God-Kissed: Book 1 (The Apprentices)

by Clark Bolton

  “Your ring is on your thumb now!” Castor pointed out as Autbek turned to leave.

  “Yes it is, and that is partly why you must decide.” He replied softly as he gently fondled his ring. When Autbek saw Eifled coming up the stairs he motioned for him to enter and then excused himself. He could hear questions flying at Eifled as he ascended the tower stairs.

  Talking with Neustus past the time quickly at first, as the two of them waited for the five to make their decision. They had discussed the possibility that some would choose one master and others another which could make things awkward though workable they both decided. As nearly an hour past Autbek began to wonder how it was they had not reached their decision yet, and came to guess that either Castor or Onaleen was dragging discussions out with Eifled.

  When Haspeth appeared in the door Autbek realized the moment had come and so he motioned his friend in and the others behind him. “I hope this has not been too painful and we realize that the time was short but Neustus and I don’t think more time is going to help.”

  Turning to Neustus, Autbek waited for him to reply which he did after nodding his head in agreement. “Know students that whichever master you choose you do not free yourself entirely of the other. We are in a way locked here in this tower together with its great library and so I think neither Autbek nor I will remain far from it for now, nor shall we wish to see the secrets of the Sta unfold from any great distance.”

  None of the apprentices spoke up until someone nudged Haspeth who apparently had been elected at the spokesperson. “We…we think that you should decide O’t, and not us.”

  Autbek furrowed his brow in confusion at the response. “That wasn’t what you were supposed to do!” He said with slight irritation.

  “Nope!” Castor replied succinctly, seemingly unperturbed by the significance of the situation.

  “You should each make your own decision!” Autbek began to argue.

  “We don’t think so, O’t.” Onaleen said with a slight grimace on her face. “You have led all of us this far and we don’t wish for you to stop. We don’t know what this all means but we think maybe you do!”

  “Were like sheep, O’t. Lead us over a damn cliff.” Castor remarked as he made himself comfortable on a bench.

  Autbek stared at the boy for a moment while trying very hard to decide if he should get angry or not. “I’m not a shepherd!” He finally replied as he wondered why they had not elected Castor to speak in the first place as it would have been his obvious choice.

  “We want you to be!” The others said or nodded in unison as Autbek looked down the row of faces until his eyes came to rest upon Pemmesa.

  “Do you see me doing this?” Autbek asked her in all seriousness.

  Before she could reply Neustus spoke up. “I can see already by your auras that Autbek will be the one to decide.”

  Autbek turned in shock at Neustus’s revelation but the mage only stared with unfocused eyes. “Must I?” Autbek shouted in consternation. “How can I do that? It is not right!” He said in a softer voice as he looked back at Castor and then Onaleen.

  “We will follow you master…or just friend where every these bloody Ausic rings take us.” Haspeth added with a grin.

  Autbek closed his eyes as tears welled up and tried very hard to get a hold of himself before saying. “Can you forgive me if I make the wrong choice?” He begged of them.

  Many looked away or at each other dropping the room into a long silence until Castor could take the emotion of it no more. “I won’t but I’m sure Haspeth will!”

  It took a few moments but finally someone chuckled at Castor’s remark which then became infectious. In the end they all affirmed the decision they had arrived at with Eifled by nodding their heads or saying so out loud until Autbek nodded his head in defeat.

  And so with tears still in his eyes Autbek turned to Neustus and said, “I guess they are mine already.”

  Chapter 32

  With only two rings available it was possible for only Haspeth and Castor to officially join the ranks of the Ausic. Haspeth was excited and very much pleased to be receiving the ring, but not so Castor. He had confided to Autbek that he thought it might be a waste on him and that one of the girls could make better use of it than an illusionist could.

  Autbek had disagreed. “I know you’re thinking you will not be able to hide it easily since you can’t take it off. I’m sure you’ll figure it out, since I hear illusionist have always worn them just as other mages. Besides, Neustus and I have already made the decision.”

