As the depths of winter drew nearer, we prepared the garlic in anticipation
of the return of the fell creatures that had plagued us the winter before.
The wolves did not return nor did the rats but the bandits were as fearsome
as ever.
But we were prepared for them and so their raiding did not instill nearly as much terror as their initial appearance had.
I spoke to Kendriun about the stone and what it had revealed to me. He was mildly interested and urged me not to try too hard to make it reveal its secrets to me. "All in good time, Mikal," he would say. But then he also said that experience was the best teacher. Perhaps he meant to tell me that all experience comes in time and teaches us when we are ready. Perhaps. I will never know.
He was returning from the Great Hall late one snowy evening and I was stargazing in the tower when the final blow to my will was struck.
The stars were slightly veiled making me anxious with worry. That was never a good sign. Kendriun had been in the Great Hall consulting with the King regarding the raiders and I could see his shadow walking across the snowy cobblestones back to the tower and I waved down at him.
He smiled and waved back. "I hope you have that fire going, Mikal! My old bones are frozen!"
I laughed. "I will throw another log on the fire just to make certain," I answered before heading downstairs to do just that.
When I did not hear his footsteps on the stairs, I became anxious but thought maybe someone had stopped him in the courtyard after hearing his voice. The minutes ticked by and I grabbed my cloak and ran outside into the night, frightened that something had happened to him. If Kendriun left me, what would I do?
In a panic, I began calling his name. A groan answered me and I rushed toward the noise, nearly tripping over my fallen master who lay in a shadow on the cold hard stones.
"Master Kendriun!" I shouted. "Someone bring me a light!" I cried into the stillness. "Master Kendriun is hurt!"
I held him and tried to comfort him as best I could but the light was dim and I could not see what had happened to him. The back of his head was sticky with blood and I could see slip marks in the snow near him.
"Did you fall?" I asked anxiously.
He moaned but I could not make out an answer.
One of the stable boys appeared with a torch and soon others, including Annatar and the King, had gathered around us.
"Get one of the wide boards from the stable. We will have to carry him inside," I ordered, all of my training coming instinctively to me.
Two of the boys rushed off to do my bidding and I began issuing orders for herbs to be brought to the tower, water boiled and bandages gathered. Several people ran off to do my bidding while the King and Annatar watched anxiously.
When the boys returned, the King, Annatar and myself gently eased Kendriun onto the board and carried him carefully into the tower, placing him near the fire. I dismissed the others saying that they had done what they could for him.
The King was understandably anxious for his sorcerer and pestered me with questions until I begged him to return to his bed. There was nothing he could do for Kendriun and I did not need the added distraction of his anxiety.
Annatar remained silent and helped me to clean and dress Kendriun's wounds. It seemed so selfless to me at the time. But I digress once again!
After the old sorcerer seemed to be resting peacefully, I scurried to the herbarium to mix up a poultice for his wound and potion to ease his pain. When I returned, I found Annatar standing over Kendriun, murmuring some words. Kendriun's mouth was moving but his eyes were shut tight.
"What is he saying?" I asked anxiously.
"I do not know," Annatar answered. "I ask him to speak louder but I cannot understand him."
I bent low and placed my ear to his lips but I could not make out any intelligible speech.
I sighed with regret and began to carefully place the poultice on his wound. Then I dribbled a bit of the pain potion in his mouth and murmured some healing spells. It would be up to Kendriun's innate strength whether he survived or not. I would do what I could but if the old man decided to flee his body then there would be no way for me to stop him.
The tears welled up in my eyes, as I looked down upon him so pale and frail in the weak morning sun. I felt like an orphan already.
Annatar placed a re-assuring hand on my arm and silently left me brooding by my master's side.
But we were prepared for them and so their raiding did not instill nearly as much terror as their initial appearance had.
I spoke to Kendriun about the stone and what it had revealed to me. He was mildly interested and urged me not to try too hard to make it reveal its secrets to me. "All in good time, Mikal," he would say. But then he also said that experience was the best teacher. Perhaps he meant to tell me that all experience comes in time and teaches us when we are ready. Perhaps. I will never know.
He was returning from the Great Hall late one snowy evening and I was stargazing in the tower when the final blow to my will was struck.
The stars were slightly veiled making me anxious with worry. That was never a good sign. Kendriun had been in the Great Hall consulting with the King regarding the raiders and I could see his shadow walking across the snowy cobblestones back to the tower and I waved down at him.
He smiled and waved back. "I hope you have that fire going, Mikal! My old bones are frozen!"
I laughed. "I will throw another log on the fire just to make certain," I answered before heading downstairs to do just that.
When I did not hear his footsteps on the stairs, I became anxious but thought maybe someone had stopped him in the courtyard after hearing his voice. The minutes ticked by and I grabbed my cloak and ran outside into the night, frightened that something had happened to him. If Kendriun left me, what would I do?
In a panic, I began calling his name. A groan answered me and I rushed toward the noise, nearly tripping over my fallen master who lay in a shadow on the cold hard stones.
"Master Kendriun!" I shouted. "Someone bring me a light!" I cried into the stillness. "Master Kendriun is hurt!"
I held him and tried to comfort him as best I could but the light was dim and I could not see what had happened to him. The back of his head was sticky with blood and I could see slip marks in the snow near him.
"Did you fall?" I asked anxiously.
He moaned but I could not make out an answer.
One of the stable boys appeared with a torch and soon others, including Annatar and the King, had gathered around us.
"Get one of the wide boards from the stable. We will have to carry him inside," I ordered, all of my training coming instinctively to me.
Two of the boys rushed off to do my bidding and I began issuing orders for herbs to be brought to the tower, water boiled and bandages gathered. Several people ran off to do my bidding while the King and Annatar watched anxiously.
When the boys returned, the King, Annatar and myself gently eased Kendriun onto the board and carried him carefully into the tower, placing him near the fire. I dismissed the others saying that they had done what they could for him.
The King was understandably anxious for his sorcerer and pestered me with questions until I begged him to return to his bed. There was nothing he could do for Kendriun and I did not need the added distraction of his anxiety.
Annatar remained silent and helped me to clean and dress Kendriun's wounds. It seemed so selfless to me at the time. But I digress once again!
After the old sorcerer seemed to be resting peacefully, I scurried to the herbarium to mix up a poultice for his wound and potion to ease his pain. When I returned, I found Annatar standing over Kendriun, murmuring some words. Kendriun's mouth was moving but his eyes were shut tight.
"What is he saying?" I asked anxiously.
"I do not know," Annatar answered. "I ask him to speak louder but I cannot understand him."
I bent low and placed my ear to his lips but I could not make out any intelligible speech.
I sighed with regret and began to carefully place the poultice on his wound. Then I dribbled a bit of the pain potion in his mouth and murmured some healing spells. It would be up to Kendriun's innate strength whether he survived or not. I would do what I could but if the old man decided to flee his body then there would be no way for me to stop him.
The tears welled up in my eyes, as I looked down upon him so pale and frail in the weak morning sun. I felt like an orphan already.
Annatar placed a re-assuring hand on my arm and silently left me brooding by my master's side.