The Ogre Apprentice (11 page)

I see
, Artemis said.
Begazzi succeeded and lived on. So the world did not end with the Dark Prophet’s destruction after all
.

Justan didn’t know what he meant, but he filed that information away.
No, the world did not end. Otherwise how would I have been born
?

Ahh, that’s right. You are my great grandson
, Artemis said, his long limbs gradually shrinking and becoming more human.
So much is returning to me now
.

Hold on to that
, Justan said.
Hold on to the fact that your Begazzi is alive. She has accepted a place on the High Council of the
Mage
School
. She is the new Council Historian. Her bonded, Kyrkon and Bill are with her
.

Artemis smiled.
Why those vagabonds! What of Cliff
?

It took Justan a moment to understand what he was referring to.
Oh! Cliff, the gnome warrior
. Of course. It made sense that he was one of Sarine’s bonded as well.
I’m afraid that he died while infiltrating the Dark Prophet’s palace
.

Such a pity
, Artemis said. He looked like a regular man now, other than the long black nails on the ends of his fingers.
He was a good fellow. A strong card player
.
He often defeated me while playing Elements
.

Sarine has a new gnome bonded now
. Justan said, eager to keep him talking.
A female named Maryanne
.

Good
, said Artemis. The blockage in the bond had opened up until it was but a few strands of magic. Justan and his great grandfather stood only a short distance from each other.
Do you know . . . has she moved on
?

Moved on
? Justan asked,

Has she found another? Remarried
? The old wizard sighed.
What am I saying? It’s been two hundred years. Of course she has. I would be furious with her otherwise
.

Well, according to Fist, she was alone except for her bonded
. Justan thought hard. There had been something else she’d said.
Oh yes, she called you her first husband, so I suppose that means she did remarry at some point
.

Then she mentioned me
? Artemis asked, his voice eager.

She did. She said she missed you
. Justan found the particular memory of her saying that and sent it through to the wizard.

Ah, Begazzi
, Artemis said again. There were tears in his gray eyes.
I miss her too. Does she know I still remain
?

My mother has not told her yet
. Justan replied.
She is trying to figure out how to explain it
.

The old man smiled.
Begazzi is a wise bird. She will understand. Still
, his smile faded.
I don’t know that I can meet her like this. I won’t be able to keep control. The elemental will return
.

Don’t let it
, Justan urged.
Assert your will. The elemental is just a personification of your own power. It is yours
.

So you said the last time we spoke
, Artemis said. He held up his left hand and Justan saw his nails darken again.
It tries to regain control even now
.

Justan shook his head, refusing to let go of this opportunity. He rushed forward and reached out with his thoughts to grasp his great grandfather’s hand. It was cold to the touch.

Look at this hand. Look at it
! Justan turned the palm towards Artemis’ eyes so that he saw the rune clearly impressed on it.
You are Artemis, so named by the Bowl of Souls. The fact that the rune is still here means that the Bowl still recognizes you. You are a master. A frost wizard. You cannot let your power control you
.

Artemis laughed.
The way you manipulate my feelings, you are indeed from Begazzi’s bloodline
.

I’m a named wizard too
, Justan said.
Even if your presence blocks me from using my magic
.

Staying in control will be a struggle
, Artemis said.
I would call it impossible if your stubborn refusal to believe that fact hadn’t convinced me
.

Stay convinced
, Justan insisted.
I need your help. Your experience and insight will be invaluable to me. On top of that, the Dark Prophet is going to return at some point in the future. You still have a prophecy to fulfill
.

So you believe that prophecy is still active
? Artemis asked.

I do,
Justan said
. John told me so himself
.

He tried to tell me so as well, now that I think about it.
Artemis said, his brow furrowed in thought.
The elemental tried to bite him for his trouble
.

Justan remembered the frost covering the prophet’s finger that day and nodded.
Please tell me you will do it. Stay in control
.

Artemis rubbed at his chin.
If it is going to be possible I will need your help
.

Let me know what to do. I will help you in any way I can
, Justan promised.

Then speak with me for a while longer. Help me hold on to my faculties while I figure out what to do. Just tell me what is going on in the world. There is so little that I have been able to hold onto from inside here while the elemental is in charge
.

Of course
, Justan said and he did so.

