The Sorceress's Apprentice

by Joshua Jackson

  “Tod,” I stated flatly.

  Instantly I felt a rush of energy as the boy’s life force was drained into me. It buzzed and crackled around me, raising the hair on my arms. With so much power, I felt heady and invincible, like I could do anything. The magic whispered that I should do everything. If this wasn’t enough to accomplish my goal, then there wasn’t enough life force in the Eisenberge to accomplish it.

  Maintaining a stoic veneer, I gave a curt wave to the soldiers, who dragged the corpse off for disposal. Taking a steading a breath, I focused on my next, and hardest task.

  In honor of their precious princess, the Alkites were holding a massive celebration. Reading between the lines, it was obvious this party was really just an opportunity for every noble with a marriageable son to parade him before the princess in hopes of gaining her hand. I highly doubted anyone actually cared about the princess. They just wanted what I wanted: the throne.

  The only hitch was that said party was being held at Castle Zahav on the shores of the Saline Sea, some 350 kilometers from my castle. My only chance to grab her before Aidan, who undoubtedly was there tonight to snag her. All I had to do was teleport 350 kilometers to a place I had never been in the dark and the rain.

  Except no one so far as I knew had ever teleported even close to that far. The farthest teleportation was the 180 kilometers between the Eisenpalast and my own castle and that took a lot of life force to do and to a place I knew. This trip was nearly twice that distance and I was going in blind, which broke the single most important rule of teleportation: never teleport to a place you don’t know incredibly well, otherwise you run the risk of ending up in a wall or something equally unpleasant. And if I didn’t have enough power to complete the teleportation, I would be stuck in Alkilion, if I was lucky. If I wasn’t, I’d spend the rest of whatever floating around wherever.

  Coming to the center of the tower, my teleportation anchor point, and sat down, ignoring the rain. It would’ve been safer to sneak into Alkilion like Aidan. But my pale skin and fiery hair would stand out like a dragon in a town square among the olive-skinned and dark-haired Alkites. Of course, I could’ve used the same potion I had on Aidan, but I was less than confident it would actually succeed. There was no way we could disguise our blue eyes. Thus, I was left with attempting an impossible teleportation spell.

  Letting the magic envelope me, I began outlining my spell. While I had obviously never been to the Alkite palace, using Nindar and his sources I had gotten a detailed description of the palace and throne room. Now I related that description to the magic, picturing where I wanted the magic to take me. Of course if the details were wrong or my imagination was incorrect…no, I wouldn’t think of that.

  I felt the power rush through me as it extended out, creating a portal for me. Already I was wearying. It as if I had been running for hours, instead of sitting for only a few moments. I opened my eyes and saw the familiar two-meter black disk hovering right in front of me.

  This was it. Once I stepped into the portal, there was no turning back. If my spell was wrong, if I didn’t have enough power, nothing could save me from the consequences once I step in. If it was good enough, I would have to grab the princess and follow through; I couldn’t bail in the middle of the Alkite Palace. It was now or never.

  Taking a steadying breath, I steeled my nerves. I had to do this; I couldn’t let Aidan win. I wouldn’t let him win. Clenching my jaw, I drew my knife and stepped through, hanging for a terrifying moment in the void.

  On the other side, I found myself standing on a dais in the middle of an open, brightly-lit room. Just behind me was a massive, gold-gilt ivory chair while in front was an open space and then a table strewn with all kinds of things. Directly before me was a young woman maybe four or five years older, olive skin gone ashen and jaw slack with astonishment.

  A thrill ran through me as I realized where I was. This had to be the Alkite palace. It fit the description provided by my agents. Against all odds, I had made it, which meant the stunned woman in front of me was Princess Ariadne herself.

  Quickly I set my exhilaration aside and leapt into action. The princess tried to back away but I sprang forward, pulling her toward me by the shoulder and pressing my knife against her throat. She went rigid, terror radiating from her dark eyes. Smart girl.

  Looking past her, I saw the hall filled with a shocked cosmopolitan crowd. Fear wafted up from the crowd and I basked in it like a drug. This room was filled with the most powerful people on earth and all of them at my mercy. This was real power.

