The Apprentice to Zdrell

by David K Bennett

  “Thanks, Jonny,” Roald said, now mostly over his tears. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had. Someday, I probably will tell you. Some other time, yeah.” He started throwing off his clothes. “I guess we better get to bed. Who knows what tomorrow will be like? I doubt it will be half as much fun as today.”

  “Yeah, that’s probably true,” Jonny said as he started to change his clothes. “I sure hope we get to see more magic tomorrow. That was great.”

  “Well, don’t get your hopes up, Jonny. Today we saw more magic than I’ve ever seen in a single day except for once when one of the apprentices was performing to become a journeyman. Most days you’re lucky if you see any magic at all,” he said as he got into bed.

  “Huh. I never thought of it before exactly, but I thought wizards went around doing magic all the time. I mean, they’re wizards, that’s what they do, right?”

  “Maybe the master wizards do stuff all the time, but not from what I’ve seen,” Roald said scrunching down in his bed. He yawned. “After all, magic takes effort and there’s a price to pay to do anything by magic. So you’re not going to run around just doing it for no reason, are you?”

  Jonny was puzzled. “What do you mean, a price to pay? There’s no price I pay when I spin a coin,” Jonny said with an exasperated tone.

  “Well, that’s different,” Roald said, clearly not wanting to talk about it right then. “Your magic’s different, not like most others, but I’m sure there’s some way you pay.” He rolled over in bed. “You’ll see what I mean soon enough. Now I really want to go to sleep. Good night.”

  Jonny lay there very puzzled by the whole conversation since dinner. It seemed every time he asked a simple question Roald got upset and did not want to talk about it. So far, his whole experience here had been as if he was living in a dream. He felt like at any moment he would wake up and find himself back as a slave again.

  On the other hand, there was much here he just did not understand. He guessed that was to be expected. After all, he had never even thought about what it must be like to be a wizard. Now, he was training to be one.

  Nevertheless, there were all thesestories in the market place. After the way Feldor had reacted, he had first thought they must all be just stories made up to frighten people. Now, he was not so sure. What if there was some truth to the stories and, they had just been exaggerated. How do you exaggerate being eaten alive by a demon? Every question he asked just left him with two more questions. He guessed he would just have to wait and watch.

  By the time he had finally come to this conclusion, Roald had been asleep for some time. Jonny decided he would just wrap his pillow around his head and hope he could get more sleep this night than he had the last. As soon as he had made up his mind to do this, he fell asleep.

  Chapter 11

  He woke the next morning to Roald shaking him. He had not stirred the entire night.

  “Come on, get up,” Roald said, pulling on Jonny’s arm. “We’ve got to get down to breakfast fast before the older apprentices get there!”

  “I thought it was best to wait them out,” Jonny asked as he threw back the covers and started changing into the clothes he had worn the previous day.

  “That’s for dinner,” Roald said, while putting on his shoes. “For breakfast you have to get in fast, eat and get out before they show up, or you’ll get nothing. And just as likely you’ll end up having to do all the dishes.” Roald stood up and looked impatiently at the door. “I’ll head down now. Follow quick and I’ll save us both a space. But don’t waste time or we’ll be too late.” Jonny watched Roald go as he hastily finished putting on his clothes.

  Jonny hurried out and down the stairs as fast as he could. He got into the mess just as Roald was moving out of the kitchen with two bowls loaded with food. “There you are,” he said, setting a bowl down in front of him. “It’s a little late, but if we eat fast we should be able to get out of here before, . . . oh no, not again,” Roald said as he looked over Jonny’s shoulder at the door he had just entered through.

  Jonny turned to look, and saw why Roald was so distressed. The boy who had challenged Jonny the previous morning, Frank, and his cronies were just coming in.

