Josiah stationed himself where he had a good view, but there wasn’t much to see. For a long time nothing changed except Elkan or Sar occasionally shifting position. Every now and then the wizard murmured a word of reassurance to the woman, who nodded or gave a quiet reply. Josiah shifted from foot to foot. He tried to discern some pattern in the random-seeming shifts of the light, but if there was one he couldn’t find it.
Finally the light began to fade, drawing in on itself until all that remained was a bright ball beneath Elkan’s hand. It flared brighter for an instant, and then it was gone.
Elkan sat back, breathing heavily, sweat beaded on his forehead. Sardonyx’s sides heaved as if he’d just finished a long race. The woman sat up, adjusted her clothing, and touched her body with light, exploring fingers.
Elkan smiled wearily at her. “I’m fairly certain we were able to take care of it. But do please continue to check yourself. If the lump comes back, or if you notice any other symptoms, come in right away.”
“I will.” The woman smiled and nodded. “Thank you so much.”
“Take the rest of the day off, and of course tomorrow is Restday, but you should be able to return to your craft on Firstday. The Mother’s blessing on you.” Elkan escorted the woman out of the cubicle and sent her off down the corridor.
He turned to Josiah. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop to greet you when you came in. That was a difficult case and we couldn’t break our concentration. Wait a moment and I’ll show you around. Sar and I both need a break.”
He pulled his chair over to a small desk, opened a large book, and wrote intently for several minutes. When he finished, he led Josiah from the cubicle, out of the screened area, and to the back wall of the large room. A long counter held pitchers of water, basins, bars of soap, and stacks of clean white towels. Elkan directed Josiah to wash his hands thoroughly. “Cleanliness keeps wounds from festering. We can cure infections when they happen, but if we prevent them in the first place, that’s energy saved that can be put to better use.” He poured water into an earthenware cup and drank deeply. Sar drank from a trough of water set along the wall.
“That woman,” Josiah ventured cautiously, watching to see whether Elkan would answer, or whether his question probed too deeply into the secrets of the wizards’ trade. “What was wrong with her?”
Elkan sighed. “She had a tumor in her breast, the kind that spreads to other parts of the body. It was pretty advanced. Sar and I had to work on her for over an hour, and we’re both drained, but I think we located and dealt with all of it.”
Josiah was shocked. “She didn’t seem that ill.”
“No, with this kind of disease patients often don’t know there’s a problem until it’s very serious. Sometimes they require many treatments over days or weeks, sometimes several wizards and familiars must combine their strength.” Elkan drained his cup and set it down. “Well, Sar, how do you feel? Ready to tackle another patient?”
The donkey huffed petulantly, but turned to make his way back towards the screened cubicles. He turned in when they came to the cubicle they’d left. Elkan gestured for Josiah to continue on. “Take a few more minutes to rest, Sar. I’ll be back soon.”
Elkan led Josiah to the front of the screened area, explaining as they went. “Apprentice wizards generally bond with a familiar at the beginning of their fourth year. Until then they study and serve in ways that don’t require the Mother’s power. Also older wizards, if their familiar dies, often choose not to take on another. Mother-touched animals are scarce, and the best use can be made of the Mother’s gifts if they’re paired with young, strong wizards with plenty of energy.”
In the waiting area, an elderly wizard was speaking to one of the newly arrived patients. Elkan waited until he finished and sent the patient to a spot on a bench. “Master Tivon, this is Josiah. He’ll be helping me today. Sar and I are ready to take on another patient, but please send us light cases for a while. That last one took a lot out of us.”
“I’ll do what I can, although we’re so busy today, I can’t guarantee anything. Why don’t you take Tavel next.” He gestured at a boy around Josiah’s age huddled on a chair in the waiting area. One hand was wrapped in a blood-soaked cloth. “He’s a butcher’s apprentice who needs to work on his knife skills. He didn’t quite manage to take his finger off, but I think he may have damaged the tendon.”
Elkan beckoned for the boy to follow them to the cubicle. “Josiah, fetch me a bowl of water and some towels.”
