God-Kissed: Book 1 (The Apprentices)

by Clark Bolton

  Castor quickly leaned over the runes and then glanced from one to another. “Every nine days at low tide?” He asked as he turned to Autbek.

  “Or close to that I would guess.” Autbek said as his pulse quickened. “It could be that is when Neustus is most helpful, or may be most awake. Or something like that!”

  “Hey, when did he find Murac?” Haspeth asked.

  They all quickly tried to think. They recalled it was the same day Castor had brought Lita to meet them and so counting back they concluded it was not on one of the days they had hoped.

  “Could be the day I asked him!” Autbek said. “That would make more sense since because then Neustus would not be limited to a particular day to find something but rather could look for as many days as it took.”

  “So you think asking things of him on these three days of the month is what we should do?” Haspeth asked.

  “Yes, or it could be that its these three days that he is most lucid, and so can understand us and we him.”

  “Tomorrow is one of those days!” Castor noted.

  They stood looking out the windows of the third floor of the tower with the Dieknotkow on the rack behind them. Murac was with the three of them and was pointing out a flag in the distance that hung over the city of Astrum.

  “The blue flag there, it is the one that indicates the tide. The height of the banner on the pole indicates where the tide is now, and as we can see it is pretty low at this time.”

  “Good, now let’s hope this works.” Autbek said as he turned to Neustus. The man-bird was making more noises than usual he thought, and perhaps was moving his head more.

  Walking over to the rack with Castor and Haspeth, Autbek prepared in his mind the words he would say to Neustus. They had not come up with a good subject yet, at least not as far as he was concerned. Trivial items, like magical amulets and potions had been mentioned but after discussion all thought that such things were not worthy to be asked for, at least not now.

  Autbek wanted important questions answered, like who was Neustus and what did he want of them. He was also dying to know what the great looming threat was that the Earl and his court seemed so concerned about, not to mention Berdtom. But he could not think the best way to form these questions.

  “Neustus, what can I do to help us, all of us?” He said softly to the man-bird. It was only a place to start he figured, as he felt he had to include Neustus’s interests as well as everyone else’s.

  “CLICK, CLICK,” Neustus replied as it stared at him with one cloudy eye.

  Autbek stepped back to watch Neustus and to listen. In the past the answer had come swiftly but now it looked like nothing was going to be forthcoming.

  Finally Neustus spoke. “Find … find Autbek.”

  Autbek stepped in close to answer. “Neustus, what should I find?”

  The room was still as all eyes fell upon the man-bird. Even Murac was transfixed by the creature though this was his first time in the chamber he had not seemed so impressed by Neustus as all others had been.

  “Ausic ring … find an Ausic ring.”

  Autbek looked from one to another of his companions to see if they knew what was meant by “Ausic.” The word sounded vaguely familiar to him but all the others shrugged or shook their heads to indicate they had not heard the word.

  “Neustus, do you mean a ring? A ring to wear on one's finger?”

  After clicks and whistles Neustus replied, “on your finger … Ausic ring.”

  “I should wear this Ausic ring?”

  More animated head movements followed by clicks and whistles then, “My apprentice!”

  Autbek furrowed his brow and tried to comprehend it all. “Neustus, am I your apprentice?”

  “Soon … Autbek, Castor … Haspeth.”

  Chills ran up their spines as the man-bird uttered their names. For all of them, being out of sight of the creature kept him out of mind. But when he personalized things with names it made them feel trapped and committed to something, though they knew not what.

  “Must we wear an Ausic ring?”

  “Mages wear Ausic rings!”

  “Neustus, we don’t know what those are.” Autbek pleaded. Turning to his friends he looked for help.

  “Neustus, if we take you to the library can you find an Ausic ring?” Haspeth asked bravely.

  “Library … library.” Neustus repeated.

