Free The Wizard's Apprentice (The Apprentice) by Janice Ayre Page A

expecting me home for the evening meal," said Brock.
    "I'm sure they will understand. I'm leaving here soon so it seems a pity not to visit together while we can."
    Orville did not wait for any more objections from Brock but went ahead and ordered for them both. While they sat and waited, Orville sipped his ale and regarded Brock with an almost hungry look. This made Brock feel very uncomfortable. He would like to have known what the young man was thinking. He worried about Elvira preparing a meal for him and reasoned that if he did not eat too much here that he could manage a second meal and no one would be offended.
    When the meal was placed before them, Orville set to it with gusto, asking questions between mouthfuls.
    "You didn't say why you and your father left Brookfield Farm so quickly ? "
    "We had to, personal reasons."
    Orville nodded his head as if giving Brock's answer serious consideration. "That was most unfortunate, old man Ambrose was very upset. Not only did he suddenly lose two workers but there was some other matter he was angry about."
    "Do you know what that was?" Brock asked nervously.
    "I am not free to tell you that."
    "But I need to know!"
    "Why is that? Do you think your father was doing something he shouldn't?"
    "Of course not!"
    "Then stop looking so worried and guilty and eat up. Here, have some more so that you can be big and strong like me." Orville ladled some of his food onto Brock's plate. "You know you can trust me. I'm your friend. If there is anything troubling you, just tell me and I'll put it right for you."
    "Thank you." Brock didn't know what else to say. This was all too strange. He made feeble attempts to swallow food that was having a hard time making its way around the tightness in his throat.
    "Don't be so serious. We should have some fun. What do you do for fun here?"
    "I...don't know. We haven't been here very long."
    "That ’s no good. When you are young, you need to have plenty of fun. What is the good of life if you don't live it ? " This was said in a tone and manner suggestive that the young man was many years older as well as wiser than Brock. Orville continued to stare at him with his pale blue eyes.
    Suddenly he startled Brock by saying. "Zeb is not your father, is he?"
    "Nooo,,, but he's like a father to me."
    "So you like him?"
    "Yes."
    "We should go get him to join us then."
    "We can't," said poor Brock. He was thinking hard how he could leave this uncomfortable situation.
    "Why is that?" Orville would not be put off with any answers Brock had given him.
    "He's away," said Brock.
    "Oh, where would that be?"
    "He had to go and see a friend."
    "Another friend? It's certainly good he has so many friends. Are you sure you know what he is really doing? I mean, how well do you really know him? From what I hear, Ambrose is organising the soldiers to come after him, so he must think he has done something really bad."
    Brock turned pale.
    "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. I'm a little concerned about you, that's all. Come on eat up and then we will have some fun. I don't want you to worry. It's probably just some misunderstanding, nothing more."
    Brock felt no comfort from Orville's words. He just wanted to run away from this place. But where to? He felt confused.
    Orville leant forward so that his head was not far away from Brock's and at the same time placed his large rough hand on Brock's. He studied Brock ’s hand lying sweaty under his own before he said. "Looks like you have been doing some rough work for such a young one. Does Zeb treat you right?"
    "Of course he does. Zebulon is a good man." Brock was dismayed at his own isolation. He needed a friend to talk to, one he could trust. But his friends and family were far away. There was no one. Of all the lonely months Brock had faced, this moment was the loneliest. It seemed that Orville had brought to the surface all at once, all the doubts and fears he had ever had.
    In a softer voice Orville said , "When you