The Fuller's Apprentice (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 1)

by Angela Holder

  Elkan nodded. “Take her back to Tathorlith. Would someone accompany him, please, and vouch for the cat? Take Thistle, too. And your horses will just slow us down where she’s gone, so take them as well.”

  He didn’t wait to see if his words would be heeded, but zipped the window back to the moment Nirel slipped away and set off with Sar, following her. The watchers held a quick discussion. They decided two of them should go with Josiah, along with all the horses. The other five headed after Elkan and Sar through the brush.

  The watchers introduced themselves to Josiah. Yishan, a thin, wiry man, fussed over the horses, hooking reins to saddles so he could lead the whole train down the trail. Dara, a broad shouldered woman, stayed at Josiah’s side, watching the mountain cat with a mixture of wariness and delight. “Never thought I’d get close to one of these. She’s a beauty, isn’t she?” The cat frisked around the clearing, pouncing on splashes of light that glanced between the leaves. “It would’ve been a shame if we’d had to kill her. I’ve got cats at home, and she’s not much different, really. She acts just like Smoky did when he was a kitten.” One of the cat’s playful leaps brought her close, and they jumped back. Josiah’s heart pounded. Dara grinned crookedly at him. “You’re sure she’ll listen to you?”

  Josiah was not at all sure, but he feigned confidence. “Of course.” He steeled himself and walked to the cat, who’d caught a blowing leaf and batted at it with her giant paw. “Come here, um…” Josiah snatched the first name that came to mind. “Tobi.” It seemed to suit her. “Do you like that name? May I call you Tobi?”

  She bounded to his side, twined around him, and butted her head under his hand. Still a little nervous, he scratched around her ears. He touched the grey fingerprint mark for reassurance. “Tobi it is, then.”

  Yishan led the horses, Thistle in the rear, back along the path, Dara and Josiah followed with Tobi, keeping well back. The smell of a large predator so close had the horses near panic, and only their watcher training allowed Yishan to manage them.

  Josiah looked back as they left. He hoped Elkan would be able to find Nirel. He hated to think of her out there after nightfall, alone in the dark and hostile forest. Tobi couldn’t be the only danger the wilderness held.

  The walk back was long and tiring. At first Josiah was afraid Tobi might run off. She liked to bound ahead and sometimes disappeared into the forest for several minutes at a time. But she always returned and bumped affectionately into Josiah, nearly knocking him off his feet.

  As they approached the town, Tobi left off roaming and paced by Josiah’s side, pressing so close to his legs he had to push her away to keep from stumbling. Josiah rested his hand on her back for comfort, though he was almost as apprehensive as she.

  Dara led the way to a butcher’s shop she knew. The people they passed stared, but Dara’s watcher cloak and her authoritative manner reassured them.

  So late in the day, the shop was quiet. Carcasses and cuts of meat hung on display. Josiah studied them, wondering which would suit Tobi best.

  Without warning Tobi tore from Josiah’s grasp and leaped at a side of beef hanging beside the butcher’s door. She sank in her claws and clamped her teeth on its windpipe. Her weight tore it off the hook, sending cat and prey crashing to the ground. With a lithe twist she leapt atop the carcass and settled into a crouch, tearing off chunks of meat and swallowing them whole.

  The butcher appeared in the doorway of his shop, gaping at Tobi with wide, terrified eyes. He looked at Dara, mouth moving but unable to form words, pointing a shaking hand at where she feasted.

  Josiah stepped up. “We’ll take that one.” He pulled out the coins Elkan had given him and thrust them at the butcher with far more aplomb than he felt. He was taken aback by the violence of Tobi’s action, but the cat was so obviously ravenous that his own stomach growled in sympathy.

  Dara stepped up behind him. “The cat’s no danger, just hungry. You have the assurance of the Watch that it won’t cause trouble.”

  The butcher sorted the coins in his hand, never taking his eyes from Tobi. “Let me get you your change…” He backed into his shop.

  “Keep it,” Josiah called. “For the inconvenience.”

  The butcher gulped and clutched the coins, the generous overpayment easing his distress a little. He looked again at Dara. “You’re sure that thing is safe?”

