The Fuller's Apprentice (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 1) (12 page)

She looked away. “They brought him back here. He’s buried in the village cemetery.”

“I’ll speak over his grave tomorrow after the service, if you’d like.”

“Yes, please.” Meira squared her shoulders and turned to face him again. “So. Will you let us accompany you to Shalinthan?”

“I’m not really supposed to…” Elkan hesitated. “But you will be far safer with the Mother’s power to protect you than if you went with traders or travelers.”

“That’s why I’m asking.”

Elkan studied Meira for a long moment, then looked at Sar. The donkey’s ears swiveled forward and back. He snorted and looked away. Elkan reached out to stroke Ravid’s wispy hair. “Very well.”

“Thank you.” Meira rose and moved toward the door. “I’ll prepare for the journey. When do you plan to leave?”

Elkan got up and followed her. “We’ll be here at least through Firstday, possibly Secondday also, depending on how much there is for us to do here. We’ll leave at dawn Secondday or Thirdday.”

“I’ll be ready.” She clasped his hand and left.

Elkan came over to Josiah’s table, opened the record book, and leafed through the pages. “I hadn’t planned on acquiring more traveling companions, but it makes sense for Meira to come with us. She said the bandits’s camp was south of here; she can show me where it was so we can observe them through a window. I don’t like the thought of her going through the mountains with a two-month-old and only a few traders or hunters for companions. There are all sorts of dangers they might run into besides the bandits.”

He didn’t have to persuade Josiah. Meira seemed quite nice, and Josiah liked babies. “Sounds good.”

Elkan closed the book and nodded. “Everything looks to be in order here. I’ll be able to fill in my notes without any trouble. And you handled the patients very smoothly. Good work.”

Josiah glowed at the praise. “Thanks.”

“We need to set up for the Restday service tomorrow before we leave. Sar, you go outside and graze. Josiah, help me move the tables out of the way and put the chairs in a circle.”

Josiah was starving, but he knew it would be useless to complain. Elkan was probably even hungrier. He rushed to get the work done as quickly as possible. Elkan worked beside him, just as quickly but with more care. Josiah would have liked to talk about the day’s patients, but the wizard was quiet, lost in his own thoughts.

Finally, as Elkan set the last chair in place and Josiah headed eagerly for the door, the wizard spoke. “Josiah, I doubt this will ever be an issue, because we’re going to be staying on well-traveled paths. But just in case… If we ever run into the bandits, I want you to do just what Meira did. Run. Leave Sar and I to deal with them.”

“Yes, sir.” With the Mother’s power the wizard and familiar would be far better equipped to defend themselves than Meira’s husband had been. “I will.”

“Don’t forget.” Elkan studied Josiah, frowning. Josiah nodded earnestly, trying to convey the sincerity of his promise. Back at home he’d entertained fantasies of fighting the bandits at the wizard’s side and heroically defeating them. But he’d seen and heard enough about their ruthless brutality since to realize how foolish he’d been. Now he just hoped Elkan would be able to gather all the information he needed by looking through windows and speaking to their victims, and that they’d make it all the way through the mountains without encountering the bandits face to face.

Elkan sighed, nodded, and followed Josiah out the door.

Seven

T
he next morning Josiah reluctantly followed Elkan into the Mother’s Hall. He’d been dreading the coming hour all week. He knew it wouldn’t be any easier for him to sit still and silent this week than last, and remembering his embarrassment and Elkan’s disappointment still made his face burn. He took his seat in the circle of chairs and resigned himself to interminable boredom.

The villagers entered in family groups and took their places. Josiah recognized most of those who’d come for healing the day before. Master Orna shuffled in on the arms of Sarea and a very plump middle aged woman. The old man with bunions walked limp-free, saluting Elkan cheerfully. One of the quarreling women entered and took a seat far across the room; the other came in not long after and sat by the door.

Ledah and the rest of the apprentices Josiah had met at the party entered together, chatting and giggling and pushing at each other. Spotting Josiah, they gathered around him.

“Josiah, once the service is over and you’ve eaten, can you come with us?” Ledah asked. “A bunch of us are going up to the waterfall this afternoon.” The others chimed in with enthusiastic seconds to her invitation.