  Autbek thought it a bit like a command and so began organizing everyone to assist him in getting Neustus down to the first floor library. They did not bother to use a levitation spell this time as Murac easily lifted the man-bird off the rack alone and then carried him to the library without assistance.

  Once in the library they had Murac and Autbek hold Neustus steady while Haspeth repeated the actions and questions they had done once before when they had located the illusion chalks for Castor. After several questions and a lot of pointing Haspeth pulled a heavy scroll from the shelves and with one last question determined it was the one Neustus wanted.

  “Ok!” Haspeth said excitedly as he laid it on a table and proceeded to untie the scrolls bindings. Once that was done he opened it a little then shook it gently like he was expecting a ring to fall out.

  “Nothing!” Castor exclaimed with disappointment.

  Haspeth unrolled the long scroll which ran the length of the table and then some. There was indeed nothing in it and he found it written in a language he did not know.

  Autbek asked Neustus if there were others but got no solid replies and so after several attempts they decided to return Neustus to his rack. Neustus did not object to this and seemed to calm even when they bound him once again spread eagle to the wooden frame.

  The three studied the scroll for a few minutes then Autbek produced a read languages scroll, and then after confirming there was at least one more copy in their possession he cast it upon himself and proceeded to decipher the scroll.

  After a few minutes he told them what he had determined so far. “It’s an account of some peoples, a city maybe or perhaps a nation. It’s not like a book but more like a listing of facts and people of note.” His first pass through the long scroll failed to find the word “Ausic,” but he was determined and so set about going at a slower pace, starting at the beginning again.

  “It’s about the longest scroll I’ve ever seen.” Haspeth noted dryly. He was considering casting a read languages spell of his own but thought it best to let Autbek try for a while first.

  Some considerable time later Autbek exclaimed his success. “Here is something! Wait there are two parts. It reads as follows …”

  Illimontus the mage, exalted wearer of an Ausic ring

  was gathered with others of unknown rank.

  Illimontus chastised them before Semptes the

  Great, saying you are lowly chanters lacking Ausic

  knowledge …

  … chanters of Semptes proclaimed Illimontus their

  lord and leader under Semptes the Great.

  Illimontus recused them without a glance, calling

  himself sorcerer and they chattel.

  Everyone was silent for a few moments, until Haspeth commented. “Sounds like a real bastard. Apparently you were not worth much without one of those rings.”

  “Yeah, I got mine Haspeth … where is yours?” Castor asked as he held up his hand, which had suddenly sprouted a glowing silver ring.

  “Oh, ha-ha! Bet you can get bloody close to Illimontus with that … just so he can use you as a chair…Chanter!”

  “Gods, you two!” Autbek barked, trying to regain his concentration. However, it turned out the scroll contained no more references to Ausic rings. Making a copy of the lines contained in the scroll, Autbek planned then to send them to Eifled to see if he knew anything or could locate some scholar who did.

  “O’t, you should check that Comusa scroll.” Castor said as he moved to distance himself from Haspeth. “Wasn’t the word ‘Ausic’ mentioned in the name of that secret society?
”

  Autbek nodded his head, now thinking that perhaps it had been. At this point Murac had to ask, “What the three of you know about such societies?”

  “Nothing, but been meaning to ask Eifled about it, seems he is a member.” Autbek replied as he finished up his notes.

  “Interesting.” Murac said with a slight frown.

  Autbek let Castor slide off the horse first then he dismounted outside the building where they regularly held class. The palace grounds were but a stone’s throw away but no one cared to think about that because as far as they were concerned they were much better off staying away from the Earl and his court.

  Haspeth had already dismounted and retrieved his saddlebags and so was chatting with the girls and their escorts just outside the side entrance they normally used. Using a key they had long ago procured from the buildings manager, Haspeth opened the door and let everyone in. As the escorts, including Onaleen’s father, were ushered into a side room they closed the door and then prepared for class.

  Taking Onaleen aside after making sure her father was gone for now he decided to ask her about the letter she had sent. “I guess your father is not too happy with me, Onaleen?”