  “Have a good scream last night,” Frank said laughing to his companions. “No?” he continued. “Well maybe he just wet himself and did it quietly.” Frank’s friends laughed as Roald’s face turned bright red. “Yep, that’s it,” Frank continued. “Just look at his face, he wet his bed again. That’s our little Rolly boy. He either screams enough to wake the dead, or he pisses all over himself. I almost feel sorry for his roommate,” he said, shaking his head in mock dismay.

  Roald had gotten more and more red in the face. Jonny could see he really wanted to say something cutting back to Frank, but he just did not have the words. Or maybe he was so mad he could not say anything at all. Jonny thought that if Frank’s friends had not been there, Roald would have tried to fight him, even though Frank was more than a foot taller than Roald and probably outweighed him by more than forty pounds. As it was, Roald’s obvious frustration just gave Frank and his friends more to talk about.

  “Let’s just eat and ignore them,” Jonny said to Roald. “They’re just blowhards anyhow.” Jonny held Roald’s gaze until he nodded and started to eat, still without having said a word. Jonny looked down and started to quickly eat his food when he heard a sound and saw Frank come up to stand beside him.

  “I heard what you said to your bed wetter friend,” Frank said with a dangerous quiet tone. “You said me and my friends are blowhards,” he continued, still quietly. “If you take that back real fast, say you’re really sorry, and promise to do our dishes for the next month, we might just forget your having said that. Otherwise,” he paused dramatically. “we’re going to have to pound you and your screaming little friend till you won’t be able to walk. And don’t think spinning a coin is gonna save you.”

  Jonny looked up at him and was strangely unafraid. This was just like his life had been as a slave. The insults and threats were nearly identical

  He looked up at Frank and smiled. Trying to sound more confident than he felt, he said to Frank, “I don’t think so, Frank. I don’t think I’ll apologize, since what I said was true. You and your friends are a bunch of blowhards. You’re just like the bullies I knew in the marketplace before I came here. Except, they were usually a bit more creative with their insults.”

  Now, it was Frank’s time to turn red, not from embarrassment, but in anger. “Not quick enough with the insults, am I?” he growled. “I’ll show you an insult all right, you little squirrel face,” he said as he grabbed at Jonny’s arm.

  Jonny expected the grab and threw his bowl into Frank’s face just as Frank was reaching for him. It was still half full and splashed Frank full across his head and chest. He screamed with rage and lunged for Jonny who was already running for the door.

  Jonny ran for all he was worth in the confined space. He just cleared the door when his shirt pulled him to a stop. Frank had hold of it. He yanked Jonny halfway through the doorway and wrapped a large arm around Jonny’s throat, when he suddenly loosened up.

  “What’s going on here?” a voice boomed.

  Frank let go.

  Jonny turned to look and saw Eleander, the journeyman from yesterday’s session, standing there.

  “I said, someone better tell me what is going on here,” Eleander said with an edge to cut metal.

  “We were just playing a little game is all,” Frank began, but Eleander would have none of it.

  “Really, Frank? You’ll have to tell me what kind of game this is where you get porridge all over your head and then choke new apprentices. I played a lot of games when I was an apprentice, but I don’t recall a game like this one. Do tell me how it’s played,” he said, sarcasm coloring every word.

  “Well, I, . . . ah,” Frank stammered.

  “Don’t even bother, Frank. I know just the sort of game you’re playing. And it looks like
young Jonny here managed to give you a lot more than you expected. But I don’t have time to deal with this. You’re on scullery duty for the next month. And don’t protest, or I’ll talk to Feldor, and he’ll see you get something worse. Jonny and Roald are to come with me right now. The Master doesn’t like to be kept waiting.

  “Clean up this mess, and you would be wise to not pick on young apprentices again or you may have to deal with me,” Eleander said, with a low dangerous tone.

  The whole time Eleander had been talking, Frank had been seething. Twice he had opened his mouth to say something, but Eleander never gave him a chance. Jonny knew that as soon as Frank had a chance, he would be out to even the score.