  “Completely. Come, let’s go inside. She’ll need to be supplied with meat as long as Wizard Elkan remains in Tathorlith. If you can arrange to make a delivery each day to Master Admon’s house, I’m sure you can have the business for the rest of their stay.”

  The butcher appeared cheered by that prospect, already summing up the potential profit in his head. But he cast a last doubtful look at Josiah. “Can that boy control her?”

  Dara shrugged. “He’s a wizard.”

  Josiah opened his mouth to correct her, but she vanished into the shop with the butcher.

  By the time they emerged, Tobi had reduced the carcass to a few tattered scraps. They made their way back to Admon’s house. Yishan had reported to him, so the Guildmaster admitted them with no more than round eyes and slightly quickened breathing as the mountain cat stepped over his threshold. Yovela gasped as Tobi looked around with interest. But the cat clung to Josiah’s side, and within a few minutes his hosts had relaxed enough to urge a welcome supper on Josiah.

  Tobi lay at his feet as he ate. He studied her surreptitiously. Mother-touched animals were as smart as people, Elkan had said. Certainly Tobi seemed to understand what was going on around her. He hoped fervently that she’d be able to restrain her wild nature. He felt responsible for her behavior. Any trouble he allowed her to get into would reflect badly on Elkan and the Wizards’ Guild. But he didn’t know how he could stop her if she took it into her head to attack an animal, or Mother forbid, a person. He resolved to keep her well fed and out of sight as much as possible. With any luck, Elkan would be back soon with Nirel and they could depart.

  But Elkan didn’t appear. Josiah stayed up late with the two masters. Tobi was wary of the fire at first, but crept closer and closer to its warmth as the night advanced, until she fell asleep sprawled in front of the hearth. Finally they were forced to retire. Josiah tossed and turned in the bed he usually shared with Elkan, worrying. At last he dragged his blankets out and curled on the floor next to Tobi. She leaned into him as she slept, her warm weight a comfort.

  Elkan still wasn’t there in the morning. Admon and Yovela departed for their work, assuring Josiah that he and Tobi were welcome to remain in their home during the day. Admon didn’t say it, but Josiah understood that he wanted Tobi kept off the streets, away from people and animals she might frighten—or injure.

  Josiah puttered around the house, unable to settle. Tobi woke and gnawed on the bones the butcher had provided, then stretched out in the sun pouring through the window and fell asleep again. Josiah pulled out Elkan’s record book and spent a while making sure it was up to date and in order. He painstakingly recorded the events of the previous day, starting with the pre-dawn raid on the jail. Seeing it all written out, he could appreciate fully just how much Elkan and Sar had extended themselves, with very little rest or food, and worried anew at their absence.

  Finally, around midmorning, the door swung open and Elkan stumbled in, Sar plodding at his heels. Josiah jumped up in alarm. As often as he’d seen wizard and familiar worn out from their work, it had never been quite this bad before. Without speaking, Elkan slumped into a chair at the table, and Josiah scrambled to scoop up a bowl of porridge. Elkan began eating with single minded purpose, gulping the porridge as ravenously as Tobi had devoured the meat the night before.

  “Should I get some hay for Sar?” Josiah hated to interrupt.

  Elkan shook his head, pausing only momentarily. “No, he grazed on the way back. He just needs to sleep.” The donkey settled into a corner, head drooping. Elkan turned his attention back to his bowl. Josiah waited, urgently wanting to know
the outcome of the search, but unwilling to keep Elkan away from the food he so obviously needed.

  Finally Elkan set down his spoon and propped his head in his hands. “We didn’t find her,” he said, before Josiah could ask. “Once it was dark, the window was little use. Nirel was smart enough to keep on the move all night, and skilled enough at woodcraft to move silently. We had to keep going back to the last place we’d found her and scan in all directions, looking for any little movement visible in the starlight and listening for the faintest rustle. We followed a raccoon for an hour before we realized it wasn’t her. We were just too slow. When the sun rose, she was beyond our ability to see, and the glare from the sun washed out what little there was in the window. The watchers are going to take some hunters out with their dogs, but I doubt it will do any good—she knows to keep to water whenever she can. We’ll have to go out again tonight and pick up her trail at the last place we were sure of.”

