Free Wielder: Apprentice: Book 1 of Lady Shey's Story (The Wielder Cycle) by Mark E Tyson Page B

is cruel and frightening.”
    “Sheyna, no. Don’t give up. I know my methods seem extreme, but look what you have done in the space of a few moments.”
    She thought about it for a few moments, studying his face. “I’m sorry. I have made up my mind.”
    “Take the night and think it over. You made an oath to me that can’t be easily broken when you accepted my offer in Enowene’s chamber. Sleep on it tonight, and if you still feel the same tomorrow, I will let you out of your oath.”
    Suddenly she felt guilty. “Aye, I will think on it.”
    He nodded. “Good, think on it.”
    “May I go now?”
    “Aye, you are dismissed.”

    A few crucial training days later, Sheyna walked into the common room where Marella was busy pouring over some books Dicarion had given her. Marella would be a good study partner , Sheyna thought. Mistress Enowene was wise to put the two together after all. Night had begun to fall so Sheyna went about the room, lighting the various reading lights and lamps they needed. After she had finished, she took one of the books she had found the day before in the tower library and began to quietly read at the table across from Marella. After a few moments, she became bored.
    “Marella,” she began, “do you trust Toborne?” She paused when Marella did not answer right away. “I mean, does he seem trustworthy?”
    Marella closed her book. “Why are you asking me this? What did Toborne do?”
    Marella frequently asked another question as an answer for a question, which irritated Sheyna tremendously. “I feel like he is teaching me to use me for something bad.”
    “That is a bit paranoid, don’t you think? I mean, you have nearly caught up to me in your studies. He seems to be doing a pretty decent job with you.”
    “We didn’t start off in a mutual trust sort of way. I am beginning to regret my decision to continue on as his apprentice.”
    “What are you not telling me?”
    “You are not making this easy, Marella. Very well, I’ll tell you. Remember the first day we were apprenticed?”
    “Aye, you had that headache for two days.”
    “There is a reason I had that headache. Toborne has a spell that forces you to learn even if you don’t want to. It borders on being invasive.”
    “I still do not see your problem. Dicarion instructs me the same way. They don’t want us drawing essence and running about ill prepared. It’s a good method to use for the weighty tomes.”
    “Dicarion feeds you knowledge directly from books into your mind?”
    Marella looked confused. “Aye, he does. I am a mindwielder, remember? He doesn’t do it all of the time, though. It works well for me.”
    Sheyna groaned. “I feel bad now. I thought Toborne was doing something . . . never mind.”
    “He should have warned you first. My mind is conditioned so that I can accept it without the ill side effects such as headaches. I can see how the method would seem nefarious if you were not prepared.
    “He appeared to get some kind of joy from doing it. My gut tells me something is off.”
    “If your gut tells you something is wrong, you shouldn’t ignore it, I guess.” Marella’s voice was sympathetic.
    “I am going to sneak into Toborne’s chambers tonight. He left for his tower for the night. I am going to snoop around.”
    “What do you intend to find? You have been in there hundreds of times; what can you possibly find that you haven’t already?”
    Sheyna stood from the table. “I don’t know, but I have a feeling.”
    “What? That’s crazy. You think Toborne has something hidden in his chambers where you go to study?
    “I am going; you coming with me?”
    Marella rolled her eyes. “I may as well. If you are going to get into trouble, I may as well be there to help you.”
    “Aye, we can say we were there studying. Take some of your books with you.”

Chapter 9: Rugania
     
    When Sheyna and Marella arrived at Toborne’s chamber, they not only found the door locked tightly but also a ward