  She nervously looked up at him and then looked away. “I can’t, O’t, I’m not supposed to talk about it with you.” She frowned for a moment then continued. “Father has forbidden me … like I said in the letter. I’m really sorry!”

  He let out a sad sigh. “I guess it’s over with then.” His first pretty girl had suddenly slipped through his fingers he realized, and for no good reason.

  She looked at him exasperated. “No!” she hissed with a little stamp of her foot.

  “But you did say it was … how can you go against your father’s wishes?”

  She smiled wickedly. “I just have to be careful for a while …my lord… but I can’t see or write you … except here.” Taking his hand she squeezed it gently.

  Feeling her touch caused strange warm tingling sensations to run through him. That combined with her perfume made his heart beat a little faster and so he squeezed her hand back and smiled at her with a nod.

  At this point all the other apprentices in the room were doing their best not to stare at the two. As if on cue they all turned to look at each other as they stifled giggles and smiles.

  “I’m not saying anything this time!” Haspeth whispered to the others as he mocked a punch to his own gut, reenacting the results of the cantrip Autbek had cast at him the last time he had made fun of him and Onaleen.

  “Not without a few drinks anyway.” Castor said with a smirk.

  The two girls then began scolding Castor and Haspeth who continued to gawk at the couple. “Give them some privacy.” They whispered, and then suggested one of them start the class.

  Biting his lip to suppress a laugh, Haspeth walked to the front of the room and then softly asked for the two girls to hand him their latest assignments. After a moment of pretending to read it while smiling occasionally at Pemmesa who herself smiled back while at the same time trying to scold him silently, he was interrupted by Autbek who now had come to the front of the room while Onaleen had taken her seat.

  “Ok then, let’s see how you’re doing.” Autbek then collected the samples of arcane-script and then spent a few moments leafing through the pile. His mind was wandering a bit as he scanned the samples but with a deep breath he managed to regain his concentration and so began the lecture.

  At the end of the lecture Autbek announced he had reached the conclusion that the three of them should indeed be paid a small sum each week. “I think one silver mark is reasonable amount … don’t you agree.”

  The girls all nodded their heads enthusiastically, apparently this was much more than they could have earned elsewhere. Both Haspeth and Castor gave Autbek a stare, reminding him that they rarely saw any money for themselves as of late.

  “Ah, good! Here you go, Pemmesa…Resbeka…and Onaleen!” He said, handing each of them a silver coin. When he saw Haspeth and Castor both had their hands out he just furrowed his brow and reminded them. “Your oath binds you … so let’s not ask for too much.” He was actually proud he said that as the two were always making jokes about how he overspent on nearly everything.

  “Ah! I’ve not sent my mom nothing for a month now!” Haspeth whined. Autbek had been free with his money up to a few months ago but now there was no hint of a salary.

  “Back to acrobatics, I guess.” Castor said as he crossed his arms and stared at Autbek.

  “Bloody right!” Haspeth added.

  Autbek shrugged and hoped the two would not resort to what he considered was tantamount to stealing, though it did make them look good in other ways. Anyway if they really needed any money, and he knew Haspeth’s mother did not, he would give them what they needed.

  It was twenty-one days later that the bells rang in the tower. Rushing up the stairs to Neustus, Castor asked, “Which is it sir?” Referring to the people he could see on the road. It was morning and he could see from the tower a number of groups of people including some on horseback.

  “Follow red man…follow to bearded trees.” Neustus hissed as his head rotated slowly from side to side.

  It was the loudest Castor had ever heard Neustus speak and so assumed it was very important. Looking wildly out the window he tried his best to locate anybody that looked like a “red man.”

  “Is the red man on Kings-road?” Castor asked in desperation.

  “NO!” Neustus hissed and clicked.

