The Sorceress's Apprentice

by Joshua Jackson

  Ariadne rolled her eyes. “One of the things I like about you is you don’t take things too seriously,” she commented. “At the moment, that’s what I hate about you. Zimri, he’ll kill you if he ever gets a chance. I won’t always be there to protect you; neither will my father or Lord Omri.”

  “I killed an ammutu once,” I was undaunted. “How hard could he be?”

  “So has Baasha and he did it without getting his chest ripped open,” Ariadne rebutted.

  “Ouch, you wound my pride,” I dramatically clutched my hands over my chest.

  “Zimri, this is serious!” Ariadne was exasperated. “You’re good but you’re not that good. Even if you somehow managed to beat him, you still lose. He can kill you with impunity but if you so much as scratch him, he can have your head adorning his father’s castle.”

  I frowned. “You want me to take this seriously? Fine. Baasha is a bully. He treats everyone beneath as if they were his slaves. I saw him make a lord empty his chamber pot because he could. He’s had a couple Rabshakeh executed because they beat him in a sparring session. I cannot and will not just let him roll over everyone just because of who his parents are. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect; you and your father taught me that.”

  “We’re royalty and no one can touch us,” Ariadne explained. “We can break society’s rules if we want. But you can’t and I won’t have my friend getting himself killed by that bully. Die in some other, more noble way.”

  “Your concern for how I die is most touching, your highness,” I joked.

  Ariadne shook her head. “You’re hopeless,” she sighed. “I better get going. Do at least try to be more diplomatic with Baasha?”

  “For you princess, anything.”

  “As long as we’re clear on that point,” Ariadne turned elegantly and made her towards the dais that was lined with gifts for her majesty.

  I returned to my column to watch the proceedings. With the pomp and pretentiousness of all the gathered nobility from the ends of the earth, I saw what she was talking about. No one was here for her; just the throne.

  “Excuse me?”

  I started, too lost in thought, and turned to see a young man about my age. He was about a dozen or so centimeters taller than my own 175 centimeters with an odd ruddy, almost orange complexion with short black hair and striking blue eyes.

  “I’m sorry, did you wish to speak to me?”

  “Ya sir, if you do not mind,” the stranger nodded, going out of his way to be respectful.

  I appraised the young man’s clothes for a moment. He wore a light, black wool long tunic typical of those in northern Alkilion with subtle gold trim. There were no elaborate designs nor was he wearing any jewelry. In fact, he was dressed very much like me.

  “No need to be formal,” I cracked a smile. “I’m guessing your father is of the knight class?”

  The man cocked his head curiously. “He runs a small caravan along the Gadol Triangle from Schwartztor.”

  “Then there is definitely no need for formality,” I extended his hand. “My dad is a knight as well, owning a sheep farm just outside Eli’av. My name is Zimri but most people just call me Z.”

  “A pleasure to meet you, uh, Z,” the man took the offered hand in a firm shake. “My name is Adam. I guess most people just call me Adam. I hope you do not think me rude but I saw you talking to the princess and I thought you must be an Adone.”

  “Hardly,” I laughed. “I’ve just spent a lot of the time around the castle over the last several years and her highness and I have become good friends.”

  “In that case, do you think it would be possible for you to introduce me?” Adam demurely requested. “She never visits the north.”

  “After what that Eisenberge witch did to her mother, can you blame the king for keeping his only child as far from that place as he can?”

  “Not at all,” Adam agreed. “But I have heard she is a remarkable woman and this may be my only chance to make acquaintance.”

  I considered his request for a moment. I highly doubted that Adam’s only interest was a meet and greet but he seemed like a decent enough person. It wasn’t like he would be able to outbid the Eradu prince for her hand, so what was the harm?

  “Sure,” I agreed. “After the presentation of gifts, I’m sure I can find a…What in the Trinity?”

  I had only been half listening as Ariadne had been giving a thank you speech to her guests when out of the corner of my eye, I saw odd black spots appearing behind the princess, just in front of the throne.

