God-Kissed: Book 1 (The Apprentices)

by Clark Bolton

  Autbek furrowed his brow. “You mean it was woman?” He asked as gently as he could so as to calm her down. He could see that the viken were truly concerned now about Pemmesa but he was not willing to stop with the questions. “Tell me, Pemmesa!”

  “No, it was not a person.” She said in a trembling voice. “It was creature of some kind, like all dark and leathery. I could see its eye like it was looking at me.”

  His questioning was then interrupted when they noticed two horses leaving the courtyard. Autbek could just make out the fact that each horse bore two riders; a soldier in front and a smaller figure behind. “Castor and Lita!” He muttered under his breath as the riders disappeared into the darkness between the mage-tower and the city.

  “Need I ask where they were going?” Autbek said with sarcasm as he walked into the library to find Berdtom and Eifled busily writing and organizing a handful of letters.

  Berdtom barely looked up from the letter he was writing. “No, you just need to make a decision before morning.”

  “I have that long?” He muttered to himself knowing in his heart that he had already made the decision to take the oath. Pemmesa’s vision was convincing enough and he found it impossible now to imagine disappointing everyone from his apprentices on down to Berdtom and Eifled, not to mention Neustus himself.

  After a time Eifled spoke about the ramifications of what they were doing. “To ask this of you, O’t, may seem unfair but know that I have been present at a number of these hastily planned dealings. Though I cannot think of one where I personally have so much stake in the outcome I do feel you would risk too much not to take the oath now. How long Neustus can maintain his human form remains to be seen and should it not be possible to transform him again this opportunity will be lost.”

  For the most part Autbek listened and nodded his head as Eifled and then Berdtom gave their opinions and their assurances that taking the oath was the right path. He found them for the most part convincing but still found an unpleasant aspect remained and this was the simple fact he felt he was still breaking his oath to the Earl. When he confessed this finally to Eifled he found the man sympathetic but his reply unsatisfying.

  “Should you become an Ausic mage of some standing and fall back into the Earl’s service as I suspect you will, then no one will recall what you do here this night.” Eifled said earnestly. “However, if you fail and some disaster comes of your office your enemies may find it to their advantage to pick this fact from your past and use it against you.”

  Berdtom sat quickly as Eifled spoke and then added his final comment. “I will see that there is enough within these letters to satisfy any inquiry that the court may make, O’t. And I give you my assurance that no one will trouble you about it least they find themselves in direct opposition to Runeholden!” Berdtom then stood and walked over to Autbek. “There is one requirement to all this, Autbek, and that is you will be beholden to the recipient of these letters.”

  Autbek looked up to give Berdtom a hard stare. “Don’t tell me his name is Fesmbol!”

  Berdtom noticeably winced and looked to Eifled as if for support before admitting “Yes…and I see you must have overheard us, but no matter, O’t, things are in motion now and Castor has been sent to bring him here this night.”

  Autbek shook his head in defeat and then after a long silence declared, “I will go see Neustus.” He then got slowly to his feet and walked out without looking at either Berdtom or Eifled.

  Autbek was fuming as he walked up the stairs to the second level of the tower where he found Onaleen and Resbeka studying with Haspeth. He had set expectations high over the last few days for the girls to learn some cantrips before they left on this journey and even though it was very late he was pleased to see they were taking it very seriously. This fact settled his mind only a little.

  He felt like yelling at someone in frustration but the three apprentices weren’t doing a thing wrong and anyways he realized they had no part to his impending oath breaking. “I will be up stairs.” He finally said as the three looked at him apprehensively.

  “Yes, sir!” Haspeth replied matter-of-factly.

  He found Neustus seated on a bench next to the window that afforded him a good view of the city as well as the viken’s campfire below. “I have decided to take the oath, sir.” Autbek blurted out after watching Neustus for a few moments. “As soon as my existing one can be ended, this will likely occur before morning.”

