The Fuller’s Apprentice
by Angela Holder
Deore Press
Houston, Texas
For my husband Anthony, my first reader and constant support.
One
Master Sef stretched the wet woolen cloth to its full extent. He walked his fist, thumb and little finger spread wide, across the fabric from one selvage to the other, measuring its width.
“It’s coming along well. Give it another five hundred strokes, lad, then come fetch me.” He scowled at Josiah. “And mind you don’t go off into one of your dreaming fits. There’s a representative of the Wizards’ Guild coming to check on their order, and we need to show him our best work—not cloth beat full of holes because a lazy apprentice couldn’t keep his mind on his task.”
“Yes, Master Sef.” Josiah gathered the loose end of the bolt of cloth and returned it to its place, bunched in even folds against the back of the long, low box. When he moved clear, Master Sef scowled at him for a moment, then pulled the lever that set the fulling mill in motion.
With a creaking groan the gears engaged, and the six stocks began to move. The heavy wooden heads crept back and swept down. They slammed into the folds of wet wool, sending spray flying. The mill beat the newly woven cloth rhythmically, binding the loose threads together, shrinking and thickening the web into a dense, warm fabric.
With a pointed look at Josiah, Master Sef left the room. Josiah grabbed a bucket and went to the open arch to dip it in the millrace, just below where the great water wheel turned the massive drive shaft. He returned to the box and walked its length, pouring water onto the wool to replace what the pounding stocks threw free.
“Thirty-seven, thirty-eight, thirty-nine…” Josiah chanted under his breath. Five hundred more strokes. That should be just long enough.
Pushing his unruly mop of brown curls out of his eyes, he glanced around furtively. He was alone in the main room of the mill. Through the arch, past the wheel, he could see only the river and rolling hills beyond. On the other side, a window looked out over the tenting fields, where journeymen stretched bolts of cloth fulled this morning on drying frames. But they’d never see him, even if they happened to glance his way.
Gold light from the westering sun streamed past the wheel and through the arch in the stone wall. It shimmered into rainbows as it passed through the stocks’ spray and cast a glowing semicircle on the far wall, swept by shadows of the turning spokes. Josiah examined where the sharp curve of light lit a series of tiny scratches.
He’d begun making the marks from idle curiosity, searching for some distraction during his long hours tending the mill. He’d watched the sunlight creep across the wall and wondered if he might use it to measure time. That was how the shadow-clock in the square outside the Mother’s Hall worked, wasn’t it? The steady beat of the stocks provided a measure, and he’d whiled away a whole afternoon marking the edge of the sunlight every fifty strokes. With mounting excitement he’d realized that the scratches could free him from the drudgery of counting strokes, his least-favorite task.
Josiah counted out nine scratches and smudged a bit of dirt to mark the place. With a sigh of relief he released the numbers from his mind, though the racket still pounded in his ears. He returned to the end of the row of stocks, breath quickening and heart racing.
Ever since he’d come up with the idea, weeks ago, he’d been waiting for a chance to try it. The space between the stocks and the box was small, but as each stock pulled back, just enough room opened up for a skinny boy like Josiah to slip through. As the stock reached its full height and began to fall, the next space formed. With careful timing, Josiah was sure he could make it through.
He watched the stocks. Every other one rose as the cam shaft turned and caught their pegs, drawing them back until the pegs slid free and the stocks crashed down. At the same time, the cam caught the alternate three and lifted them up. He glanced at the beam overhead from which the stocks hung, pivoting back and forth like children’s swings. He looked down at their heavy heads. The dull points slammed into the wool and slid under it. The curved and serrated upper surfaces lifted and turned the wool as they withdrew. The stocks would crush him if he made one wrong move. He pictured his body, beaten and broken, pounded by the relentless hammers.
If his old friends were here to watch, he wouldn’t hesitate. They would be impressed by the danger of the stunt, awed by his daring, elated by his success. But they were apprenticed to other guilds and Josiah barely saw them anymore, except on the occasional Restday. Master Sef’s other apprentices were years older than Josiah and far too busy learning the finer points of their craft to be interested in the antics of their newest guildmate.