  Chapter 12

  For the second time in as many days, Jonny found himself personally escorted to The Master. From what Roald had told him, this was very different from what normally happened to new apprentices. Jonny could also tell that The Master seemed pleased to have an apprentice who came with talent. Jonny got the distinct impression it was unusual.

  Eleander talked to Jonny as he escorted both boys to a different part of the main keep than Jonny had been in before. “It looks to me like Frank really has it in for you, Jonny.” He grinned. “It also looks like you might have been able to handle him, even without my help,” he chuckled. “Frank is used to being bigger than the other boys and hasn’t had anyone to put him in his place for a long time. A pity. I used to do it regularly when I first came to the castle as a journeyman. But, you should watch out for him. He’s going to be looking for an opportunity to come after you again. He won’t be able to attack directly, but you had best watch your back.”

  “Why won’t he be able to attack directly?” Roald asked. Jonny had been wondering the same thing.

  “Because you two are now under a special status,” Eleander answered. “All the boys will hear about it tonight. It won’t make you any friends, but it will ensure the usual bullying and such that go with being an apprentice will pass you by.”

  Jonny did not know what special status meant, but evidently, Roald did. He looked stunned. “But why?”

  Eleander laughed as they came to a landing in the long spiral staircase they had been climbing. “Well, it’s not because of your good looks, Roald. No, The Master has special plans for Jonny, and you have the good luck to be his only friend here right now. He wanted Jonny to have a friend so of course you’re covered too.”

  “What does special status mean?” Jonny asked.

  “It mostly means you will do what The Master asks of you, and nothing else, it is normally only applied to The Master’s brightest students,” Eleander said with a grimace. “It means you won’t do the chores or scut work most apprentices do. But trust me, that just means you’ll work even harder for The Master, and I should know,” he snorted.

  Eleander opened the door at the edge of the landing, and motioned the boys to go in. Inside was another study similar to the one where Jonny had met The Master previously, but it looked like it had not seen nearly so much use. It had one long window looking out on the hills. There was only one bookcase, partially filled with books and a large dark wooden table with four chairs around it. Master Silurian sat in one of the chairs, reading. As the boys entered the room, he closed his book and stood.

  He took the book and placed it in the bookshelf, and then pulled a long plain dagger from his robe and placed it on the table. “Good morning, boys. I hope you are ready to work. You had your fun yesterday, so now we will make you pay for your fun,” The Master said with a grin.

  Jonny turned to Roald. He had heard a sharp intake of breath from his friend when The Master said they would have to pay. Roald’s eyes were glued on the dagger and even in the light of the room, Jonny could see he had gone pale and was breathing in short gasps.

  The Master noticed this too. “Calm down, Roald,” he said smiling at him. “No pain for you today. In fact, unless you can do better than Eleander here, you may have a very boring day in front of you. Though, I think you’d prefer that to shoveling out the stables, ah?”

  The Master turned to Jonny. “Up till this point you have been the teacher here,” he began. “That all changes today. I have read quite a lot about the type of magic that you are doing. It is called zdrell, an old and almost lost art. I am now clear on how to proceed in training you. We will get to see how quick a study you are. It should be interesting, though I think it could be the hardest thing you have ever done.”

  “I’m ready, Master,” Jonny began, “or at least I think I am.”

  “Sit down, all of you,” The Master said. “Jonny, you are to sit in the end seat.” After everyone sat, The Master picked up the dagger and said, “Jonny I want to show you a variation on your coin trick and see if you can do it.” Jonny nodded.

  The Master took the dagger and placed it point down on the table, holding it vertical with one finger on the end of the hilt. He then took hold of the end flange of the guard and flipped it rapidly setting the dagger spinning on its tip in a similar fashion to which Jonny had spun his coin. The point of the dagger dug slightly into the wood, but the wood seemed hard enough to keep it from doing more than making a small divot.

  The Master sat concentrating on the spinning dagger and it continued to spin for nearly a minute. Suddenly, it stopped, but continued to stand on its point, motionless. Then, just as suddenly, it fell and lay with its point facing towards Jonny.

