The Sorcerer's New Apprentice

[Maddison]

"But...but....yes Sir Gale," Aelin stammered as finding out the answers to her questions seemed to be the most important thing at the moment, but also recognizing that this man was now both her master and her guardian and that she was supposed to obey him. Her ears perked up quickly when he mentioned food. "Food would be very good," she agreed right away. She held still as the guards removed her shackles and followed Sir Gale as he led her out of the courtroom.


"Lucky you found me? You put me in jail! And if I didn't know I was a sorceress then how would anyone else that wasn't a sorcerer know I that was one," she challenged as it was still hard to process everything that had happened to her in the last two days. Aelin followed quietly after her outburst, but she shuddered when the knight stopped before the mithril golem. That thing gave her the creeps everytime she looked at it. She wasn't very excited to see that they were heading toward a temple, but she supposed it made sense for a knight of the gold order and really as long as there was good food it couldn't be that bad inside.

[Hrtofdrkns]

"There are spells a cleric could cast to detect the magic within you." Gale informed her. "And mind your tone. You are part of a holy order now and represent all of us in public."

The temple of Corean was much more well-lit that the jail, and it had paintings on the walls of knights and clerics slaying monsters or rescuing civilians. Some of the knights had names written over them, along with dates.

Gale led Aelin past several men in armor, who gave her a quick look before deciding she must be a new recruit, then into a large room with about ten rows of tables and a large fire burning in the hearth. "I hope you like mutton stew." He said, looking slightly embarrassed. "I mean...if you eat meat. I know some elves don't..."

[Maddison]

Aelin had no rebuttal when Gale told her that a cleric would be able to detect the magic within her. She realized she was woefully unaware of anything that had to do with magic and that she suddenly had a whole lot she needed to learn. She grimaced as the knight scolded her for her tone, but even more so when he informed her that she was part of a holy order now. She didn't think much of titans or gods, none of them had ever done anything for her as far as she was concerned. She could also plainly see the damage their wars had caused to the scarred lands around her, and she was not excited to be seen as serving any of them.


Her thoughts were soon distracted though as they entered the Corean temple. Everywhere she looked there were beautiful paintings that depicted epic battles and fearsome monsters being defeated. That was something at least Aelin could support, though she couldn't picture herself doing such things. She took a long look at Sir Gale as they walked, and she had to admit he looked like he might be capable of at least attempting to do such things, and that learning from him couldn't be all that bad.


Aelin almost rolled her eyes as they walked past several men in armor who couldn't resist looking her over. She couldn't remember the last time she saw so many men in armor in one day, and she suddenly wondered if she would be the only girl in this temple, or the only non human for that matter. Aelin was surprised when Sir Gale seemed to be embarrassed to offer her mutton stew. "Ah well lucky for you I'm only half elf, and I haven't had the luxury of being picky about my meals." Aelin quickly looked down and then took a seat near the hearth, as she realized that she had probably crossed the line a little with her quick tongue. "I mean thank you," she said genuinely and as an apology in her own way. She took the stew when it was offered to her, and ate it hungrily.

[Hrtofdrkns]

Gale got a bowl of his own and sat across from her. He noted her manners could use some work. Still, that would be the least of her problems soon. It would take a lot of work to control and grow her powers. And that would require strict discipline.

"I hope you don't mind my asking, but what happened to your parents?" He said as she finished. "It's alright if you don't wish to speak of it..."

[Maddison]

There was a flash of sadness and then of anger in Aelin's eyes as Gale asked her about her parents. "I never knew my father, he was gone before I was born. He was an elf, and that is the only thing I know about him. I suspect that he didn't know I existed but my mother died before I was old enough to figure that out, so I never got to ask her." Aelin looked sadder for a few moments before she continued quietly. "I was seven and we were just outside of the city. We were gathering berries and nuts, when it appeared. I dont know what it was but it was awful, my mother told me to run so I did. She ran a different direction to lead it away from me. I could hear her screams and I never saw her again." Aelin wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, and finished the rest of her stew without looking up or saying another word.

[Hrtofdrkns]

Gale reached out and put a hand to her cheek. "I'm sorry. But now you see how important it is that there are people like us to protect the helpless." He paused. "I lost my parents to the monsters of the blood sea when I was young too. Then I was taken on as an apprentice in the iron order for a time, before certain events told the church my calling was in the gold order." He looked away. "Anyway, after you're finished I'll show you to the apprentice's barracks and get you a bath and some new clothes."

