The Legend Of The Wizard's Apprentice (Book 1) (29 page)

“Master Kerwyn! I am a fairy again! I can go home. You have set me free from the dark magic. I can see the good side of the One Power now, I am free!” the happy fairy cried and started to fly upwards.

Master Sernett came up to Kerwyn and looking at the young wizard and the now flying fairy he asked, “Where did that Fairy come from and why is it calling out that it is now free?”

“It was an imp and I changed it back into a fairy,” answered Kerwyn.

“Where did an imp come from, and why didn’t it cause any mischief?” questioned Master Sernett.

“His name is Hernes and he and I became friends in the Elvin domain. He told me his story and how he was scared for his life because if the elves were to find him, they would kill him without talking to him first.

He told me that he fell because of the draw to the One Power's dark magic, not because a human had trapped him. So now that he is free, he can return to the lands of the Fairies,” explained Kerwyn.

“Goodbye Master Kerwyn! I will always remember what you have done for me. Thank you for making me a fairy again,” Hernes called out while flying away.

“Goodbye Hernes, I hope you find your family,” said Kerwyn.

“Kerwyn, how did you know that the imp wouldn’t cause any problems for us?” asked Master Sernett

“I didn’t, Master, but I had to have faith that not every creature wants to hurt us. Also I could see the good in his soul,” Kerwyn said. “Master can I ask you a question?”

“Sure you can. You know that, my boy, and you can always ask me anything,” assured Master Sernett.

“How do I choose what woman to pick? I really love Erlina but there is something special about Korowai as well. They are both so nice that I want to get to know both of them better. But how do I do that without hurting one or the other, or even end up hurting both? Also, Erlina’s mom Elysia the Elf Queen has already said that Erlina is not allowed to be with me anyway. So does that mean I shouldn’t try and be with Erlina?” Kerwyn asked.

“Kerwyn, this is one of those things that I am afraid I can not help you out with. I know both women like you very much and it will become very difficult for you to pick one over the other the more time you spend with each.

It might come down to who you have a chance to be with more often and who would make you the happiest. You have to weigh the pros and cons of both women. I know that Erlina would be a wonderful wife and a great companion but she is a princess and one day she will be queen.

Korowai seems like a good woman too and she is a druid and warrior woman. But she may have to move back to her forest and are you willing to move away from here? Like I said, you will have to find out all the variables and make your choice with an educated decision,” Master Sernett said.

Just then Durin came walking up to them and said, “Master Kerwyn, it is ye and the young lady’s turn for night watch.”

“Thank you, Durin, I’ll go wake the lady and take our turn,” Kerwyn said.

Master Sernett went back to his sleeping roll smiling, knowing that this night could be an interesting one for Kerwyn. Durin was smiling also, knowing that Kerwyn was going to have to be alone with this strange tree woman. The dwarf turned and gave Kerwyn a wink before heading to his own bedroll.

Kerwyn looked up just in time to see Elden smiling before trying to hide it and turned quickly to head for his own bedroll.

Kerwyn walked over to the tree thinking to himself of what a beautiful woman Korowai was and how she did indeed have all the intrigue that he would ever need. But he still thought of Erlina and his memory flashed back to when he looked out his window and saw her sun tanning. Approching Korowai’s tree he placed his hand upon her bark and said, “Korowai, it is our turn to have night watch, please you need you to wake up.”

As he finished the last words he could feel the tree shifting in his hand. Not sure what to do, he left his hand on her and was amazed at the feeling beneath his hand. Shifting bark soon took on a softer feel to it and roughness was changing into roundness as he was touching it. He looked up into her face as it started to take form and looking down at his hand he realized that his hand was in fact holding one of her breasts. Jumping back and completely taken off guard, he apologized, turned and walked away as she finished transforming into the lovely women she had been. Mortified at holding one of her breasts, he just looked down at his hand with disbelief.

Catching up to him, she touched his shoulder and said, “Kerwyn please don’t be embarrassed. How could you know where my breasts were going to be when I changed back? Besides if you want to touch me anywhere, all you have to do is ask. If you don’t know by now, I think you are a wonderful man and one that I really want to get to know much better. So please don’t be ashamed that you touched me. Maybe after we get to know one another you could hold me a lot more and I could hold you as well.” Korowai made this last suggestion smiling with a mischievous grin.

Kerwyn not knowing what else to say just looked at Korowai and smiled, saying that he'd also like to get to know her better.

Still grinning, she punched him in the arm she said, “And the next time you touch me that way, you had better make sure that I want you too.”

Laughing, Kerwyn said that he would definitely make sure that he was allowed the next time all the while remembering how her skin felt in his hand.

The night seemed to fly by and the pair didn’t even wake Master Sernett for his watch. Kerwyn was having way too much fun joking around with Korowai. She was such a fun person to be around and it was almost like he had known her all of his life. While he was getting to know her he realized that everything about her he liked. Plus, she was so down to earth he just felt comfortable around her.

He gave a quick thought to Erlina and wondered how she was doing and if she even missed him. Boy, what a situation he had put himself in; two women and only one of him. Kerwyn thought to himself that it was not going to be good when both women met up and found out that he was in the middle of a love triangle.

chapter thirteen

BACK TO ELVISH

As the sun began to rise, the little party started to stir. Kerwyn and Korowai had gathered some more wood and kept the fire going all night. It seemed to have kept all but the most curious creatures away. Other then for the natural creatures of the forest, there wasn’t anything seen out of the normal. There had been a few howls heard off in the distance that spoke of the undead but none were seen.

