The Lost Apprentice

By Duke Kittle

Magic. It is a part of the environment. It is a part of the people. It is a force of immeasurable power that flows throughout Cerra Sevatia. Those who have become familiar with magic are aware of natural channels through which it flows like a river seeking the great sea. These channels are called ley lines. Over the course of thousands of years, these ley lines have carved paths through the landscape and across the sky. Most aren't even aware of their existence as they have become a part of nature.

But Sythus Mythran, High Theorist and leader of the Council of Stars, is keenly aware of their condition and studies and monitors them regularly. When a massive fluctuation occurs in one of these ley lines, he dispatches his most trusted wizard, Tina van Schtoffen, to investigate the cause.

Discovering an ancient city beneath a massive tree, built around its very roots, Tina delves into its depths to search for a possible cause of the fluctuation. She finds both a powerful, magical seal and a holy knight from an order called Sunborn Paladins who was sent from a land far to the south to find the source of a growing malevolence in the mountains. Though Tina and the Sunborn Paladin find that the magical seal is undamaged, the source of the fluctuation itself remains a mystery. After taking measures to prevent another such occurrence, they return to the Council of Stars in order to discuss their discovery and search for more clues in the only historical record with any information regarding the city and its long lost people.

Strange happenings around the palace suggest that they may not have returned from the ancient city alone. When Tina's apprentice, Denna, begins showing signs that she may be succumbing to a powerful curse, Tina must attempt to lift the curse in order to prevent a much more devastating calamity from consuming the entire world. But even if it succeeds, the only solution she can find may cost Denna her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Duke Kittle
• Release date: Apr 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311858207

Duke Kittle

My brother was born on April 2nd of 1982 and has often said that he wished he’d been born a few hours earlier so he could be an April Fool. Little did he know that, two years later, he would have a younger brother born on April 11th. He wished to be an April Fool, and I ended up getting it in spades!I was born in Arlington, Texas, but grew up everywhere else. As a working single mother, Mom sent us to visit my maternal grandparents for the summer months. During those summers in Ohio, we picked strawberries on their farm, played, and traveled to different parts of the country including Yellowstone National Park, the mountains of Montana, Mount Rushmore, Colorado, and many other places in the Northwest and middle United States. We visited other parts of the country as well, but I remember the Northwestern states the most fondly. Nestled among the mountains, I felt strangely at home.I spent much of my young adult life watching the world and the people around me, my friends, my fellow students, and many of my teachers. I often found myself preferring the company of older people and wanting to learn from them. For me, life was about learning and discovering new and interesting things, so it was no wonder I enjoyed most of my time at school. And it was in high school that I discovered a love for writing.Interestingly enough, it wasn’t a teacher who got me interested in writing. The truth is that English was one of my least favorite subjects at the time. It seemed to me to be a tedious task of taking words written on a page, rearranging them, correcting them, and writing them down again. Sometimes, it was little more than simple transcription. But in my Junior Year, I discovered that writing was more than that when another student did a project which involved my class outside of the usual classwork. He distributed “character sheets” on which were questions about what kind of character each student would want to be if he or she were a superhero. He then took them up, put together the gathered information, and wrote a brief story about all of these characters interacting together on one world. Reading that story, one in which I’d had a hand to help create, fascinated me. I began writing short stories and creating characters of my own.But my stories would remain for personal entertainment for several years. Right out of high school, I joined the United States Marine Corps and would spend a year in military service before receiving a medical discharge. Afterward, I went from job to job to try to make a living but wasn’t incredibly successful at keeping them. Meanwhile, in the background in my personal life, I continued writing little tales and stories while developing a world in which a greater story would take place. I called this world Cerra Sevatia after the goddess whose death brought it into existence.I made my first attempt at writing a book seven years after graduating from high school. One of the most important lessons I learned in writing that book was the amount of time and work that goes into writing a novel and how bad I was at editing! But thanks to a summer spent with my uncle and aunt in Montana and Idaho, I learned how to improve my writing and my editing. One of my uncle’s favorite sayings was that creation is a talent, but writing is a skill. It was a skill he helped me to develop over the course of the next two years.Since then, I have spent my time in college, writing, and editing. The first of my stories, The Dragon Eaters, was published on December 24th, 2013. Though it came a day early, to have it published was a fulfilling Christmas present. Though the years between when I first took an interest in writing and the publication of my first book were difficult and often plagued by doubt, I pressed on, often citing those famous words.“Two roads diverged in the woods, and I–I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.”-Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken”

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The Lost Apprentice

by Duke Warren Kittle

Copyright 2015 Duke Warren Kittle

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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 recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Acknowledgements

Dedicated to Karen Caig, Lyndsey Daniel, and Shannaon Vaughn for sharing their wisdom, their knowledge, and their friendship

Glossary

Akoa: A nation of bulls on the eastern coast of the continent of Velratha.

