The Necromancer's Apprentice

By R.M. Prioleau

Jasmine Na’Darod lived a simple life with her parents and older sister on the family’s farm. She never strayed far from home until the ill-fated Blood Moon arose, basking the country of Caristan with a terrible, sickening drought.

When her mother falls ill, Jasmine and her family are forced to leave home in desperate search of a cure. During their journey, a series of tragic events will change Jasmine’s life forever.

With her former life shrouded and forgotten, Jasmine embraces a new path granted by an unlikely stranger, who, ironically, practices the Art of death and undeath.

As Jasmine is drawn to this enigma of a man, she soon realizes there is more to him than what she initially perceived — his true motives are beyond anything she could ever imagine...

Deeply compelling and morbidly intriguing, The Necromancer’s Apprentice is a beautifully-narrated gothic fantasy with memorable characters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chikara Press
• Release date: Apr 8, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452446141

R.M. Prioleau

R.M. Prioleau is a game developer, web programmer, and artist by day; and a dangerous writer by night. Since childhood, she’s continued exploring new methods of expanding her skills and creativity as she delves into the realm of literary abandon. When R.M. is not leveling up, RPing, or indulged in the latest old school fighting games and RPGs, she is hard at work advocating for great non-profit literacy movements and organizations.

Book preview

The Necromancer’s Apprentice

By R.M. Prioleau

Copyright © 2010 R.M. Prioleau

All Rights Reserved.

Smashwords Edition

Edited by Misti Wolanski.

Cover Art by Sarah Ellerton.

Visit the author’s website at: www.rmprioleau.com

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

No part of this book may be used, reproduced or transmitted in any manner without the express written permission of the author. All rights reserved.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

About the Author

Chapter 1

My family’s manor sat in Caristan’s sparse countryside, forty miles south of the city of Lakis. The greystone was laced modestly with withering ivy, and a wooden fence marked the boundaries of the property, snaking a path among the trunks of the surrounding white birches. Some of the fence planks had reduced to rotting wood over the years.

The manor had once been a prosperous farm, producing the finest wheat and corn. Every mid-autumn, the eloquent auburn tones of the foliage around the manor painted a picturesque example of the season. The temperate winds carried the scent of fallen seeds and a promise of another prosperous harvest.

This year, the Blood Moon filled the autumn skies. Under that moon, the farmlands surrounding the manor were mostly barren, devoid of life. The once-flourishing birch forests around them had reduced to hollow, white-striped trunks with dead twigs for branches. The earth thirsted for rain; it had been months since there’d been a single drop.

Folklore and superstitions drew on the Blood Moon, which had appeared rarely over the past several centuries. It was generally perceived as a portent of misfortune, affliction, and death. I believed in neither superstition nor coincidence and rather saw the Blood Moon as a beautiful work of art. The Blood Moon, casting its copper-stained light over the drought-stricken country, brought the skies to life.

Amongst the wheat fields, I lay on my back in a bed of straw and stared up at the cloudless orange and crimson sky of dusk. A cool wind began whistling through the fragile shafts of dried wheat and brushed over my pale face.

My stomach growled, protesting the meagerness of the dinner I’d eaten earlier. I sighed and shut my eyes, attempting to ignore my body’s demands for more food.

Beneath the sounds of the wind and rustling wheat, I heard footsteps approaching. I slowly opened my eyes to see my elder sister’s silhouette. As she drew nearer, the trim of her long, flowing dress flitted through the soft breeze of the impending night.

Jasmine?

A thin smile crept upon my lips at the sound of my sister’s concerned, soft-spoken voice. I sat up from my nest of straw.

Her slender, pale hands gently smoothed out the excess creases in the soft, laced fabric of her white, ruffled house dress. She gave me a pointed look. You know that Father does not approve of your being out here alone whilst the Blood Moon has risen.

I pouted and directed my attention toward the horizon, where the crimson-touched moon had already begun peeking over the distant hills of the countryside. I shook out the excess straw that had found its way into my snow-white hair, a contrast to my sister’s ebony just as my slate grey eyes contrasted with her amber ones. It is still early, Violet, I said wistfully. I wish Father were not so paranoid of age-old myths. He is like a child, believing in nonsense like creatures of darkness swooping down during the nights of the Blood Moon, to feast upon our souls.

Violet pursed her lips. The wind rustling through the fields sounded like footsteps approaching.

She cast a nervous glance over her shoulder toward the manor before returning her attention to me. She lowered her voice to a soft whisper. It is not just the Blood Moon he worries about, sister. Mother’s condition has worsened.

I sighed. Honestly, Violet, I cannot bear to see Mother’s sickened condition any further. I chewed on my bottom lip and envisioned the frail, skeletal body of our comatose mother.

Violet canted her head and furrowed her brow. But . . . you have not seen her all day.

Something is eating away at her very soul, and it is obvious that none of us are able to help her.

Her expression fell, and tears formed, which made me realize how cold my response sounded.

I scowled. "No, Violet. Don’t you dare cry. I hate it when you cry."

She gazed at me pleadingly, attempting hold back her tears. I-I’m sorry, Jasmine. I’m trying to stay strong, I really am. Please . . . please go and see her for me.

Her choked words made me cringe. With a soft sigh, I reluctantly stood up. All right . . . I will.

