Free Chosen (9781742844657) by Shayla Morgansen Page B

undoubtedly.
    â€˜Would you like those sent to your room, too?’ he asked, nodding at the book and blanket in my arms. I held them out wordlessly and then they were gone. Like Angela.
    Tian led me along the cobblestone path towards the magnificent building that was the school. His elegant royal purple robes brushed the stone beneath his feet. I looked down at my own outfit. Jeans that had been washed yesterday instead of worn and a fleecy olive green sweater. I looked presentable , which differed from usual by a great deal.
    â€˜My sister told me you have to be twenty before you can join White Elm, so how come you want teenagers?’ I asked Tian. The Chinese man smiled.
    â€˜Some of the senior members of the council are considering the option of taking on an apprentice from this cohort, if a suitable person should be present,’ he said, taking care with his English. ‘If they do, it is expected that they will adhere to the age-old traditions of the White Elm council, which dictate the ages of the master and apprentice, the genders and the levels of skill. Those people who are already twenty years of age are ineligible for an apprenticeship according to the old guidelines.’
    â€˜If we become somebody’s apprentice, are we White Elm? Technically?’
    â€˜Not exactly,’ Tian answered. ‘A sorcerer’s apprentice is bonded to him, or her, and so in the case of the White Elm, an apprentice is usually treated as an extension of the council – not as a councillor, but as an honorary member, with a distant telepathic link to the council’s whole and the right to observe council meets.’ He smiled and tried not to laugh. ‘In the past, White Elm apprentices have been referred to as White Leaves .’ 
    He seemed to think the nickname was quite funny, so I chose not to voice my own opinion – I thought it was a good name. Better than White Twig or White Branch , anyway.
    We had walked the entire length of the winding stone path and now stood before the manor. It was even more beautiful up close. The windows were full-length and the glass was panelled, with clear glass in the middle and intricate patterns of stained glass framing it. I looked up at the monstrous structure and saw a huge arched window in the centre of the fourth storey. I wondered what was in that room.
    â€˜That’s the main study,’ Tian said as though I’d asked a question. ‘It will now be the office for the Academy’s headmaster.’
    â€˜Whose house is this?’ I asked as he stepped across the threshold and into a high-ceilinged entrance hall. I followed, gazing up at the massive open doors. They opened outward, letting sunlight spill onto beautiful medieval-style papered walls. Opposite me was the beginning of a wide sweeping staircase, which I assumed took you all the way up through the houses’ levels. Tapestries and huge paintings hung everywhere, darkening the room. Thin, tall doors took the rare, small spaces between wall hangings. One was open. Tian stopped in front of it.
    â€˜It belongs to a high-up member of White Elm,’ he offered, although seemed unwilling to share much information on the person. ‘It’s been in his family for untold generations. It’s covered in wards and other protective spells. It’s a very safe place to be.’
    â€˜But who is he?’ I pressed keenly. ‘Is it Lord Gawain?’ I’d heard that he lived here in Ireland.
    â€˜No. This house belongs to a White Elm named Renatus.’
    I frowned, stopping beside Tian. I hadn’t heard much of Renatus. He’d only entered the council within the past two years. Not many people talked about him. Not many people wanted to talk about him, perhaps. The only way I knew about his existence was that Aunt Leanne had mentioned one morning that the White Elm had enlisted a young sorcerer named Renatus – and she thought it was a strange choice. I