Table Of ContentContents
Title Page
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Amazon Books
THE UNWILLING APPRENTICE (THE UNWILLING #2)
Copyright © 2014 by Heidi Willard
*****
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CHAPTER 1
A dirty, tired group of three people and a dog-monster descended the hills
from the south of the city of Galaron. It was a large, crowded city of bustling,
narrow streets. Everything was made of white stone that had long ago been
smudged with soot and filth, even the high defensive walls that surrounded the
metropolis. At the rear of the city stood several tall towers that made up the
castle, home to the city's king. There were dozens of guard towers positioned
along the thick, tall walls, but only three large arched entrances at the front and
the sides. The three strangers with their dog-monster approached the front gate
that ran along the main road, and mingled in with the throngs of people and carts
that made their way into the city. At the guardhouse the old man of the group
was stopped by one of the guards. "I don't see any goods on you. What's your
business here?" he rudely asked the aged fellow.
The old man raised his eyes to the guard, and they twinkled with mischief.
"Our business is to cause trouble, and it seems we're making a good start at it
here."
The guard scowled and looked at the others. They waited patiently to the
side of the gate and the cantankus drooled all over the stone floor beneath the
arched gate. The guard cringed back with a scowl of disgust. "We have enough
trouble of our own to want more uninvited troublemakers." He shoved the old
man away from the gate. "Get along now and don't try the other gates. They'll be
warned your coming."
The old man chuckled. "They should have already been warned about my
coming," he countered.
The guard furrowed his brow, and the young woman of the group stepped
forward. "My apologies, my good sir." She shot the old man a glare. "My senile
father means you no harm."
"Do I have that honor now?" the old man countered.
The girl growled, and the guard stepped between them. "That's enough out
of both of you. Leave now or I'll be forced to toss you out into the plains."
"What seems to be the problem here?" a voice spoke up. Everyone turned
to see a captain in a neat uniform step out of the guardhouse.
The guard gestured to the girl and old man. The boy stood off to the side
with his dog. "These two are causing trouble, sir. The old man here says that's
what they've come to cause."
The captain raised an eyebrow, and a smile twitched at the corner of his
lips. "Really? What trouble do you intend to cause?"
The old man stepped forward and bowed to the captain. "A great deal for
King Stephen, and perhaps he's told you something of us. We're expected."
"Are you?" the captain asked. "We'll have to see about that. Come inside,
but the cantankus must stay here." A great crowd had gathered around and
watched the proceedings with interest.
The boy patted the cantankus on the head. "We'll be right back," he
promised the beast, who sat down and licked the young man's face.
The three human companions stepped inside the guardhouse and the
captain led them to a small chamber room. The captain allowed them in and shut
the door behind them all. He took a seat in an old chair and gestured for the
others to do likewise. They declined; they were in a hurry. "Now tell me what
brings you here, strangers."
The old man spoke up first. "We had hoped to enjoy the hospitality of the
people of Galaron and their king, but it seems dark days have fallen on their
manners."
The captain cupped his chin in one hand and gave a nod. "Indeed the skies
grow darker even as we speak, but what of our king? You said you were
expected. Can you show me proof?"
The old man smiled and tapped his staff against the stone floor. The tip of
the staff lit up with a blue-colored flame. "Is that what you were looking for?" he
asked the captain.
The captain's eyes widened slightly, and he straightened up. His eyes fell
on the travelers with a new, more scrutinizing eye. "Then you are Ned and this is
Elsa Lamikan?" he guessed.
Ned nodded. "Indeed, the very same. Can you take us to the king?"
"Immediately, but I must ask who this boy is," the captain countered as he
gestured to the young man. "I wasn't told there would be a third human, nor a
cantankus."
"Plans changed, and we have procured ourselves more allies," Ned replied.
The captain sighed and stood again. "We will have need of as many as we
can find." He bowed his head to the three. "But allow me to introduce myself. I
am Captain Alexander Hawkins, leader of the king's guard."
They bowed likewise to him and Ned stepped forward. "Lead on, Captain
Hawkins, and be quick. The sooner we arrive at the castle the sooner I can get
the smell of that cantankus off me."
Captain Hawkins led them back to the gate, and they paused only long
enough to pick up Fluffy before they went on their way. The city of Galaron was
a winding maze of crooked and dead-end streets. Shops were scattered among
houses and women showed off their wares from upper windows. Fred thought it
an uglier place than Tramadore, and cringed when he heard a wail of sorrow
down an alley. A brown and gray-patched white cat stood on a crate beside an
open door, and its golden eyes watched them pass hurriedly.