Aracheah: A subterranean race with the abdomen of an arachnid and a humanoid upper torso.

Cerra Sevatia (Cerra): The world in which the story takes place and the goddess after whom it was named.

Idassia: A nation occupying much of the eastern and central areas of the continent of Velratha.

Kamadene: A race of lizards found on the island of Kesira east of the continent of Velratha.

Kerovnia: A city in the nation of Levansia and home of the Council of Stars. Due to its purpose, the population of Kerovnia includes many different races.

Khanifran: A race of lions living primarily in the Khanifran Desert in the southern regions of the continent of Velratha. However, the rulers of the Khanifran tribes are called Khans and resemble sphinxes, though their heads remain leonine.

Kylith: A nation of lesser felines, which was conquered by Idassia, in the central region of the continent of Velratha. Kylathians, the natives of Kylith, are the most widely spread race in the world.

Likonia: A colony of native Levansians who settled on the western continent.

Levansia: A nation populated by many races of the mustilidae family (weasels, minks, badgers, etc.). It stands on the western coast of the continent of Velratha.

Madrigaarde: A nation on the western coast of the continent of Velratha consisting primarily of canines, lupines (wolves), and a high population of otters. Madrigaarde boasts the largest naval power in the world.

Mateah: A small nation on the northern border of Levansia predominantly populated by mice.

Velratha: The eastern continent divided into north and south.

Chapter 1

Thunder rumbled in the clouds as rain poured down on the leaves of the trees above Tina. She panted as she ran through the woods. The droplets which made it through the leaves were pattering on the ground around her while she darted from bush to bush trying to find cover from the downpour. She dared not step out from under the trees for fear of being pummeled to the ground by drops as large as her head. But the rain was the least of her worries.

Slipping on the slick soil, the teenaged apprentice let out a surprised squeak as she landed hard on her rear and slid through the mud. It darkened the naturally soft brown color of her fur as she pushed herself up to her knees and spat dirt from her lips. She tried her best to wipe it off her muzzle and whiskers but to no avail.

She could feel her heart pounding, both with panic and effort, as she shoved herself back to her feet and ran on. Ducking under a bush, she tried to get her bearings, but the trees all looked so alike. She didn't know if she would be able to find her way back to Master Faltis's house. Master Hidrago had cast her off into the Bristlewood without care of whether she found her way. She could only hope her memory would be able to guide her. But to do that, she would need to find something she recognized. If she could only see the sun, she might be able to head west for the coast. She could easily find her way from there.

The clouds would not grant her wish.

Coming to the edge of a swift-flowing stream, Tina swept her wet hair out of her face. She didn't know if she needed to cross it. She didn't even know if she could. But the presence of the stream made her wonder. It wasn't a stream she recognized, but she felt a moment of hope in her chest as she remembered that there was a stream that ran by Master Faltis's house on its way out to the Selian Sea.

Turning to follow the stream, Tina ran, hoping she would see something about it which looked familiar. If only she could be certain it was that same stream, she could find her way back to Master Faltis. He could reverse the curse Master Hidrago had inflicted upon her. She would be saved.

Before she found any other landmark she recognized, Tina skidded to a stop, nearly tumbling to the ground again. The rain pattering on the trees next to the stream was drowning out most other sounds, but she'd heard a distinct, low thud. Something much bigger than she was trudging its way through the woods nearby. She heard the snap of a branch and the rustling of bushes. It was definitely getting closer.

Ducking behind a large tree root, Tina made herself as small as she could to hide behind it. Even without the rain, the world looked blurry. She could make out objects easily enough, but details were failing her. She wondered if that too didn't make it harder for her to find her way.

The sight of a lesser thunder lizard walking out of the woods caught her attention. A humongous beast in comparison to Tina, it was as large as a wagon by itself. Its rounded muzzle hovered just above the water as it lapped at the stream, the droplets of rain simply sliding off its green, scaly hide. Its round feet appeared to Tina like the trunks of trees, and its powerfully muscled body was unfazed by the rain in contrast to the six-inch tall apprentice who would be left with deep bruises or worse if stricken.