Josiah looked inquiringly at Elkan. He shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”

Turning back to Ledah, Josiah nodded. “Sure. Sounds like fun.” He grinned. At least he’d have something to look forward to through the long dull morning.

Ledah grinned back. “Wonderful. We’ll come by Master Galia’s and pick you up.” She and the others took seats a third of the way around the circle. They bent their heads together, whispering and giggling, as the last few stragglers made their way into the building. Josiah thought about asking if he could join them, but before he could, Elkan rose to speak the formal words to begin the service, and silence descended.

It wasn’t as bad as Josiah feared. Almost everyone who’d visited them the day before offered thanks to the Mother for their healing. Josiah felt a warm glow of satisfaction that he’d played a part, however small, in helping them. After that, he was entertained as each of the quarreling women offered in turn a long, ostentatious prayer asking that Elkan be granted wisdom in judgment.

As the prayers of gratitude tapered off and Josiah resigned himself to boredom, a young couple rose and moved into the center of the circle. The woman was dressed with even more care than was usual for Restday service, with a fine lace shawl draped around her shoulders and flowers twined into her hair. The man’s short dark hair was slicked back neatly. The two held hands and smiled at the onlookers in nervous delight. Josiah found himself grinning in return.

The woman spoke. “Yevon and I wish to be wed. We come before you to ask that you witness our vows to each other.”

Beside her, an older woman rose. “As Temina’s mother, I agree to sponsor this marriage.”

She sat, and beside the young man an older man rose. “As Yevon’s father, I also agree to sponsor this marriage.”

A murmur of approval ran through the room as he seated himself. Master Galia, a few seats down from Josiah, rose. “As Elder of this community I ask: does anyone have any objection to this marriage?”

Beside Temina, an older man rose. “As Temina’s father, I ask: what provisions have been made for the couple’s life together?”

Yevon nodded. Apparently the question was expected. “I’m a journeyman farmer. I have six acres which I’ve kept in production for the past three years. They’ll provide food for us and goods for trade. I have money enough set aside to pay for the supplies and help I’ll need to build us a house.”

Temina twined her hand in Yevon’s. “I’m a journeyman weaver. My mother is my master; I share her loom. I have twelve bolts of cloth set by, which I plan to sell to finance construction of my own loom. My mother and father have invited us to live in their house until our own is completed.”

Nods greeted the couple’s words; apparently those were good answers. Beside Yevon a woman rose. “As Yevon’s mother, I ask: what provision is made for any children who might bless this union?”

Again the question seemed to be expected. “I’ll welcome any children the Mother may choose to give me,” Temina vowed.

“I’ll provide and care for any children born to Temina, until they’re old enough to apprentice to their own trade,” Yevon promised.

The couple looked around, to see if any more questions were forthcoming. A young woman about Temina’s age rose. “As Temina’s friend, I ask: Temina, are you sure? This seems very sudden. I mean, you’ve only been seeing Yevon for a few months. I care about you, Temina, and I wouldn’t want to see you rush into this without thinking.”

Temina smiled at her friend. “I’m sure, Shobi. We’ve been talking about it for several weeks, now, and when the wizard arrived… What better time could there be? I know I want to build my life with Yevon.”

Shobi smiled in relief. “As long as you’ve thought about what you’re doing… I have no objection.” She sat.

A man rose. “As a carpenter, I offer to help build your new home at a reduced price, as a wedding gift.”

He sat, and a woman rose. “As a tailor, I offer to purchase your cloth at a premium price, as a wedding gift.”

One after another, people rose. “As Yevon’s friend, I offer my labor in the construction of your new home.”

“As Temina’s sister, I offer my assistance in caring for any of your future children.”

“As Temina and Yevon’s friend, I offer to bring you a meal in your new home.”

“As Yevon’s aunt, I offer a goose feather mattress for your bed.”

“As Temina’s cousin, I offer you a dozen bottles of beer.”

The gifts of goods and services continued for a while. After everyone seemed to have finished, Master Galia stood again. “Yevon, Temina, speak your vows to each other.”

Eyes shining, Yevon turned to Temina. “Temina, I take you as my wife, and I promise to love, honor, and provide for you always.”

Temina had eyes for no one else in the hall. “Yevon, I take you as my husband, and I promise to love, honor, and provide for you always.”

