Wielder: Apprentice: Book 1 of Lady Shey's Story (The Wielder Cycle)

by Mark E. Tyson

  When Sheyna awoke, daylight was fading. She righted herself, remembering the decision she had made about the dress. She pulled aside the thick vines hiding her hole in the wall from the courtyard on the tower side. The fresh laundry hung on a rope clothesline near the center. She ventured out into the courtyard but froze when her eye caught the form of a shadow inching along the base of the tower; it moved just enough to become detectable. She backed carefully into the vines to hide. After a few moments, she could make out the figure of a man crawling along the wall, silhouetted by the fading light. She tried to make out features of the man. The figure abruptly stopped. Sheyna wondered why. Did he spot her? She could not see from behind the vines, so she bravely moved from her hole in the wall, staying to darker shadows. She hesitated a moment and watched the stranger. If she could get closer, she might be able to see more. Sheyna moved expertly in shadow, and she produced two daggers handed down to her by her mother; both daggers she had managed to enchant permanently.

  The wall met up to a curved section that joined up with the section of wall the stranger occupied. A low hedge hugged the half circle of the wall. Sheyna stayed to the shadows under the inside edge of the hedge and made the trip to the opposite end where the next wall began. From this vantage point she could see what the man looked like. He was slight in build and fairly tall. He appeared not much older than twenty seasons. He had blond or light brown hair and was well dressed from what she could see in the low light. From his side hung a sword, in his left hand a brimmed hat. He was staring up at the tower windows. Sheyna soon saw one of the girls appear. A sinking feeling filled her, and she blushed with anger. Was he trying to peep in on the girls in the tower? Sheyna pushed out from her hidden position behind the hedge and poised herself to leap and frighten him away, but when her head broke above the hedge, she caught a glimmer of another shadow. The man was not alone; another figure loomed deeper in the shadows where she could just barely make it out. She ducked back to her hiding space as it spoke.

  “Do you see her?” Its voice was raspy, gurgling and unnatural. Like someone trying speak while being choked.

  “No, perhaps the master was wrong. I have been watching this tower for days on end, and no one matches the description he gave me. These girls are all blonde-headed, or if they do have dark hair, they have brown or green eyes, not blue.”

  The darker figure remained silent for a moment and then spoke again. “The master is never wrong. He would cut out your tongue for saying so. How do you make out the color of their eyes?”

  “My people have extremely good vision.” He paused. “Don’t yours?”

  “Yes, of course, but how can you tell blue from green? I should think you would have to be face to face.”

  “I will admit it is difficult but not impossible. I often wait to see them in the light of the sun.”

  “You dare let them see you?”

  “Certainly, I just pass by from time to time, tipping my hat and giving a wink. There is no danger. I stay out of the grounds as if I am just passing by the tower while going about my daily business. I’m careful not to stroll by here too often.”

  “You don’t want one of those wielders detecting you. The head mistress is not to be trifled with. In fact, she may already suspect you.”

  “I have met her along the wall,” the blond man said confidently. “We exchanged smiles. She seems pleasant enough.”

  “Do not be a fool, boy, keep vigilant, and I will check on you three days hence. You must remember, keep vigilant,” the dark figure repeated. “Remember your place or you may find your cockiness is your downfall. If that woman suspects you even a trifle, you are done for.”

  “I will report as soon as I spot the girl. If the master is correct, it will be sooner than later.”

  Sheyna heard violently beating cloth, like the sound of huge ship sails unfurling and catching a gust of wind like she heard many times in Symbor harbor. In an instant, the dark figure was gone. She rushed to see it as a feeling of dread infiltrated her senses, but she could not follow it in the shadows. It simply disappeared with the beating cloth sound, fading upward and away. The man with the blond hair did not flinch or look to the shadows. He stood peering up at the windows of the tower for a long moment.

  “She is not here. I think the master must be wrong,” he muttered to himself. “This is a waste of time.”

  Sheyna watched as he moved along the wall, staying to the shadows until he was gone. She considered warning someone in the tower, but in the reality of the situation, she was a child of the streets, and no one would believe anything she said. She waited in the hedge a bit longer and then began plotting how to obtain one of the dresses still drying on the line. She decided it was the right time to make her move for one.