  Everyone stared at the knife as if it might suddenly sprout legs and walk across the table. Jonny said, “Master, that was amazing. That was so much better than my little trick.”

  “Jonny,” The Master replied looking at him steadily. “I expect you to be able to do that and better, soon.”

  “What? No, no,” Jonny stammered. “I couldn’t possibly do something like that.”

  The Master banged his hand down hard on the table. Everyone jumped in surprise. “I will not hear such talk. What you just saw is essentially the same thing you can do with a coin. You can do it, and you will do it!” The Master’s voice grew even more intense. “You will not leave this room until you can at least get this knife to spin. Have I made myself clear?” he asked, pinning Jonny with his stare.

  Jonny gulped, at first unable to make a sound. He nodded his head and then stammered, “Yes, ah yes, Master. I understand. I will try,” he said staring at the table.

  Again, The Master was not happy with Jonny’s response and his voice showed great displeasure. “No. You will not try, Jonny. You will do this. You are completely capable of doing this, so you will not leave until you can. Do—you—understand?”

  “Yes, Master . . . I will, I will work at it till I can do it,” he said, still not wanting to meet The Master’s gaze.

  “Good,” The Master said. He stood up and nodded to Eleander. “Come, Eleander. We have much to do.” Eleander rose and followed The Master out of the room. Jonny and Roald both sat staring at the dagger dumbfounded of what to do.

  Chapter 13

  Outside on the landing The Master sagged against the wall. He was breathing in gasps that slowly returned to normal. “Eleander, how did it look in there?”

  “Very good, Master,” Eleander replied, trying not to stare at The Master’s weakness. “I couldn’t tell at all how much effort it was taking for you to do that, and I knew it must be costing you. I’m sure those boys don’t have any idea how difficult it was for you to make it look so effortless.”

  “They must not know,” The Master said, starting to regain some of his composure. “If Jonny does not think effort should be required, then he will strive to work at it until it is easy for him. If he saw how much this cost me, he would never achieve his full potential.

  “Everything I have found out about wizards who have had zdrell talent is that they can do truly amazing things with virtually no effort, no cost, on their part. I want Jonny to develop his talent this way. If he can do this, he has the potential of being one of the most powerful wizards of this age.”

&
nbsp; “Yes, Master. I agree,” Eleander said. “Still, talent or no, you did amazingly well in there.”

  “Yes, I suppose I did,” chuckled The Master. “I wish I’d learned this trick years ago. It changes everything. However, I also see why so few can do it. It is hard to learn, and well-nigh impossible to teach.”

  “Master,” Eleander asked. “Why didn’t you share what you’ve learned in your research with Jonny? Surely it would speed up his learning.”

  “Not at all. Everything I have learned about this is that those with talent work best if they are not told how to do it. Can you explain to a baby how to walk, how to sit up, or stand? No, he has just seen it can be done, and that is all he needs. He will have to work out how to do it for himself, and I have every confidence that he will.

  “Do make sure lunch is brought up to them, and dinner if need be. Check on them every hour or two. Make sure they are actively working on the problem and not just sitting around. I believe I am going to lie down for a few hours. I have been getting too little sleep of late, and that demonstration wore me out.”

  “I will do as you ask, Master,” Eleander replied. “Do you mind if I stay in there and watch some of the time?”

  “You may stay and watch if you say nothing other than to let Jonny know he has to work it out for himself. Till later, Eleander,” Master Silurian said, and left for his bedchamber.

  § § §

  “So what do we do now?” Roald asked.

  “I guess we work at it till I can make it spin,” Jonny said. “Either that or we learn to sleep on a stone floor.”

  “Can you really do it, Jonny? I mean that was amazing how The Master made that thing spin and then stopped it cold. And the way it fell down pointing at you. That was just sooo prodigious.”

  “I don’t know. I mean, The Master said I could, so I guess I should be able to do it, though I don’t have any idea how. I guess we just set it up and do it like he did.”