  Neustus seemed not to hear but after a few moments pause replied, “I see the things in motion, your riders, and your fortunetellers.” Looking to Autbek he added, “One is not an apprentice but learns as if one I suspect.”

  Autbek furrowed his brow as he tried to interpret what Neustus said. “Do you mean Lita?” He asked as feelings of shame welled up in his mind. “I admit I don’t understand her abilities.”

  Nodding his head slowly for a few moments Neustus replied, “Never have a met an illusionist, Autbek, and now two of them in the same tower.”

  “Yes.” Autbek agreed. “I had heard they are very rare.” He couldn’t think of any other reply at the moment as thoughts of his handling of Lita came to mind and how Neustus must think him lax for his willingness to let Castor teach her.

  “Neither you nor I should instruct her least she be bound by oath.” Neustus said as he seemed to stare at Autbek with his unfocused cloudy eyes. “And we may find she cannot be bound by them.”

  Autbek nodded his head but did not reply, feeling shame again for his actions and those of Castor. After a time he felt the courage to come and stand next to the man. He could now see the viken below the window, huddled about their fire, including Pemmesa.

  “She sees what’s coming.” Neustus stated softly. “I know you wish to ask this of me. Don’t think that I know what it is she sees for you would be mistaken.”

  Autbek furrowed his brow and dared to ask, “Your sight can’t show you this thing that all of Astrum thinks is coming?”

  “No, Autbek.” Neustus said with a weak smile. “I see auras and their crossroads…and little more…very little more.”

  “Can you see that I will serve you?”

  “I saw that years ago, just like I see that in the others.” Neustus replied as he turned to gaze into the darkness. “For a short time you will and then I think they will be yours.”

  Autbek winced a little at the thought of taking over apprenticeships from a true Ausic mage. “It does not seem right.” He muttered.

  Neustus shook his head. “You have it wrong, Autbek, for the Ausic aura is as powerful in you as what I see of mine in a mirror. Runeholden taught you nearly all of what it takes. I simply have come to verify that.”

  “You sound as if someone sent you here.” Autbek said and then was disappointed when Neustus only shrugged in response. He also wanted to know what Neustus knew of Runeholden but his natural conditioning by his family prevented that. They spoke little for the next few minutes until Autbek decided he needed to try and get a little rest before Berdtom or someone else needed him. Neustus only nodded as he excused himself.

  “It is best we lead the way!” Castor declared as all brought their horses to a halt. They were just outside the East-Gate of Astrum and could now see before them the dark silhouette of the mage-tower. What had caused everyone to pause was the strange glowing lights that formed a great oblong circle about the fields between them and the tower.

  Fesmbol carefully looked around at all the rides before agreeing. Beside him and his every present companion, Bek, there were the two Mage-Councilor’s guards, each of whom had a rider behind them. One was Castor and the other was a young teenage girl who he had not seen before.

  “I don’t like the look of this.” Bek hissed. “They have the look of fairy-lights!” The other riders paid him no mind and so started slowly riding single file toward the mage-tower. “We should not have come until morning or not at all. Who’s to say what became of us?”

  “Have trust, Lord Bek.” Fesmbo
l said softly as he urged his horse forward. “These mages would have found it not too difficult to harm us in that dive they found us in if that had been their intent.” He still was pondering how Castor had located him as he normally kept his departures from the palace low-key. The boy had shown up disguised as a servant right in the middle of a little party he was having.

  Bek shook his head. “They change faces like spirits!” He spat out as loudly as he dared. “How do we even know they are who they say they are?”

  “Come now, Bek, I would think you have learned as I have to see a bit passed these illusions.” He didn’t have much confidence in it being true but was very much hoping it was. “Did she look like another?” He asked in a whisper as he slowed his horse a little to distance himself from the one carrying the girl.

  “Yes, I tell you she did!” Bek replied earnestly. “Like an older wench, one of those that was down stairs and then now like this!” He hissed as he motioned toward Lita’s horse.

  “Another mage?” Fesmbol muttered. “How interesting and worth keeping quiet about.” He said a bit louder to make sure Bek heard.