Josiah hurried to the washing area. When he got back to the cubicle, Tavel was seated on the cot and Elkan was unwrapping his makeshift bandage. Josiah winced at the gaping slice in the boy’s forefinger. He glimpsed a flash of white bone when Elkan rinsed Tavel’s hand in the bowl and patted it dry.
Elkan spread one of the clean white towels on Tavel’s lap and placed the injured hand on it. He handed Josiah the bloody cloths and the bowl. “Take care of these, please.” Sar pushed Josiah out of the way to take his place at Elkan’s side. Elkan put one hand on his back and hovered the other over Tavel’s wound. Golden light enveloped the boy’s hand and the edges of the cut drew together.
Reluctantly Josiah hurried off to dispose of the bloodied water and cloths. When he got back, Tavel was opening and closing his hand. Only a pale scar remained where the gash had been.
“Take Tavel back and bring us whoever Master Tivon has for us next.” Elkan moved to write in his book.
Josiah spent the rest of the morning fetching and carrying for Elkan, escorting patients back and forth, and occasionally getting to watch for a few minutes as the wizard worked amazing feats of healing before his eyes. The hours passed quickly, but he was tired and hungry by the time Master Tivon told him it was time to break for the midday meal.
He eyed the benches. They were considerably less full than they had been, but there were still at least twenty people waiting. “We’re not going to take care of them first?” he asked, keeping his voice soft.
“Not until after we eat. They can leave to get food and come back without losing their places.” Sure enough, many of the patients were rising and heading for the door of the Hall.
“But they need help.” One man was limping, a woman was sneezing and blowing her nose, and a child was complaining loudly to his mother.
Tivon gave him a rueful smile. “We took care of everyone who was in danger or in severe pain. None of these will be harmed if their healing is delayed an hour. If any urgent cases come in during our break, Eleora will send word and one of us will see to them. The Mother’s Law requires us to meet our own needs, even if that means we can’t help someone right away. We must eat, and drink, and sleep. Only if lives are immediately at risk can we put those things aside.”
“That doesn’t seem very, um, compassionate.” Josiah tried to remember what he’d heard of the Mother’s nature at various Springtide and Harvest celebrations. He’d never paid close attention, being much more concerned with the festivities that followed than the religious observations, but he was sure he’d heard over and over again how much the Mother loved her children.
“We have to take care of ourselves in order to have the energy to serve others. Wizards tend to be the sort who would neglect their own needs if the Law didn’t forbid it. Sometimes we get so caught up in our work we forget to rest as much as we should. But our familiars—”
He broke off. Josiah looked at him, puzzled. “What?”
“Our familiars need to eat and rest, too. Even if a wizard won’t think of himself or the Law, he’ll usually stop for his familiar’s sake.”
Josiah was sure that was true, but he didn’t think it was what Tivon had originally intended to say.
The aroma coming from the dining hall was so delicious he didn’t see how anyone could find it hard to stop working once they caught a whiff of it. Elkan joined them, and they stood in line to receive trays of food. They took them to a round table near a wall where a net full of hay hung. Sar joined two sheep,
a goat, and a deer who were eagerly munching.
Josiah looked around the room and saw other familiars with their wizards. Cats and dogs ate from bowls on the floor or sat curled in their wizard’s laps. Birds perched on shoulders and took seeds or bits of meat from their wizards’ hands. There were rats, mice, and squirrels on tables, and a horse at another hay net farther along the wall.
Josiah dug into the simple meal of bread, roast beef, and vegetables. Tivon turned to Elkan. “We’re certainly going to miss you after you leave. This is the first Sixthday in months we’ve been able to eat the midday meal on time. We’ve been shorthanded ever since Fluffy died last autumn and I retired from bonded service. We’ve appealed to the Hall in Elathir to send us help, but they don’t have anyone to spare. Any chance you’d consider relocating here after you earn your mastery, Elkan?”
“That’s for the Guildmaster to decide,” Elkan said. “Though I’d welcome the opportunity to serve with you. My condolences on the loss of your familiar; I hadn’t realized it was so recent.”