  Castor had relented and so began several days of oath preparation followed by a ceremony that found the library packed with apprentices, masters, and even a couple of dwarves. Haspeth seemed to take his ascension in stride and so proceeded to push the girls even harder in their studies as a kind of wise older brother which Castor worked very hard to dispel.

  “You need to make it a little less obvious to everyone that you’re a mage, and you could be a little more humble about it.” Castor said to Haspeth as he sat in the dining hall watching Haspeth churn out Ausic seals until the parchment Haspeth had was completely filled by them.

  Haspeth glanced up from his task with a slight scowl. “Yea well there is no shame in the type of mage that I am now is there?”

  Castor frowned at his friend who had already begun to create another seal on the parchment. “None yet, but do take a slightly less strict tone with the girls. It is beginning to annoy them.”

  “And you’re no bloody help there.” Haspeth announced as he began burning tiny holes in the parchment with sparks that he could now produce effortlessly from his Ausic ring.

  Castor gritted his teeth as Haspeth refused to look his way. “Especially with Resbeka!” He warned. “In another year she may be the one teaching you.”

  The remark made Haspeth sit up finally and look at Castor with pursed lips. “She reminds me of Autbek with the way she sucks it all in on the first go-around.” He remarked thoughtfully. “Anyways your little dancing shadows there are obvious as hell.” He announced as he pointed to Castor’s ring which today looked far less noticeable then the day before with the way the kid now kept it in perpetually shadow.

  Castor gave him a sarcastic smile and little else was said until Autbek came to join them at the table. “Either of you been to this henge off of Earls-way that Eifled has been visiting?” Autbek asked as he motioned to the three girls who had just walked in from the tower.

  “Never heard of it.” Castor uttered.

  “Maybe?” Haspeth said with a quizzical look on his face. “Use to go with my mom to somewhere like that when us kids were younger.”

  Autbek waited a moment to see if Castor was going to make a derogatory remark as usual when every Haspeth mentioned his mother. He didn’t this time and so Autbek waited for the girls to be seated before reaffirming with them that they had been to the henge.

  “Yes master, every few years when I was younger.” Resbeka replied. “Many of our neighbors would go in the spring and then in the autumn to watch the children dance and sing.” She then stopped talking when she noticed Castor wincing and gently scolding her with a finger for what she guessed was her use of the word “master.”

  All the apprentices were glad to see that Autbek looked to be letting this use of his title slide by as all found it a little awkward to have to be reminded by him constantly that he preferred they not use it. Pemmesa quickly jumped in to keep the conversation moving. “Not much left of it standing anymore as I think some king once had it torn down and the stones scattered.”

  Autbek nodded his head, “So I’ve heard from Eifled which is why I’m interested in this other one the viken have told us about. Supposedly it is in much better condition though a good half days ride from here.”

  They all sat quietly for a moment, thinking about why Autbek was so interested in the stone-henge until Pemmesa felt compelled to restate the obvious, “Do you really think a divination would work better from o
ne of the henges?”

  “Yes, and it’s not only me that thinks so.” Autbek replied as he motioned upwards with his eyes to indicate the room at the top of the tower and its occupant. “Wish I had more time to think this thing through.” He mused as he glanced at the transcribed page from the Sta that Resbeka had brought to the table. “Unfortunately I expect Berdtom here shortly to ask why we don’t have any more insight into the prophecy for him.”

  They all knew the pressure Berdtom and Autbek were under as of late from the Earl and his court, especially since they had been absent for a few weeks. Berdtom had hinted already in a message he had sent from his office that decisions had been made already regardless of the fact that all involved remained in the dark.

  “Letters will go out to each of the noble houses sworn in service to the Earl.” Berdtom announced to those seated around him. He had arrived as expected from the city and was in a very serious mood and so Autbek had called everyone to the dining hall, including some of the dwarves. “Each house has its obligations as to the type and number of men-at-arms to send to Astrum, and this includes Runeholden!”

