Geoff has been released from prison with the help of his father, Uncle Misha and his father's best friend. He is on the trail of a young mage whose power is so strong it is calling out to everyone with any magickal power. He has orders to watch this young man and determine whose side (rebel or traitor king) he is on before offering his help. Geoff follows these orders until he actually sees Marcus in action. Something in him demands Geoff help the boy... going against the rules and common sense.
But what of Marcus? Does he really want to be bound to someone only a few years older than himself? Or is there another reason he is on the run?
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The Apprentice-
From Chapter 2
As the trees rippled in the wind, Marcus stood beneath their shade and shivered. His eyes flickered over the valley below him. The worn path leading to Smytheton stood abandoned by the travelers and merchants he had watched over the last several days. Covered by the thick overgrowth of the forest around him, Marcus had gathered information about the world they had been thrust into. The more he had heard, the more his head had swum with images that would quickly dissolve into white vapor around his inner mind when he tried to hold on to them.
Marcus knew he needed to remove the vapor or continue being stuck with the past Max had created for him three years ago. After Max’s first attempt to have Astra killed for trying to help, Marcus refused her assistance. He would not lose the only person who knew what lay behind the vapor. He needed her after he could finally throw off Max’s bond. That was the reason he had somehow transported them to this world when Max had tried to kill her for the third time and why he had sent her away from him the moment he realized they were being followed.
Marcus tuned his focus back on his surroundings. Mr. Kent and his son, Harry, had shown him how to feel out the area as well as some other basic skills he would need to survive out in this wilderness. All three of them had been surprised at how quickly he had mastered the techniques. Astra had not said a word, but then she had not been all that surprised either.
Catching something in the corner of his eye, Marcus faded back into the darkness of the plants around him. He felt the thunder of horses through his feet and silently cursed when he realized the shoes Harry had given him remained with Lady Otis’ bag in the opening to the valley. The two horses moved faster than he could. He had just shaken off the last pair of eyes; he did not need or want any more. Wishing he had more time or that the two men would pass by without noticing, Marcus crouched behind a tree trunk- angling himself so that he could see the path before him, but could remain hidden in the darker shadows of the morning.
Two men rode forward across the valley. They seemed to be looking for someone or something as they moved. Marcus watched them intently- studying their movements and their concentration. As they moved closer, Marcus’ eyes fixed on the younger of the two. He was around the same age, but the differences between them struck a cord deep inside Marcus. He pushed the thought aside as he heard their conversation.
“Are you sure you felt something here, Darian?” The younger man asked, “Why would Geoff go this far out of his way if he wanted to see Ailora in Kingsford?”
“Jas, I know Geoff’s outline.” Darian muttered, “He’s out here somewhere, and I plan on finding out why as soon as we find him. It’s possible that he got sidetracked looking for that boy.”
The two men stopped a few feet from the bag and Harry’s shoes. Jas climbed down from his horse to stare at the supplies. As he kneeled down to examine them, more thunder rolled beneath their feet. Marcus slowly glanced back down the part of the path cutting through the forest and groaned softly. He had not gotten rid of the eyes as he had hoped. The man had found him again.
Marcus leaned back into the darkness farther when the new rider halted inches from his hiding place. The man glanced down at the shadows, a smile playing about his lips as he shook his head. He stepped down off his horse and holding the strings attached to the horses mouth, led the beast towards the two men at the opening.
Marcus watched as the three men reunited. His eyes pulled back to the youngest of the group. The fear and caution that surrounded Marcus daily did not seem to touch Jas at all. Watching him, Marcus got the impression that Jas was a welcome participant in the discussion and had been for quite some time. Regret flashed through him- there had not been a time he could remember where he had been as welcome as Jas seemed to be. He doubted there would ever be.
“The bag and shoes belong to my apprentice, Jason. I sent him on an errand for me. He should be back shortly.”
The new man’s words penetrated Marcus’ thoughts and Marcus narrowed his eyes at the man’s back as he listened.
“Apprentice?” Jason asked. “When’d you have time to get an apprentice, Geoff?”
The one named Darian frowned at him, “Jason, when do you think he had time?”
Jason’s eyes grew wider as Darian turned to Geoff.
“They aren’t going to like you ignoring their orders so soon after you’ve been released you know.”
Geoff nodded. “I’m aware of that. However, I had no choice.”
Everyone has a choice, Marcus thought darkly.
He was tempted to rush out there, grab his things, and make a run for it. Unfortunately, all three of them had horses and from the auras around them, Marcus guessed they were probably more comfortable with their skills than he was with his. He would never have a chance.
Everyone might have a choice, but the consequences from those other choices are not things I wish to deal with.
Marcus blinked. Had he just heard Geoff’s voice in his mind? Marcus shook his head. That was impossible. Max had said no one could use the technique of mind communication unless Marcus let the person in. Something Marcus had never allowed Max to do. He had not allowed this man in either, so Marcus had to be imagining things. Didn’t he?
The word apprentice surfaced again. Marcus narrowed his eyes when he realized they were talking about him. He was no one’s apprentice and would never be again. Had he not just gotten out of the last one by sheer luck? Besides, why would this man claim to be his teacher if they had never met? Marcus owed Geoff nothing. The man might have interfered on his behalf a few times while Marcus slipped away, but that did not mean Geoff had the right to enslave him.
It’s not enslavement and if you had stuck around long enough, I’d be able to explain my plan.
