The Apprentice is a fantasy novel I started back in April of 2002, my second semester of college. It has gone through several transformations to get to the point it is now and is still going through edits before I try selling it to a more particular audience (agents and publishers).
Marcus was the first character to ever really try "talking" to me in order to get his story heard. I had never had the experience before and was intrigued that I might actually have something worth sharing.
Geoff came in after I had Marcus pretty well figured out. He was a little harder to understand and took a lot more time to clearly portray in the work. His character changes the most I think, but maybe I'll leave that up to you, the reader, to decide.
Below is the first chapter of this work in progress. I hope you like it as much as I did writing it.
Synopsis- Having transported himself and Astra, his best friend and lover, to the other world, sixteen-year-old Marcus sends her away from him in order to keep her safe. Now alone in this strange country that he only remembers in dreams and nightmares, with a magickal power he does not fully understand or control, Marcus fights to keep one step ahead of Max,the man who has kept him prisoner for the last three years, and Geoff, the man asking for one thing Marcus is not sure he can ever give again- complete loyalty.
Geoff is a 21 year old newly appointed Tidsear Mage-one of the highest levels of Mage. He is also the head of the rebel forces in Elocin. Marcus' power calls to him unlike anything he has ever felt except for one person years ago. Against the wishes of the counsel of Mages (a group of twelve elders who are the government of the rebels until the King is returned to the throne), Geoff decides to take Marcus as his apprentice- asking only for his trust. Marcus fights him off at every turn, unable to see the difference between apprentice and slave. But the more time Geoff spends with him, the more he is certain without his help Marcus will never acheive what he wants most- freedom to live his own life.
With obstacles at every turn and a discovery that will change everything they both believe, Marcus and Geoff must learn to accept the bond they share before the counsel of Mages or Max himself decide to interfere.
The Apprentice-
From Chapter 1
Creak!
Geoff bolted straight up at the sounds of his cell door opening. Too late, he threw up a barrier as hands dragged him from the narrow wooden slate the guards called a cot. The year spent in this hellhole had dulled his senses. In a matter of moments, the intruder had his face pressed against the slime-covered stones of his cell. Geoff continued to struggle, his left arm losing feeling as the man tightened his grip. The man leaned against him, pushing him farther into the wall.
“Boy, stop fighting me or you’re going to lose your arm.”
Geoff froze. Only one person called him boy anymore. Breathing deeply, he relaxed his body. Sending out a thin line of magick, he allowed his other senses to take over identifying anyone else who might have come with his father while his eyes adjusted to the dim torch light coming from the hallway.
“You can let me go, you know.” Geoff muttered into the stones, “I’m not much of threat.”
“Yes, I know.” Daniel released him, “And I’m wondering why.”
Geoff turned around. He met Daniel’s blue-green eyes for a moment before dropping his gaze. Before his father could comment, a shadow filled the doorway. Geoff stiffened immediately. Daniel snorted. “Ryoul, he’s awake. You can come in.”
Ryoul, second-in-command of the rebel forces, stuck his head inside. He shook his head when he saw Geoff’s face. “Daniel, those fools upstairs heard the struggle. I can hear footsteps coming down.”
Daniel nodded. He pushed Geoff’s shoulder and propelled him forward. “Let’s go, boy.”
Muttering a curse, Geoff caught his balance and stepped into the deserted hall. He looked around, noticing the silence from the other cells as another torch moved towards them. This time, he recognized the footsteps. His Uncle Misha came around the corner. A frown grew on Misha’s face when he took a good look at his nephew. Geoff shifted his bare feet against the stones. He knew the rags he wore stuck on him like a second skin and the bruises from earlier were starting to show, but what did his uncle expect- he was in one of Max’s jails after all.
“Daniel, I told you I should have gone in first,” Misha frowned at his brother.
“Later,” Daniel growled. “Open up that hole so we can get out of here.”
Sighing, Misha held out his hand and a spark ignited on his fingertips. The wall next to Geoff folded into itself, creating a large enough space for even Ryoul to fit through.
“What did you do to him this time, Daniel?” Misha asked.
“This wasn’t entirely his fault, Uncle Misha.” Geoff muttered as he followed Ryoul through the opening. “Though Daniel certainly didn’t help things.”
“You still haven’t answered my question, boy.” Daniel growled behind him.
Geoff bit his tongue. Behind him, Misha entered the new hallway. Geoff turned back as the wind from the closing stones shifted the stale air around them. He watched Misha stumble as he stepped forward. Misha quickly regained his footing and caught Geoff’s concern. He waved forward, “I’ll be fine.”
Daniel nudged him. Taking the hint, Geoff followed Ryoul down the crumbling path. The torchlight reflected from the water dripping from the cracks above them and revealed moss covered stones and bugs of every kind. Despite the questions bouncing around in his head, Geoff kept silent. He could hear footsteps on the other side of the stone and knew the guards would be able to hear anything he said.
Relax, son. We’re almost out of here. Nothing to worry about.
That’s what got me in here.
Ryoul turned a corner, ducking under a low beam. Geoff started to follow and slipped on the dark moss. He fell face first towards a gapping hole; the putrid smell kicking up his gag reflex. Daniel grabbed him before he could tip in. Light fell on the scene, making his stomach heave.
Another six feet below where Geoff hung were about twelve spikes. Between them lay mangled bones and on the spikes were two freshly dropped corpses. Two yellow-greenish bruised, tortured, children’s corpses.
When he stopped vomiting, Daniel hauled Geoff back onto the path with Ryoul’s help. Leaning him against the stones, Daniel muttered, “For the leader of one of the fiercest fighting forces the rebels have, you have the….”
“Don’t start,” Geoff grumbled wiping at the trails of spit.
