The Apprentices (The Crimson Guard Trilogy Book 1) Read Free Page A

turned to fire and a deep burning followed. 
    “Poison, the blade is poisoned!” I screamed.
    Then I lost all control.  Anyone witnessing the next few moments would have thought I was possessed.
    A burst of fire flew from my hands and erupted as it came into contact with the killer.  His body was flung away ending in a large crash.  Instantly he was up and charging again, long sword and a bloody dagger in hand. 
    Mentally it seemed I had no control of my actions, no control over anything.  All I could do was watch.  And what I saw was horrific; I was doing things that I had never thought possible.  Over and over my body threw fire toward the dark figure keeping him at bay.  Eventually the assassin slowed and one of the projectiles found its mark, causing him to slump to the ground.  His badly mutilated body crawled agonizingly toward an exit.  A sudden power built up within me, I knew what was happening.  I screamed and pleaded inside my head, desperately trying to regain control.  With all of my might I could not stop from taking that man’s life, I could not stop myself.  After it was done, I wept for the man whose name I did not know, but whose body I mangled.
    Eventually I regained self-control.  But how and why did I lose control in the first place?  Answers, I needed answers to many questions.
     
    ………………………………………………………………
     
    In a dungeon far away an old weathered man sighed in acknowledgment.  He could feel the release of power and he knew all too well what that power could do.  For Matlintoc and the young mage are part of the same class of wizard.  Maybe, just maybe the young mage could learn to control himself; unlike the old man who never could.  He looked up as a door opened; two guards entered the man’s prison dragging a crippled body.  “Did you bring me a guest?”  Matlintoc asked.   The guards ignored his question.
    “No master, they brought a cell mate.”  The crippled man looked up.
    “Smithson.” Matlintoc whispered as the darkness returned. 
     

 
    2
     
    Across the sea and over the plains a city stands, not a grand city but a small filthy slum.  Pitiful, but it had not always been so.  Once it had a powerful name, which has been lost to time.  Many people had lived wonderful lives full of wisdom and knowledge in this place. 
    A great library stands in this city; it had always been the center of the metropolis, from the time it was constructed.  Few had known of its brilliance and wealth of knowledge.  The library was said to hold all the ancient secrets of the way of magic.  Stories were even told of the library’s knowledge of the Endless War and the Undying Ones. 
    Surrounding the library, in times of peace, stood beautiful waterfalls and breathtaking gardens.  The few caretakers were specially chosen.  It is unknown how they were chosen or by whom, but they were peaceful and had never known violence.  Instead of studying war and destruction they studied gardening and medicine.  In this they were unmatched.  So great were their abilities that the city had not seen sickness in centuries.   
    Besides sickness, the people had never known danger for all lived in harmony, until a great army of evil arrived.  None of the Humans knew whence they came or why, but their arrival meant the downfall of the great city.  Thousands of Shlocks descended upon the defenseless town, killing all in their wake. 
    Shlocks are half men and half something else; they stand a head taller than the tallest human and have none of their weaknesses; their size does not however hinder their swiftness. The Shlocks skin is as pale as the moon, and their hair is dark as night. They have many of the same features as Humans yet their customs cause a significant difference.  The Shlock warriors mutilate their ears causing them to have a very noticeable point, they consider it a badge of honor reserved for the brave.   For the