  As they began to pass the softly glowing points of light they saw that they emanated from tiny spring flowers making it seem all the more likely that fairy-folk had been involved. This thought was dispelled from their minds when they came upon three figures who stepped out of the near darkness to greet them.

  “Bloody good night for a ride!” Haspeth declared as Castor rode by without so much as a hello. He grinned anyway at the others who nodded politely back as they rode slowly by.

  “Greetings, Haspeth.” Fesmbol said with a nod. “We meet again in unusual but pleasant circumstances.”

  “Yes, my lord!” Haspeth replied happily as he turned to watch Resbeka and Onaleen plant some more glow cantrips among the night-flowers.

  Fesmbol did his best to observe the spell casting while trying to appear unaware of it. He could see now that they must have been at it for some time as there was nearly a hundred glowing points of light now between the tower and the walls of Astrum. Impressed by it he turned to see how Bek was handling it only to see a look of trepidation on the man’s face.

  When they rode into the courtyard they were greeted by several guards and servants who assisted with the horses and then led them into a dining hall where they were surprised to see a number of dwarves staring at them. Here the two lords were invited to sit and soon found themselves greeted by Berdtom.

  “Didn’t know you were so amiable toward dwarves, Captain.” Fesmbol stated as he watched Berdtom politely usher the dwarves from the large room. It looked to him as if the place was being newly constructed and he wondered if his father was aware of it.

  Berdtom ignored the comment as he plopped down a few pieces of parchment for the Earl’s son to read. “You must be most curious why I have such urgent need of your presence, my lord.”

  Fesmbol pursed his lips and then began examining the letters in front of him. “More curious about these favors coming my way that your young mage alluded so vaguely to.”

  “Yes, well they will be considerable considering what I’m about to ask of you.” Berdtom said in all seriousness as he sat across the table from the two lords.

  “Hmm…maybe worth the journey into this little fairy-land of yours!” Fesmbol remarked as he smirked toward his companion who still seemed very much ill-at-ease.

  Autbek found himself momentarily confused when roused from sleep by Castor. He realized that it still must be the middle of the night and was surprised now that he had indeed managed to fall asleep considering all that was going on around hm. Looking about the tiny room within one of the original tiny shacks in the courtyard he located his boots only after Castor kicked them over to him.

  After pulling his boots on he continued to sit on the bed for a minute to collect his thoughts. “Is he here?” He asked figuring it was Fesmbol who he had heard arrive some time ago.

  “Yep.” Castor replied in his usual succinct manner.

  “Ohh, now I suppose it’s TIME!” He declared as he stood and walked out into the courtyard. “Do you agree with this?” He asked Castor as they walked, hoping very much he would get a reply as he valued Castor’s opinion on complex issues as much as anyone’s.

  “If you want to be an Ausic mage, O’t.” Castor replied which caused Autbek to stop and look at him. “He may fly away soon.” Castor added as he looked up at the top of the tower.

  “Yea.” Autbek replied sadly as he thought of the ramification of that should it turn out to be true. He then walked on toward the dining hall noticing now a number of voices coming from that direction.

  Berdtom stood and greeted the two when they entered and had Autbek sit next to him and Eifled with Fesmbol and Bek sitting directly across from them. There was an open ornate wooden box of the type used to hold documents between the two parties and next to it were four or five letters all neatly stacked. A small lit candle was also on the table and Autbek recognized the tiny box that normally held his signet ring.

  Neither Autbek nor Fesmbol spoke leaving it up to Berdtom to begin the proceedings. “We have…” He announced as he glanced at Eifled, “…completed the documents to Lord Fesmbol’s satisfaction and to ours.” He then had Autbek look over the first letter. It was the one announcing Autbek’s immediate resignation.

  Autbek said nothing as he read it and then handed it back to Berdtom who then handed him a second letter for Autbek to read. This one detailed Fesmbol’s acceptance of the Vis Mage-Councilor’s resignation in lieu of other court officials, being as they were not within the walls of Astrum. Setting the letter down he turned to Eifled.