  He shook his head. “Mother love the girl, I’ve half a mind to let her go if she’s that determined.” His shoulders slumped again. “But we can’t. It’s too dangerous out there for her alone. But this will delay us even more than this business has already, and there are many more along the circuit who need us.”

  “What about the bandits and Kabos?” Josiah was so curious he blurted the question without considering how tired Elkan was. He was sorry as soon as he saw the frown lines crease Elkan’s brow, but listened eagerly to his answer nonetheless.

  “Watchers are tracking them. Maybe our time and energy would be better spent with them. Last I heard, they were headed in the same direction as Nirel, but by a different path. It’s possible she knows where they’re going.”

  “She said they used to come to the farm all the time, and she wasn’t afraid of them. Maybe she’s talked to them and found out where their hiding places are. Maybe Kabos was more involved with them than Sathea knew about.” The ideas tumbled out of Josiah’s mouth as quickly as he thought of them.

  “Do you think that hasn’t occurred to me?” Elkan snapped. He shook his head and rubbed his forehead. “I can’t think right now. I’ve got to sleep. Maybe tonight…”

  He pushed his hair back from his face and rose. “Thank you for the porridge, Josiah, and for dealing with the cat. I knew I could depend on you.” He headed for the bedroom as he spoke, pausing with his hand on the door. “If you could go to Sathea and tell her what’s happened…”

  “Of course,” Josiah assured him.

  Elkan nodded and vanished within. By the time Josiah cleaned his bowl and peeked in, he was sound asleep.

  Glad of the excuse to leave the house of sleeping people and animals, Josiah walked to Jonina’s house. Sathea took his news silently, white and grim-faced, clutching Ilana tight. “Tell Elkan thank you. I know he’s doing all he can.” Her voice was dull, and she wouldn’t meet Josiah’s eyes. Guilt washed over Josiah, and he quickly excused himself and left.

  Back on the street, Josiah was restless. He headed to the public stable where Thistle was boarded to make sure she was none the worse for her adventures.

  Meira was there, Ravid on her back, brushing Thistle with long, slow strokes. She smiled at Josiah and focused again on the donkey.

  Josiah ran his hand over the faint scars on Thistle’s flank. “Is she all right?”

  “Fine, as far as I can tell. What happened, exactly? They told me she was wounded, but Elkan healed her?”

  Josiah gave her a full account of events. She bit her lip when he described Tobi’s attack, and frowned in concern when he told about his own wounding, but nodded at the account of Elkan’s healing. She was silent for a while after he finished.

  “So it will be several days more before Elkan is ready to leave?” Ravid squirmed, and Meira reached back to stroke his face.

  Josiah grinned at the baby, who stopped fussing and stared at Josiah, his mouth parting in a wide, toothless smile. “I guess so, unless he finds Nirel tonight. He could, you know, she’s got to be just as tired as he is, and she has to sleep sometime. She can’t get too far away before he goes after her again.”

  “I hope so. I need to get back on the road. I’m not accomplishing anything, delaying here.” She turned back to Thistle and raked the brush hard against the donkey’s side. Thistle leaned into the firm strokes with a sigh of pleasure. “There are some traders leaving tomorrow, heading toward Shalinthan. They’re willing for me to accompany them, if I want.”

  “That might be a good idea. Elkan would be happy to know he wasn’t keeping you waiting.”

  Meira aimed a crooked smile at Thistle’s ears. “Most likely. Still, with the bandits out there, I’d prefer to stay under his protection. You two have been good traveling companions. I wouldn’t mind another day or two, if that’s all it is, but if it’s going to be a week or more I should take this opportunity and go with the traders.”

  Josiah shrugged. “I’ll ask Elkan what he thinks, but he can’t really know. It all depends on how long it takes him to find Nirel. Maybe he could come by and talk to you this evening before he heads out to search again.”

  “I’d appreciate that. I have to decide right away; the traders are leaving first thing in the morning.”

  “I’ll tell him.” It was probably best if Meira and Ravid did go with the traders. Josiah would miss their company on the road, but Elkan would be glad to be relieved of responsibility for their welfare.