He had to decide soon. Master Sef didn’t leave him alone with the mill very often, and he might not have another chance before Springtide. After that, with any luck, he’d be free of this place.
Josiah was going to request a transfer to another guild as soon as he summoned the courage. It wouldn’t be easy. Everyone would know he’d failed at his apprenticeship. People would talk, his friends would laugh, his parents would be disappointed. But not doing it would be even worse. He couldn’t face spending the rest of his life at the fulling mill.
He wiped sweaty palms against his tunic and looked around again, almost hoping to see his master or anyone else entering the room. But it remained deserted. The sunlight was well shy of his mark. He breathed deeply, trying to slow his racing heart and still his shaking hands.
This was it. Now or never.
The first stock crashed down and began creeping back. As it cleared the edge of the box, Josiah stepped forward.
In front of him, the second stock fell, and began to rise. Wait, a little farther, a little farther…
Josiah stepped again. Behind and before him, the stocks swept down. The breeze of their passing tickled his neck and lifted his hair. They slammed into the cloth, sending droplets of water splashing over him. No going back. He wobbled, caught his balance. Ahead of him, the next stock lifted.
Step. He was deep into the gauntlet. His feet felt sure on the slippery wet boards of the floor. The stocks to either side fell, caging him. The cam turned; the way opened.
Step. The rhythm felt as natural to Josiah as his own heartbeat, as the rise and fall of each breath. There was no room for fear, or even excitement, just an intense awareness of the moment.
Step. Crash. Ahead of him the final stock crept back, revealing freedom beyond.
Step. His pulse thundered in his ears. He stumbled forward and collapsed in a heap as the sixth stock thudded home.
He panted, staring back at the swinging stocks and the course he’d just walked. He’d done it. He’d faced his fear and overcome it, kept his composure and performed as he’d envisioned, and made it through an obstacle most would deem impassable. He had done it.
A wild surge of elation surged through Josiah, and he laughed. He glanced at the sun on the wall. Plenty of time yet.
He barely hesitated before stepping in a second time. The crashing stocks and opening spaces were like a dance he moved through with confident steps.
One, two, three, four, five, six, and he was at the far side, turning to enter again without pause. The danger and the rhythm and his skill blended into a heady brew. Why had he worried? This was easy.
After a few more passes, his exhilaration calmed enough for caution to intrude. How long had it been? He should stop soon and check. But not yet. After the next time through, or maybe the time after that. Reaching the far side, he turned and stepped back in.
He was at the fifth stock
when it happened.
“Josiah!” his master bellowed.
Josiah’s head jerked up and his foot slipped. He teetered, arms flailing, desperately trying to regain his balance. Before and behind him the stocks crashed down. The stock to the rear brushed his backside and knocked him sprawling into the box.
Soggy fabric cushioned him, but the stock above was reaching its peak. He rolled frantically to the side, barely in time to escape its fall.
An unfamiliar voice shouted, “Sar!”
Josiah fought to get to his feet, but slid on the slick cloth as the stocks thundered down on either side of him. He rolled again, scrambled, slipped.
He evaded the crashing stocks again, but one grazed his arm, tearing his tunic and scraping a swath of skin away. Crying out in pain, he fell and struggled for a long moment before his thrusting feet pushed his back against the rear of the box. He looked up as the stock fell toward him, knowing with sick terror that he could not move in time.
A halo of shimmering golden light bloomed around the stock. It halted in mid swing. Around him the rest of the stocks beat on. Josiah stared, mouth open.
Master Sef reached the lever and pulled. The mill ground to a halt. All the stocks came to rest, either cocked back or down, except for the one that hung suspended, glowing.
Josiah scrambled out of the box. As soon as he was clear of the frozen stock it sank gently down.
