. Gawain was still thinking when Thaugmir surprised him.

  "I notice that you have taken a keen interest in the tower. I can feel you trying to communicate with it. Surely you cannot say no to a tour, now can you? Besides, my apprentices have prepared a most marvelous meal for us. Some of the dishes would be considered extravagant even for Eoran nobility."

  Was Thaugmir that eager to ingratiate himself? He looked closely and could see the Lumen's lingering effect on Thaugmir. The spell was still as potent as ever and was eating him away from inside. Yet, as far as Gawain could make out, Thaugmir seemed unaffected by it. That only made Gawain's desire to study the tower—even for a brief period—stronger. But Thaugmir was mistaken if he thought he would be getting the spell removed.

  "A full tour of the tower would take a good few hours," continued Thaugmir. "After which you may rest for some time before lunch."

  In a way, Gawain would be indebted to Thaugmir if he accepted. But he would still need to decide if it was worth letting him live. After much thought, Gawain spoke.

  "Very well, Thaugmir. Your hospitality is welcome."

  Chapter 3

  Gawain felt relief flood his body as he lay down on the bed. The tower was much smaller than Castle Norvind, but there were so many damned stairs. His own rooms back in Norvind were comfortable enough but paled in comparison to the chambers prepared for his short stay here. It seemed Thaugmir wasn't sparing any expense in making Gawain happy. That he had been impressed by the tour was an understatement. It had greatly surpassed all his preconceived notions. It had much in common with Norvind, but, at the same time, it felt so different. His attempts to try and understand the magic fueling the tower only left Gawain with more questions than answers.

  But Gawain understood that the process was a difficult one. The art of calling upon the Lumen had been studied for eight hundred years by Gawain's predecessors before it was handed down to him. He doubted that he would have been able to accomplish such a monumental task if he were to start at the beginning by himself.

  The Shadow Spire was an ancient and wondrous object, too complex to be understood in a single day. Despite being smaller than Norvind, it was every bit as alive as its counterpart. It seemed almost sad to Gawain that it had never been in hands capable enough unlock its hidden potential. In his lifetime, Gawain had known three mages to sit the throne of the Shadow Spire, including Thaugmir, and not one, he thought glumly, was worthy of it.

  He also began to understand why Naxannor had bypassed the tower. Awoken from its slumber, the arch-demon had been in a weakened state. The path taken by the demon across Ryga seemed to indicate that it was targeting the weaker kingdoms and villages first, slowly regaining its strength along the way. If the magic of the Shadow Spire was anything like that of Norvind, then the presence of a keeper would strengthen the magic a hundredfold—a vessel for the tower's magic to flow through, as Gawain had once become when pressed by Valymar and his twelve. Gawain suspected that Naxannor knew this but the arch-demon had erred in the assumption that such a powerful vessel existed in the Shadow Spire.

  Namoth, the second arch-demon to be awoken, was presently fighting against the Eoran emperor's Army of Light in the frozen tundra, too far north to be of any concern in Ryga, or the Aegean Isles. But Gawain had kept in touch with current events and knew how powerful the demon had become. If Namoth was any indication of an arch-demon's capabilities, even a weakened Naxannor could have taken the Shadow Spire, albeit with some difficulty. In his opinion, it was most likely the tower itself that had deterred Naxannor with its presence, and not Thaugmir.

  The information he gleaned from a quick study suggested that the tower acknowledged Thaugmir as master and owner, yet there was a slight hint of doubt...as if it had found someone worthier. Not Gawain—the tower seemed to somehow know that Gawain was bound to Norvind.