  Her curiosity piqued as she slinked across the courtyard. I fit his description, she thought. Could he be searching for me? She quickly made her way to the clothesline, fearing that one of the girls may come out at any time to gather up the laundry. That is silly; no one would be looking for me at this tower. The darkness hampered her sight, but as luck would have it, there were several brightly-colored dresses still hanging on the line. No one knows me around here. She scanned the grounds for anyone who might see her, and saw no one. She sneaked carefully around the hanging dresses and breathed deeply with excitement, picking over the different sizes and colors. “I think I will wear a blue dress,” she said, finally settling on one. She took off and discarded the ragged green dress she wore and pulled on the blue one. She spun around with glee as the edge of the dress fanned out.

  “You there,” a woman from the tower said. Sheyna froze. “Yes, you there at the laundry, hurry and pull the rest of those dresses down and get inside. You will have to fold them before bed.” Sheyna still did not move. Was the woman referring to her?

  The woman became impatient. “What is wrong with you, child? Come on, step it up before it’s too dark to see what you’re doing.”

  Sheyna started pulling the dresses from the line, unsure of what else to do.

  “Not like that,” the woman bellowed. “Here.” She tossed out a woven laundry basket that rolled up to Sheyna’s feet. “Put them in that.”

  After she had the dresses in hand, Sheyna wandered cautiously toward the doorway where the woman waited. Her heart began to pound. Soon she would be caught. As soon as she entered the doorway, she held out the basket to the woman, her head down.

  “What are you handing them to me for? Put them over there on that table,” the woman said. “And come over here to me.” Sheyna trembled as she put the dresses on the table as instructed. Fear crept in; the woman was about to take the dress she had stolen. Sheyna forced herself to comply. With her head still hanging low, she submitted. The woman took Sheyna’s chin in her hand and moved her head from side to side, examining her face. Sheyna’s heart pounded harder; she was caught. Sheyna looked into the woman’s deep green eyes and shook from fear.

  “You are trembling. What have you been up to? No wonder you are trying to avoid me; you have been playing in the dirt.” She wrinkled her nose. “And what is that stench? You are filthy!” The woman grabbed Sheyna’s hand. “Come with me, girl, you are in trouble now.” The woman yanked Sheyna’s arm, almost dragging her along before the girl found her footing. “Headmistress Enowene will have a word with you about cleanliness. I swear I don’t know where she finds you apprentices, but I’m sure they understand the concept of bathing wherever it is.”

  Sheyna was confused. Was she being punished for stealing a dress or for being dirty? The woman led Sheyna through two long hallways and into a chamber where she could hardly believe what she was seeing. The floors were carpeted in deep maroon. The walls were not stone but richly-polished wood. A large wooden desk was displayed at the center like a throne. Upon the walls hung tapestries and portraits of beautiful women and men dressed in gowns and robes. Seated behind the desk sat a yellow-haired woman dressed in blue. She was writing on parchment.

  �
��Mistress Enowene, I beg your pardon, but I found one of your new apprentices on the grounds.” The woman beheld Sheyna with disgust. “She has been outside in the dirt, which is most unladylike I should say. Just look at her dirty, matted hair! What would you have me do with her?”

  The yellow-haired woman raised her head and gazed directly at Sheyna. She narrowed her eyes as if trying to look past the dirt on Sheyna’s face, and then her eyes widened. How would she know me? Sheyna thought.

  The woman sat back in her chair, absently brushing a strand of her long hair behind her left ear. The yellow-haired woman is an elf! Sheyna thought with excitement.

  The elven woman studied Sheyna for a long while. “Mavis, have you seen this child on the grounds before?”

  Mavis looked the girl over from head to toe. “Can’t say that I have. Of course, I have not yet had time to get to know all of the new apprentices.”

  Sheyna began to hold her breath. She knew that this ruse had gone on long enough. She assessed all the exits and windows and poised herself to bolt for the door. She let her arms fall to her sides and absently touched the daggers strapped underneath her dress.