Kerwyn gathered up his master's pot and started heating it up for his master’s morning tea. Glancing over at Korowai, Kerwyn felt a spring come to his step and felt a quickening of his heart when he looked at her. He knew that he was having the same affect on her as she just winked and tilted her head just enough to let him know she was thinking about him as well.

“Good morning, my boy. I trust you had a good night as you didn’t bother to wake me for my night watch,” said Master Sernett.

“Err, good morning, Master. Yes last night was quite enjoyable and the time was gone before I realized it. Sorry for not waking you but by the time I noticed what time it was, it was already time to get up anyway. Korowai is a wonderful women and she has so many interesting things to talk about.”

Do you know that in her forest there are birds called Flutterbies and instead of normal wings they look like butterflies? Can you just imagine how beautiful those would be to see? They have a natural camouflage so that they can get close enough to their food, the poisonous blue fuzzy back caterpillars.

Also, they have a rat there that is completely blind and it uses vibrations and smells to know its surroundings and where the predators and prey are. Blind, Master, can you believe it? There are bind rats in the Papua forest. Korowai has been telling me about all different types of creatures that live in her forest. She said that there is also a goat that has great big horns it uses during mating season to battle for the best females. It sounds wonderful, Master and I think we need to make a trip there sometime to see these magnificent creatures.

Korowai said that she will show us all around and she can even show us some of the strangest creatures in the world, ones that are not found anywhere else but in the Papua Forest,” finished Kerwyn, all excited.

“Kerwyn, I can see that you are excited, but what about Erlina? Didn’t you tell me just yesterday that you thought that you loved her?” his Master queried.

“I do but I think I also love Korowai. They are both perfect in their own way. Also I keep thinking that Erlina’s mother would not allow us to date. So if we did start to date, then we would be doing so against the Queen of the Elves' wishes. And
that
doesn’t sound very smart to me either. I don’t want to have a nation of elves mad at me. Also, you said it yourself; Erlina is destined to be Queen and I am just a commoner. I started out as an orphan on your door step,” argued Kerwyn.

“Don’t say that, Kerwyn. You are much more then your beginnings. You are my son and a wizard’s apprentice has the same weight as royalty, just in a different ways. You could hold a place in any royal court as the kings or queens confidante, which is the most highly sought after position in the kingdom because you would be the one, that the king or queen would listen to above all else. So you are much more then just a commoner. You are a wizard and you are the son of one of the greatest wizards from this area, if I do say so myself. Be proud of who you are and never think less of yourself again,” Master Sernett said, sounding a little bit angry.

“Sorry Master, I just didn’t think that I would be anything close to what a princess or queen would need in a man. I started out my life as a lowborn and I do not have any royal blood in me that I am aware of. Maybe I should pull my head out of the clouds and pick a downto- earth woman and be happy. Maybe I should look for a nice human girl to settle down with,” pondered Kerwyn, his head down cast.

“Oh Kerwyn, my boy, you are so much more then any normal person. You have the goddess Mother Nature living inside of you and you also have a spirit in you as well. If those are normal traits, I’m glad that I’m a wizard. Sometimes, lad, you don’t see the forest through the trees,” the wizard sighed.

Kerwyn looking up could see Korowai helping out by gathering up some the party’s bedrolls and getting ready to get the days' travelling underway.

“Alright everyone, let me have my morning tea and then we’ll get moving,” said Master Sernett.

After Master Sernett had enjoyed his morning tea, the group finished packing up and started out on the trail once again. By this time it was about 8am in the morning so the sun was up and shining nicely.

As they were walking, Korowai came up beside Kerwyn and asked him what he and his Master were talking about earlier as Master Sernett seemed to be a bit out of sorts with Kerwyn.

“Master Sernett and I were discussing my heritage and how Master Sernett thinks of me as his son. So, instead of me thinking that I am just a commoner or just an orphan, Master Sernett got mad at me and told me to be proud of who I am. He told me that I am the son of a wizard and that I am a wizard’s apprentice. Plus he told me that it’s not every day someone has a goddess living inside of them,” Kerwyn answered.

“Your master is a very wise man. Kerwyn, you are anything but common. You are the most amazing person I have ever met. You have captured the interest of a Wooden Woman Druid and that is something that no other mortal can say either.

Where I come from there were many Wooden Men that wanted my affections but I would not sway towards any of them. It is only because I was born a druid that I have any say in picking my own husband. My mother and father wanted me to marry a wooden man that was the son of a trader. His is one of the wealthiest families in our forest. But I am not interested in how much money a person has or what power he thinks he controls with his money. I am looking for a down-to-earth man, one that will honour, cherish, and embrace who I am.

I am different from any of the other creatures that I have seen. But yet you treat me with respect and dignity and you do not make me feel like I do not belong in your world. I know that my species hasn’t traveled far and wide and I will have people look at me strange. But when you look at me all I see is your shining soul and your appreciation me. For that is why this Wooden Woman has fallen for a mortal and that is why I have fallen in love with you,” Korowai said with her eyes downcast to avoid looking directly into Kerwyn’s eyes where he might see how much of a gamble she had taken by telling him of her love for him.

“Korowai, I think you are a wonderful woman as well. But I have to be honest with you. There is another woman who has also captured my heart. She is a princess of the elves and her mother has forbidden us to date. She has said that because her daughter is the Princess of the Elves, she must marry a true elf. What you see in me are the affects of the elvish wizards I am a human and I have no right to an Elvin princess. But there it is. I will not keep secrets when they have to deal with the heart. I think I am in love with you as well but I have already pledged myself to the Elvin Princess Erlina,” said Kerwyn.