  After a short nap to clear his mind, Gawain got up from the bed and took his staff in hand. Now would come the hard part. While the tour was impressive, Gawain had no intention of freeing Thaugmir. It was not that he enjoyed killing. Although he did take a small amount of pleasure in way events had turned out, it was more a matter of principle. Actions had consequences, and Gawain knew that Valymar and his twelve fully understood what they were getting into when they attacked him. At least Valymar, Astrid and the others had fought and died worthy of the legacy of their masters and schools. Thaugmir and Devrin had displayed cowardice—running away and leaving their companions to die. It was contemptible. Gawain owed it to the memories of Valymar and the rest to kill Devrin and Thaugmir as well. Not that he needed to, with the after-effects of the Lumen eating them away. Gawain might not actively pursue vengeance, but he was not about to change the course of events for the price of a lunch and a tour.

  Gawain barely exited and found two apprentices already waiting to escort him to the dining chambers. Gawain hoped they hadn't been waiting too long. Thaugmir had sunk lower in Gawain's eyes by the way he treated his apprentices. The apprentices generally performed certain tasks for their masters out of courtesy. But to treat them as servants?

  The wards made it difficult, but Gawain could estimate the apprentices' prowess by looking at them. He had been in a crazed hysteria when he fought Valymar and the others, but he remembered very well the spells each one of them had used. Including Thaugmir. And surely, he could teach his apprentices better than this? He was deliberately withholding much information from them. The students were much better off left to explore magic themselves. He had half a heart to tell them as much.

  The dining chamber was massive. It appeared to have been cleaned spotlessly and decorated in preparation for his arrival. The table was large and Thaugmir was already seated at one end. Thaugmir hadn't been exaggerating when he said that the feast was fit for the finest of the Eoran nobles. Gawain took his place opposite Thaugmir at the other end. He saw that there were a few apprentices serving while the rest stood at the far corners of the room.

  "Your apprentices should be joining us for lunch," said Gawain.

  "My apprentices eat only after I have finished," said Thaugmir. Gawain gave a disapproving look.

  "Master Gawain. You have your ways of teaching at Norvind, and I have mine. We have strict rules at the Shadow Spire and an absolute hierarchy among the apprentices. A chain that we do not break. Apprentices lower in the hierarchy learn from the ones who are at a more advanced stage. We have always believed at the spire that mentoring others often brings out the best in the mentor as well as the student. The apprentices who learn directly from me do not perform any tasks. They are treated as well as any guests at the spire. I care for each as my own child."

  The apprentices taught other apprentices? Gawain did not completely agree with such methods. Magic was a craft unlike any other. Mistakes could be fatal, but he knew Thaugmir's method had its own merits. He too found that he understood some concepts better when he heard himself explaining them. However, it was definitely a slower learning process for the students. That would explain the relative weakness of the apprentices waiting o
n Gawain.

  "And I did not ask them to wait by your door," said Thaugmir, as if reading Gawain's mind. "They did that of their own accord."

  Gawain doubted this, but was willing to consider it. He did recall a certain awe in the eyes of the apprentices who led him to the dining chambers.

  "Now. Let's put away such trivialities and partake of the brilliant feast before us."

  It was indeed a brilliant feast. Gawain ate well at Norvind, but his fare was more spartan. Being a mage of his stature, he had often dined with nobles from many regions when he traveled for his studies. He had dined once with the Aegean Emperor Thyurin as well. Shortly after Naxannor had been disposed of, the kingdoms of Ryga were weakened and Thyurin had sought Gawain's neutrality before invading and colonizing Ryga. He had been invited to the emperor's palace for a brilliant feast. The food he had today could easily rival that.

  In a short while, they were sitting outside on a terrace that overlooked the parched surroundings of the spire. It looked incredibly hot, but the tower seemed to have generated a cool breeze. There was a small side table that held wine goblets. One of the apprentices had just poured black wine into it.

  "Do not be fooled by its appearance, Master Gawain," said Thaugmir. Thaugmir launched off into a story of how he had acquired the wine while in Eora. But Gawain was busy thinking of a good excuse for what would come next. He knew any moment now, Thaugmir would be changing the subject.

  "You are no doubt wondering why I called you here, yes, Master Gawain?" he asked, confirming Gawain's suspicions.