Smiling, Violet wiped the tears from her eyes, then extended a hand.

I took it, and we made our way back to the manor, following the narrow, shadowy path that cut through the wheat fields.

A chilly wind whisked over the part of my upper back left exposed between my hair and my dress’s neckline. Was someone watching? My steps faltered, and I looked over my shoulder.

In the wheat fields behind us, shadows danced in the coppery glow of the Blood Moon above.

Chapter 2

The front door of the manor creaked open as Violet led me into the house. The scent of leftover dinner—boiled cabbage—still wafted through the heavy, despair-ridden air. Silver talismans, etched with the Goddess’s holy symbol, and cloves of garlic adorned the doorways of each of the candlelit rooms, including my own.

I scoffed at the damnable things as I walked past my room. Father’s radical superstitions were getting

Reviews for The Necromancer's Apprentice

[jwitt33 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"When her mother falls ill, Jasmine and her family are forced to leave home in desperate search of a cure. During their journey, a series of tragic events will change Jasmine’s life forever."When Jasmine, her older sister, Violet, and her father load their mother into the back of a wagon and head off to find a cure for her mysterious illness, they have no idea what they are heading into. It's not long before they're running for their lives through a forest, heading for the safety of a cave. Unfortunately, the cave isn't safe at all. By the end of the night, Jasmine is the only one left alive, and she's in a very perilous position, shackled to a table in a makeshift laboratory. This was a very interesting story, about the length of a novella, so it was a quick read. It was definitely unlike anything else I've read recently. It had darker undertones, for one, and an intriguing premise. I would have preferred to have the story more developed, and the characters described in more depth so I could get to know them better. It was hard to connect with Jasmine because she was aloof and distant. I think if the book had been longer and the characters more fleshed out, I would have enjoyed it more than I did. I felt compelled to read it, though, because the story did draw me in and make me want to find out more.In summary, I liked this book well enough and look forward to reading more from this author.3.5/5 ***I received a copy of this book from NetGalley free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.

[roses7184_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I think the synopsis might have made my expectations a little too high for such a short book. The Necromancer's Apprentice is much more of a novella than anything else. Still, I felt like there could have been a lot more character development and a lot less plot holes.

In terms of things I liked, the story did keep me reading. The mystery surrounding Master Dagg and his sinister experiments was intriguing. I can't say that I liked him as a character per say, but he did add a nice element of suspense to everything that was going on. I also liked that Prioleau wasn't afraid to be a little dark in her writing. The experiments definitely aren't pretty.

The biggest thing I didn't like was actually the main character herself. Jasmine is completely flat emotionally. Although she admits that to the reader, it makes it very difficult to care about anything that happens to her. In her mind, she's already dead and nothing is worth fighting for. The other issue I had was in plot holes. I'd love to see more work on getting everything to flow.

I see definite potential in this story. With more editing and polishing I think Jasmine's story will come through better.

[reapersnovice · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It’s dirty, it’s gritty, and it leaves you with that greasy feeling of oil between your fingers. I devoured this book.

In the beginning it’s like historical fiction from the depression era, complete with the mysterious illness and a farm. I actually did not like the main character at all at first. But before you know it, the author throws a giganic twist at you, and you’re taken directly into the meat of the mystery. The ending itself was quite satisfying, and actually made me hope there is room for another book after this. I enjoyed it immensely, especially the love/hate relationship between the MC and Master Dagg. And I don’t mean romantical, don’t think this is romance. Put that notion away, this is gothic good old storytelling. If you have been craving something raw and different in fantasy, this might be the book for you.

[melhay_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Blood Moon has appeared this year and many believe the Blood Moon is to fault for drought, loss of crops, and several deaths. Later, Jasmine hears people think theirs a dragon who has brought the Blood Moon and death to the land. Jasmine's mother fell deathly sick since swiftly after the appearance of the first Blood Moon. Jasmine's father has become more superstitious with the use of pendants and holy symbols around the house since his wife has fallen so ill. Jasmine does not believe in the superstitions of the Blood Moon like her family, yet she is curious about death and not scared by it. Jasmine's father decides the family needs to leave to head to a village a few days travel to find a healer for her mother. Jasmine doesn't feel comfortable with the trip, but the family goes. The trip will bring more death to her, but yet an unexpected friend in the end. This is where Jasmine realizes her true talents.This novella was a quick read, at only 113 pages. But one to venture into a world in a dark time, and young girl caught up in it. Death is all around and Jasmine is one who isn't taken in by it's fear. She is curious about it and understands it's a part of life. But Jasmine becomes more curious by the end and losses someone who becomes very close to her as the story goes. Jasmine was an interesting character, but my favorite was Master Dagg. You can tell when you meet him and read of his actions he isn't completely human. In the end, I loved what I found out about him. He is strange, and dark. One obsessed with death and returning from death, or avoiding it all together. He is a scientist of a sort with the experiments he does in his lab.The book was a quick read, but had a few small memorable moments for me. One was the creatures that attacked Jasmine and her family on their first night out. Nasty, evil things. Then in the end where we get the whole story on Master Dagg. But other than that it was a quick easy read. This could be a quick hour read for many needing a fantasy fix.

[starlitehouse · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fast read, won this one from Goodreads and recommend to all fantasy readers. Look forward to this authors next book.