  I must’ve hit my head harder than I thought, I shook my head to clear the cobwebs. But when I opened my eyes again, the spots were still there, only bigger.

  “Are you seeing this?” I asked Adam.

  Adam said nothing in reply, eyes locked on the dais, his muscles tensed.

  A nervous murmur spread over the crowd as people started pointing to the blots which were now coalescing into a single two-meter high black hole a meter or so behind Ariadne just in front of the throne. By now even the princess noticed something wrong. Voice trailing off, she turned just in time to see a figure emerge from the hole.

  The newcomer towered over the princess by at least a dozen centimeters. She was obviously Eisenbergian with long copper hair contrasting pale skin. But the feature most seared into my mind was her eyes. Like the embers of a fire, they glowed an unnatural red as she swept a haughty glare across stunned room.

  “I am Athala, the Lady of Gletcher apprentice and to the Mistress of the Eisenberge,” she announced in a throaty staccato voice. “Your princess is now mine,” she locked her gaze on the princess. The Eisenbergian drew a knife from her hip and pressed the tip against Ariadne’s throat.

  No one spoke. No one moved. Veterans of the Sorceress War shuddered at the mention of the Sorceress while parents used her to terrify children. Legends of her powers had grown to mythical proportions.

  Or so I thought. But what I saw in front of me was no myth. This Eisenbergian had appeared out of thin air. And if she was just the apprentice...

  Two of the white-cloaked Rabshakeh weren’t as frightened as the rest of us. They snapped out of their shock, leveled their spears, and charged the intruder.

  Athala’s lips curved into a derisive sneer at her challengers. I watched in horror as the sorceress extended her hands and speak in echoing tones, “Feuer!”

  A pair of white hot balls of flame exploded from her fingertips, each striking the rushing Rabshakeh square in the chest. Instantaneously both were completely wreathed in flame. Their shrieks of agony echoed off the stone walls as they dropped to the ground. The flames continued to burn hotter and brighter until little remained by a pile of ash.

  The actions of the Rabshakeh jarred me back to reality. This was really happening and if I didn’t do something, this monster would murder my best friend. So without thinking, I sprinted towards the dais.

  It was incredibly stupid. I was unarmed, not that it mattered. Even with a weapon, what could I do against that kind of power? But I charged anyway, shoving paralyzed lords, ladies, kings, and princes out of his way.

  “What do you want with my daughter?” Sennacheriv didn’t move closer to Ariadne and the sorceress but didn’t move back either.

  “I want Alkilion,” I heard her answer. “If you want her back, you know where to find me.”

  I shoved past the people directly in front of the dais. All I had to do was get Ariadne out of the sorceress’s grasp without getting incinerated. Maybe I could dodge the flames?

  Already the sorceress was pulling the princess back towards the portal. Kicking into another gear, I drove towards the pair. I had to get to Ariadne before they disappeared back into that portal thing. Just a few more meters. Kicking into another gear, I drove towards the pair. I had to get to Ariadne before they disappeared back into that portal thing. Just a few more meters.

  Just then the sorceress saw me charging. We locked eyes for a moment and I knew I was dea
d. All she had to do was raise her hand…

  In desperation, I leaped for the princess, knowing it was suicide. The sorceress jumped back, pulling an ashen Ariadne with her and the pair disappeared into the black hole. I reached out for Ariadne trying to grasp her outstretched hand and pull her back. Our fingertips brushed—

  And then I was grasping at thin air. I lost balance and slammed my head into the granite throne and all went black.

  Chapter 5-Zimri

  “Oooooooh,” I groaned as my eyes fluttered open.

  I was on a remarkably soft bed in an unfamiliar room and dark with the curtains drawn over the windows. My head felt like a blacksmith’s hammer had been wailing away at it.

  “Zimri, are you awake?” A familiar woman’s voice spoke.

  I squinted in the dark. “Mom?” I croaked out.