  “I am Athala, the Lady of Gletcher and apprentice to the Mistress of the Eisenberge,” I announced to the throng, “And your princess is now mine.”

  A sudden sound to my right broke the moment. To my irritation, I saw a pair of white and gold cloaked soldiers rushing towards us, scimitars drawn.

  “Feuer!” I exclaimed aloud extending my hand.

  A rush of power ran through as fire erupted from my fingertips, engulfing the two soldiers. I felt the spell attach itself to them, burning their flesh and life force away. Shrieking in agony, they collapsed to the floor. Pathetic fools.

  “What do you want?” a male voice asked confidently but quietly.

  I regarded King Sennacheriv coldly. His dark eyes pleaded with me but he made no move to save his daughter. He knew there was nothing he could do and knew trying anything would be foolish.

  “I want Alkilion,” I answered. “If you want your daughter back, give me Alkilion. You know where to find me.”

  A commotion caught my attention and I saw another Alkite making a rush at us. Unlike the soldiers, he had no weapons or armor, only a look of desperation and determination. I briefly considered incinerating him as well but my magic was running dangerously low. If I were to get back, I didn’t dare risk another spell.

  “Zimri!” Ariadne let out a cry, reaching out for the Alkite as he rapidly close the distance. We locked eyes and he knew it was too late. Just before he could reach us, I pulled the princess and I back and into the portal. For a moment, we hung suspended in nothingness before slamming back onto the cold, wet stone of the Olympic Tower.

  Immediately I released the magic, closing the portal. As we lay there in the rain, I felt the tension and stress wash away. I was exhausted, the excess life force burned up, along with some of my own life force. But at the same time, I felt like laughing.

  I had done it. I had actually done it. Despite all the odds, I had the Princess of Alkilion in my custody. Alkilion was at our mercy because of me. The Mistress would have to reward me for my tremendous victory. She would make me her second, not Aidan. There would be no doubt that I was the most powerful apprentice and I alone deserved to be her apprentice. I could not wait to see Aidan’s face when he returned disgraced and I paraded his prize in front of him.

  “My lady!” Elske’s voice interjected my thoughts. “Are you alright?”

  I sighed, sitting up. It was time to get back to work. “I am fine,” I declared. Looking over at the princess who was doubled over, ejecting the contents of her birthday dinner. “She is not,” I remarked with a hint of amusement. Teleportation took a bit of getting used to.

  “What shall we do with her?” Commander Fulco, my garrison commander, asked.

  “Lock her in the dungeon,” I ordered with a wave. Fulco nodded and his soldiers escorted the disoriented princess to her new home.

  I stayed on the tower for a few minutes longer, soaking in the rain and reveling in my victory. There was a great deal of work still to do of course. Undoubtedly Alkilion would mobilize and invade, something I was counting. Preparations needed to be seen to.

  But not tonight, I decided as I watched lightning flash over the Finsternis Tal, lighting up Alkilion for a moment. Tonight I would celebrate; tonight I was on top of the world.

  Chapter 4-Zimri

  In retrospect, I might have preferred my current boredom. Of course I was without the benefit of retrospect and so found myself miserably
bored.

  I shouldn’t have been; this was a party after all. Leaning against one of the massive marble pillars supporting the domed Great Hall of Castle Zahav, I watched the cosmopolitan mass mingle while sipping from a ceramic cup of excellent Shaul wine. Of course this was the king’s personal store so nothing less than the best could be expected.

  I suppose I could’ve joined in the throng. Undoubtedly there was a friend or two there, although it would take me half the night to find them in that crowd. I was also certain that my father, Sir Amnon, would have a noble or two for me to meet and greet. Meanwhile my mother, Lady Tamar had no doubt lined up at least a couple of nobles’ young, eligible, and wealthy daughters for me to make the acquaintance of. By Shama’im’s rain I’m only 16! What was with the rush to get me married off?

  “Hey! Z!” A familiar voice hissed at me from the reverse side of the pillar.

