The Fuller's Apprentice (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 1) (26 page)

“Kabos.” The man’s voice was warm and pleasant. “Who’s this?”

Kabos put a protective arm around Nirel’s shoulder. “My daughter Nirel. She wants to join us, Ozor.”

Ozor came close to Nirel. He took her chin in his hand and lifted her face to study it. She met his gaze defiantly.

Ozor turned to the guard who had returned from the forest. “She didn’t bring anyone with her? Or let herself be followed?”

“No. No one’s out there.”

“So, girl, you ran off from your mother? You came all this way through the forest alone to find us?”

Nirel nodded. “I couldn’t stay with her, not after she betrayed Father like that. I want to stay with him.”

“I’m impressed by your loyalty. How old are you, girl?”

“Thirteen, sir.”

“But not apprenticed yet? Or have you abandoned your master as well as your mother?”

“No sir, not until next year. I turned thirteen right after Springtide.”

Ozor nodded thoughtfully. “Old enough to choose for yourself. If I allow you to join us, you must swear an oath of loyalty to me. You can never change your mind or go back. Those are the terms everyone here has accepted. Are you willing?”

Nirel’s eyes flicked aside for a moment, and she bit her lip, but then she raised her chin and again met Ozor’s gaze. “Yes. Yes, I am.”

“Very well. Kabos, take her and get her settled.”

Kabos nodded. He put his hand on Nirel’s shoulder. “Come.” His voice roughened. “I believe you and I have unfinished business to attend to.” He jerked his head toward the far side of camp, where a bush with long, sprawling branches grew. “Before the wizard and his brat interrupted us.”

Nirel swallowed. “Yes, Father. I understand.” She set her mouth into a thin, hard line, and walked beside Kabos across the clearing.

Ozor watched them go. The window stayed focused on the bandit leader. He leaned over to the guards. “Spread the word to break camp. The wizard Kabos told us about will follow, and her trail will lead them straight to us. We need to leave before nightfall.”

As the guards nodded and murmured their obedience, the window faded. Elkan looked grimly at Sar and turned to the clustered watchers. “How many of them would you say there were?”

Dara frowned. “At least fifty; maybe nearer sixty. Mostly armed with bows and knives, some spears.”

Elkan inclined his head. “That’s what I saw, also. It’s obvious the six of us can’t go up against them. How many watchers does Tathorlith have?”

“Not nearly enough. About twenty. Plus those who’ll join us at need, but they’re not trained to it. Less than fifty, all told.”

“Are there other towns with watchers nearby?”

“Not for several days journey, and then only a handful that could help us.”

Elkan frown and rubbed his forehead. “We’ll find the place and make sure they’ve moved on. We can check which direction they headed. But after that, I’m afraid we’ll have to return to Tathorlith and report to Master Admon.”

When they arrived at the place where the bandits had camped, it was deserted. They watched in the window as the bandits headed out, higher into the mountains. Dara and the other watchers cut blazes into the trees to mark the path they’d taken. Josiah stared down the empty trail, tired and discouraged. At least Nirel was among adults who would protect her. Though her guardians might prove more dangerous than the hazards of the wilderness.

* * *

The return journey went much more swiftly than their slow, painstaking progress up. Josiah felt ragged from lack of sleep, but he pressed on. Tobi rejoined them close to town.

When they arrived they found Sathea waiting at Admon’s house. She and Yovela sat by the fire, watching Yarin play on the floor, speaking in quiet voices. Ilana was on Yovela’s lap, grabbing at a doll made of braided yarn. Admon was preparing the evening meal. Everyone looked up when Elkan entered, Sar and Josiah close behind. Sathea jumped to her feet, anxious eyes searching their faces. Admon wiped his hands on a towel and approached them with a questioning expression.

“Did you find her?” Sathea cried. “Please…”

Elkan laid a hand on her arm. “We found where she went. Sit down and I’ll tell you everything.”

“Come to the table,” Admon urged. “The food’s ready, and you can eat while you tell us. There’s hay for the donkey, and the butcher delivered more meat for the mountain cat.”

Josiah dug into the hot stew, ravenous. He was sure Elkan must be even hungrier and more tired than he was, but the wizard paused between bites to relate the full account of their search. When he described the bandit’s camp, Admon stopped eating and listened, nodding sharply at the estimate of their numbers and weaponry.