  "Both of us know why you have called me here, Thaugmir," said Gawain, wishing to get right to the point, "and my answer is no."

  Thaugmir seemed to take it well, thought Gawain. He simply nodded and then spoke. "Might I ask why? Surely, I am no great threat to you. For the last hundred years, I have done nothing to get in your way. I committed a grave mistake, but—"

  "You knew. All of you knew what you were getting into," said Gawain.

  Thaugmir nodded.

  "And yet you and Devrin chose to..." Gawain's voice trailed off, not wishing to insult his host. Not so shortly after eating under his roof.

  "Self-preservation is a crime in your eyes, Master Gawain?" asked Thaugmir. Before Gawain could answer, Thaugmir spoke again.

  "Very well. We might have different views on this, but to each his own. I cannot change your mind, just as you cannot change mine."

  It wasn't like Thaugmir to be so casual, thought Gawain. After all the trouble he went to, Gawain had just refused his request. Surely he isn't telling me something, thought Gawain, and quickly began to prepare himself mentally if Thaugmir were to try anything stupid. Surely once was enough for this fool. The protective wards in the tower were strong, but Gawain could still muster enough strength to defeat Thaugmir. The Lumen had ways around such runes.

  Luckily Thaugmir made no move except to stare into the desert wasteland surrounding the tower. His magical defenses were down and he appeared to have no intention to fight. Good.

  "I do have one request to make before you leave, Master. One that you should be able to grant easily," said Thaugmir. Gawain did feel some pity for Thaugmir. He could only wonder as to what would be asked of him. Gawain nodded in agreement.

  "You have seen nearly all my apprentices. Except those that learn from me directly. There are four of them and they have all expressed a desire to meet and seek your blessings. Would you please grant this of me?"

  Gawain hadn't expected this. A simple task and the least he could do to repay his host's hospitality. He laughed in response.

  "Is that all?" he asked. "Lead me to them."

  Standing up Gawain made to move towards the door when he felt Thaugmir's hand on his.

  "No need to get up, Master," he said as a smile spread on his face. "They are already here."

  Gawain turned to see that four apprentices had arrived. He had barely lain his eyes on the group before he stood transfixed by one of them.

  Chapter 4

  Thaugmir felt his insides exploding with pleasure as Gawain saw his apprentices. Good enough for you, you self-righteous bastard? He could barely contain his excitement. Lorian was standing to the far left and Gawain was staring at him, trying to gauge his strength. He was bound to be surprised. At twenty, Lorian was the youngest of his apprentices, and easily the strongest. Everything was going much better than Thaugmir had planned. It had been nearly a full minute before he turned to Thaugmir and spoke with some difficulty.

  "He is your apprentice?" asked Gawain. It was very clear to Thaugmir whom Gawain was referring to. He hadn't even glanced at the other apprentices. Thaugmir could see small beads of sweat forming on the arch-mage's brow.

  "He is more than my apprentice. He is like a son to me," he replied, feigning pride. Gawain glanced at Lorian and back at Thaugmir again. It was beautiful.

  "I believe we have more to discuss," Thaugmir said, now standing up. "You may leave us," he said to the apprentices. They silently walked out, leaving only Thaugmir and Gawain on the terrace. The breeze was blowing stronger than ever. The Shadow Spire seemed to have sensed their excitement.

  "Where did you find him?" asked Gawain, sitting back down in his chair.

  "A village in northern Ryga. Does it really matter?" asked Thaugmir. This time he let the smirk show. Thaugmir decided to strike while Gawain was vulnerable.

  "Do you know how old he is?" asked Thaugmir.

  "He doesn't seem to have altered his age at all. I would say no more than five and twenty," replied Gawain.

  "He will turn twenty in just three months' time," said Thaugmir.

  Gawain seemed already too impressed to be shocked by this. His shoulders drooped lower.

  "And he had no prior training before he arrived here?" asked Gawain.