“Not quite half a year, now. We served many long years together.” He smiled, his eyes distant. “I’ll never forget the day Fluffy came prancing through the main doors in the middle of a Restday service, a half-grown kitten. She jumped into my lap and started purring. It was so obvious she was Mother-touched, I didn’t even bother to look for the mark. I’d just lost Clover and didn’t feel old enough to retire, but I couldn’t quite face starting over. Fluffy didn’t leave me much choice in the matter. We bonded that day, and for twenty-six years she was the best partner a wizard could ask for.” He lapsed into silence.
Josiah had never realized how strong the bond of affection between wizard and familiar was, though he wasn’t really surprised after seeing how Elkan and Sar interacted. “I’m sorry.”
Tivon smiled reassuringly at him. “It’s the Mother’s way. She was very old for a cat, more than ready to go home.”
Something in Master Tivon’s story pricked Josiah’s curiosity. “What was that about not looking for a mark?”
Master Tivon nodded. “All Mother-touched animals bear her mark somewhere on their body.”
“I’ll show you,” added Elkan. “Sar, come here, please?” The donkey left off browsing and ambled over to Josiah. “Look there, on his chest, to the side.”
Josiah peered closely. A handspan above where the donkey’s left foreleg met his body was a small white patch, oval shaped, like a fingerprint.
“The touch of the Mother’s finger,” Master Tivon confirmed. “That’s how we recognize a potential familiar when we find them—or they find us.” He pushed back from the table. “Patients are waiting. Time to get back to work.”
* * *
Midway through the afternoon, Josiah reported back to Elkan’s cubicle without a patient in tow. “Master Tivon says things are under control, and we should go help out at the court. They had a case run longer than expected this morning, so they’re backed up.”
“That will make a nice change of pace. And you’ll get to see the other major aspect of our work.” Elkan picked up his record book and left the cubicle, Sar at his side.
Josiah followed them across the large room to another screened space on the far side. People milled about, one group leaving the area, another coming in and taking seats.
A young man with a hawk on his shoulder approached them. “Elkan, am I glad to see you. Windsong and I have got to take a break; that last case wore us out. We must have opened fifty windows from a dozen different angles before everyone could agree on the truth. Would you mind terribly taking the next case or two, until we’ve recovered some energy?”
“I’d be happy to, Kaniel. What’s next?”
“Should be simple enough. The watchers just brought a shoplifter in. He’s only a boy.”
Elkan nodded. “I’ll take care of things until you’re ready.” Gesturing for Josiah to take a seat in the first row of benches, he seated himself in the central chair in the semi-circle at the front. “I don’t think I’ll need your help, Josiah, but stay and watch. If I need anything I’ll call on you.”
He beckoned a small group of people to come forward. “Everyone, take your seats; let’s begin.”
Once they were settled, he turned to the man at his left. “You’re making the complaint? Please introduce yourself and tell us what happened.”
The man wore the cap and apron of a baker, dusted white with flour. “I’m Master Nur Bakerkin Baker. I was in my shop, waiting on my customers. It was just before noon, so we were busy. There was a commotion by the door. People started shouting. I ran out to see what was going on and noticed some honey rolls missing from the display in the window. This little thief was running away!” The baker’s rough voice was sharp with outrage. “Of course I cried for the Watch to catch him. He denied everything, but I insisted on bringing him before the court. When you show us what happened we’ll all witness the boy’s guilt, and I’ll be compensated for my loss.” He glared at the boy in the chair across from him.
The boy squirmed, looking around for support. A woman wearing the red cloak of a watcher stood behind his chair, alert lest he make any move to flee. A man and woman sat on either side of him, looking ashamed and uncomfortable.
Elkan leaned toward the boy. “What’s your name?”
“Roni Cobblerkin, sir.”
“How old are you, Roni?”
“Nine, sir.”
“And these are your parents?”
“Yes, sir.”
Elkan turned to the man. “Would you introduce yourself, please?”