Ned noticed his young friend's look of disgust. He sidled up to Fred. "The
captain here is leading us along the slums of the city. Other parts are more
hospitable to tourists and visitors such as ourselves."
Fred shook his head. He wasn't bothered by the scenery. "I saw worse on
the estate," he countered. "I just wasn't expecting to see it in as grand a capital as
this."
Ned pursed his lips together. "Unfortunately, poverty doesn't confine itself
to any one region or city, but shares its misery among many people. Remember
that we guard Pat for the future of these people, and all the others in the city."
Fred didn't reply. He had a feeling the fate of them guarding Pat would lay with
this King Stephen. The royal highness may decide to toss them aside in favor of
knights or other castors.
Captain Hawkins guided them past the main entrance to the castle and to
the left side. A small door lay hidden behind a dense bush, and with a key in his
possession he allowed them inside. They had a little problem in the form of the
big cantankus. Poor Fluffy couldn't hope to fit through the doorway that even
Ned had to duck into.
"Is he obedient enough to stay here?" Captain Hawkins asked them.
The three companions looked at one another, and shrugged in unison. "No
clue," Fred replied for them all.
The captain looked over the lovable oaf who sat and slobbered close by.
"Perhaps you should chain him up with your magic. The people of Galaron
know what a cantankus is, but to have one unfettered and loose in the city would
cause a small panic. They're very destructive creatures when they're hungry and
afraid."
Ned chuckled. "I'm sure he'll be fine. This cantankus seems to be much
smarter than the average beast. Though just in case..." Ned pulled off all their
bags and dumped out their food on the ground, minus the remains of the greens.
Fluffy dove atop the meat and crunched happily on the bones. "That should
distract him long enough for our interview with the king."
The humans stepped inside and followed Hawkins through a new maze of
corridors until they reached the entrance hall. Long tapestries hung from the
washed walls, and Fred peered curiously at some of them. He didn't know much
about art, but he did notice there was a recurring theme of winged creatures and
sky scenes. The group moved on to a wide, regal staircase at the center of the
hall that led up to two large, wooden doors on the second floor, and then curved
to the left and right to balconies. Those balconies had hallways that led off into
the depths of the castle rooms. Hawkins led them up the stairs and through the
wooden doors. The guards bowed to their captain and looked curiously at his
filthy companions. Fred noticed Ned's face tighten and his lips purse together,
especially when he heard the guards mutter Pat's real name. They were found
out, and in a day's time all the city would know they were there.
The room behind the two doors was the throne room, and at the far back
sat a ridiculously high pedestal. The platform rose two yards off the floor and a
short flight of stairs led up to a single throne. The throne itself was ridiculously
tall with two small steps that allowed easier access to the seat. The chair had a
high back nearly eight feet tall and large arms that ended in roaring lion heads.
Fred wondered if somebody was trying to compensate for a lack of royal assets.
The chair was occupied by a man of middle age, King Stephen. He had
thinning golden hair and a brown beard. His clothes were of the finest silk and
he wore a crown that glittered with jewels. Fred thought he saw a resemblance
between the king's nose and that of Pat's own schnoz. At his side precariously
situated on the narrow platform stood a woman with one clear blue eye and the
other a bright green color. She had hair as black as night that hung down to her
waist, and her dress showed off her curves and full breasts. Pat noticed Fred's
ogling and elbowed him in the side. "What?" he mouthed.
"You know what," she mouthed back.
They stopped their bickering as they approached the king. Ned and Pat
knelt on one knee and bowed their heads. Fred followed, but tumbled over on the
bow. Pat rolled her eyes. Captain Hawkins stepped in front of the long staircase
that led up to the royal chair. "Sire, I bring with me those whom you were
expecting."
A smile graced the king's lips and he jumped up with open arms. "Edwin,
my old friend! What a relief to see that you are well and arrived in my
kingdom." He moved down the platform and Ned stood up in time to be
embraced in a bone-crushing hug.
Ned gave a pain-filled smile. "Yes, it is a relief to be here at last."
The king sniffed Ned's clothing, wrinkled his nose and pulled Ned to arms'
length. "By all the gods, but you smell like a cantankus."
"Yes, well, an evil necessity when one's companion is such a beast," Ned
replied.
Stephen raised a brow. "Truly? Your last letter spoke only of you and the
girl." He looked past Ned and at Fred. "And now I see that you have a boy with
you. What trouble did you find?" Ned pursed his lips together and his eyes
flickered over to the woman. Stephen noticed where Ned's gaze lay and gave a
hearty laugh. "No need to worry about that, old friend. She is my adviser."
Stephen half turned and opened his arm to her. She smiled and stepped down so
he could wrap his arm around her shoulders. "Mariana Martley, allow me to
introduce you to-"
"-Edwin the Castor," she finished for him. The woman curtsied to Ned.
