The Legend Of The Wizard's Apprentice (Book 1) (19 page)

“The bearer of the staff,
Must accompany you,
Even though it will spell
Your certain doom.
The Creator of Life
Must pick up the staff,
And cast in death,
Life’s renew
.

In death there will come
A time for rejoice,
For from the shadows,
The tree of life,
Shall be reborn.”

“Oh, sorry Kerwyn, I must have dozed off. What were we talking about?” said Master Faunus as though he had just come out of a sleep.

“Nothing, Master Faunus, but it is getting late and I need to get some breakfast before we depart. Thank you for the ring of fire protection and I will see you when we get back,” Kerwyn rose from his chair, feeling a bit rattled, and walked out the door.

Back in the Great Hall Kerwyn went and picked up some breakfast from the cooks, as he was late for breakfast and the cooks had already started to clean up. After he was done eating he decided that he needed to find Master Sernett and find out what time they were leaving.

When he got outside he saw that Master Sernett was already there with the Cyclopes and Durin the beardless dwarf. All were dressed in their new armour and you could tell that it has been cleaned and shined and they all looked like they were knights right out of legends.

The Cyclopes being as big as they were dwarfed everyone else, but Durin looked like one of their children. Kerwyn had seen Durin in a fight and he was just as fierce as any of the Cyclopes.

Kerwyn had changed Byamee with the magic of Mother Nature and now he had some special sight that he hadn’t explained to anyone what it did yet. Also, his strength was increasing and Byamee was now extreemly fast for a creature his size: Mother Nature’s gifts to him.

Kerwyn couldn’t help but think that he had changed everyone he had been close to in some way. Master Sernett had never wanted children but now he looked at Kerwyn as his son. Byamee had special abilities and the rest of the team were forced to go on this crazy mission to find the forest witch, Druantia. Kerwyn felt that he was always brining bad luck and when he had tried to ease the fight between himself and Erlina, he almost cost both of them their lives. Now there was the prophecy that Master Faunus had spoken of and Kerwyn recited it to himself again and again so that he would remember exactly how it went, and he needed to talk to Master Sernett about it.

“The bearer of the staff must accompany you, even though it will spell your certain doom. The Creator of Life must pick up the staff and cast in death, Life’s renew. In death there will come a time for rejoice, for from the shadows, the Tree of Life shall be reborn.”

“What does it mean I wonder" said Kerwyn to himself, “For sure and certain, doom is bad and death is also bad, but what about this tree of life? That sounded good. And it’s going to be reborn which is also good, but cast in death: that’s bad.” Kerwyn was still talking to himself and he didn’t notice Master Sernett walking up behind him, and Celie wave to them.

“Master Kerwyn!” Celie called out when she saw him, “We have been in the same area for quite some time but we have hardly seen you. Have you been well? Your face looks pale Master Kerwyn. Master Sernett is Kerwyn well? He was sick a few times in the past little while, maybe we should stay until he is well,” said Celie not really wanting to leave as she had been getting lots of training on how to use her new sword from the elves.

In fact, all of the Cyclopes had become very proficient with their new weapons. They were fifteen feet tall and deadly accurate with them. Durin had become a master hammer-wielder with his mighty battle hammer. Even Master Sernett had been practicing with his new staff and his magical attacks had been amplified to the point where even he was impressed.

Kerwyn had the feeling that again he was the only one in the party that wasn’t really needed. That is until he remembered that all of those people had joined forces for him. He was the reason that they were all going on this dangerous mission in the first place; because of his evil black eye and the being that had come to be inside of him.

“I am fine, Celie. I am just tired that’s all. How have you been? You look amazing! All of you do. Each one of you looks like a legend come to life. If I were a bad guy, I'd run for the hills if I saw you come around the corner in the forest. Looking at all of you makes me feel like there won’t be a force in the forest that would be a threat to you. I think even the Dark Master would have a problem trying to beat you,” Celie was beaming with pride and was actually turning red with pleasure at Kerwyn’s compliment.

