The Legend Of The Wizard's Apprentice (Book 1) (31 page)

Reaching over he tried to touch her hand but she pulled it away and in a small whisper said, “Have I been replaced so easily? Have you now changed your mind and are in love with a tree girl? I will not interfere with you and her but I want you to know that I still care for you and I still think that our futures are intertwined. I believe that you and I are meant to be together.”

“Erlina, I have not replaced you with anyone. I find both of you women intriguing and both of you are beautiful women. Your mother has forbidden us to be together, and I do not want the wrath of the Forest Elvin Queen on me. I know that you and I could have something very special, but until your mother allows it, we will never be together,” said Kerwyn.

“But you know that I love you so what does it matter what my mother says?” Erlina said this in an almost inaudible whisper that only Kerwyn could hear.

“Erlina, you know that I think very highly of you and that I am in love with you as well. But you are royalty and I am just a commoner. Your mother wants you to be with someone much, well... better than me. I have nothing to offer you, and I am just a poor commoner. Yes, I know that I am a great wizards apprentice and I am very proud of that fact but I am not royalty. Princesses do not mix with common folk, especially Elvish Princesses who will live for thousands of years while her common husband will die in less than a thousand years.

I understand what your mother is concerned with. She wants you to have a man that will always be there for you. I am not that man. I love you too, but I am a mortal who is destined to die one day,” Kerwyn said.

Erlina reached over and took Kerwyn’s hand in her own. Holding it she looked him in the eyes and said, “You are special, very special and a man that I have given my heart too. No matter what the future holds, you and I, we will always be connected. We might be forbidden to be together for now. But one day we will be married as one. Go enjoy this other woman’s company but know this; you and I are meant for each other, so no matter how much you think this Korowai is you life mate, know that it is I, not her, who will be your wife. Even if I have to wait for her to die of old age, I will wait for you always.” As she spoke her last words, she got up and hurried from the room, not wanting anyone to see her cry.

Korowai sitting down the table from Kerwyn and Erlina listened to the whole conversation while making it look like she was just enjoying the food. Putting the fresh vegetables into her mouth without even tasting them she smiled. She knew that Kerwyn was hers now. Erlina had backed out of the competition gracefully and that left Kerwyn up for grabs.

Korowai moved to the seat where Erlina had been only moments before had been sitting and got comfortable next to Kerwyn. Reaching over she touched his hand and said, “I understand how much she means to you and I am not trying to take her place. I am only trying to show you that she isn’t the only woman that loves you.

I am not royalty and I am not eternal; I will die one day as well because I am a mortal, just like you. Please don’t push me away for I can be a loving woman as well and one that can satisfy your every want and desire. I love you, Kerwyn, and I want to be with you.”

chapter fourteen

QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED

From that moment on Erlina, made herself very scarce. Even when Kerwyn went out looking for her she was nowhere to be found. He asked the guards where she was one day and they wouldn’t tell him either. He was finding it harder and harder to see her. Korowai on the other hand happened to be everywhere he was. It was almost like she knew where he was going before he did.

One day he wanted to get away from everyone after a frustrating search for Erlina so he went to the chicken coop to gather eggs for the cooks. Once he got there, Korowai was already there doing the same thing: gathering eggs. The only place where he had any peace and quiet was in his bedchamber. But even there his thoughts were of Erlina and it was Korowai that came looking for him when it was time for supper.

“Come on, Kerwyn, it’s time for supper. Master Sernett sent me to get you,” Korowai said coming into his room.

“Go away, I am not hungry,” said Kerwyn in a cold tone.

“Why are you avoiding me and why are you mad at me? I have done nothing wrong, other then to tell you that I am in love with you. I told you that I would not interfere with you or Erlina’s relationship but it looks to me like that relationship does not exist. She has been avoiding you like you have been avoiding me.

You know, we could have a lot more fun together if you would stop avoiding me. There are beautiful trails throughout the Elvin domain and I would love to walk them with you. Some of the plants and flowers that are here cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. The forest elves' domain is like nothing that I have ever seen before; they have trees here, Kerwyn, that only exist here. They have been extinct everywhere else for generations due to being cut down for either building supplies or firewood. The forest elves respect all trees and plants and they would never completely use them up to the point of extinction. Come with me and I’ll show them all to you, they are beautiful,” pleaded Korowai.

“Korowai, it’s not that I don’t like you, it’s just that, well, I knew Erlina first and I didn’t want to hurt her. I still love her and hate the fact that I have hurt her enough that she doesn’t want to see me. I also don’t want to hurt or disrespect her more by you and I being together. She is the Princess of the Forest Elves and I don’t want to disrespect their hospitality either by hurting their princess,” Kerwyn said.

“Ok, Kerwyn I understand, but come for supper. I will keep my distance from you while we are here but if she shows you no more interest, then I have free reign to try and get you to love me once we leave for the forests dragon’s cave,” said Korowai.

“Agreed, “Nodded Kerwyn.

Getting up and heading for the Main Hall with Korowai, Kerwyn felt better about the whole situation. If the Princess Erlina wanted nothing more to do with him then he would be free to find his love interest elsewhere.

Arriving at the Main Hall, Kerwyn took his place beside his master who was in a conversation with the queen. They were talking about the dragon, Fafnir, and what they could probably expect once they got there.