Marcus ignored the voice in his head. If he did not acknowledge the message, Geoff would have no way of knowing whether he actually got it. Instead, he slipped closer to the opening of where they stood. He would have to make some sort of distraction and the moment the three went to investigate, he could grab his gear and disappear.
Before he could think of anything good, Geoff tugged on his horse’s reigns and started walking farther along the path. Jason and Darian followed him, their discussion still going. When Marcus judged them far enough away, he darted out from the trees and grabbed his stuff. He made it back to the shadows before any of them thought to turn around.
Back in the shadows, Marcus paused to slip the shoes back on. If he was going to be crawling through this area, he would need the stiff leather to protect the already scarred soles of his feet. In front of him, Darian and Jason continued forward along the path dropping out of sight as the land dipped downwards. Geoff remained in the center of the clearing.
As Marcus watched, Geoff dropped the horse’s reigns and turned back around. The man’s head stopped moving when he had turned to the left side of the path. Marcus had the strangest feeling Geoff knew exactly where he was and was staring straight at him.
Before he could stop himself, Marcus moved back out into the valley. Staying close to the tree line, he growled, “I am an apprentice to no one.”
“Do you want to stay on the run for the rest of your life?” Geoff’s hands spread out in front of him.
Marcus paused. Geoff had a point. However, that did not mean that he had to accept turning into someone’s puppet just because he would not have to run anymore.
“What makes you think I’m running?”
“You wouldn’t have tried to hide if you were free to be here,” Geoff pointed out. “The news you are my apprentice will stop the search parties.”
“How?” Marcus asked. Suspicion crowded his thoughts. Why was Geoff following him in the first place?
“I’m not a force the people want to go against. You’ll be safe as long as people think you’re with me.” Geoff stepped closer to him.
“There are some people who know the truth though," Marcus muttered.
“How do you think I found out about you?” Geoff's eyebrows lifted slightly.
Marcus shrugged. Obviously, Mr. Kent and Lady Otis trusted this man if they told him where Marcus was headed. However, normal people did not take on an apprentice to keep him from other hunters. Something greater was going on here than Marcus suspected Mr. Kent or Lady Otis understood. And even though Geoff had helped him out of the few problems he had gotten into so far, that did not mean the man did not have another reason for doing so. Max had done the same thing when Marcus had first met him and Max’s reasoning had been enslavement.
He tilted his head slightly, “If I accepted, what would I have to do?”
“What do you mean?”
"Would there be any “special” tasks I would have to perform?” Marcus waved his hand in front of him. “Are there any repercussions I should expect if I do not follow everything you tell me?” Am I going to be your slave?
The last Marcus thought to himself. Yet, he heard Geoff’s denial a second or so before the man said it aloud. Why could they do that?
“No, there are no “special” tasks you will have to perform,” Geoff shook his head. “I only give orders that will ensure your safety. You will know the difference between my suggestions and my orders. If you do stray, the punishment will depend on the situation. I do not intend for you to be my slave, nor do I want you to fear me. For this to work, we will have to respect each other. This is the only way you will truly learn anything.”
“But you know nothing about me,” Marcus pointed out, “why take me on as your apprentice?”
In answer, Geoff raised his right hand. Marcus’ moved on it’s own in response. Silver light erupted between them. When he could see again, Marcus blinked in surprise. Max had done the same thing to him before, but never had the spell erupted in silver.
“We can detect our own.”
It took another moment for Marcus to realize Geoff was answering his question, “Our own?”
“Mages, people with the special power of magick. You are one such person. You have the basic skills that prevent your magick from killing you and for protecting yourself against others. Since the moment you arrived, your power has called out to all Tidsear mages. It is why I have been following you. ”
“WHAT?” Marcus shook his head. That just didn’t make any sense, “Why?”
“Your power is the strongest we have ever seen here.” Geoff frowned. “No one is quite as strong, at least any that are alive now. I am one of the few who can match you. I have also had the strongest sense of you.”
“Strongest sense of me?” What the hell was Geoff talking about?
“Your power pulls at my own. If you so choose, I will be your guide in learning the extent of your magick.”
Marcus stared at him. Max had said the same exact words three years ago. He had been in a living nightmare since. He had enough of people trying to guide him to learn the extent of his skills, power, or whatever the hell they wanted to call it. Since he had not killed himself or anyone else yet, why did they not just leave him the fuck alone? Marcus backed up towards the tree line.
“And if I don’t so choose?”
“I will continue to follow you.”
Marcus stopped moving, suspicion and fear lacing through him. “Why?”
“Because there is a man who will stop at nothing to gain control of your unharnessed power and I refuse to allow him that chance.”
Max’s words echoed again from Geoff’s mouth. Marcus stepped backwards into the plants.
“You’ll have to find me in order to follow me.”
He watched Geoff walking towards him. Quickly, Marcus grabbed the bag Lady Otis had given him. Tying it around his shoulders, Marcus jumped into the air. He grabbed onto the closest branch and pulled himself upwards. Once he had gained balance on the tree’s limb, Marcus glanced over his left shoulder to see how close Geoff had moved. He had not made it to the tree line yet. Marcus edged to the end of the branch and jumped into the next tree. When he landed safely, Marcus smiled. Maybe the training he had gained with the South Kings really would be useful here. He moved into three more trees before looking back one more time. Geoff stood just outside of the tree line, a frown growing on his face. Marcus shook the image from his sight as he turned to the next tree. He was not going to let this one capture him as easily as Max had.
No one would ever capture him so easily again.
Renee 2002