“Yes, sir. I’m Master Raizel Cooperkin Cobbler, and this is my wife Master Jobina Tailorkin Tailor. I’m sure there must be some mistake. Our Roni’s a good boy. He knows better than to go stealing.”
“If there’s been a mistake, we’ll find out. Roni, were you in Master Nur’s shop?”
“Yes, sir. I was going to buy a honey roll. I had money!” He dug a grubby hand into his pocket and displayed a small copper coin. “But I didn’t get a chance. All of a sudden people were yelling at me and trying to grab me, so I ran. I was scared! But I didn’t do anything wrong.” He glared at Elkan.
“I understand, Roni.” Elkan sat back in his chair. He put out his hand, and Sardonyx moved under it. He glanced at the baker. “This happened just before noon, you said?”
“That’s right.”
“And where is your shop?”
The baker gave Elkan a detailed description of the shop’s location. When he was satisfied, Elkan nodded. “Observe, everyone.”
He put one hand on Sar’s back and held the other out, palm up. A pinprick of light sparked to life and expanded until it was a glowing golden globe several feet in diameter. The center of the globe cleared, and they looked through a round window framed with golden light into another place and time.
Josiah and the other spectators leaned forward to see clearly. The window showed a busy baker’s shop. People milled about, choosing the loaves or pastries they wanted and waiting in line to pay. Josiah could hear their voices, soft and hollow as if from far away, but clear.
Elkan studied the scene hovering above his outstretched hand. “Is this your shop, Master Nur?”
“Yes, it is.”
The view swooped to where Roni could be seen, waiting his turn. Another boy stood behind him. As they watched, the other boy’s hand snuck out. He picked up several honey rolls from the window display and slipped out of the shop. A customer turned and shouted; other voices joined her. Roni stared around. Seeing the many accusing glares aimed in his direction, he panicked and dashed for the door. The baker lumbered from behind his counter and gave chase, calling for the Watch. The window followed them out of the shop and into the street. Several watchers converged on Roni and took him into custody.
“See! It wasn’t me!” Roni jumped to his feet. “It was that other boy!”
The baker sat back in his chair, shaking his head. “I was so sure… But the boy’s right. He didn
’t take the cakes.”
“No.” Elkan concentrated again on the sphere in his hand. “Let’s find the one who did. Master watcher, observe closely.”
The watcher stepped out from behind Roni’s chair and fixed her eyes on the open window. Roni’s mother pulled him into a hug, which he bore stoically, though he rolled his eyes. The scene in the window backtracked to the moment the other boy stretched out his hand. The viewpoint zoomed in until the boy’s face filled the circle. The watcher nodded at Elkan, and the view expanded again. It moved forward in time, this time tracking the other boy as he raced from the shop, ran down the street, and ducked into an alley. He stuffed the cakes into the pockets of his tunic and made his way down the alley, emerging into the next street calmly. He strolled until he came to a public privy, which he entered. The view didn’t follow him inside, but stayed fixed on the door. The passage of time sped up, passersby zipping along comically fast, until at length it slowed again. The boy hadn’t emerged.
Elkan looked at the watcher. “This is the present time. Go and fetch the boy here.” She nodded and left, beckoning her two comrades who were watching from the benches to join her.
Josiah kept his eyes fixed on the window so he wouldn’t miss the watchers entering its view, but out of the corner of his eye he noticed Elkan studying Roni. The boy sat back in his seat, a worried look on his face.
Within a few minutes, the watchers appeared in the window. They called out a warning and entered the privy. After a moment they emerged, dragging the shoplifter with them.
Elkan let the window fade to a blank gold dazzle, but he continued to focus on Roni, who squirmed under his gaze. Elkan looked back at the window and it cleared again. Roni and the other boy stood in the bake shop. The view began moving backward in time, slowly at first, then faster, tracking Roni as he backed away from the door of the shop and down the street. He retreated several blocks, then into a side ally. The other boy was already there, having backed more quickly to the same spot.
The Fuller's Apprentice (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 1) Page 4