  “I wonder if she has been scolded before for her untidy appearance. A young girl so pretty should take better care.” Sheyna let out her breath but quickly drew it back in as Enowene glared at her. “Take her to the baths immediately and see that she is scrubbed head to toe. Afterward, see that her hair is brushed and dried, and then send her back here to me. I will deal with her then.”

  “Aye, Mistress Enowene,” Mavis said with satisfaction. “Young girls should take better care indeed.” She took ahold of Sheyna’s arm. “Come on, you!”

  “And, Mavis,” Mistress Enowene continued, “see to it that Marella accompanies her to see me, as well.”

  “Marella?” Mavis asked. “Is that spoiled girl in trouble again, too?”

  Enowene’s expression stiffened. “That is my business, and mind your tongue.”

  “Aye, mistress, forgive me. I will see to it.”

  Mavis forced Sheyna through two more hallways and into another chamber. As they entered the room, Sheyna noticed the air had grown thick and steamy. The chamber, made of stone, housed a steaming pool of greenish, lavender-scented water.

  “Strip down and get into the bath, child,” Mavis instructed. “I will leave you in the care of Fawna while I fetch Marella.”

  Sheyna removed her blue dress, placing it carefully on a nearby stone bench, and eagerly climbed into the scented water. The warmth instantly soothed her.

  From a small room adjacent to the bath, a dark-haired woman dressed in white appeared. “There you are, Fawna. Mistress Enowene says this child is to be scrubbed head to toe. I shall return momentarily. Her hair is to be brushed and dried by the time I return.”

  “Yes, Mavis,” Fawna said. “I will see it done.” She found a long brush and a cake of white soap and headed for the bath.

  Mavis pulled the door shut behind her as she left the room.

  “You hold still now,” Fawna said as she dipped the brush in the bathwater and then rubbed it vigorously with the cake of soap; she began to scrub Sheyna’s back with the lather. Despite her fear and apprehension, Sheyna felt giddy. She enjoyed the treatment. It had been a long while since she had taken a proper bath.

  “Oh my, it appears I must trim your hair, too. It has not been cut in a while,” Fawna observed. “You must be from the borderlands. I have seen apprentices such as you come from there before. Is that where you’re from?”

  “No, mistress,” Sheyna squeaked.

  The older girl chuckled. “Don’t be so nervous. We’ll get you presentable in no time. You don’t have to talk to me if you don’t want to.”

  Sheyna let herself relax. Even if she was caught and thrown out of the tower, at least she got a nice bath out of it.

  Chapter 3: Marella and the Tower

  Sheyna soaked in the bath for several moments before Fawna was satisfied she was clean. Her nose had gotten used to the soft scent of lavender that had hung so heavily in the air. She moved her fingers around in the water in a circular pattern, tranquil in the warmth. She waited for Fawna to insist that she exit the bath, and she planned to stay in until the last moment. Then she remembered that Mavis would soon return and she was still, no doubt, in a dire predicament.

  “Time to get out of the water. Remember, you were extremely dirty, and all that dirt is still in there with you,” Fawna remarked.

  Abruptly aware, Sheyna stood up.

  “Stay still,” Fawna commanded. She took a wooden pail of warm, clean water and rinsed the young girl.

  “Mavis will return any moment now. She will be cross with me if you are not dry as she instructed.” Fawna held out a folded towel and let it fall open. Sheyna took the towel and began drying herself. Fawna held up a hair brush. “Do you want me to brush your hair, or would you rather do it?”

  “I can manage,” Sheyna said.

  “Suit yourself. Brush out all the tangles.” Fawna disappeared into the antechamber and returned with something in her hand. “I will trim your hair and put it up in a pretty blue bow.”

  Sheyna smiled. She could not remember the last time she wore a bow in her hair. “I would like that.”

  After Fawna had finished with her hair, Sheyna unfolded the blue dress and pulled it on. Fawna straightened the collar for her.

  “You have beautiful black hair,” Fawna said.

  “Thank you,” Sheyna replied.

  “What is your name? I don’t believe I have seen you around here before.”