A stranger stood in front of him, one hand outstretched. A thin thread of light connected his fingers to the golden haze surrounding the stock. His other hand rested on the back of a grey donkey. Its long ears were pricked forward, and its eyes were fixed on the stock just as intently as the man’s. The man’s hand lowered in unison with the stock, guiding it to rest. As the stock came to the bottom of its arc and bumped against the bunched cloth where Josiah had been a moment before, both donkey and man gave a sigh and relaxed. The golden light vanished, and the man ran a hand through his long black hair.
Master Sef seized Josiah’s tunic. “Smash and blast and burn it, what were you thinking, boy? Of all the stupid, reckless stunts… Thirty years I’ve been training apprentices, and I’ve never had one as foolish, as headstrong, as useless as you.” With each phrase, his master’s strong arm flexed, shaking Josiah until his bones rattled and his vision blurred.
“Your pardon,” a quiet voice said. “Surely the boy is shaken enough by his experience. Perhaps you might give him a moment to recover.”
“Of course.” Master Sef released Josiah, who panted and shook his head. He turned to look at his rescuer.
The man was tall and slim, young, perhaps in his mid-twenties, with skin the warm olive common to all the people of Tevenar. He held himself straight and composed, his level gaze meeting Master Sef’s. He was dressed in a grey tunic and breeches, simply cut and decorated with intricate grey embroidery. From his shoulders fell a long brown cloak. Josiah’s breath caught. The cloth was the warm earth tone of undyed brown wool, threaded with pin stripes of indigo blue and goldenrod yellow to form a simple plaid. The same cloth as the bolt in the box behind him.
This must be the representative of the Wizards’ Guild, here to inspect the progress of their work. His power had held the stock in midair and saved Josiah’s life.
The wizard patted the donkey. Josiah eyed it, fascinated. That must be the wizard’s familiar. All the wizards were paired with a companion animal of some sort. Cats and dogs were common, along with deer, horses, and hawks, but Josiah had heard tales of familiars of all species, including a famous master wizard of the past whose familiar had been a chicken.
The donkey and the wizard exchanged a look. The donkey twitched an ear and headed for the door. The wizard turned back to Master Sef, who still glowered at Josiah. “We came to check the fabric.”
“Yes, of course.” Master Sef picked up a stirring stick and fished around in the box, lifting one end of the bolt. Josiah’s heart fell. The cloth showed the unmistakable signs of having been left beneath the fulling stocks too long. The pattern had shrunk far too much and bunched up tight in many places. In others the cloth had worn thin. In a few spots it had been pounded right through, leaving ragged holes.
Master Sef dropped the cloth in disgust. “Ruined. The whole bolt. I’m afraid this will set the Guild’s order back. I’ll contact the spinners and weavers to see if they have enough wool to replace it. They won’t be pleased, but if they work through the night it shouldn’t take but a week for the new bolt to be ready. The Fullers’ Guild will of course absorb the cost.” Josiah shrank beneath his master’s cold gaze, far worse than his earlier bluster. He knew Master Sef was calculating the loss of revenue, down to the last coin. The ruined bolt would cut deeply into the Fullers’ Guild’s profits for the season. “We’ll get started immediately. The rest of the order should be ready for delivery as promised.”
The wizard nodded. “That should be satisfactory, as long as it gets to the tailors in time. The cloaks must be ready for the new apprentices at Springtide. I’ll take word back to the Mother’s Hall so they can accommodate the delay.”
Master Sef turned back to Josiah. “As for you, I’m terminating your apprentice contract. When I chose you last year, I was impressed by your intelligence and deftness. I thought you had the makings of a decent fuller. But you’ve proven me wrong. You have no sense of responsibility. You’re a danger to yourself and the rest of my workers. It was only by the grace of the Mother and Wizard Elkan’s quick thinking you didn’t get yourself killed. Pack your things and go home. Inform your parents we’ll expect the return of the apprentice price the Fullers’ Guild paid for you. Less the year you’ve already served, though I’ve gotten little enough value from you for it.”
