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

have finished your meal, we can talk. I know you need a friend to confide in." He signalled to the girl serving the tables. "Bring us two tankards of ale."
    Most of the tables in the inn were full of people enjoying the evening meal or sharing some ale with friends. The inn buzzed with conversation. The young elf found no comfort in their proximity. He may as well be sitting out in the desert with Orville his only companion.
    When the girl brought the ale, Orville once more indicated for him to eat up and drink up. Deciding that the only way he was going to get away without offence was to eat and drink, Brock ate as much of his meal as he could and drank the ale. The drink was terrible, he couldn't understand how anyone would enjoy drinking it.
    Brock rose from the table as soon as he swallowed the last mouthful and Orville rose with him.
    "You're in a hurry to go. Maybe I should see you home." He threw some coins on the table to pay for his meal and then throwing a heavy arm over Brock's shoulders, escorted him to the door of the inn.
    "I need you to tell me what you know about what Zebulon is supposed to have done," said Brock.
    "I am always opening my big mouth. I should never have said anything to you. Now you are upset and you look sick."
    "I've got to know," persisted Brock.
    " I'll tell you what. You go home and have a good night's sleep and then we will meet here in the morning and I'll tell you all I know. Go on now, I'm sure there is nothing to worry about."
    Orville's breath smelt of stale liquor, indicating that he had had a good deal more ale than the amount he had drunk at the meal time. As much as he wanted to extract information from him, Brock couldn't stand being near him any longer.
    "Would you like me to see you home?" asked Orville.
    "No, thank you."
    "We'll meet here tomorrow. And don't forget, I'm your friend. You can confide in me. I can take some of your troubles off your shoulders." With that he gave the elf's shoulders an affectionate squeeze. He gave Brock a smile which was partly lost in the dim light and released his hold.
    Brock mumbled another thank you and headed off towards the Four Star Inn while Orville swaggered back into the inn.
    Brock arrived at the inn just as Uri was closing the doors in preparation for locking up for the night. He looked at Brock with displeasure. "Where were you ? Elvira cooked up a special dish for you but you didn't come. We have been worried, we thought something bad had happened to you. " He was aware of the faint smell of ale on Brock's breath.
    "I'm really sorry, I didn't expect to be so late. I ran into a friend. Please tell Elvira I'm really sorry. I'll make it up to her." Brock's words of apology rushed out so quickly he wasn't sure he was making sense.
    "Ok, be off with you," Uri said in a resigned voice. He shook his head from side to side in an indulgent way, as Brock headed for his room, wrongly thinking the thought that 'boys will be boys'.
    Brock had a troubled sleep and woke the next morning with one thought on his mind. He had to get to the other inn and see Orville. He tried not to seem in too much haste to finish his meal and used the excuse that he must make an early start so as to join Zebulon before the day was through.
    He bade his friends goodbye as graciously as he could and then, once out of sight of the inn, ran all the way to the other inn. Orville was not there. Even though it was still early morning he feared he may have missed him. He asked at the inn if he had been in. No one had seen him. All morning and part of the afternoon he waited, but Orville did not come. Brock began to have dark thoughts that Zebulon had somehow found out about Orville being here and detained him, or done something worse. To reach home before nightfall he was forced to leave without the answers he craved.
    Even riding hard, he only managed to reach the cottage as the sun was disappearing behind the horizon.
    "I was wondering what had happened. I expected you