A droplet finding its way through the leaves landed next to Tina, and she let out a startled squeak as she scrambled closer to the trunk. She covered her mouth, hoping the thunder lizard hadn't heard her. Or if it had, she hoped it would be uninterested in investigating the sound. She carefully peeked over the tree root again. The thunder lizard hadn't moved from its spot, though she could see the muscles in its thick, short neck flexing as its body shivered for a moment. Turning away from the stream, the animal lazily lumbered its way back into the woods and disappeared.

Tina let out a sigh of relief. She climbed over the root to continue on her way. Following the hope that the stream would take her back to Master Faltis's house, she ran beside it, making sure to stay close enough to the woods to keep the rain from falling on her. The grey sky brightened before thunder rumbled overhead again.

Her hopes sank when she came to a stop at a split in the large stream. A branch of it ran off to the left and continued deeper into the woods. She didn't know which part of the stream to follow. She searched her memory for some hint of which way to go. If the main stream was taking her west, then a southern stream would lead her back to Master Hidrago's house, and that was the last place she wanted to go. But she recalled that the only source of water near his house was a well. She must have been heading north. Or had she been heading east?

No. Tina had to be heading either north or west since the water was flowing away from her. That at least gave her a small sense of direction. She turned to follow the branch off the main stream back into the woods. It wasn't as large as the first, but unless she found an end to it, it had to be the right path. She hoped it was the right path.

The sound of something moving in the woods again made Tina stop. She spotted a large bush by the base of a tree and ducked under it. Wrapping her arms around herself, she waited for another thunder lizard to come out of the woods in search of water. She realized how cold she was as her teeth chattered. She put her hand over her mouth and curled her tail around her legs. If the animals didn't get her, the weather very well could.

A voice nearby drew her attention. She could hear someone calling out. Her ears swiveled around as she tried to find the direction from which the voice came. It was deeper in the woods. She closed her eyes, focusing on her hearing as she tried to recognize the voice. Surely Master Hidrago wasn't out looking for her. He had cast her out in the first place. He wanted never to see her again.

The voice kept crying out, but Tina could barely understand it. Her ears, now much tinier than before, were making it hard for her to comprehend what the voice was saying. Even through the rain, she could hear the source of the voice making noise as it moved through the woods. The sound seemed to be growing closer.

Tina suddenly realized that she recognized the voice. It was Master Faltis. He must be looking for her. She didn't know why, nor did she care. She had to get to him. She had to let him know where she was.

I'm here! Tina cried out. Master Faltis, I'm here!

The voice was still calling out, but she couldn't understand it. Climbing out of the bushes, Tina looked into the woods to try to spot Master Faltis, but she couldn't see much more than the blurry shapes of trees and underbrush. Swiveling her ears forward, she tried to listen to the voice again so she could find her way to its source.

The voice began moving away from her, and Tina felt herself panicking again. He was going to miss her. Dashing into the woods, she cried out again. Master Faltis, it's Tina! I'm here! I'm here! She sprinted as fast as she could toward the voice.

Tina thought he must have heard her because his voice was suddenly growing closer. She still couldn't make out his words. Though she recognized his voice, it sounded strange. It sounded low to the point of being unintelligible.

She tried to jump over a tree root. Her foot caught on it, and she landed face first in a puddle of mud. She pushed herself up, coughing out a mouthful of water and panting. She rolled to the side and curled up, the frigid water sapping what little warmth she had. Her tail curled around her legs again, and the tuft of fur on the end of it pressed against her stomach. If she couldn't warm up soon, she felt as though she would freeze to death.

A shadow passed over Tina for a moment before a light came out from behind a tree. It was a sphere floating above the hand of Master Atreyu Faltis. His white fur, wolfish muzzle, and deep, brown eyes made him easily recognizable. He looked startled when he saw Tina. He spoke, but his voice was too deep for her to understand.

Tina wanted to say something, but all she could manage through the chattering of her teeth was a weak, Master...

Master Faltis scooped Tina up and pulled a handkerchief from the pocket of his robe. He quickly wrapped it around Tina and curled his fingers around her. They felt very warm compared to the rain. Holding her close, he moved to the base of the tree where Tina had fallen. He was speaking to her, but she couldn't understand him. Tina lifted one shaking hand to cup her ears, wanting to understand his words. His voice was nothing more than low rumbling.

Master Faltis wrinkled his muzzle and apparently noticed what she was doing. He seemed to realize something and began whispering. Though Tina couldn't understand the words, she recognized the tone of an incantation pouring from his lips. It slowly became clearer until his chanting stopped.

Tina, can you hear me?

Tina's ears lifted instantly, and she nodded through her trembling. Y-Yes Master!