  Lady Tamar practically exploded out of the chair and threw her arms around me, which didn’t help my pounding head. “Thank Adamah she didn’t take you yet. When you didn’t wake up after hitting your head on the throne, we feared Adamah had taken you into her embrace.”

  “The throne?” I questioned slowly. “That all really happened?” The memories of the previous night’s catastrophe came rushing back. I shuddered as the cold, cruel visage of the apprentice rose up before me. “Where am I? What happened?” I asked.

  “You’re in the Castle, in one of the guest chambers,” Tamar explained. “The king had you brought here when you didn’t wake up right away. The physician told us you suffered a pretty bad concussion and either you would wake up or you wouldn’t. The king felt he owed you a comfortable place to die in peace or recover after trying to save the princess.”

  “Ari…is she…” I swallowed hard.

  Tamar took a shuddering breath. “Gone, I’m afraid,” she informed. “You were just barely a second too late.”

  I sank back into the feather pillows. I’d failed. That there was no practical chance of success didn’t matter; Ariadne was gone, the prisoner of sadistic Eisenberge sorceresses because I wasn’t fast enough.

  “Could I have some water?” My mouth and throat feeling painfully dry.

  A moment later mom handed me a stone cup. “The king was very impressed by your bravery. You were the only one who tried to rescue her.”

  “No I wasn’t,” I recalled the two Rabshakeh burning to ash.

  “Well, the only one that survived,” Tamar amended. “You were the talk of the nobles and more than a few young ladies were impressed, as were their fathers. Why I believe I overheard the daughter of the Nasi of Shaul saying—”

  “MOM!” I cut in sharply with a raised hand. “You’re really talking about how I can turn the abduction of one of my best friends into an advantageous match?”

  “We mustn’t waste any opportunities,” Tamar reminded.

  I let out a sigh. “In time, I suppose, but can I have a moment to grieve? She just got abducted by a living nightmare. Besides, my head hurts way too much for these kinds of politics.”

  “Of course,” Tamar nodded. “We need you to get healed up as fast as you can. I want to arrange a meeting between you and Lady Orpah as soon as possible.”

  I sighed again. My mother, undoubtedly father as well, saw a great opportunity in this tragedy. They were right, I supposed but it didn’t feel right. But I was always being told that I put far too much stock in feelings anyway. I needed to think of my family’s fortunes first and foremost. With luck, the House of Lim’s heir would be the son-in-law of a Nasi before the year was out.

  Thinking about it made my head hurt even more so I tried to just sit there and think of nothing. Unfortunately, my mind insisted on dredging up the image of the sorceress’s mocking eyes the moment before she pulled Ari into oblivion. I saw replayed the princess’s wide, terrified eyes pleading with me as she desperately reached out, only to be too late. Others might see me as a hero but I felt a failure.

  A sudden flash of light sent another wave of excruciating pain lancing through my skull. Blinking away the pain, I saw the stocky frame of my father close the door and hurry over.

  “Sorry son,” he said in his gruff voice. “I imagine light does not agree with your concussion.”

  “No, it does not,” I agreed, rubbing my temples and trying to blink away the sudden pain.

  “Did you meet with Nasi Shukru?” my mother inquired.

  “No,” father shook his head, “Much better; I met with the king.”

  “The king?”

  “Yes,” my father sounded excited. Very excited, which worried me. “The king has decided not to launch an invasion of the Eisenberge to rescue his daughter—”

  “WHAT!?” I exploded. “He’s just going to leave in the hands of those psychopaths?”

  “Of course not, boy,” father snapped. “Listen and you’ll understand. The king instead has called for a quest to rescue the princess. Whoever brings her home, and kills the Sorceress and her apprentice, will get the princess’s hand in marriage.”

  “Oh.” The implications of that were obvious. “Isn’t that rather risky?”

  “Strategically it makes more sense than sending the army,” Sir Amnon explained. “The only way into the Eisenberge is through the Finsternis Tal, at least without going through the Hoche Wüste and coming in through the Flüssen Reich, which would take months. Fighting in the Tal is a nightmare; it’s narrow and heavily forested. Mounted troops would be totally useless in there. Mass troops, fighting on foot against those demons? It would be a slaughter. We’d probably win, eventually, but thousands would die and by the time we got to Ariadne, she’d almost certainly be dead.”

