Read Online The Fuller's Apprentice (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 1) by Angela Holder - Free Book Online Page B

we serve you with the work of our hands, continuing your unfinished work of creation.”
    Clothes rustled as people stood and made their way towards the door, gradually beginning to speak with each other again.
    Elkan rose, and Josiah hastened to follow. “Master, I’m sorry…”
    “You should have known better,” Elkan snapped. “And I’m not your master.” He took a deep breath and composed himself. “I am, however, in charge of you at the moment. You realize, don’t you, that if you’re going to come with me, I have to be able to depend on you?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “I know the service isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, but as long as you’re with me, we’ll be attending every Restday. You’ll have to learn to control yourself.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “I don’t want to realize a month from now that you’re more trouble than I can cope with, and have to find someone to bring you back to Korisan. But I won’t let you disrupt my work, either. Do you understand?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “So, Josiah, was I mistaken? Can I trust you not to repeat this sort of thing in the future?”
    “I’ll do my best, Mast—sir.”
    Elkan studied him for a long moment, head cocked to one side. He turned to Sar, who regarded Josiah with much the same look. Wizard and familiar looked into each other’s eyes. Elkan turned back to Josiah with a sigh.
    “If you don’t want to be late for Restday dinner with your family, you’d better hurry up.”
    “Yes, sir. Am I… Do you want me to come back this evening, sir? And leave with you in the morning?
    Elkan ran a hand through his hair. “Yes. Although I’m beginning to wonder what I’ve gotten myself into. We’ll have to assume the Mother knew what she was doing when she brought us together. Run on, and be sure to get back before too late. We leave at sunrise.”

Five
    B efore dawn Josiah made his way to Elkan’s room. The wizard was already up, flickering yellow candlelight spilling out his open door.
    Elkan tightened the girth of a pack saddle on Sar’s back. He fastened the buckle and tugged at the frame to make sure it was tight enough. “Comfortable, Sar?” The donkey flicked one ear at the wizard. Elkan began picking up bundles and fastening them to the saddle. “Josiah, give me a hand with this, please? If you could get the tent and bring it over here…” He gestured at a bundle of canvas, poles and ropes.
    Josiah hoisted it onto the donkey’s back and held it in place while Elkan strapped it down. For a few more minutes they worked to get everything loaded. When they finished, Sar seemed only lightly laden, from what little Josiah knew about donkeys.
    Elkan rummaged among the remaining items. “I have a few things for you to add to your pack, if you don’t mind.” He handed Josiah several small wrapped packages.
    “Couldn’t Sar carry more?” He’d assumed the donkey would carry all their belongings.
    “He could. But we all do our share.” Elkan picked up his own pack, which was larger than Josiah’s. “There’s breakfast waiting for us.”
    In the kitchen a small fire burning in the hearth gave a soft orange glow. Tivon sat by the fire, stirring a small pot of porridge. He raised a hand in greeting and ladled portions into bowls.
    Josiah and Elkan took their bowls to the table by the far wall, where a fresh net of hay awaited Sar. Tivon came to join them. Josiah ate hungrily, only half paying attention to the conversation.
    “You’ve been a great help this week, Elkan. We’re sorry to see you go. What are your plans from here on out?”
    Elkan unrolled a map and spread it on the table. “We’ll be taking the northeast road to Darilla. It should take us about five days to get there, unless we need to deal with anything major along the way. This will be the first time they’ve had a wizard come through since Eisig and Diamond made the circuit last year, so we’ll probably need to spend a few days there. Then we’ll travel through