  “Sheyna Namear.”

  “That’s a nice name. Where are you from, Sheyna? Namear sounds Ishraki. I used to travel through Ishrak with my mother as a child.”

  Sheyna thought the girl was a bit preoccupied with her place of origin. She was about to tell her she didn’t know where she was from, but before she could get the words out, Mavis appeared at the door and Fawna stood attentively.

  “All ready, I see,” Mavis said, looking over Fawna’s handiwork. “Oh yes, a definite improvement. You are a remarkably beautiful young woman under all that dirt. You should take more care.” She waved her on as she stepped out of the doorway. “Come along now, we will not have Mistress Enowene waiting any longer.”

  Sheyna’s heart began to pound again. She was not sure what Mistress Enowene was up to yet, but she had wits enough about her to know that Enowene knew she didn’t belong in the tower.

  As they entered the hallway, a blonde-haired girl with milky white skin and piercing hazel eyes stood outside of the doorway, staring at Sheyna with suspicion. Her face was as radiant as the women on the tapestries in Mistress Enowene’s chamber.

  “Hello,” Sheyna greeted.

  The girl looked at Mavis, who nodded in return. The girl turned back to Sheyna with forced pleasantry. “Hello,” she said, trying to sound friendly and failing.

  “Come now, girls, Mistress Enowene is waiting. The hour grows late, and you two have studies at daybreak.”

  Not I, thought Sheyna.

  Mavis led the two girls into Mistress Enowene’s chamber. She cleared her throat. “Mistress Enowene, I have brought the two girls as instructed.”

  Enowene looked up from her parchment and quill pen. “Ah, very good, Mavis, you may leave us now.”

  Mavis glared at Sheyna with disappointment. “As you wish, mistress.” She left the room muttering to herself as she pulled the door shut behind her. Clearly she was hoping to hear Sheyna’s fate.

  “Have I done something wrong, Mistress Enowene?” Marella asked.

  Enowene rose from her chair and moved to the front of her desk. She gently leaned on the front edge.

  Marella went pale—Sheyna thought she could not become any paler—and then she blushed.

  “Forgive me, mistress. I speak out of turn.”

  “Good, now, I brought you here for a reason, but first I wish to speak with Sheyna alone. Marella, please return to the hallway.”

>   Marella gave Sheyna a contemptuous look and exited the room.

  Sheyna started to feel queasy. She knows my name! “I am sorry. I—”

  “Be silent, dear,” Enowene interrupted. “I am not interested in sorry. I have seen you before.”

  Sheyna attempted to speak again but fell silent. She was certain Enowene could see the fear on her face.

  “Not to fear, Sheyna, I have been keeping an eye on you in your hiding place in the old guard tower in the courtyard wall. I had hoped you would stay there a bit longer, but you seem to have exposed yourself to Mavis. Now I suppose I will have to pass you off as an apprentice.” She moved back behind her desk. “I shall have that wall repaired now that you are not going to be using it any longer.”

  “But all my things are in there.”

  “You will retrieve whatever you deem important to you.” Sheyna’s perplexed expression did not change. “I see you are still confused. I am afraid that I cannot give you all the answers you seek quite yet. However, I will tell you what I know. As soon as I can, I will get you out of this tower to a place of safety. This tower is being watched. There are people searching for you. At the moment, you will live inside where I can keep a closer eye on you. I cannot afford to let you wander about like before now. What possessed you to come here? You were much safer as an orphan of the street.”

  “I saw him,” Sheyna blurted out.

  “Oh, you saw whom, dear?”

  “The one searching for me. A man near the curved wall, he was watching the tower and talking to someone in the shadows.”

  “What did you hear?”

  “They were looking for a girl.” She hesitated. “He described a dark-headed girl with blue eyes, not a common description around Symbor that I have noticed . . . except for me.”

  Enowene immediately tried to mask the worriedness that stole across her face, “Aye, they were looking precisely for you, my dear. As I stated, the tower is dangerous for you.” She removed her amulet from around her neck and handed it to Sheyna. “Here, put this on and wear it always while you are in this tower, even while bathing.”