  “Isn’t she already?” I hated thinking it but there was no way around it.

  “The king and Lord Omri don’t think so,” my dad shook his head. “If the Sorceress wanted Ariadne dead, she would’ve just killed her last night and probably the king too. They took Ariadne alive for a reason, which means they want to keep her alive. Individual knights have a better chance of sneaking in quickly than does marching out in full force.”

  I considered that. “I suppose that makes sense,” I allowed. “Still sounds like a suicide mission to me. After what the apprentice did to those Rabshakeh last night, I can’t imagine any knight has much of a chance against the Sorceress.”

  “A pity you feel that way because you’re going.”

  “I’m what?” A million thoughts ran through my head in an instant, which did not help the headache.

  “You are going on this quest and you will save the princess,” father ordered sternly.

  “I can’t go,” I protested. “I have a concussion for Shama’im’s sake!”

  “You won’t leave immediately, of course. The physician said you would be fit to travel in two or three days.”

  “But the king would never allow his daughter to marry some lowly knight-in-training from knight’s family!”

  “The quest is open to all knights, regardless of rank, and you were officially granted the title of knight this morning for your bravery,” my father countered. “In fact, the king told me he specifically wants you to go.”

  “He did?” my mother exclaimed. “That’s wonderful! To think the king wants my son to marry his daughter and become his heir!”

  I was much less enthused. “But I don’t want to become king,” I pointed out. “I would be a terrible king: I don’t get along with the other nobles, I’m irresponsible, and lazy. Why would the king want me as his heir?”

  Dad placed his hand on my shoulder. “Because he sees the potential we all see in you. Yes, you goof off instead of working when you should. But you’re a boy and you will grow up. You are also kind, courageous, and strong-willed, at least when you want to be. Those are the traits of a good king. Besides, you really care about Ariadne. He told me about your proposal.”

  My face went so red I could’ve sworn it glowed. “You have to know that was a joke,” I hastily protested.

  “Perhaps it was more serious than you intended. Do you
deny having feelings for her?”

  “She’s my best friend,” I stumbled over my words. “I mean she’s looked out for me since I came to the castle. And she’s pretty, gorgeous. But she’s the princess and I’m just…She was always out of reach.”

  “Not anymore,” my father said. “Now is your chance to be with a woman you love and help your family. The king knows you would be good to her and wants her to be happy just as much as he wants the kingdom secure.”

  “There has to be better options than me,” I groaned.

  “Perhaps but none have stepped forward,” Amnon allowed. “Thus far, the only who have volunteered are an Ashkenazi prince, a knight from Shaul, an Eradite lord, and Baasha.”

  “Baasha?”

  “I thought that might get your attention,” my father chuckled. “Yes, Baasha has volunteered. Would you rather wear the crown or see it on Baasha’s head? I don’t have to tell you what he would do to us.”

  “When you put it that way…”

  “Excellent, I knew you would agree.” My father straightened, looking impossibly pleased and proud in the dim light. “I will arrange passage to Schwarztor immediately. I know you will make us proud.”

  “You always do,” my mother added, squeezing my shoulder. “Now rest up; you have a long journey ahead of you.”

  Together they sauntered out of my room, leaving me alone and wondering what under Shama’im had just happened

  Chapter 6-Zimri

  It was two days later when I felt well enough to travel. I was still weak but I would spend most of the next three days on a boat anyway.

  Before setting out, I decided to pay a visit to the Temple to Shama’im, god of the skies. I had never been the religious sort. Oh sure, I tacitly acknowledged the Trinity but little more. Only on a couple of occasions had I ever offered prayers or sacrifices to them. So far as I could tell, the gods cared little for human endeavors and would do what they willed regardless of what any of us did.

  My current circumstances encouraged me to make an exception to that rule.