“Like all dragons they sleep on a mountain of gold and gems. I would strongly advise you to not take any of it as that will anger the dragon for they are all very protective of their treasures. Fafnir maybe a Gold Dragon and the best to deal with humans and other creatures but just remember he is still a dragon and they will eat you if make them mad,” the queen advised.

“Have you ever met the dragon, Your Highness? Would it be better to approach him with just Kerwyn and myself?” asked Master Sernett.

“Yes, it would be better to approach him as a friend than as a bigger armed group; his defensive reaction will be much lower. Also, yes I have met him on many occasions throughout my years. He has even been here as a guest in the Elvin Domain a few times. Dragons have the ability to take on humanoid form when they choose to. The good dragons take on human form and wander the lands sometimes. They are always on the lookout for the evil dragons. Humans are known to gossip and what better way to find out if an evil dragon is around than to listen to the gossip? Also, many good dragons have become exceptional traders and they make a very high profit which increases their gold piles,” the queen said.

“I did not know that a dragon could take on humanoid form. That is very useful information. I will have to keep my eyes open the next time I am bartering with a trader. I might not want to barter too hard if I know that it is a dragon,” Master Sernett said.

“There have been many times when an evil dragon has taken on humanoid forms and caused all kinds of mischief in towns and cities. Many years ago one even took on human form and became a king over the very wealthy kingdom of Fylgia. It stole all the gold and jewels from the people and left the kingdom in ruins. Some say the dragon still resides there, hiding out in the lower catacombs with its huge stash of gold and jewels. They also say that there were a lot of magical items collected by the Fylgia Kingdom which would still be hidden among the dragon’s stash as well,” said the queen.

Kerwyn stopped listening at that point as he was looking around for Erlina, seeing that she wasn’t in the Great Hall and she was nowhere to be. Kerwyn took this as a sign that it was over between he and Erlina. He didn’t feel all that good about it, even though he thought he would. He sat down heavily and started eating, not really tasting the food but he kept putting stuff into his mouth and chewed.

Once he had finished all that he could eat, he looked back over at his master and saw that he and the queen were still conversing about dragons. Getting up form the table he saw that Korowai was also getting up and was going to accompany him until he looked at her and shook his head. He saw that she was disappointed and she sat back down and watched Kerwyn walk out of the Main Hall.

Kerwyn was confused. He should have been happy that he could now try and start a relationship with Korowai but he just couldn’t get Erlina out of his mind. Everywhere he turned he hoped that she would be just beyond the corner and that he could talk to her. He remembered the letter she wrote him and pulled it out to read again.

Kerwyn
,

I know that you and I are meant to be together, but for the time being my Mother has forbidden our union together. I know that you love me and I know that I love you. No matter what my mother says, you and I are destined for great things. I can feel it in my soul that you and I will one day be allowed to be together and I hold you in my heart until that day
.

This broach will allow us to communicate with one another over distances
.

Just look deeply into the broach and say my name three times and my broach will let me know that you are trying to contact me. The same will happen if I need to get a hold of you; your broach will light up and let you know that I am waiting to talk to you too. Please don’t be mad at me for breaking my mother’s decree. But I just have to know that you will be safe and I wanted you to know that I will be here waiting for you upon your return
.

Oh one other thing, I saw Master Elvin Wizard Faunus and he wants to see you first thing tomorrow morning
.

With love

Erlina
.

After reading it over again he knew that there was a reason why he couldn’t get her out of his head. They were destined for great things and they were meant to be together. He knew what he needed to do; He needed to prove to her mother the queen that he was good enough for Erlina. To do that he was going to have to see the dragon and find out what his destiny was.

Remembering the prophecy Kerwyn recited it out loud:

“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”

Trying to work it out, Kerwyn examined the prophecy one line at a time and thought:
'“The Bearer of the Staff’,
That is Master Sernett since Mother Nature gave him the staff when the tree he had changed, or that is what the witch said.

‘Must accompany you,’
who does Master Senett need to accompany? Me?

‘Even though it will spell
, ‘do they mean cast a spell or figuratively?

‘Your certain doom.’
Whose doom; Master Sernett’s, the Dark Master’s, or mine?

‘The Creator of Life
, ‘would that be me, or Mother Nature? I know Druantia said it was me, but...

‘Must pick up the staff.’
Mother Nature makes sense, the staff that Master Sernett has is one of her Relic’s of Power.

‘And cast in death.’
I don’t understand this line at all, how do you cast a spell if you are dead?

‘Life’s renew.’
That sounds like Mother Nature again, renewing life.

‘In death there will come,’
again, what can come from death?

‘A time for rejoice,’
the Dark Master’s death. People will rejoice over that.

‘For from the shadows
, ‘once the Dark Master is dead all the evil shadows will go away.

‘The tree of life,’
I have the acorn of the Tree of Life.

‘Shall be reborn’
I wonder if that is how it will be reborn, by killing the Dark Master first. I have to talk to Master Sernett about this.”

Kerwyn was going over and over the prophecy and he thought that he had found the way to make the Tree of life be reborn and that was to figure out how to kill the Dark Master. Also, this would show the queen that he was worthy of her daughter, Erlina.

Heading back to his room, Kerwyn started to plan out what he was going to do. Firstly, he needed to find out when they were leaving to go see Fafnir the Golden Dragon. Kerwyn started to prepare a spell that he would need to prevent the Dragon Fear that radiated from all dragons. Once the fear was under control, and then he'd be able to find out how to kill the Dark Master from the dragon, Fafnir.