Justan stayed with Artemis for a long while, telling him what had gone on in the world during his long absence. Justan showed him memories of his journeys, shared stories of his bonded, tried anything he could think of to keep his great grandfather alert.

Artemus listened, deep in thought, sometimes he made the odd insightful observation, but those comments were few. Mostly the old wizard concentrated on keeping his form and he succeeded, holding the Scralag at bay throughout the night. Eventually, he held up a hand, bidding Justan to stop.

I think I have come to somewhat of an understanding of my situation
, he said.

What is it
? Justan asked.

It seems that I need to make a deal with this power of mine. The elemental has truly become sentient while I have convalesced. It does not want to give up control
.

Alright
, Justan said.
What do I need to do
?

You
? he said.
You have done enough.
Leave me for a while. Let me see what I can do on my own. If you return in a few days to find that I have lost my battle, call for me again. Remind me of my wife and I will try again
.

I will
, Justan promised.

Very good. Now go
, he said, making a shooing motion with his hands.
Your other bonded are calling. Do you not hear them
?

Now that he mentioned it, Justan did hear them.

Justan
! Deathclaw said.
Justan wake up
!

Wake
! Gwyrtha agreed.

Justan opened his eyes to see Deathclaw’s face glaring back at him. The dim light of early morning streamed in through the open tent door behind him.
What is it
?

“Look around, you fool,” the raptoid said.

“Oh!” Justan said, surprised to discover that the entire interior of his tent was coated with a thick layer of frost.

Justan stumbled out of the tent. He trailed a frosty mist behind him despite the cool morning air. He brushed clinging bits of snow from his clothing and glanced around the rest of the camp. It was an orderly group of tents, though they didn’t keep to any particular formation like the strict lines of an academy camp.

The Roo-Tan warriors were in the process of preparing for the day’s journey. It was early enough that most of them were still cooking their breakfast at the various camp fires. The Roo-Tan used a different blend of spices in their cooking and ate a lot more reptile and amphibian than Justan was used to. The smell of many of the meats roasting was foreign to him.

Justan was relieved to see that no one was directing any looks of alarm his way. There were a few curious glances, but they were directed at the raptoid and the rogue horse. Justan couldn’t blame them. His two bonded were a fearsome sight; Deathclaw looking like a dragon in humanoid form, and Gwyrtha with her reptilian head and skin that was a patchwork mix of various animals.

He glanced back at the tent to see how bad it looked from the outside. There was a thin layer of frost, but it was only obvious in a couple patches. Justan decided that this was one area in which the tent’s thick material came in handy. With the tent flap closed, the only real way someone could tell something was off was that the tent was sagging and that could be explained by how bad of a job Justan had done setting it up.

I’ll fix it
, Gwyrtha decided. The rogue horse approached the tent and licked at a patch of frost. Her large tongue stuck to the canvas for a moment and she jerked back.
That is cold
.

“These Roo-Tan will talk if it is discovered,” Deathclaw observed.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about,” Justan replied.

The peoples of Malaroo were notorious for their distrust of elemental magic. In past generations, there had been a prevailing belief that the elements were the realm of the gods. Spirit magic was a gift to mankind, but men who tried to steal the power of elemental magic for themselves were committing sacrilege. Wizards had been hunted down and expelled from the country. Even members of their own people that were born with the talent had been killed or banished.

Things had changed to a certain extent since then. Since taking a vow to protect the Jharro Grove, the Roo-Tan had become a much more tolerant people, but the old traditions still held some power. Elemental magic was seen as distasteful. Wizards were only rarely allowed into the country and were dealt with quite harshly if they tried to enter without announcing themselves.

Knowing this, and especially knowing how dearly her father held the old traditions, Jhonate had downplayed Justan’s talent for elemental magic. She had focused on his being a named warrior and a bonding wizard, two things that her people respected. Still, Justan had seen the way Xedrion eyed the naming rune on the palm of his left hand with distrust. The fact that he was unable to use his elemental magic was likely part of the reason that Xedrion had allowed Justan’s betrothal to Jhonate to continue.

If any of the Roo-Tan soldiers saw his tent-full of frost, Justan’s reputation would take yet another black eye. Especially if a rumor spread that Justan couldn’t control his powers. If Xedrion decided that Justan was a danger to his daughter, things would get very uncomfortable. Justan realized that he wouldn’t be able to handle this issue on his own.