Sathea put her hand to her mouth. “You left her there? Among thieves and murderers?” She looked back and forth between Elkan and Admon. “How long until you go after them?”

Admon came to stand beside her. “Sathea, it’s not that simple. There are many more of them than our watchers can take on. And Nirel’s with her father.”

Sathea shook her head, hope and fear warring on her face. “Kabos will take care of her, I know. But he beats her, and he won’t stop just because she came to him. He’ll feel more righteous than ever. Your council judged she should be taken from him—how can you leave her with him now?”

Admon sighed. “We’ll do what we can, Sathea. But Nirel’s made her choice, as foolish as we think it is.”

“She’s too young for that kind of choice!” Sathea snatched Ilana from Yovela’s lap and rounded on Elkan. “I wish you’d never come! You healed one of my daughters, but you cost me the other.” With a choked sob, she grabbed Yarin’s hand and dragged him out the door.

Elkan stared after her, running his fingers repeatedly through his hair. He closed his eyes, shook his head, and returned to his seat, where he resumed eating without enthusiasm. Josiah bit his lip and ducked his head, unwilling to meet Elkan’s eyes. They finished the meal in silence.

Josiah went to help clear the dishes after supper, though he could barely keep his eyes open, but Yovela waved him away. “Go to bed, young man. I don’t know what Elkan was thinking, keeping you out all night, and all day, too. Both of you, off to your room!” She made sweeping motions toward the guest bedroom. They laughed and complied.

As Elkan passed, Master Yovela held up a hand to stop him. “Oh, I just remembered. That journeyman miner stopped by earlier. She asked me to give you a message.”

Elkan’s face lost its humor and settled into closed lines. “She left with the traders?”

“No, actually. She said to let you know that she decided to wait until you’re ready to leave. I suppose that will be soon, now that you found what happened to the girl.”

Elkan drew a deep breath and nodded. “There’s little left here for us to do here. Tomorrow I’ll write a report to Guildmaster Dabiel and finish up the last few healings and judgements. We’ll leave the next morning.” His step as he followed Josiah into the bedroom was heavy.

They readied themselves for sleep. Josiah paused after pulling his boots off. “Elkan?”

“Yes?”

Josiah couldn’t look at him. “I… I just wanted to say… I’m sorry. I wanted to fix things, but instead they’re messed up worse than ever. Nirel’s back with her father; Sathea’s alone and unhappy. Nothing’s the way I thought it would be. I understand now why you didn’t want us to interfere.”

“Well, that’s one good thing to come out of this fiasco.” Elkan sighed and softened his sharp tone. “The Mother may yet work all this out for some good end we can’t see. I’ve never had any doubts about your intentions, Josiah, only your judgment. If you’ve learned from this experience, I’m glad.”

Josiah nodded glumly and finished getting ready for bed.

Fifteen

T
obi burst out of the bushes and bounded to Josiah’s side. He ruffled her head. “What’s the matter, girl?” She stared at the path ahead, her keen senses aware of something he couldn’t perceive.

Meira broke off her conversation with Elkan and went to Thistle, taking hold of her bridle. Usually the donkey was content to follow at Sar’s heels, but unexpected danger might send her bolting. And even after two months she wasn’t completely comfortable with Tobi. She preferred to give the mountain cat a wide berth, and Meira did her best to accommodate her. Meira spoke quietly, so she wouldn’t wake Ravid, who slept on her back. “You don’t think there’s any danger, do you? It can’t be the bandits; we haven’t seen or heard word of them since we left Tathorlith.”

Elkan conferred with Sar, who put his head up and swiveled his long ears forward. “Sar thinks it’s a single traveler. Probably harmless. Although it’s odd for someone to be traveling alone out here.”

Josiah gripped a fold of skin at the nape of Tobi’s neck. “Stay by me, girl. We don’t want to frighten whoever it is more than we have to.”

Elkan and Sar went cautiously ahead. “Hello?

Josiah exchanged anxious glances with Meira and followed. Rounding a tight turn around a rocky outcropping, Josiah spotted the traveler.

He was an older man, with thick gray hair bound into a long tail that trailed down his back. He was dressed in layers of wool and leather in shades of brown and green that blended into the forest. He turned around and walked toward them with a springy step that belied the seamed lines of his weatherbeaten face.

“Greetings, travelers,” he said, showing no surprise at their unlikely combination of people and animals.