  "None whatsoever. He joined under me when he was nine. That makes it but eleven years that he has been studying under me."

  "Incredible..." Gawain seemed lost in thought. Probably thinking about how much more Lorian could have accomplished if he was Gawain's apprentice. And it was true. The slowest part of Lorian's studies had been the first five years while he studied under other apprentices. Once he was past the second tier, his growth was phenomenal and he had studied under Thaugmir himself for just four years to reach his current stature.

  "You seem impressed," said Thaugmir. He got straight to the point. "You know the price if you want him."

  "He is not chattel to be sold or—" started Gawain before Thaugmir interrupted.

  "You know exactly what I mean," he said. "A hundred years I have been under this blasted spell of yours. I will not be held prisoner in my own tower!"

  Gawain appeared indignant.

  "I can approach him myself. You are not his owner and he does not need to stay with you!"

  "Oh, but he will, dear Gawain. You do not realize what I mean to the boy. I picked Lorian up from the streets. He was a homeless child who hadn't known a parent's love all his life. I wasn't exaggerating when I said he was like a son to me. He will not leave if I forbid him to."

  "I must speak with the boy!" protested Gawain.

  "You get nothing until you give me what I want," said Thaugmir firmly. A look of disgust passed across Gawain's face. He was probably thinking about approaching Lorian himself. Thaugmir decided to drive in the last nail.

  "You spoke of custom. You broke bread with me and ate under my roof. And now you wish to steal from me?" he asked.

  Gawain let loose a sigh of frustration.

  "Let me see the boy once more," he said. Thaugmir knew Gawain was a man of too much principle to steal Lorian away from him now. No harm in letting him speak to Lorian once more. Thaugmir sent for Lorian, who appeared almost immediately. Gawain walked up to him and appeared to see into his eyes. It all happened in less than a minute. Gawain turned and looked at Thaugmir.

  "Very well," he said. Lorian was standing at the doorway looking utterly confused. Thaugmir motioned for Lorian to leave, but
he was still standing there observing.

  Thaugmir could feel tears of happiness welling up in his eyes. Gawain sat cross-legged on the floor immediately and began chanting. The fabled Lumen, thought Thaugmir as the chants rose in pitch. The air compressed to form swirls around Gawain as he continued casting. Thaugmir mentally relaxed the wards on the tower to aid Gawain. Lorian, too, was staring intently at Gawain, trying to understand the spell being cast—prodigy he might be, but the Lumen was still too far from his reach. A flash of light. Thaugmir felt himself go blind. A moment later he felt his entire body being pulled skywards. The tower spoke to him, telling him not to resist. It understood what was happening. Thaugmir let the spell take its course. He felt shivers all over his body as he felt something watery slithering off his skin. A moment later he felt himself back on the ground. It was done. The spell was complete.

  Thaugmir could feel himself revitalized. He felt much better that he had ever before. The spell was indeed potent to have restricted him so. The tower seemed to approve.

  Gawain was already on his feet. "I trust you will keep your end of the bargain? He is mine now. Speak to him," said Gawain. "I will be in my chambers."

  He then turned to Lorian and spoke more gently, "We leave in an hour's time. Bid your friends farewell, child."

  Without waiting for a reply, Gawain walked away.

  "Master?" asked Lorian. He wore a look of confusion on his face. "What just happened? What does Master Gawain mean?" Thaugmir had barely begun to answer when Lorian spoke.

  "Am I to be his apprentice?" he asked. The boy was quick at grasping things. Thaugmir felt a little upset at the excitement in Lorian's tone. Surely he wasn't that bad a teacher. Lorian seemed to have noticed the pained look in Thaugmir's face as well. He immediately put his head down.

  "I am sorry, Master. I—"

  "No, Lorian. You have nothing to be sorry about. There is no shame in admitting the truth. Master Gawain is a greater mage than I, and a far greater man as well. He will be an excellent teacher. A gift like the one you have belongs under his tutelage."