Faltis blinked when he heard her voice, then shook his head. I can't understand you. Stay with me Tina, just wait a moment. He chanted again and gingerly tilted her chin up with his fingertip. When he touched her throat, lines of golden light appeared in the air and shaped themselves into runes. The runes flowed around Tina's throat, pressing against her skin before they disappeared. Say something, Tina.

Master Faltis, she replied.

Master Faltis let out a sigh of relief. Tina, I'm so glad I found you.

M-Master Hidrago cursed m-me.

Master Faltis nodded. Yes, Tina, I know. He told me. He held up the sphere of light next to Tina. I used the Abascus Compass to find you. Don't worry, Tina. You're all right, now. You're safe with me.

Tina curled up a little more and pressed herself against her master's fingers. His warmth was exactly what she needed. His presence was comforting, now more than she could ever remember. She knew that he would take care of her. She knew now that she was safe.

* * *

This is unacceptable, Malachai! Master Faltis growled. Do you realize what you have done?!

The grey-furred canine gestured toward the remains of his nearby house. He spoke with the same level of vehemence as Master Faltis. Do you realize what she has done?! Your foolish apprentice has destroyed my home and spell reagants which I will never be able to replace!

Tina listened to the conversation with Master Faltis's handkerchief wrapped around her while she was settled on her knees in his hand.

So you cripple her for the rest of her life?! Master Faltis pointed at Tina in his hand. You have woven this curse so tightly into her body and spirit that I cannot undo it without stripping her of her gift for magic! She was near freezing to death when I found her last night! You could have killed her!

Master Hidrago snorted. If I wanted to kill her, I would have. He waved his hand dismissively. What the world does to her is its own fault.

Master Faltis curled his free hand into a fist. He spoke through gritted teeth. You are a blind, old fool, Malachai.

And you are a reckless, senseless wizard, Atreyu. Master Hidrago thrust a finger at Master Faltis. Do you know why I chose this particular curse? Finesse, Atreyu. Your foolish apprentice has never learned to pay attention to the proper details. He yanked a slip of scorched paper out of his pocket. I had to cast a spell of restoration just to find the spell your apprentice was trying to use when she destroyed my home. She told me she was trying to create Lightning Dust! Lightning Dust! He shook the piece of paper at Master Faltis. Her spell would have been perfect if she'd paid attention to all of the details! Her spell form was entirely correct until she got the spiral in the center backwards! The branches of her spiral rotate left instead of right! It's the most simple, blasted, stupid mistake an apprentice can make!

Finesse? You want to teach her finesse?! You've made her six inches tall! How in Cerra's name is that supposed to teach her finesse!

Master Hidrago snorted and tucked the folded paper back into his robes. She will learn to pay attention to the small details. And this, he gestured at Tina, will teach her as well as you to do just that. He then sighed. I see in her the same mistakes you made as an apprentice, Atreyu. You failed to pay attention to the details. You are still only a second-rate Master as a result.

Master Faltis grunted. The Council of Stars does not seem to think so, Malachai. They are the ones who awarded me the position.

Master Hidrago waved his hand dismissively. Very well, Atreyu. Then take your apprentice to them, and let them teach her. I'll have no more of her. He turned away and walked back toward the small shack which, for the time being, appeared to serve as his home.

You haven't heard the last of this, Malachai.

I've heard the last of what I care to. Now leave. I have a house to rebuild.

Master Faltis snorted angrily and turned away. He walked back toward the path leading away from Master Hidrago's home with Tina still in hand.

Master? Tina finally spoke up.

Master Faltis stopped and looked down at her in his hand. He sighed. I'm sorry, Tina. Was I jostling you?

Tina shook her head. No, Master. She clutched his handkerchief and rubbed her incisors against her bottom lip. I'm stuck this way?

Master Faltis frowned. He then looked away and continued walking. I'm so very sorry, Tina. I cannot undo this spell. I cannot bring myself to strip the power of magic from you. You could become a very powerful wizard someday. He looked back down at her again. I cannot force that future from you. He paused, coming to a stop as he looked down at her. Unless... it's what you want.

What I want?

Master Faltis nodded slowly. When I found you and offered you tutelage, Tina, I saw the potential you possess. You could become a great wizard. You still can, but it will now be so much more difficult. So difficult that I am not certain I can achieve training you properly any longer. He gestured at her with his free hand. But, if you still wish to become a wizard, I will do everything, everything in my power to help you continue on that course. I promise you that much. In the end, however, the choice is yours.