  “I hope Runeholden does not blame us, Tom.” Autbek said softly as he thought about the effort involved to first select those who would need to come to Astrum and to instill in them the need to keep much of their knowledge of Runeholden to themselves.

  “They won’t I’m sure, but they may look to you now to protect their own. So be prepared for some Runeholden troops to come knocking at your door in the next few weeks.”

  “Hmm, hope they like dwarves as much I do.”

  Xajac nodded his head soundly and winked at Autbek. “We are fond of the two Runeholdens here already as well.”

  “Which reminds me, has Lord Fesmbol been about lately?” Autbek asked of Xajac.

  “Not since you all have returned.” Xajac replied gruffly in obvious dislike of the man.

  Autbek nodded in reply and then asked Berdtom, “Surprised he has not shown up yet.” The thought of his obligations to Fesmbol sometimes kept him up at night but not so the last few days as Ausic duties had kept him from thinking of it much.

  “He will come.” Berdtom assured them. “Right now the court demands time of all of us so count your blessings.”

  “Does that mean I’ll be tied up soon at court?” Autbek asked.

  “For the most part no, as I’ll be covering for you. But do make good use of the time.”

  “Well, the Summer Festival starts soon so I think that will pretty much bring classes to a halt for a while as the tower will be surrounded by tents full of peasants. Suppose I should suspend classes anyway so we can prepare, but as of yet we’ve come up with only a few suggestions that might yield some information on what to prepare for.”

  Berdtom nodded and then said, “I would suggest working on the viken as they are currently our only true source of information.”

  Autbek glanced at Pemmesa and said, “Already started on that. Pemmesa knows what we want from them and has been told to give it all her attention. I will work also with them, and try to find some other way to find out more.”

  Berdtom looked closely at the two of them for a moment. “Any ideas yet?”

  “Yea, but it’s a stretch.” Autbek admitted as he looked to Eifled. “We are thinking of visiting one of the more remote stone-henges and doing a divination from there. It involves the song of Yessonaneigh from the Sta though, so I have to think on it more.”

  Berdtom seemed to stare off into space for a few moments before asking, “Anything else?”

  Castor was quick to reply, “Spinning-Rook for one, though I know that sounds pretty remote.”

  “It does!”

  “I think it would be our last option and one I’ll resist to the end.” Autbek added.

  Eifled cleared his throat, saying, “Then I think the Sta is your best course of action, O’t.”

  Autbek furrowed his brow as he stared at the table. “There is Tel Sok!” He replied, knowing that it was likely no one would think much of the idea.

  “Huh! No, not him.” Berdtom exclaimed. “The Sta, O’t! It is the Book of Warriors and so is believed to help one prepare for war.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes, start there when all else seems futile.”

  “Think we reached futile.” Castor added.

  “Bloody prophecy!” Haspeth muttered as he massaged his ring.

  “Tomorrow then!” Autbek announced. “If the viken will take us to the henge that is.”

  “I’ll be in the library.” Autbek announced as the meeting broke up and people went their respective ways. This left Castor and Haspeth to their ring experimentations that were clearly enthralling the girls. In the library he found Un Papp and the four gnome scribes busy as usual.

  Appaloupe was the only one of the group who bothered with much more than a nod. “Hey, O’t!”

  “Greetings Appaloupe, now could you find me the pages that came before and after that song from the Sta, the one Resbeka is so fond of?” Once he had them he first read carefully again the transcribed song and then with help from Appaloupe laid out the neighboring pages as of yet un-transcribed.Berdtom had been pressuring Un Papp to concentrate on pages that seemed full and complete in-of-themselves and so these other pages had not been scrutinized yet.

  “If I may, master Autbek?” Un Papp interjected as he watched Autbek study the pages.

  “Yes, please!”