"It's an honor to be introduced to you, sir. I've heard much about you."
"And I nothing about you," he countered.
The woman smiled and shrugged. "Perhaps in time we'll get to know each
other."
"But for now I would listen to your tale," Stephen interrupted. "You are a
few days later than expected, and I was forced to inform more of my guards to
be on the lookout for your coming."
"You missed one at the front gate, but that was an unwise move, Your
Highness," Ned scolded. "What if one had told Canavar?"
Stephen brushed aside Ned's concerns with a wave of his hand. "Water
under the bridge, my friend. Besides, I had planned a birthday party for the
young girl and she is nearly late for it."
Ned raised an eyebrow. "Is that wise, Your Highness? Lord Canavar
followed us all the way to Salaron Bridge, and beset us with many tricks. We
would do better to not attract his attention."
"But you are all safe so long as you remain here," Stephen countered. "And
the whole world will know of her greatness soon enough, and I have planed a
present for her in the form of a husband."
Fred noticed Pat paled at the mention of a husband, and Ned's forehead
creased so that his bushy eyebrows nearly covered his eyes. Even the lady
Martley snapped her head toward the king and her smile failed her for a moment.
"One that follows the prophecy?" she asked him.
The king grinned and eagerly nodded his head like a smile child proud of
an accomplishment. "Yes, exactly to the letter, but no more will be said. I won't
have my surprise ruined."
Ned bowed. "I see I can't sway you with this party, but may I ask for the
list of guests you hoped to attend? As her guardian I must ensure her safety."
Here Stephen burst out in a laugh that rang through the room, and he gave
Ned such a pat on the back that the old man stumbled forward. "None of that
seriousness just yet, old friend. Celebrate your victory over the lord and make
merry, and know that your duty as her guardian is done!" He gestured to Captain
Hawkins, who put his arm across his chest and bowed to them all. "My captain
here will be the perfect guardian for her, I'm sure of it. As her second-in-
command, I'm sure she will agree that he is the most trustworthy."
Pat stepped forward and Fred noticed her shoulders shook with contained
rage. "Your Highness, I appreciate your offer but I must decline such a worthy
knight." She gestured to Fred and Ned. "I have here two very good protectors,
and choose them as my personal guardians. However, I would be honored if
Captain Hawkins was by my side when battle comes, as we all know it will."
Stephen clapped and looked to them with a bright smile on his face. "Very
well spoken, my dear, and I can see some of Edwin's stubbornness has rubbed
off on you. Perhaps a good rest and some thought over this matter will change
your mind." Pat wanted to argue to the contrary, but she pinched her lips shut
and bowed to her king. "Now tell me of your journey, and retire to your rooms.
My servants will take good care of you and see that you are cleaned."
CHAPTER 2
The tale was told in short order, and the three companions taken to their
rooms by one of the chambermaids. Ned wasn't pleased to learn Pat's room was
further down the hallway closer to the throne room, and Fred was placed as
Ned's roommate because the other rooms were occupied by guests for the
birthday party. There would be a bed in the room made for him later by a
chambermaid. Ned and Fred followed Pat to her room and, with suspicious looks
from their female guide, were left alone with Pat.
The girl balled her hands into fists and furiously paced the room. "What
rude behavior! What senility!" She stopped, and her blazing eyes turned on Ned,
who stood passively by. "How could you ever believe bringing me here was a
good idea?"
Ned raised an eyebrow. "It was not I who decided this fate for you," he
pointed out.
"So you deny taking me here knowing King Stephen was such a fool?" she
shot back.
Ned's lips pursed together and he sighed. "I knew he was such a man, yes.
He has been a fool all his life."
"And you deceived the Priests for what end?" Pat asked him.
Ned's bushy eyebrows turned down and his hand on his staff tightened its
grip. "I made them aware of what sort of ruler King Stephen was, and they
insisted on following the prophecy to the letter."
Pat was flabbergasted. "They would send me to this place knowing such a
man would hold power over me?" Ned gave a nod. Pat wandered over and
plopped down on the bed next to Fred. "What could they have been thinking?"
"That at all costs you were to follow the prophecy, and arrive shortly
before your fifteenth birthday," Ned told her.
Pat sought to give some good credit to those who had brought her up. "And
surely his army is the most superior in the world, so what other one would I be
destined to lead?" she pointed out.
"What other one indeed," Ned muttered, but he was not comforted by her
words.
"Is that why she needs to be here? Because of the army?" Fred asked them.
Pat shrugged and shook her head. "What other reason can there be? The
Priests of Phaeton were instructed by the fortune teller to bring me here by my