  That meant he had to be on Earls-way, which was a bit further from the tower. There was a lone man walking there now he saw. The man had just passed the intersection with Kings-road but had not turned on to it. Instead the man was heading east, further inland.

  “I think I see red upon him.” Castor muttered softly. Then he turned to run down the stairs to get assistance in finding and stopping the man.

  Autbek and Haspeth were on their way up as Castor came down the stairs. Filling them in he ran to the courtyard.

  “I think there is fellow maybe wearing red on Earls-way.” Castor said to Murac who already had a couple of guards busy saddling some horses. “Neustus says it will be a ‘red man’ and that we are to follow him to ‘bearded trees’.”

  “What!” Murac asked as he looked to each of them. Seeing that they did not know more he began giving orders. “Ok, then, he is heading to the town of Yesic and if he is walking that will take him most of the day. I’ll ride ahead until I locate him. If I don’t return that means I likely found him. Understand?”

  “Yeah, I think so, Murac.” Autbek said. The man was a quick thinker and what Murac said made sense he figured.

  “Autbek, best get horses and equipment ready. Food, water, cold weather gear, all we will need to travel with. Meet me in Yesic at the first inn you see there. Take your time in getting things together then ride hard. Send word to Berdtom immediately. Oh, and prepare for at least ten days since we have no idea where this man is walking to.”

  “Ok, go … we will meet you there and we will be ready.” Haspeth volunteered. With that said Murac finished securing his saddle then climbed into it and raced off through the gate.

  “Castor, go to the tower and see if can see more.” Autbek commanded. “Haspeth, get two guards and the stuff ready. I’ll write a letter to Berdtom and have another guard deliver it.

  Everyone then rushed into action.

  It took them longer than expected to gather the supplies as ten days’ worth turned out to be pretty much everything they had in the kitchen. Finally they decided they could pick up more basic supplies in Yesic. Fortunately the men-at-arms had experience with packing and marching and so were able to assist a great deal.

  Autbek decided on talking only two men-at-arms, partially because taking more seemed like a traveling crowd and partially because they had a limited number of horses. With himself, Castor, and Haspeth they would be a party of six once they met up with Murac, which he figured would preve
nt any difficulties with road bandits and such. Earls-way was known for its safety due to patrols by the Earl’s men but Berdtom had always cautioned about riding in small numbers.

  Close to being ready to ride out, they were pleasantly surprised when Berdtom arrived with a couple of guards in tow. All looked prepared for the road.

  “O’t, about ready I see. Looks like I arrived in time.”

  “Great Tom, very nice to see you’re going. Was not sure what you would do when that message reached. you.”

  “Ha, hard to pass up another unfolding story involving Neustus. So what are your plans?”

  Autbek filled in Berdtom on what Murac had wanted them to do and what they themselves had decided. He was happy with most of it but took the time to inspect the horses, packs and all. He declared they would indeed take the two guards that accompanied him as well, bringing the total to eight plus Murac.

  “The road to Yesic is known well by some of us, so for today we will ride hard and stop little. Now if we see this ‘red man’ without warning I will signal quickly what we are to do. Best to keep the fact that we follow him a secret, but if it gets out just let me handle it. Agreed?” Berdtom asked of the assembled travelers.

  Everyone nodded their heads or muttered their agreement. Than those not travelling assisted the others in climbing into the saddle.

  “Gods, we are like going to stop when I need to right?” Haspeth asked as he sat in his saddle uncomfortably.

  “No, we are not!” Berdtom replied sternly. “Do your best. We will stop when we must but trust me, best get the ride over as quick as possible. Don’t forget there is an inn with wine and roast pork at the end of the day.”

  “You got a big pack, Castor.” Autbek remarked as he rode up beside the boy. Castor was a terrible rider and here he was now with a bulging pack strapped to his back with his cloak hanging about it.

  “Yep, got my stuff in here in case I need it.” He said with a smile.

  “Good! I got more scrolls then I care to admit too and so I think does Haspeth.”