They turned, hand in hand, back to Master Galia. “As village elder, I speak for us all. We accept and confirm your marriage, and offer everything in our power to support you and your new family. The Mother’s blessing on you both.”

Temina turned shyly to where Elkan sat beside Josiah. “We ask that Wizard Elkan pronounce the Mother’s blessing on our marriage.”

Elkan nodded and rose. The couple came to stand before him. He put his hand on Sar’s back, and extended the other towards the pair. “In the Mother’s name, may her blessing be on you both, and may her love surround you all your days.”

Temina and Yevon bowed their heads for a long moment. Then, meeting the smiles from all around the circle that welcomed them, they resumed their seats.

Many of the women and not a few of the men brushed tears from their eyes. Josiah thought that was silly. It was only a wedding, after all. But he was happy for Temina and Yevon. And the ceremony had been a lot more interesting than he’d expected. Maybe Restdays would be easier to endure than he’d thought, if this was typical.

Other couples who’d been married in the past year asked Elkan for the Mother’s blessing. When those tapered off, a number of parents with young babies, Meira among them, requested blessings. Finally, when Josiah was getting hungry and restless, everyone seemed to be finished with what they wanted to say and the gathering fell quiet. Elkan closed the service with the formal words of dismissal.

Master Galia had invited Meira and several other people to join them for the midday meal. The food was the sort of fresh, simple dishes that were little work to prepare, so the cook could enjoy the day of rest along with everyone else. Josiah ate hungrily and listened to the adults’ conversation. The most interesting part was when Master Galia recounted the village’s experiences with the bandits, but it was mostly what Josiah had already heard about from Ledah. Later, the discussion turned to the weather, a subject adults always seemed to find endlessly fascinating. Josiah didn’t see the point. There was nothing you could do to make it better or worse, so why bother talking about it?

He eyed a bowl of fruit, wanting a piece but too full to enjoy it. A clamor of voices arose outside. Galia went to answer the knock on the door.

Ledah stood there, surrounded by her friends. “Can Josiah come join us now, Master Galia? He said he’d go up to the waterfall with us.”

Josiah scrambled to his feet. Galia laughed. “I’d say he’s ready. Here, Josiah, take a few, and some to share.” She held the fruit bowl out to him, and he grabbed several and stuck them in his pockets. The other apprentices took fruit also, with thanks, as Galia offered it to them. The whole group set off down the main village street, Josiah in their midst.

As they passed the last of the buildings and the road dwindled to a narrow path, Josiah looked around in embarrassment. “I’m afraid I didn’t catch everyone’s names the other night at the party; it was all so loud and confused. Except of course I know you’re Ledah.”

Ledah made the introductions. “This is Abra.” She indicated an older girl with dark curly hair. “That’s Keren and Noam, they’re brother and sister.” Josiah could see the family resemblance. Noam was a few years older than Josiah, Keren a bit younger, both fair and heavyset. “This is Yan, he won’t be apprenticed until Springtide, but we let him go around with us anyway.” Yan was slight of build, hanging back among the older apprentices. “And this is Edria.” A girl about Josiah’s age smiled shyly at him from under long lashes, her dark hair wrapped in a braid around her head. “That’s all of us, except Haya’s mother wanted her to stay and help with the littles, and Dov didn’t want to come if Haya wasn’t.”

Remembering Dov’s cutting comments, Josiah was glad he hadn’t come along.

Abra laughed. “Those two are just waiting until they make journeyman so they can stand up together. Did you see the look on Haya’s face when Temina and Yevon stood up this morning? You’d think she’d want to wait a few years before being saddled with littles of her own. It wasn’t so bad until the twins were born, but now her mother seems to think Haya’s got nothing better to do than help her. She barely has time for her spinning anymore.”

Edria nodded. “And she’s stuck at home for another year, because Dov won’t make journeyman until next spring. Unless she wants to move out on her own, but I don’t see her doing that, do you?”

“Haya?” Ledah laughed scornfully. “Not her. She may complain, but really she adores the babies. I bet it won’t be ten months after she and Dov stand up before she has one.”

The other girls nodded in agreement. Noam rolled his eyes at Josiah. “Girls and their gossip,” he muttered under his breath.