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The Legend of the Wizard's Apprentice - Book 1 - Kerwyn the Apprentice
Mike Ezekiel
Verlag BookBaby, 2015
ISBN 9781682221044 , 350 Seiten
Format ePUB
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chapter two
ADVICE IN THE FOREST
“Kerwyn, wake up, we have important things to do tonight!” Master Sernett called out to the dark, motionless body that was covered up with a navy blue bedroll in the single and dimly-lit sleeping chamber.
“But it’s too early to get up yet, Master,” Kerwyn mumbled while rolling over and pulling his sleeping roll over his head.
“Kerwyn, I’m not kidding. Wake up. We have to get to the River Glen Forest and pick some magic flowers that only bloom under a full moon for some of my healing potions before they close up for the day,” Master Sernett explained in a stern voice.
“I don’t want to get up yet. I’m still tired. Wake me at dawn.” Just as Kerwyn finished his last word, water from a floating bucket soaked him from top to bottom.
“Ahhhhh! That’s cold!” Kerwyn exclaimed as he jumped out of bed, dripping water onto the floor. Master Sernett started to laugh from the bottom of his stomach, sounding like an old foghorn with hiccups.
“Sometimes, Master, living with a wizard doesn’t have any advantages at all,” grumbled Kerwyn, as he began changing into dry clothing.
“I warned you to get up, Kerwyn. I told you that we have important things to do tonight.”
“What’s so important that couldn’t wait at least until the birds were awake?” Kerwyn rubbed his eyes, trying to get the sleep out of them and then heard his stomach, which had begun to rumble.
“I told you that we need to get some flowers from the forest that only blooms at night-time, under full moonlight. I need them for healing potions that I want to restock. Watching you setting yourself on fire, when you’re practicing magic, has greatly reduced my stock. Plus, your apple tree is mad at you and hasn’t let you pick any of its healing apples in a while. Not to mention that I think you really need to sit down with it and explain why it can’t come live inside the cottage with us.” Kerwyn took Master Sernett’s words to heart, for he really did love that crazy apple tree that he had accidently brought to full life, not to mention that it thought of Kerwyn as its father.
“Also, the pixie fairies are at their most active and I need to get some pixie dust for the new feather fall potion that I am trying to perfect,” added Master Sernett. Meanwhile, Kerwyn reached down and took a big loaf of bread and lump of cheese from the cupboard and started shoving them into his mouth.
“Mmmffff, Ok… Mastherster… Wrrready… Tooo gooth…,” Kerwyn mumbled around a mouth full of food.
“Kerwyn, stop talking with your mouth full. You know I can’t understand what you’re saying when you do that. Now, hurry up and let’s get moving. We need to get into the center of the forest before first light.”
At that, Master Sernett walked out the front door with Kerwyn rushing behind, trying to keep up and not drop his meal.
“Luminarium!” Kerwyn heard Master Sernett say quietly, which, as far as he knew, was the magic word of power for “Light.” There was a tug on the One Power and a ball of white light appeared, about one foot in diameter, hovering eight feet above and four feet in front of Master Sernett’s head.
They started their slow walk across the backfield and neared the back part of the property, where the entrance to the forest was. The sounds of the nocturnal wildlife could be heard moving around in the dark canopy out of sight. Kerwyn stopped and took in the forest’s intimidating size and depth. He felt a strong sense of foreboding. Kerwyn took an involuntary step backward and the panic in his gut urged him to run back to the cottage to hide. He had never felt such an overwhelming fear. Glancing over at Master Sernett, Kerwyn saw his master squint his eyes and furrow his brows in concentration. He did a double-take and noticed his master had what looked like a speck of fear in his eyes, as well.
“The forest is not happy this night, Kerwyn,” his Master whispered. “It is warning us to keep out, that we don’t belong here. I have never felt the forest send out so much fear and despair.” The entire time his master was talking, Kerwyn noticed that his master was weaving an intricate symbol with his right hand. He then placed it over his own chest and then over Kerwyn’s chest. Kerwyn had never seen his master perform this symbol forming before and wasn’t quite sure that he liked seeing him do it now. As Master Sernett completed his symbol weaving, he said a magic phrase Kerwyn had never heard him use before. “Tutela obex ex vulnero,” and there was the usual rush of the One Power, but Kerwyn could not see or sense anything different, and so had no idea what this spell did.
When finished, Master Sernett took a breath before stepping toward the entrance of the forest. Kerwyn was hesitant to follow. His nerves were telling him not to go in, but he was determined to follow his master, no matter where he went. Kerwyn also didn’t really want to be left alone just then.
As they entered the forest, Kerwyn noticed two very important things: One was that the forest was extremely dark, even with Master Sernett’s light spell, and the second was that the sense of fear had increased tenfold.
“Master, I don’t want to sound like a coward, but the forest doesn’t feel right.” Kerwyn glanced around, as if at any moment, any manner of creature would come charging out at them.
“Kerwyn, your aura is sensing the changes in the forest. There is something evil stirring in the forest this night, something that doesn’t belong in this world.” Kerwyn, sensing his master’s concern, really started feeling scared.
“What could make the whole forest feel this way, Master?”
Pausing just long enough to look around, his master answered in a tone that suggested he was hoping to believe his own words. “There are many species that could affect the forest’s mood, Kerwyn. We will just have to find some of the forest inhabitants and ask them what’s going on, if they will even show themselves to us tonight, that is. I fear we may have to find that out on our own.” Kerwyn knew his master’s moods and could feel the tension and concern in his voice.
As they walked deeper into the forest, the unusual silence gave the dark and overgrown woods a creepy and alien feeling. Kerwyn had been in this forest many times to gather spell components for his master over the years, but he had never seen the trees so twisted and overgrown with weeds and thorn bushes as he had this night. The trees could almost be heard crying out in agony and despair. A flash of movement caught in the corner of his eye. Kerwyn thought he saw a sickly-looking tree sprite peeking out from around the base of her tree, but when he turned in her direction to look for her, she was gone.
“Master, I thought I just saw a tree sprite, but she was gone when I looked for her,” Kerwyn said, pointing at the wilted tree where she had been.
“We have been watched for at least the past hour and even since before we entered the forest tonight, Kerwyn, but all of the forest creatures seem to be on edge and are hiding from us. Usually, they would welcome a friendly wizard into their midst. Tonight, however, they stay well hidden and will not give us welcome into their domain. We need to find the Forest Elves, for they are the protectors of the forest and they will know what is going on.”
Just then, there was an eerie shrill-like howl. It was as if it had come from some strange wolf behind them, but followed by many others coming from many different directions. What was unmistakable, though, was that whatever had made those howls was not that far away and was defiantly coming closer to where Kerwyn and his Master were standing now.
“Kerwyn, we are being hunted. Let us make haste. We must find some place to either take shelter or protect ourselves.”
Kerwyn and Master Sernett started to move more quickly through the forest, following the trails that had been used for years by the many creatures of the forest. The haunting sounds of the creatures giving chase followed them throughout the forest, all the while growing closer.
Kerwyn and Master Sernett broke through into a small clearing. There was a small rock cluster all covered with moss near the middle of the opening. Above the rocks shone the moon, allowing just enough light by which to see all the way around the clearing. Master Sernett evaluated the rock formation and realized that it was a natural fairy shrine, where fairies come to celebrate the changing of the seasons. Here he hoped that the fairies would come and give aid, or at least help defend their sacred domain.
“Head for that rock formation, Kerwyn. We will make our stand there.”
Master Sernett...
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