“Oh Master Kerwyn, you do know how to sweet talk a warrior woman. If you weren’t in love with Erlina and I wasn’t already married to Byamee, I’d scoop you up and make you mine forever. I never knew that you were such a ladies' man,” she said laughing and laughed more when poor Kerwyn had turned a few shades darker than an apple. “I also love the way you humans really change colour; we Cyclopes never go as red as you humans.

But truly, I am pleased that you approve of us. Many humans have run screaming from us and called us monsters. Just because we only have one eye and are bigger then you humans, it doesn’t mean that we do not have feelings.”

“May I ask you a personal question, Master Kerwyn?” asked Celie.

“By all means, please do,” said Kerwyn

“Now that you look like an elf, does that make you an elf? Or are you still a human? You have changed since we came here but you are still yourself to us. We are your allies and no matter what you look like, or the fact that you have that creepy evil eye. Oh sorry! I didn’t mean any offence,” finished Celie who stopped talking and looked down.

“That’s ok, Celie, no offence taken. I know that I look different and I do have strange eyes that glow. But you are right; I am still the same person on the inside that I was before coming to this place. You are all my friends and there isn’t much that I wouldn’t do for each and every one of you who have chosen to come with Master Sernett and I,” said Kerwyn.

“That’s right, Master Kerwyn, we are friends and I am happy to say that you and Master Sernett are the first humans that we have ever been friends with. I also know that we would lay down our lives to make sure you and Master Sernett do not come to harm. Also, Durin has become a really good friend to us and he is the first dwarf that we have ever had as a friend also: all because of you and Master Sernett,” reaching out, she picked Kerwyn up and gave him a big wet kiss on his cheek along with a big hug, “Thank you for being our friends and showing us that there is more to our lives than living in a cave and beating our lunch to death with old tree stumps. We are a very proud people; we just didn’t know it until we met you,” said Celie.

“Celie, put poor Master Kerwyn down; the rest of us want to see him too and if you squeeze all the goo out of him before the rest of us have a chance to say hello, well, there are going to be some angry Cyclopes here,” Byamee called with a smile from across the yard. Celie put Kerwyn back on the ground and the rest of them came over to see how Kerwyn was.

“Aye, ye looks like a horse and wagon ran ye over, Master Kerwyn. Maybe that’s just ‘cause the filly just about squeezed the goo out of ye. Or maybe you have been ran over and ye just don’t know it yet,” laughing Durin said.

“It’s good to see you, Master Kerwyn. We were all worried about your health,” said Baldred

“Did you really fight a shrieker and win, Master Kerwyn? I have heard of them nasty creatures. I hear they are hard to kill because they are not affected usually by wizardry and most weapons, unless magical, won’t hurt them. I sure would have liked to have been there and tried out my new spear on it. I bet I'd show it a thing or two. I'd jab it and twist and parry and jab again, just like these elves have been teaching me. It’s so much different than just trying to club something to death with a big old tree stump,” said Elden while making the actions with his spear.

“Put that spear away. What are you doing trying to do, kill someone? If you’re not careful you’ll end up back in the Elvin hospital like you did just the other day when you slipped with your spear and cut your self through your leg. It’s a good thing these elves have lots of healing potions. You are a bit of a mess when you fight,” said Baldred, “So Master Kerwyn, if there is a fight I would advise you to keep your distance from Elden or you might end up as a skewered rabbit on a spit for cooking. Elden has cut himself at least three times and they all needed healing done by the elves.”

Laughing, all the Cyclopes were teased Elden.

“Talking about putting a rabbit on a spit, Baldred has become an amazing shot with his bow and arrows. He hardly ever misses and he hits the bull’s eye more time then not. He has even learnt how to fire his arrows while riding on a wagon. His skill has improved to the point that the Elvin archers say that he must be part Elvin.” Said Byamee

Beaming with pride, Baldred quickly pulled out his bow and arrow and shot at a target all the way across the yard hitting the bull’s eye from over sixty yards away.

“Wow, what a shot Baldred!” exclaimed Kerwyn, amazed at how well and fast the Cyclopes had learnt how to use the foreign weapons. Kerwyn knew that they really were an amazing group of warriors now and they should be safe to get to the forest witch’s tree.

