raised his head and grinned at Symon. “I s’pose you’re right. Anyway, I can’t think straight on an empty stomach.”
The magician patted his palms together and returned the grin. “Nor me, lad. Nor me.”
Their return through the woodland was unhurried, and they arrived at the tower with an armful of late flowers, berried branches and foliage, which Karryl placed in a large earthenware jug of water. While he was doing this, Symon produced an appetising lunch of cold meats, relish and fresh wholemeal bread, followed by fruit and another cup of the tea of which the little magician was so fond. It was then that the weather decided to put a dampener on Symon’s plans for the afternoon. The sky darkened and heavy raindrops rattled against the window. Magician and apprentice glumly watched rivulets of water snaking down the glass and splattering on the windowsill.
Symon stood and began to gather up plates. “This may not last too long.” He began to head for the kitchen, then paused and turned. “A good opportunity for you to do some quiet studying. What d’you think?”
Not being able to think of anything he would rather do, Karryl glanced across at Symon’s book-filled shelves and nodded his agreement.
Returned from the kitchen, Symon rested his hands on the table, his expression pensive as he looked at Karryl. “Can you draw?”
Slightly taken aback at the question, the boy’s mouth fell half open as he thought for a moment. Giving Symon an uncertain smile, he gestured vaguely. “Well, I used to draw pictures for the little tackers in our gang, to keep them amused, you know? The older ones seemed to like them as well.”
Not sure what to expect, he watched as Symon scurried across the room and opened a cupboard Karryl hadn’t noticed before. Suspicious, the boy frowned as Symon took out a sheaf of paper and a box of drawing materials.
After placing them on the table, Symon then fetched the jug of flowers and foliage and stood it beside them. “See what you can make of those. It will be good training in observation, a vital tool for any good magician. As for me, I think I’ll look for some other things we’ll need to use later.”
Settling down at the table Karryl sorted through the box of drawing materials. Satisfied with his selection, he pulled the jug a little closer and began to study the various flowers and berried twigs he and Symon had gathered that morning.
After a while, he looked up from the drawing he was making. “Excuse me, Master Symon. Is there a book about these plants that I could look at?”
Symon thought for a moment, then crossed over to the bookshelves. Reaching up as high as he could he hefted down a heavy volume bound in brown leather.
Almost reverently he ran his fingers over the cover before placing the book in front of his new apprentice. “There you are my boy. Father Clement’s Herbal. You will find everything you need to know for now within those pages. The drawings are very good. It’s the volume I used when I was an apprentice.”
Karryl’s eyes opened wide in surprise and he was about to say something, but thought better of it.
Symon chuckled. “Yes, it is a very old book, but the information it contains is still current, and its value as a study book is inestimable. Father Clement was the greatest herbalist and teacher of his time, and his book is the definitive volume for all students of medicine and the magical arts. I always looked forward to his lectures.”
Karryl swallowed hard, letting his fingers caress the smooth chestnut-glossy cover with its heavily embossed title picked out in gold, albeit worn slightly thin in places.
Symon reached out and patted the volume almost affectionately. “Take it to your room when you’ve had enough studying for today. That’s where it belongs now. And there’s no need to address me as Master when we’re here. Everyone calls me Symon, because that is my name.” His eyes twinkled mischievously. “You only
The magician patted his palms together and returned the grin. “Nor me, lad. Nor me.”
Their return through the woodland was unhurried, and they arrived at the tower with an armful of late flowers, berried branches and foliage, which Karryl placed in a large earthenware jug of water. While he was doing this, Symon produced an appetising lunch of cold meats, relish and fresh wholemeal bread, followed by fruit and another cup of the tea of which the little magician was so fond. It was then that the weather decided to put a dampener on Symon’s plans for the afternoon. The sky darkened and heavy raindrops rattled against the window. Magician and apprentice glumly watched rivulets of water snaking down the glass and splattering on the windowsill.
Symon stood and began to gather up plates. “This may not last too long.” He began to head for the kitchen, then paused and turned. “A good opportunity for you to do some quiet studying. What d’you think?”
Not being able to think of anything he would rather do, Karryl glanced across at Symon’s book-filled shelves and nodded his agreement.
Returned from the kitchen, Symon rested his hands on the table, his expression pensive as he looked at Karryl. “Can you draw?”
Slightly taken aback at the question, the boy’s mouth fell half open as he thought for a moment. Giving Symon an uncertain smile, he gestured vaguely. “Well, I used to draw pictures for the little tackers in our gang, to keep them amused, you know? The older ones seemed to like them as well.”
Not sure what to expect, he watched as Symon scurried across the room and opened a cupboard Karryl hadn’t noticed before. Suspicious, the boy frowned as Symon took out a sheaf of paper and a box of drawing materials.
After placing them on the table, Symon then fetched the jug of flowers and foliage and stood it beside them. “See what you can make of those. It will be good training in observation, a vital tool for any good magician. As for me, I think I’ll look for some other things we’ll need to use later.”
Settling down at the table Karryl sorted through the box of drawing materials. Satisfied with his selection, he pulled the jug a little closer and began to study the various flowers and berried twigs he and Symon had gathered that morning.
After a while, he looked up from the drawing he was making. “Excuse me, Master Symon. Is there a book about these plants that I could look at?”
Symon thought for a moment, then crossed over to the bookshelves. Reaching up as high as he could he hefted down a heavy volume bound in brown leather.
Almost reverently he ran his fingers over the cover before placing the book in front of his new apprentice. “There you are my boy. Father Clement’s Herbal. You will find everything you need to know for now within those pages. The drawings are very good. It’s the volume I used when I was an apprentice.”
Karryl’s eyes opened wide in surprise and he was about to say something, but thought better of it.
Symon chuckled. “Yes, it is a very old book, but the information it contains is still current, and its value as a study book is inestimable. Father Clement was the greatest herbalist and teacher of his time, and his book is the definitive volume for all students of medicine and the magical arts. I always looked forward to his lectures.”
Karryl swallowed hard, letting his fingers caress the smooth chestnut-glossy cover with its heavily embossed title picked out in gold, albeit worn slightly thin in places.
Symon reached out and patted the volume almost affectionately. “Take it to your room when you’ve had enough studying for today. That’s where it belongs now. And there’s no need to address me as Master when we’re here. Everyone calls me Symon, because that is my name.” His eyes twinkled mischievously. “You only
Similar Books