Jhonate, I need your help
, he sent through the Jharro ring on his finger. She was on the far side of the camp and Justan could tell that she was deep in conversation with someone. He hoped that she wasn’t too distracted to hear him. His voice would be faint. The connection to Jhonate provided by the ring was a pale comparison to the bond he shared with his bonded.

What is it
? she asked, her worry flaring through their connection. As it ended up, he had underestimated her concern for his safety. She had been monitoring the ring in case of an attack by the nightbeast.

When Justan told her what the issue was, she responded with an irritated sigh.
Very well. I will be there soon. Keep the tent shut until I arrive. Try not to let anyone see it
.

Alright. Please hurry
, Justan said. Then he addressed Deathclaw. “She’s coming.”

“Why did this happen?” the raptoid asked. He folded his arms. “Were you being reckless again?”

“No,” Justan said. “At least no more than usual.”

Justan opened the flap and reached back inside the tent to fish around for his boots. They were next to his bedroll where he had left them, but they were partially frozen to the interior wall of the tent. When he jerked them free, a two-inch thick sheet of slowly melting frost fell from the ceiling onto his bedroll.

“Ugh, my blankets are going to be soaked after this thaws,” Justan griped.

“This would not have been a problem if you had not insisted on tearing down the barrier to that thing in your chest,” Deathclaw replied.

“That thing is my great grandfather,” Justan admonished him. He repressed a gasp as he put one foot into a distressingly cold boot. “Whatever happens was worth it. I got through to him, Deathclaw. I carried on an actual conversation with Artemis.”

“I know this,” Deathclaw said. “Gwyrtha and I listened to it. Still, there must have been a better way to go about it.”

Justan frowned at him. “Why do you have to do that? Every time something happens, no matter what I do, you stand around and start pointing out flaws.”

Deathclaw cocked his head. “Is this a problem? I report what I see. Do you not wish to know your mistakes? You are our leader. Our lives depend on you correcting those flaws.”

“Well . . .” Justan shoved his other foot into its equally frigid boot. He grimaced. “Of course I want to know if I need to improve, especially if I am endangering your safety. And I value your opinion on other matters, but do you have to be so accusatory in the way that you tell me?”

Deathclaw blinked. “I do not know what you mean.”

“Remember that discussion we had about tact awhile ago?” Justan asked. Deathclaw inclined his head in response. “Well this is what I was talking about. I was already in a bad mood before you started berating me. You need to learn politeness.”

Yes. Be nice
, Gwyrtha agreed.

“Would you prefer I say it like this?” Deathclaw said and tried his impression of a syrupy sweet voice. “Excuse me, Justan, but your foolishness nearly killed us.”

No
, Gwyrtha said, her thoughts tinged with distaste.

“You know what? Forget I said anything,” Justan said, echoing the rogue horse’s feelings. Deathclaw’s voice had sounded like a deflating gurgle. “I’d rather have you gripe at me all day than ever hear you use that voice again.”

“Humans,” Deathclaw said with a snort.

Jhonate is coming
, Gwyrtha said.

Justan looked through the tents and saw Jhonate weaving towards him. She walked with firm purposeful strides. Two of her older brothers, Qurl and Jhexin, trailed behind her. From the expressions on their faces it didn’t look like they were coming of their own free will.

By all rights, Qurl should have been the one taking the lead, since he was the oldest of the three siblings, but the relationship between those three had changed on the trip from the academy to Malaroo. Jhonate’s forceful presence had worn down her two brothers until they found themselves following her lead without knowing it. That wasn’t the only thing that had changed. They had warmed up to Justan as well. Just before he had faced their father, the two of them had even given him permission to address them by name, a big honor among their people.

Jhonate walked straight past Justan to his tent and pulled open the flap. A curl of frosty mist escaped the interior, though the cold didn’t seem as intense as it had when Justan first awoke. A few more chunks of frost had fallen down from the ceiling of the tent since Justan had last looked. Jhonate’s brothers stood next to her gazing inside the tent in bewilderment. Justan glanced around, hoping that their obvious interest wasn’t drawing anyone else’s attention.

“Was it not cold enough for you here, Sir Edge?” asked Qurl, holding back an incredulous laugh as he stepped back from the tent. “Did you really have to bring your horrible Battle Academy winter down here with you?”