  “Do you consider us now to be in Astrum?” Autbek asked with some sarcasm.

  Eifled nodded and then hesitated before saying, “A fact that would be of some contention, but not without precedence in my experience, O’t. Do give it some weight but not more than necessary.”

  Autbek shrugged and then accepted the next letter Berdtom handed him with a sense of defeatism. “How can I reinstate myself, especially when I have not officially resigned yet?” He asked of Berdtom who looked very set on ignoring the question and so pulled the document away and replaced it with another.

  The final document vaguely expressed the eternal gratitude Autbek had toward the fourth Earl of Astrum and his substantial efforts in this manner, and then it went on into specifics. Autbek had a sinking feeling in his stomach when he read the words “yearly tithe of magecraft.”

  Staring for a moment at Fesmbol he finally asked, “Do you expect me to come running when you call?”

  Fesmbol smiled subtlety and replied, “I expect a mage at my side when the situation calls for it.”

  When a voice called out, “It must not be Autbek!” they all turned in surprise to see Neustus standing just outside of the hall near the door to the library. He was cloaked in shadows but it was clear to those that knew him who it was.

  Autbek paused for a moment and then turned back to Fesmbol. “Yes, and I will decide which of my apprentices will come.”

  Fesmbol seemed to chew on the announcement for a moment before stating, “At times I will have need for a troll-killer…” He said in obvious reference to Haspeth, “…but most often I think an illusionist does best in the palace.” He added as he glanced at Castor.

  “I will decided who and when!” Autbek declared insistently.

  Fesmbol glanced at Bek as if looking for support but seemed to find none there. “You will abide by the agreement?” He asked as he nodded toward the letters on the table.

  “If I didn’t take my own word seriously I would have no need of you here this night!” Autbek countered.

  When none spoke for a moment Berdtom declared the matter settled and then proceeded to note the needed amendment to the letter before handing it over to Fesmbol. The man looked displeased as he read the letter again but said nothing as he handed off to Bek.

  “I will of course have a bit of time to think
about this particularly since I don’t have my signet ring on me.” Fesmbol declared with a tight smile.

  Berdtom smiled back before saying, “No! No time I’m afraid for as you see certain parties are aligned at this moment and I fear never to be again.” He nodded first to Autbek and then to Neustus who still stood in the shadows. “As far as you not having your signet ring I think you’ll find that you are mistaken.”

  Fesmbol scoffed, “Not unless you have sent to the palace-“

  “Lower pocket…right side.” Castor interrupted as he pointed at Bek.

  Fesmbol gave Bek a questioning look until the man began to search his pocket and then shortly produced a tiny box. “I don’t know how my lord-“, Bek said defensively as Fesmbol cut him off with an annoying wave of his hand.

  “It will be often!” Fesmbol announced as he stared at Autbek, daring him to disagree.

  Autbek returned the stare for a few moments and then glanced with a stern look at Berdtom before stopping to look into the shadows where he could just make out Neustus’s form. “Yes!” He said finally as he reached out and grabbed one of the other letters in preparations for sighing it.

  After neatly placing the signed letters in the box, Berdtom had sealed it shut with wax and applied his own seal to it. Then they had quickly handed the box over to Fesmbol, reminding him to guard it and never to open it least both sides consider the contract void. Fesmbol and Bek then rode away into the night leaving Autbek sitting alone at the table soon to be joined by Neustus.

  “Only those dear to you and respectful of our craft should witness your oath.” Neustus declared as he laid his hand on Autbek’s arm.

  Autbek nodded and then looked around the room to see who was present as he prepared to head to the library where they had previously decided the ceremony should take place. After asking Berdtom who he thought should attend he made his final decision as to who to include, which was basically everyone but the servants, the guards and the dwarves. This included Murac and Un Papp as well as his five apprentices and Eifled, leaving only Appaloupe the only one he had not decided to invite.