  I ducked around the pillar to find a stunning beauty. Long, shimmering raven hair tumbled down her shoulders and back in great waves over glowing olive skin. A supple figure was clothed with baggy light green trousers while her chest and arms were covered with a matching loose-fitting top. Crowning her was a golden tiara.

  “Happy birthday, your highness,” I bowed formally at the waist before Alkilion’s princess.

  “Relax, Z,” Princess Ariadne admonished, her full lips forming my favorite feature of hers: the princess’s warm trademark smile. “It’s Ari, like always.”

  I straightened, grinning. “Would that be proper, your highness?”

  Ariadne gave a very un-princess like snort. “Probably not. But,” she added, “since when have you ever cared about what is proper?”

  “Fair point,” I conceded, “Ari.”

  “Much better,” the princess’s coffee eyes were dancing.

  “Shouldn’t you be out there having fun, meeting your guests?” I questioned. “This is your party.”

  “Really?” Ariadne huffed a sigh. “I hadn’t noticed. I thought this was my auction.”

  “It can’t be that bad,” I shook his head. “It’s got to be nice having the most powerful people from every corner of the world here to tell you how amazing you are and to wish you a happy birthday.”

  “It would be, if any of them actually meant it,” Ariadne retorted. “I have every lord in Alkilion, plus most of the lords from Ashkenaz, Eriadu, Kolur, and Roya here, all with their sons to see who can sweet talk either me or my father into marrying them. I’ve gotten three proposals already! I can only imagine what my father has received. I just wanted to talk to someone who wasn’t interested in marrying me.”

  “What makes you think I’m not?” I joked. Well, half-joked.

  “If only,” Ariadne gave me that knee-melting soft smile. “At least you’d marry me for me, not that ammutu spawned chair,” the princess gestured angrily towards the currently vacant gold-gilt, black marble throne at the far end of the hall.

  “In that case, my princess, I shall save you,” I dramatically bowed again, “Will you marry me?”

  “Gladly would I accept,” Ariadne played along. “But alas it is not I who you must convince but his majesty the king and I fear you cannot beat another’s offer for the crown prince of Eradu has already asked my hand.”

  I dropped the act, frowning. “I thought he already had a wife?”

  “Three, actually,” Ariadne grumped. “He promised me that I would be his first wife so our son would sit on both Alkilion and Eradu’s throne, uniting the two countries. That will be hard for even my father to pass up. If the Order of the Lion hears of it, they will practically force him to agree to the match.”

  “I can’t imagine you’re eager to join a harem,” I shook my head.

  “I never had any illusions that I would marry for love; I would’ve been happy to have just known the man first,” Ariadne said sadly. “But the idea of sharing my husband with three other women is not something I can easily stomach. Sometimes I wish I could just be the heir to the throne so I wouldn’t have so many men using me as the highway to Alkilion’s crown.”

  “A woman rule?” I laughed. “That hasn’t exactly worked out for the Eisenberge.”

  “Don’t you dare compare me to her,” Ariadne’s voice went ice cold. “Not after what she did to my mother.”

  “Sorry, I forgot.” I may have crossed a line there.

  “Since I’m feeling generous, I’ll forgive your oversight,” Ariadne’s voice took a regal tone.

  “May Adamah pour out her blessing upon you for your mercy, your highness,” I gave bow.

  We stood frozen a moment before we couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. It was a good thing we were mostly hidden from view in one of the recesses of the Great Hall, otherwise the princess would’ve looked very un-princess like indeed.

  “It’s my birthday,” Ariadne said, controlling herself, “Let’s not ruin it by talking about such unpleasant things as the Sorceress or my future husband, whoever he ends up being.”

  “Speaking of which,” I pulled my money pouch from underneath my silver-gray sleeveless tunic, “I have a present for you.”

  “Really?” Ariadne arched an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t it be with the other gifts for the presentation?”

  “My family has a gift there but this is more…personal,” I felt heat flush my cheeks. “It didn’t feel right for it to be thrown in with the rest. Besides, it really wouldn’t fit in.”