“Ok everyone,” announced Master Sernett, “If we don’t get started, we won’t make it there before tomorrow night. As it is we will have to spend one night out in the open and I'd rather not spend any more time in the open at night then we have to where the Dark Master’s minions could be lurking. So, let’s gather up all of our gear and get going.”

With that, everyone stopped talking and grabbed all their belongings and followed Master Sernett to the Great Hall where they said their goodbyes to the Queen and all of her people who they had come to respect and would miss. Kerwyn looked for Erlina but she was nowhere to be found.

The queen seeing Kerwyn’s look of sadness and said to him, “Do not worry, Master Kerwyn. Erlina was very upset this morning about not being allowed to go along with you so she was given a mild drug to make her sleep. She will be here when you return from your adventure. I wish you well and safe travels until we see each other again; know that the Elvin people will always be there when you need us. Fare thee well.” And, just like that, they were on their way to the forest witch’s tree.

They crossed the barrier and stood on the other side of the Elvin domain where the creatures of the forest howled and hunted. Each looked at one another and was surprised at how much the forest had changed since being inside the Elvin domain.

Kerwyn turned and placed his hand on the barrier and said his goodbyes to the living barrier and thanked it for letting them through. The barrier was so happy at that, it told Kerwyn that when they come back it would let them through without needing to ask and would give a fanfare to let the elves know that Master Kerwyn had come home. Turning back to face the group, Kerwyn explained what the barrier had said.

“Well, Master Sernett, do you know the way to the witch’s tree,” asked Byamee.

“Yes I do. We need to travel due north until we see a rickety old tree at a fork in the road. Then we take the western branch until we hit a clearing. There we will stop for the night, as that will be about half way. We do not want to meet up with the witch at night-time. I’m sure she won’t be happy to see us in the daylight, not to mention showing up for tea and coffee in the middle of the night,” turning on his heels Master Sernett took the lead with Byamee. Kerwyn took up beside Celie and Durin took up beside Elden while Baldred took up the back position.

They walked at a steady pace and Kerwyn felt tired after a while. The sweat started to pour out of him and he hoped that he could keep up and not slow the group down. Just when he didn’t think he'd be able to go any farther, the old rickety tree and the fork in the path appeared up ahead.

“Master, can we stop for a break? We’ve been walking most of the day,” asked Kerwyn.

“Ok. We’ll stop for a short while just to rest up. We need to continue though as we still have a ways to go. I do not want to get caught in the dark without a fire. The forest seems too quiet; almost like we are being hunted by something and the forest knows it,” said Master Sernett.

Kerwyn, feeling pretty stupid, turned on his nature senses and saw that Master Sernett was right; there were very evil creatures out in the forest that were looking for any creature they could kill and eat.

“Master you are right, there are evil creatures out in the forest on the hunt but they are quite far away so we have time to stop for a little bit. And, Master, the forest has changed. The evil has spread much faster then I would have thought. It covers almost the entire forest now. There are only pockets of areas that have not been tainted by the evil. We will need to set up watch at nighttime to make sure that we are not caught off guard,” finished Kerwyn.

“Alright, we will stop for just a short while to regain some strength and have a drink,” Master Sernett directed.

Kerwyn reached into his belt pack and felt something inside move against his hand. Looking down, he saw that it was indeed Hernes who had made it out of the barrier and was now free to go about his way if he chose. The imp looked up at Kerwyn and gave his hand a small hug and mouthed the words
thank you
to Kerwyn. Then he snuggled back down where he was to continue his little nap the same way a cat would curl up and fall asleep on a window ledge. Knowing that Hernes was safe made Kerwyn feel much better about the trip.

He grabbed his water bottle and took a nice long drink from it before putting it away. Feeling refreshed, Kerwyn stood up and stretched. He felt all of the kinks working out of his muscles and really started to feel amazing. Pulling out his water bottle again, he looked much closer at the contents thinking that with the way he was feeling, he would bet that the water had some healing potion properties to it. Looking back down into his belt pack he saw Hernes who just winked with a big smile. Kerwyn thought that having the imp along might come in handy after all. After about fifteen minutes, Master Sernett told everyone to get up, that it was time to get moving again. With a few grunts and groans the party resumed the trek through the forest path, heading towards Druantia’s tree and the clearing where they were going to stop for the night.