He walked to a tree beside the path and seated himself, settling Tina down on a root next to him. I will try to find another cure for this curse, Tina, but I'm afraid it will take a very long time. Even then, it may be too late to cure you permanently. If I try to strip the curse from you now, you would no longer be a wizard. You would be a normal mortal for the rest of your life, but you would at least be your normal size again.

But I could never learn magic? Tina asked worriedly.

You would have knowledge, but without the power ever to wield it, even to the very limited extent other mortals can. Master Faltis looked down and closed his eyes. This is a decision I cannot make for you, Tina. You must decide.

Tina wrinkled her muzzle and looked down at the ground. She pulled Master Faltis's handkerchief more tightly around her shoulders. She wanted to be a wizard. She had only just started learning about magic and all of the wonderful things she could do with it. To be stripped of that power, to be unable to pursue what had become the dream of her life, felt as though it would destroy her.

At the same time, a future in which she was only six inches tall was a future in which all things seemed uncertain. Her life could end at a moment just because someone didn't look where he was putting his feet. The thought sent a shiver of fear through her.

Master Faltis apparently noted Tina's silence on the matter and looked down at her again. Tina, he said quietly.

She looked up at him. Yes, Master?

I want you to know something. Master Faltis rested his hand beside her and put his finger on her shoulder. Whatever you choose will affect the rest of your life. I want you to know that it has been my privilege teaching you. You have been studious and focused on your work. I don't know that I've ever had an apprentice who so thoroughly buried herself in her studies that I had to bring you your meals and pry you away from your reading just so you would eat. He chuckled, but it quickly faded. His expression turned solemn again. I want you to know that no matter what future you choose, it has been my honor to be your teacher. I want you to become a wizard. I really do. I think you would surpass me, Master Hidrago... you could very well become one of the most powerful wizards in the world.

He curled his finger around the small of her back and gently rubbed her shoulder with his thumb. But, if you choose to become a normal mortal, I will not hate you for it. I will always remain very proud of you.

Tina turned her head to look down at Master Faltis's thumb on her shoulder. She closed her eyes and rested the side of her muzzle against it. The decision was almost too easy to make. She couldn't imagine a future in which she would have to give up the power of magic. She couldn't imagine a future in which she gave up that which made her feel special. She couldn't imagine a future as anything else but a wizard. In spite of the challenges which lay ahead of her, she knew what she would choose.

Chapter 2

Years later...

Tina wondered what could have split so massive a tree in such a way. The trunk of the towering ygdrasi tree in the distance looked as though someone had grabbed hold of its five thickest branches and ripped the tree open, then bent the branches down into the soil. Had she not seen one other such tree before in her life, she might never have known of its former splendor.

She looked back over her shoulder as she felt Shasta shifting about beneath her. Sitting in front of the saddle horn, Tina ducked her head just to be safe as Kravek lifted his leg over her and slid from the riding construct's saddle. He shook his legs, the metal shoes on his hooves clinking against the rocks strewn about the ledge on which they stood.

Ready to be out of the saddle? Tina asked.

Yep.

The Idassian woman who had been seated behind Kravek slid off the scaly riding construct's back with more agility than the larger, black bull. She smoothed the cloth of her red, apprentice's robes and ran her fingers back through her black hair, pulling it over her shoulder. Moving to the edge of the ledge on which they stood, she folded her hands against the front of her thighs and curled her striped, orange and black tail.

Tina glanced at the ledge in front of her apprentice. Careful there, Denna. This road hasn't been traveled in ages. She climbed down from the riding construct's shoulder and dropped to the ground. Shasta turned her head, looked down at Tina, and gently nudged the six inch wizard with her beak.

Tina rested her hand on Shasta's cheek while rubbing her beak appreciatively. I know, Shasta. It's been a long ride. We'll walk the rest of the way.

Kravek pulled the loop of his backpack from Shasta's saddle horn. Slinging it onto his shoulder, he rubbed the back of her neck. Thanks.

Shasta rolled her shoulders and shook her head. Once Kravek had removed the saddlebags from her back, she leaned down once more to nudge Tina with her beak before walking to the ledge where Denna stood. She then dived over the side, her six legs working as she bounded from rock to rock effortlessly. The moment her feet touched the soil just above the tree line, she disappeared into the dirt as if she'd just dived into a pool of water.

Lively for just having carried us for three days, Kravek commented.

Tina giggled. She's just ready to rest, that's all. Walking to Kravek's leg, she climbed up his side and onto his shoulder to seat herself.

Kravek slung the saddlebags onto the other shoulder and looked back at the tree. What could do that to a tree so big? Kravek stared at the devastated tree,