  But when Josiah passed on Meira’s message, Elkan wasn’t enthusiastic. “That would probably be best. There’s no point in her lingering here, waiting for us. Still… I’d hate to see anything happen to her or Ravid. Kabos may bear a grudge against her for testifying against him, and the bandits are more of a danger than ever. I’d feel better if she were to stay with us, under the protection of the Mother’s power.”

  Elkan applied himself to the hearty evening meal Yovela had prepared for them. Josiah glanced over to where Tobi was finishing the meat the butcher’s apprentice had delivered that morning. She gulped the last chunk and came to peer over Josiah’s shoulder at the slices of roast venison on his plate. Josiah tried to push her away, but she persisted until he finally relented and fed her a piece. She devoured it in a single snap, licked the juices from her face, and returned her attention to his plate.

  Josiah was torn between laughter and apprehension. “I think she’s still hungry, Elkan.”

  “I’d say you’re right.” Elkan studied the mountain cat. “The butcher will have closed up shop and gone home. And I’ve already drawn as much from the Wizards’ Guild account as the banker here can let me have. It will have to last us until we get to Shalinthan; that’s the next place big enough to have a branch of the Bankers’ Guild.” He reflected for a moment. Tobi gave up on Josiah offering another piece of meat and began pacing restlessly around the room. “She’ll have to hunt for her food once we’re on the road, anyway. Why don’t you and Tobi come out with Sar and me tonight, Josiah? You can keep track of Tobi while she gets some exercise and a chance to hunt. And we could use your sharp eyes and ears in the search.”

  Josiah stuffed a final bite into his mouth and jumped up. “Let’s go!”

  Elkan laughed. “Slow down. The watchers don’t expect us for a while yet.”

  Josiah carried his dirty dishes to the basin. He’d been dreading another long night of waiting and wondering. “We need to get going. We have to stop by so you can talk to Meira.”

  Elkan’s smile faded. “You’re right.” He put down his fork and rose, leaving the last of his meal uneaten. “Let’s go.”

  Fourteen

  Meira greeted them at the door of the Smiths’ Guildhall. “Let me walk with you. Ravid’s sleeping; one of the apprentices is keeping an ear out for him.” She fell in beside them as they made their way toward the edge of town.

  Elkan’s hand toyed with Sar’s mane. “Josiah tells me you’re thinking of leaving tomorrow with some traders.”

  Meira nodded, not looking at him. “It’s just the two
of them, a husband and wife. But they’re used to the roads. They assure me they’re well armed and able to deal with any dangers that may arise from bandits or, ah, wild beasts.” She glanced with nervous fascination at Tobi.

  “I expect they’ll be going directly to Shalinthan. You’d get there much faster, not having to stop at every little village and farm with us.”

  “True. But I must admit, I like traveling with a wizard. I don’t have to worry about Ravid or me getting sick or injured, or about running into the bandits.”

  Elkan shook his head. “The Mother’s power can’t protect you from everything. I think the safest thing is for you to get home as quickly as possible.”

  “Maybe.”

  They reached the edge of town where the watchers would meet them. There was no sign of them yet. Tobi pricked her ears toward the woods and bunched her muscles as if to spring away, but she subsided when Josiah laid a hand on her head.

  Meira turned to Elkan, looking straight at him for the first time. “You’ll be back by morning?”

  Elkan met her eyes. “That’s our plan, but it all depends on what we’re able to find.”

  “If you are, would you stop by the Guildhall and tell me? If you don’t, I’ll leave with the traders. But… if it’s possible, I’d rather travel with you.”

  Elkan nodded. “I’ll do that.”

  “Good. I’ll be expecting you.” Meira turned away from Elkan, stroked Sar’s nose, and held out a tentative hand to Tobi. The cat sniffed at her and allowed Meira to scratch her ears. Meira grinned in rueful wonder. “I never dreamed I’d ever get to touch a mountain cat. Look, here come the watchers. I’ve got to go. Good luck in your search.”

  Elkan and Josiah bid her farewell and greeted Dara and two of the watchers who had accompanied Elkan the previous night. They set off as the sun slid lower in the sky. Elkan looked back as Meira vanished around the corner of a building. Then he set his face toward the mountains and quickened his stride until Josiah had to trot to keep up.