Josiah stared at him, open-mouthed. He swallowed and ducked his head, hot shame flushing his face. He was being sacked? Sent home to his parents in disgrace? Only the most lazy, incompetent, or dishonest apprentices were dismissed from their contracts. Much as Josiah had come to realize he’d be miserable living out his life as a fuller, he’d never contemplated being freed from his apprenticeship this way. No respectable master would take him now. News of his disgrace would spread to everyone in Korisan. He would no longer be perceived as a promising youth, but as a reckless and irresponsible troublemaker. He’d be lucky to find a master even among the notoriously undemanding and perpetually short-staffed ranks of the Laborers’ Guild.
And how would his parents afford to pay back his apprentice price? The six years remaining on his contract would be a dear sum. The payment was officially to the Potters’ Guild, as his kinguild, but in practice the money had gone to his family. They’d received permission from the guild to spend on it building the new kiln. Now they’d have to apply to the guild for a loan, and would be required to let other potters use the new kiln in return, just when their business was more productive than ever. This would be a severe setback. No guild that might take him now would pay even a tenth of the price.
Josiah forced his features into stony indifference. “Yes, sir.” He turned to leave. He’d pack his meager belongings and be off, hopefully before the other apprentices finished their work for the day.
“Might I suggest a different solution?” The wizard’s voice was quiet. Both Master Sef and Josiah looked at him in surprise.
“There’s no need to ruin the child’s whole future over a momentary lapse of judgment. Everyone makes mistakes. I’m sure he’s learned his lesson.” The wizard gave Josiah an appraising look. Josiah squirmed and dropped his eyes.
Master Sef glowered, but the status of the Wizards’ Guild demanded his deference. “With all due respect, Wizard Elkan, this isn’t the first time the boy’s proven inadequate to the demands of his position. I cannot in good conscience keep him at the mill any longer. You saw for yourself what a danger he is to himself and those around him.”
“I agree this isn’t the best place for him right now. But I have a proposal for you to consider. I’ve been looking to take on an assistant. Over th
e next year I’m going to be making a circuit around Tevenar, bringing the Mother’s power to outlying regions with no wizards of their own. When I set out from Elathir a few weeks ago, another journeyman was supposed to accompany me, but a family emergency arose and he had to stay behind. It’s more work than a single wizard is usually expected to handle alone. The Mother’s Hall in Korisan is shorthanded and can’t spare anyone. I’d resigned myself to doing without, but it seems the Mother has other plans.”
Josiah looked up, hope dawning. Did he really understand correctly what the wizard was saying?
“Let the boy come with me. The Wizards’ Guild will pay for a year of his contract. When it’s over, I’ll bring him back. Hopefully by then he’ll have matured and be ready to fulfill his responsibilities. If not, we can make other arrangements.”
Master Sef looked back and forth from Josiah to the wizard, wavering. Josiah hoped he was considering the wizard’s offer. His master wouldn’t want to offend the Wizards’ Guild by refusing. Josiah put on his most meek and repentant face.
“Very well.” Master Sef’s voice was gruff, but Josiah thought he detected a note of relief. Sacking an apprentice was embarrassing to a master. Many would believe he’d failed in his duty to discipline and instruct his student. But apprentices were loaned out to other crafts all the time. As part of his apprenticeship in the Fullers’ Guild, Josiah would be expected to serve a year each with the spinners, weavers, and tailors before his education would be considered complete. While it was unusual for someone to spend time with such an unrelated craft, it wasn’t unheard of, and wouldn’t carry the same stigma as dismissal. “Come to my office and I’ll draw up the papers.”
Josiah didn’t wait to hear any more. He darted from the mill, slowing only when he reached the yard. He stopped and breathed deeply, struggling to contain his apprehension and excitement.
The donkey looked up from where it was grazing. It regarded Josiah with a solemn expression, chewing a long wisp of grass that dangled from its mouth.
The Fuller's Apprentice (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 1) Page 1