“Our greetings to you, also,” Elkan replied. Josiah breathed a little easier. It was clear the man was friendly. “We seem to be heading the same direction. We’d welcome your company, or we’ll pass and leave you to make your own way if you prefer.”

The man inclined his head. “Thank you for the invitation. I’d be pleased to share the road with you.” His voice was soft and musical. “My name is Master Norlan Weaverkin Waulker.”

Elkan introduced the members of their party. Master Norlan eyed Josiah with skeptical humor. “Fuller, eh? You’re far from any mill. I suppose you share your craft’s disdain for those of us who cling to the old ways?”

Josiah stammered, at a loss for how to respond. Master Sef had once briefly mentioned waulking as part of the history of the fuller’s craft, but that was all he knew about it. Elkan intervened smoothly. “Josiah’s taking a year away from the fulling mill to assist me on my journey. I’m sure he’ll welcome the opportunity to learn from you.”

Josiah nodded vigorously. “It’s not like there’s anywhere you could build a fulling mill up here anyway. Not with the weavers so spread out.” That didn’t come out quite the way he meant it. Might Master Norlan interpret it as an insult? “I mean, just because waulking is old fashioned doesn’t mean there aren’t places where it’s still needed…” He trailed off.

Master Norlan regarded Josiah, his face as stern as if carved from stone,. Then it relaxed into a wry smile. “True enough, apprentice. If your road leads to Bachiolami, you can join in the waulking I’ll be leading there. It might give you a deeper understanding of your own craft as well as mine.”

“Yes, sir. I’d like that.” Josiah busied himself scratching Tobi’s ears.

“In fact, that’s where we’re headed. You’re familiar with this road, I take it? Do you know how much further we have to go?” Elkan gestured, and Master Norlan fell in beside him as he set off.

“Just a few hours’ walk. We should be there well before sunset.”

“That’s what I hoped, but my maps aren’t always exact. You haven’t come from Ezlith, also, have you? I’d have thought we’d have met each other on the road before now, if so.”

“No, from Dotnida, further north. The paths joined a few miles back. Any news from the towns to the east? I’ve been traveling the backside of beyond for months now.”

“Nothing lately, but have you heard about the bandits in Tathorlith a couple months ago? We were involved in that.” Elkan described the events in Tathorlith as Master Norlan listened with avid interest.

When Elkan came to the part about Tobi, Master Norlan looked back at the mountain cat and Josiah, nodding. “Ah, so that’s how she came to be a part of your company. I’ve met a fair number of wizards and familiars through the years, but none of her sort.”

“I’m not sure there’s ever been a Mother-touched mountain cat before,” Elkan admitted. “Certainly none that I’m aware of. I’ll have to check the records when we get back to Elathir. Some apprentice next spring will be excited to be paired with her.”

A rush of jealousy surprised Josiah. He shoved it aside. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t known all along he was only a temporary caretaker for Tobi. Of course she must bond with a wizard. He’d just have to make sure to have a long talk with whoever became her bondmate, so he could pass on everything he’d learned about her personality, abilities, and needs. He stroked the soft fur of her back possessively.

As Master Norlan had promised, the sun was still high when they crested the last steep section of trail and entered Bachiolami’s small valley. A dozen cottages were scattered along the shore of a little lake cupped in a hollow of the mountains.

Elkan wiped sweat from his forehead and grimaced as he dug in a pack on Sar’s back for the cloak that marked him as a wizard. Since the weather had warmed he seldom wore it except when they entered a new village. He draped the heavy wool around his shoulders. Josiah knew he’d remove it at the first possible moment, and it would disappear into Sar’s pack, not to come out again until it was needed to lend Elkan the dignity and authority of his guild.

Josiah was familiar now with the process of arriving at a new village. Someone spotted them—this time it was a man who looked up from harvesting beans growing in a small terraced field—and word quickly spread. Children spilled from houses and appeared from the surrounding woods and fields, closely followed by their elders. The excitement was even more pronounced this time than usual, as the villagers realized that both the waulker and the wizard had arrived.

The village elder introduced herself as Master Jarah Weaverkin Weaver. She immediately fell into discussion with Norlan, telling him of the amount and types of fabric waiting to be waulked, and planning when the villagers would be able to put aside their other work for the necessary time. Her son, Sansom, a journeyman spinner, and his wife Rahel, a journeyman weaver, took Elkan and Josiah into their home, while Meira and Ravid were quickly swept up by the village smith.