  “It is, I think, a plea for assistance from the goddess Yessonaneigh to provide guidance and wisdom in the spring for any battles, or hardships to come that year.”

  Autbek furrowed his brow as he looked again at the similarities the song had to arcane-script. “In the spring…and that ends in a few days.” He muttered. “Best have it sung then!”

  The monk seemed a little alarmed at the idea. “I would suggest caution, O’t, for it seems to be meant for those who are dear to Yessonaneigh.”

  “Who would that be, Un Papp, if not the Tesslodken?” The thought of his connection to those mentioned in these pages seemed stronger now that he thought about it. Berdtom was convinced that the peoples of Runeholden were the heirs and Resbeka herself was a descendant also. “I have a feeling they are largely responsible for the henges around Astrum.”

  “It is mentioned in context with henges, I agree, O’t, that one would seek such a place to sing it if they felt so driven as to do so. The audience would be for believers only and likely not large in number as the Tesslodken fought their battles generally in small numbers and often in the company of elves.”

  “What do you know of these stone-henges, Un Papp?” Autbek thought to ask as he laid down the dark and stained pages. He knew the monk had gone on several visits with Eifled and had no doubt helped the sage research them.

  “They are monuments always of stone, often located in sacred groves or forests, and perhaps in gardens also. There are a few in the Astrum area, generally arranged in circles about a rounded court of stone. I believe some are still in use, though different deities are worshiped now.”

  Autbek nodded his head as he thought about tomorrow. “Un Papp, do please find the exact locations of these henges if you would. I think we will be visiting one tomorrow …before the end of spring. You are welcome to come.” With that said he went back to trying to read Tesslodken.

  “You coming also, Appaloupe?” Autbek asked as he walked over to the stables the next morning to find the gnome helping to load some things onto Murac’s horse.

  “Yes, O’t, since Un Papp is going you’ll need an official scribe.” The gnome announced with a big grin.

  Autbek had been joking but now was trying to figure out if Appaloupe was. “Ah, well I guess our little outing has grown a bit than.” It included the girls, Castor, Haspeth, and Murac, as well as a couple of guards, and of course Eifled. All had horses ready for the most part. When they finally got through the gate they found two of the viken ready to join them also.

  “Welcome, pleased for your
interest, Adelm.” Autbek said with a genuine smile.

  “Thanks for having us, Autbek. We thought you might have trouble finding the henge.”

  “Ah, then you have been there?” He had heard from Pemmesa that they had and was happy to have reaffirmed.

  “Yes, Yessonaneigh is known to us though not for her warrior aspect. She is also the goddess of nature and health and so worshiped by our followers, though to us she is known as Seonas.”

  Autbek hoped Adelm knew what she was talking about. It looked from the crude map that Un Papp had found in the library that the henge marked on it was a good three or four hours ride to the north along the coast. This meant that if they did not find it quickly they would have to turn back if they did not want to spend the night out in the wild, which he had learned was all that lay in that direction from Astrum.

  “We will find it on the edge of the fens, marking the mouth of the Keless River. Don’t be too concerned about the Fens of Keless, though, we need not enter into them.”

  “Dangerous are they?” He asked lightly as they headed out.

  “Very! Have you not heard their reputation?”

  “Sorry, no. Where I’m from is a very long way from here so I’m afraid I’m still not all that familiar with the Astrum area.” He looked back to see Un Papp taking up the rear on foot. The monk had insisted that he preferred to walk, and so far he easily kept up with the horses.

  They soon found what passed for a coastal road and after passing a small village they found themselves overlooking the coast from a series of high cliffs. Such was the landscape that getting down to the seashore seemed all but impossible. Another hour’s travel and the road became nothing more than a trail that led inland.

  They concluded that the land was unsuitable for farming but held some promise for use as pasture for sheep or goats although the brush was getting pretty thick. Someone then pointed out that they thought it off limits to peasants for some reason which Autbek found understandable as the nobility liked their forests, which they seemed to be heading into.