Read Online The Wizard's Apprentice (The Apprentice) by Janice Ayre - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Janice Ayre
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an interest in the diamonds. They had been placed into one of Zebulon's magic devices so they were never offered to Brock, but that did not matter to the elf. Brock loved the opal and he could sit for a long time gazing at the gem. The opal's black, intense body colour displayed the colours with great vibrancy. Its iridescence granted the viewer vision of the brilliant rich red and spectacular interplay of colour. All that it offered was in direct contrast to his life. He did not know anything of the composition of the gem or of its therapeutic or magical qualities, he just knew he felt possessed by its nobleness, that it transported him to places beyond his own experience.
The driving rain eventually abated but all was too wet and boggy to do more than allow the two imprisoned within the cottage to bask in the brief period of sunshine as its rays burst through the lingering darkened clouds.
The rivers between the mine and village dropped quickly, allowing passage over them. Zebulon decided to accompany Brock after all because he could not work in the mine until the ground dried out. He looked forward to visiting with Uri and his delightful wife Elvira.
They found K otonia sparkling and refreshed from the recent rain and the inhabitants happy in their occupations. Uri placed a bowl of steaming food before his guests and stood back in satisfaction as he watched Zebulon and Brock eating. Elvira had learned to cook many elvan dishes and the results were pleasing.
"Why don't you come and live in the village and forget this mining business?" said Uri. He kn e w nothing of Zebulon's true quest and he also knew that a village such as this would not hold Zebulon for long, but he enjoyed teasing a little.
Zebulon smiled. He really liked Uri and knew he was content with a simple lifestyle that would not be conducive to happiness for himself.
"So what about you Brock, would you like that?" asked Uri.
"Huh, what?" answered Brock who had been so busy savouring the food to follow the conversation.
Zebulon and Uri laughed. "I think you would have a winner if he can eat Elvira's cooking every day," said Zebulon.
"Well we can arrange something like that. I have a lovely daughter who is learning to cook as well as her mother. She and Brock could marry in a few years time, " said Uri.
"The young lad has a lot of growing up to do before th e n," stated Zebulon as he ruffled Brock's hair.
The evening passed in a relaxed and pleasant manner. Uri and Elvira were glad to have new visitors to entertain. They introduced to them, their daughter Minerva, a sweet half-elf about Brock's age. Zebulon was more light-hearted than Brock had ever seen him, laughing often with a warm infectious laugh. Brock talked mainly with Elvira and Minerva telling them of his adventures and sharing food secrets.
"If Zebulon doesn't need you for some of the day, you can come and help me cook tomorrow," Elvira invited.
Brock looked expectantly at Zebulon.
"You can have him tomorrow, I'll be glad to have him out of my way for a while," said Zebulon with a benevolent smile."
The only thing that marred the time in the village is that Brock fancied he saw Orville in one of the streets as they were leaving. He said nothing to Zebulon, convincing himself that his imagination was playing an unkind trick as he contemplated the trip back to the mine.
On their return to the mine, work continued in earnest. Eventually they were rewarded with another opal. This one was also black with a predomi nantl y blue centre. Brock thought it beautiful but it did not hold the same fascination for him as the one with the red centre.
"The last one we are to find is very similar to this one. It also has blue within the black," said Zebulon.
Zebulon was keen to continue working so he allowed Brock to go alone to the village. Brock's horse was reluctant to be caught because it liked roaming free. When it saw Brock it would shake its head in defiance, flicking its mane in
The driving rain eventually abated but all was too wet and boggy to do more than allow the two imprisoned within the cottage to bask in the brief period of sunshine as its rays burst through the lingering darkened clouds.
The rivers between the mine and village dropped quickly, allowing passage over them. Zebulon decided to accompany Brock after all because he could not work in the mine until the ground dried out. He looked forward to visiting with Uri and his delightful wife Elvira.
They found K otonia sparkling and refreshed from the recent rain and the inhabitants happy in their occupations. Uri placed a bowl of steaming food before his guests and stood back in satisfaction as he watched Zebulon and Brock eating. Elvira had learned to cook many elvan dishes and the results were pleasing.
"Why don't you come and live in the village and forget this mining business?" said Uri. He kn e w nothing of Zebulon's true quest and he also knew that a village such as this would not hold Zebulon for long, but he enjoyed teasing a little.
Zebulon smiled. He really liked Uri and knew he was content with a simple lifestyle that would not be conducive to happiness for himself.
"So what about you Brock, would you like that?" asked Uri.
"Huh, what?" answered Brock who had been so busy savouring the food to follow the conversation.
Zebulon and Uri laughed. "I think you would have a winner if he can eat Elvira's cooking every day," said Zebulon.
"Well we can arrange something like that. I have a lovely daughter who is learning to cook as well as her mother. She and Brock could marry in a few years time, " said Uri.
"The young lad has a lot of growing up to do before th e n," stated Zebulon as he ruffled Brock's hair.
The evening passed in a relaxed and pleasant manner. Uri and Elvira were glad to have new visitors to entertain. They introduced to them, their daughter Minerva, a sweet half-elf about Brock's age. Zebulon was more light-hearted than Brock had ever seen him, laughing often with a warm infectious laugh. Brock talked mainly with Elvira and Minerva telling them of his adventures and sharing food secrets.
"If Zebulon doesn't need you for some of the day, you can come and help me cook tomorrow," Elvira invited.
Brock looked expectantly at Zebulon.
"You can have him tomorrow, I'll be glad to have him out of my way for a while," said Zebulon with a benevolent smile."
The only thing that marred the time in the village is that Brock fancied he saw Orville in one of the streets as they were leaving. He said nothing to Zebulon, convincing himself that his imagination was playing an unkind trick as he contemplated the trip back to the mine.
On their return to the mine, work continued in earnest. Eventually they were rewarded with another opal. This one was also black with a predomi nantl y blue centre. Brock thought it beautiful but it did not hold the same fascination for him as the one with the red centre.
"The last one we are to find is very similar to this one. It also has blue within the black," said Zebulon.
Zebulon was keen to continue working so he allowed Brock to go alone to the village. Brock's horse was reluctant to be caught because it liked roaming free. When it saw Brock it would shake its head in defiance, flicking its mane in
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