“He’s right, Daniel.” Misha cut in as Daniel opened his mouth again. “We have more important things to discuss.”
Daniel frowned at both of them, but conceded. He pulled Geoff away from the wall and pushed him towards Ryoul. Geoff stopped and turned around to face him. “What is so important that you have me wandering around this hole in the dead of night?”
“For one, you’re not just wandering around.” Daniel growled, “We’re getting you out of here and if you keep moving, we might be able to make it before dawn and the guard change.”
“And two?” he retorted.
“Start walking and we’ll explain. Continue to stand here and the guards will be looking for your body.” Daniel’s eyes flared ice blue.
“A threat?” Geoff snorted. “You’ll never carry it out and we both know it.”
“I carried out one, what makes you think I won’t carry out this one?” His father bit back.
“Enough!” Misha snapped, “Unless you two want to join those corpses down there, deal with your personal problems after we’re out of here.”
Geoff glared at Daniel for a few more minutes before dropping his eyes and turning around. He heard his father mutter something behind him, but focused on his footing. They passed through another magick-created hole and paused as Daniel closed it.
The steep, moss covered, steps kept everyone’s attention as the path took them down towards the sewer system below the main hall of the prison. Geoff wrinkled his nose at the smell. He could feel Daniel watching him, but thankfully, his stomach didn’t react. Nothing could compete to the hell he’d lived in for the last year or that pit.
The farther down they traveled, the easier Geoff breathed. Maybe Daniel was right. By going this way, the guards would never find them. Maybe they’d escape and he’d be able to relax. When the noise of the water flowed around them and the rats chattering grew louder, he tried his question again. “What’s so important you’re breaking me out in the middle of the night?”
“Max’s little saor-làithean has given us a chance to gain back some power.” Daniel answered, “Once we freed him- and Max did not return- we took the chance to free you as well.”
Geoff’s eyes narrowed. So much for being able to relax. “Don’t you think that’ll be the first place he’ll go on his return? And then I’ll be next.”
“Why do you think we did it this way?” Misha countered, “With Gregory secure and with you out of his reach, we might just have a chance of breaking a little of his hold.”
“If you had done what my father suggested a year ago, you wouldn’t have lost the hold we had,” Geoff growled back. He ignored the angry look Ryoul casted and the one he could feel pointed at his back as he felt Daniel stiffen behind him.
“Hard to carry out the plan when the man sent to start the ball rolling got himself caught in the first place.” Ryoul snapped.
They reached another opening. Ryoul turned around to glare at him. Daniel reached around Geoff and placed a hand on Ryoul’s shoulder. Quietly, he asked, “Which way?”
Ryoul continued to glare at Geoff as he tilted his head to the left. “That way.”
Surprised by Daniel’s reaction, Geoff missed whatever the man said next as he fell into step behind Ryoul again. Their surroundings and the conversation faded to the background as Geoff thought of all the other things Daniel had done since he’d come to his senses and joined the rebels.
A cough brought Geoff’s attention back to his surroundings. Just in time to keep him from running into Ryoul’s back. They had reached the outer staircase of the sewers. Geoff saw the dim light coming from the cracks in the doorway. Night still held the world in its grasp.
“The counsel wants to know why she left the boy on his own, but as she is now in Ailora’s custody they can’t ask. They want you to tail him, gain information about him and where he has come from. But under no circumstances are you to engage him unless absolutely necessary. They want to know whose side he’s on before he learns anything about us.”
Geoff snorted. Daniel placed a hand on his shoulder and forcibly turned him around. Geoff froze under the piercing glare- a glare he hadn’t seen in five years. “Don’t break the rules unless you deem it wiser to do so, Geoffrey Nathaniel. You may be a Tidsear mage now, but it is the council that controls who keeps an apprentice and who doesn’t.”
“I’m not stupid,” Geoff shook Daniel off. “However, as the highest Tidsear mage- it’s my decision whom I choose to make contact with and when- not theirs.”
“Boy,” Daniel growled.
He stepped closer as running footsteps echoed along the ceiling and torch light flooded the steps before them. Daniel grabbed the remains of Geoff’s shirt and pulled him back into the darkness of the sewer tunnels. Misha and Ryoul followed them, their torches thrown into the water- casting their trail into complete darkness.
“So much for getting out unnoticed,” Misha muttered.
Geoff’s fingers circled, hardening into fists as voices echoed around them.
I told you to relax.
Hard to relax when you’re being hunted like an animal.
Max isn’t here, Geoffrey. We’ll get you out of here before he does show up. I promise you.
Promises, Daniel? A little late to be keeping those, isn’t it?
Daniel didn’t answer as the door to the outside slammed shut and orbs of floating light drifted past their hiding place. Geoff watched as Ryoul and Misha reached slowly for their swords as the guards began to spread out along the passageways. Daniel pressed him farther back down the hall, the other two following- their swords out and at the ready.
As they moved, Ryoul glanced back at Geoff. “He’s gonna need a weapon.”
Daniel nodded. From the corner of his eye, Geoff watched Daniel pull his sword from its sheath. Geoff blinked in surprise, doubting his sight due to the poor lighting. That wasn’t the sword he expected.
“He knows how to get it,” Daniel answered. He glanced at Geoff and smirked, “He’s very adept at retrieving the sword after it’s been taken from him.”
Light and shadows began to move closer to their hiding place.
“Get it,” Misha hissed. “Now.”
Geoff’s face darkened with heat as he held out his right hand, muttering the summoning spell under his breath. Several surprised shouts filled the air down the passageway as the sword came into view. Ryoul leaned backwards as the sword cut sharply around the corner and flew into Geoff’s waiting hand. He caught the glare and shrugged.
“Sorry, I’m a bit rusty with the magick.”
Ryoul snorted. “Let’s hope your fighting isn’t as bad.”