[Maddison]

Out of instinct Aelin recoiled when she felt Gale's hand reach out and softly touch her cheek. She could not remember the last time she had been touched in a tender way, probably not since her mother had died, and she had not expected such a gesture from this knight. Aelin looked up her golden eyes shimmering with the tears she was holding in, and slowly allowed herself to sink back into the position she was in before and bring her cheek back to rest against the knight's hand. Although she couldn't and wouldn't express it there was a warmth in that hand, and in that touch, that Aelin craved and desperately needed.


Aelin watched her new guardian's hand as he slowly pulled it back. She nodded in understanding as he told her that his parents had been killed by monsters as well. "I'm sorry," she whispered back in acknowledgement not trusting herself to speak in more than a whisper without breaking down herself. She nodded again appreciatively this time as Gale told her that he would take her to the barracks and get her some new clothes and a bath when she had finished. That news brought a little bit of a smile to her face. Aelin couldn't remember the last time she had a proper bath and not just a dip in a river, and gods she knew she needed it. She looked down at her clothes and knew that they were little better than rags, so that would be a welcome change as well. She took a few deep breathes to compose herself before speaking. "Thank you Sir Gale," she said simply but genuinely. She had not expected such kindness from the man in all honesty and she allowed herself to think maybe the next four years won't be so bad after all.


Aelin got another small helping of the stew, and sipped it until her tummy was fuller than she could remember it being in a long time. "I am ready Sir Gale," she announced as she wiped her mouth and finished her meal.

[Hrtofdrkns]

Gale smiled a little as he accepted his offer of affection. Aelin seemed like she would be easier than some of the other new apprentices. Sorcerers had a reputation for being hot-headed, and it was not entirely undeserved. Which was why the church of Corean recommended strict training and discipline. An untrained sorcerer was as much a danger to themselves as to others.

"Now then, there are some rules we have to go over." Gale told her. "One, I am responsible for you now. That means when I tell you to do something I expect you to do it. Two, you are also to obey the other full knights of the order unless what they tell you contradicts what I've told you. Unless they are higher ranking than myself. Three, while you are not a prisoner, being a knight of the gold order requires commitment. You are expected to inform me when you go out and when you expect to be back. Not only is it the policy of our order, but if you run off without telling me that would mean you are breaking the conditions of your release from jail and will be sent back. Understand?"

[Maddison]

Aelin groaned as the knight told her that they had some rules to go over before she got her promised bath and to see her new barracks. She nodded though as he said that he was responsible for her, she understood that much since the court had released her to him specifically. She wrinkled her face when the knight added that he expected her to follow all the orders he gave her. She kept her mouth shut, but Aelin had been on her own the last seven years and was not accustomed to taking orders anymore. If there had been an advantage to being on her own, it had definitely been that she didn't have to listen to anyone else. She couldn't keep her mouth shut any further though when she heard the next rule. "Are you kidding me, I have to listen to all of these people? I don't even know them and how am I supposed to know who outranks who?," she demanded.


Aelin didn't like the next rule she heard anymore than the last but she had at least expected it. She knew she was basically still under arrest for the next four years and that she wouldn't be able to go when and where she pleased anymore. Honestly she was surprised that the knight was saying there was a chance she could go places on her own. Of course his next statement was that she would be sent back to jail if she tried to run off on her own, but that assumed they caught her again. Aelin didn't have any plans of trying to escape anytime soon, but it was definitely an option she wasn't completely ruling out once she learned more about magic in general and how to control her own. Right now that was too big of an opportunity for the girl to pass up. The more Aelin thought about it the more the idea of all these rules she suddenly had to live by started to bother her. She knew it was better than jail, especially if she could learn magic but it still chafed at her. "Understood master," Aelin answered huffily before giving Sir Gale a quick mock curtsy after he made a point of asking her if she understood his rules. "You gave me the impression that I was to have a bath now good Sir and I would much rather talk about that. It is one thing I have truly missed these last few years."

[Hrtofdrkns]

Gale decided to let that slide for now, but her attitude would need to be addressed sooner or later. "Watch the attitude." He cautioned her. "I wasn't joking when I said we were quite strict. You're not to big for me to take you over my knee." He motioned her to follow him to the hallway.


They quickly went to another room that had several large tubs in it, along with large pots of water, some heating over fires. There was also soap next to each tub.