“Very funny,” Justan replied. “I wasn’t aware it was happening. It was the Scralag.” He looked to Jhonate. “What should we do about it?”

She frowned and shook her head. “My brothers and I will handle this.”

“And how do you plan on hiding this?” Deathclaw asked.

“You let us worry about that part,” Jhonate replied.

“You are serious?” Jhexin said, scratching his head and looking very put out.

“We will take care of it,” she said, fixing him with a glare. “Edge, I have something else for you to do and it’s best you start right now before the march begins.”

“Okay,” Justan responded. He was a bit irritated that Jhonate had brushed by him without so much as a ‘good morning’, but he was relieved to have the problem taken out of his hands. “What is it?”

Jhonate scanned the camp with her eyes. “He should be coming this way . . . there he is.” She waved to a Roo-Tan warrior that was picking his way towards them through the other tents.

The newcomer was nearly as tall as Justan and carried a short Jharro staff. He had the deeply tanned skin tone of the rest of the Roo, but in some ways he was strikingly different. His eyes were a startling yellow and his hair wasn’t dark brown or black like the other Roo. It was more of a deep auburn. The only other of Jhonate’s people that he had met with that hair color was Alexis bin Hoon, Xedrion’s traitorous fourth wife.

As the man approached, Deathclaw bristled with uncertainty. He didn’t like the arrival of someone unfamiliar. The raptoid slid forward and stepped in front of the man before he came too close to Justan. Deathclaw leaned in and sniffed at the newcomer, causing him to flinch and step away.

This one is a man
, Gwyrtha assured him, and Deathclaw eased up, moving to stand behind Justan. Still, he didn’t take his eyes off of the man.

“This is Beltry, second son of Chersel bin Hoon, third son of Eldrol bin Hoon,” Jhonate said in introduction. “Beltry, this is my betrothed, Sir Edge.”

The man nodded at Justan with an uneasy smile. He was still unnerved by Deathclaw’s inspection and understandably so.

Justan thought through the encyclopedia of Roo-Tan knowledge that Jhonate had forced into his mind during their journey. The Hoon family was one of the middle houses of the Roo-Tan. Eldrol bin Hoon was the leader of that house. If this Beltry was the second son of Eldrol’s third son, he was basically a nobody in the Roo-Tan ranking. 

Jhonate continued on, “I would like for you to spend the day traveling with him.”

“I was hoping to spend some time with you during the march,” Justan complained. What was the importance of sticking him with this man? “I barely saw you at all yesterday.”

In fact, he hadn’t seen her much at all since meeting her father. Xedrion was keeping her close and she had been keeping her distance. From the feelings he had received through the ring, Justan had gotten the impression that she was being particularly vigilant, making sure that nothing about her relationship with Justan could be seen as inappropriate to her father.

“We will have plenty of time to spend together once this is all over,” she said, feeling a bit embarrassed to have this conversation in front of the man. “Until then, you will have to be patient. As will I.”

Justan didn’t like that answer, but he could feel her determination and he knew that he didn’t have much choice in the matter. She gave him a firm stare that reminded him of the year he had spent with her at the Training School. That was back when she had only allowed him to call her Ma’am.

He didn’t like it and let her know as much through the ring as he said,
And why do you wish me to spend the day with the son of Chersel bin Hoon
?

“Beltry is a friend of mine,” she said, her green eyes focused on Justan as she clasped the man’s shoulder. “He is also a Jharro bow wielder and an excellent archer.”

That peaked Justan’s interest. He shook the man’s hand, noting that even though Beltry was carrying a short Jharro staff, he wore two quivers of arrows, one slung over his shoulder and one hanging from the belt at his waist.

“Nice to meet you,” Justan said. “I didn’t know that Jhonate had friends.”

Beltry laughed. It was a pleasant sound and, from the ease in which it came, Justan could tell that he laughed often. “You have a good point, Jhonate’s betrothed. I think it’s because we trained together a lot when we were younger and I let her boss me around.”

“That helps,” Justan agreed, smiling.

Jhonate frowned at the both of them and Beltry cleared his throat. “Well, if we’re going to get any shots in before the march, we should get moving. I’d like to see how much I need to teach you.”

“Teach me?” Justan cocked his head at Jhonate. “I didn’t know I needed an archery tutor.”

“He is not teaching you how to hit your target,” Jhonate said. “He is teaching you how to use your Jharro weapon.”