  Suddenly feeling painfully self-conscious, I fumbled with the leather pouch before finally extracting the item. I handed to the Princess of Alkilion a simple, handwoven wool bracelet, dyed with red and yellow, the colors of the Alkite royal family.

  “I know it isn’t much but it was the best I could do,” I started to ramble. “I couldn’t find any gold thread and it doesn’t really fit in with the rest of your jewelry and…”

  “Zimri, it’s perfect,” Ariadne cut me off, tying it around her wrist.

  “Huh?” I eyed the jewel-encrusted gold and silver bracelets and Ariadne’s gold and ruby earrings.

  “You are my friend, Z, and you gave this to me because you care about me,” Ariadne explained. “You don’t care about the crown or power; just me. The other gifts, they’re all attempts to impress me and my father. It’s all politics and scheming; none of their gifts or sentiments are genuine.

  “But not this. This truly came from your heart; it’s a real gift that is for Ariadne, not the Princess of Alkilion. These,” she held up her adorned arms, “have no meaning. I don’t even know where they came from. But this bracelet; I will always know where it came from. Its value isn’t in the gold or jewels but in the person who gave it.

  “I understand that the scheming and politicking this party is really about is what my life will always be and I’m okay with that. It is what is necessary to protect my people and I will do whatever I must to protect all of you. But I do sometimes wish for the simple moments where there are no masks, no games; just two friends being friends. This bracelet is just that, Zimri, and for this breath of fresh air.”

  Suddenly I found myself in an embrace from the princess. For an awkward moment I stood frozen, unsure what to do. Touching the royal family, while not strictly forbidden was certainly frowned upon, especially by one of my relatively low rank. Yet this was Ariadne, my friend and so I gently returned the hug.

  Just then a strong hand grabbed me and flung me into the stone wall.

  “How dare you touch the princess?” A voice thundered at me.

  I blinked the stars away as my eyes focused on a powerful man towering over me, face twisted in rage.

  “Back off, Baasha,” I grunted out as my lungs desperately tried to regain their air. “I was simply having a pleasant chat with her highness when you so rudely interrupted.”

  “I saw you molesting her!” the knight snarled.

  “She hugged me,” I rolled my eyes. “Should I refuse a royal embrace?”

  “Shall we see who the king believes: you, the son of a minor
lord? Or me, son of a Nasi?” Baasha challenged.

  “Assuming you make it to the king,” I dropped into a defensive stance.

  Baasha’s dark narrow eyes glittered. “I was hoping you’d say that,” he smirked, raising his own fists.

  I had hoped his bluff would work. While I was a talented fighter, Baasha had a good twenty centimeters and about thirty kilos on me, as well as several more years of training.

  “ENOUGH!” Ariadne’s voice cracked like a whip. “I will not have bloodshed in my hall and certainly not on my birthday. Stand down, both of you!”

  “Your highness, this peasant—”

  “Knight,” I corrected.

  “Not yet,” Baasha snapped back. “This trainee has insulted not just your honor but mine. I am the heir of a Nasi and—”

  “I am the Princess of Alkilion and you are in my hall,” Ariadne sharply cut off. “You will do as I command and I command you to stand down!”

  Baasha shot an angry glare at me and for a moment I thought Baasha might ignore the princess and pummel me into the stone floor anyway. Even in defying Ariadne’s orders, he could argue his way out of any consequences. His father was one of the seven Nasi while mine was a lowly landed knight, technically a noble but barely. Given how much the older knight hated me, he might just consider it worth it.

  But Baasha relaxed his posture and turned away. “As you wish, your highness,” he said through gritted teeth. “Your father is looking for you; it is time for the presents.”

  “You got lucky today,” he hissed. “One day you won’t have the princess to protect you and then you and I will finish this for good.” With that, he stalked back to the center of the main hall.

  “I owe you my thanks,” I said to Ariadne.

  “That you do,” she huffed, dark eyes narrowed in a reproving glare. “I’d ask if a little diplomacy would kill you but you’re utterly lacking so what’s the point?”

  “Me? Lack diplomacy? Why I’m practically overflowing with it,” I smiled impishly. “Why, you should appoint me as an ambassador!”