The Training of Pel the Sorceror
Pel was tall and slender, with blonde, almost white hair. He had green eyes, and a long nose. He wore a faded, brown cloak. It had long ago been his master’s. A small white rope was fastened around his waist, holding the matching pair of brown pants. He kept glancing around him nervously, watching the darkening woods. Knowing that he had stayed too late in town, he kept berating himself about that extra few beers.
Now, he was going to have to explain to his master why he was late, knowing he couldn’t lie. The man was uncanny in sniffing out untruths, he thought miserably. Plus, he didn’t suffer fools lightly, and always frowned on Pel’s love of dark beer. These thoughts were foremost in his mind as he increased his pace, his long legs covering the ground in great strides.
As the moon began to shine brightly through the green above, he arrived at the hut. It was in a small clearing, with a well-tended garden near the side. The building was a dark shade of brown, with one wooden door facing towards the trail. Light shown through the window, illuminating the grass outside. A shadow passed the window, and the door opened. A large man stood in the frame, looking intently at Pel with a frown.
“You’re late.”
“I’m sorry master, I stayed too long at the tavern.”
“I see. Well, come in, and put the books at my desk.”
Pel walked through the door as the man moved back into the room. He took his pack and opened it, placing three large books on the desk near the fireplace. Turning, he caught the glint in his master’s eyes. The man stood taller than Pel, by a good number of inches. He was muscular, with dark brown hair. Blue eyes stared intently out of the weatherworn face.
“No matter, you’re here safely. Bring in some more wood for the fire. I need the light to look over the books.”
After he brought in the wood, Pel sat at a small table and ate a cold dinner. While filling, his master’s cooking always used few spices. Pel took the plate to a basin and began washing the pile of dishes. He heard the rasp of parchment as his master glanced through the works he had bought. Finishing the chore, he added more wood to the fire, and lay down on a straw mattress along the wall. After a few moments, he fell asleep, dreaming of things he wouldn’t remember in the morning.
Light shown through the window, waking Pel with its illumination. He looked over, and his master still sat at his desk, pouring over the volumes.
“Master, did you not sleep?”
“Hmm, oh, no. Lost track of time, I suppose. Why don’t you see to breakfast, and we will continue our studies. I need a break from these.”
They finished the meal of eggs and sausage Pel had prepared, and went outside. “Now,” said the man, “focus on the target and try again.”
Pel looked at the bale of hay, and brought his right hand out, palm facing the target. He began the incantation, and a small bolt of yellow flame flew at the bale, igniting a small fire near the middle.
“Good, you’ve been practicing I see.” The man muttered a few words, and the fire was quickly extinguished. “Let’s try the fly spell again, you need to increase your flight time.”
“Yes, master.” Pel began the memorized spell and rose a few feet in the air. He continued murmuring and began flowing back and forth over the ground. After a few minutes, he slowly came back to earth.
“That’s better, but we need to increase your stamina. You are going to need more power if you wish to perfect our craft. Why don’t you go inside and study, I need to collect a few ingredients for a spell in one of my new books. I shouldn’t be too long.”
His master strode off, and Pel walked back inside the hut. Sitting at the desk, he began reading his book of magic, which was much smaller than the others in the case along the wall. Time passed, and he glanced out the window. It was nearing noon, so he broke for lunch. He made extra for his master, and after eating, went back to his studies. As evening fell, he began to worry. Usually, his master was always quick in his collecting, and never home after dusk.
He walked outside, and called loudly. Pausing, he listened for an answer. When none came, he began worrying even more. He went to the edge of the forest, and began searching for footprints. When he found them, he started following their trail. It wove through the trees to the east, and he walked for a long time. Coming to the edge of a small pond, he found the site of what looked like a small scuffle. The ground was covered in the prints of goblins, and his heart jumped in his chest. Now what, he thought, looking at the new trail leading to the north.
With little heed for his own safety, he began going north, following the goblins and hopefully his master. He hadn’t seen blood on the ground, but that didn’t mean his master wasn’t hurt. Goblin’s enjoyed clubs, and if they had rendered the large man unconscious, they were probably taking him to their lair. He had gone almost five miles, and the smell of a fire reached his nostrils. Slowing, he came to the edge of a large clearing, and peered out of the trees.
A group of almost twenty goblins sat around a fire, and his master lay in a heap to the side. His face was bruised, and his eyes were closed. At least he’s still alive, thought Pel, considering what to do next. The goblins were talking in the guttural voices, which Pel didn’t understand. One rose from the fire, and walked to his master. He kicked him hard in the side, and the man grunted, opening his eyes.
“You, human. Why you come our territory?”
No answer came, and the goblin kicked him again. “You stupid, human. Answer, or we roast you for dinner.”
“I was looking for something, that’s all.” The man glared at the goblin, and then his eyes caught sight of Pel.
“What you seen, stupid human?” The goblin turned as Pel ducked behind a tree. “Nothing there. No help for you. We take you home, cook you for tribe. Big human like you feed many.” The goblin walked back to the fire and sat down.
Pel’s mind was racing as he wondered what to do. Surely his master could take care of this group by himself. Then it dawned on him; maybe he was testing Pel, to see if he could rescue him. The more he considered it, the more it seemed the most likely scenario. Just like my master, he thought. He began running through spells in his head, and finally decided on a simple area sleep. With goblins low intelligence, it would work on probably half. Then, he could lead the others in a chase while his master freed himself. Hopefully.
With his mind made up, Pel began the incantation and then came from around the tree, and pointed at the goblins as he finished. Promptly, nine fell back snoring, and the other eight all jumped up, looking around. One caught sight of Pel, who gave him an unflattering gesture, and then he ran back into the woods. He heard startled oaths from behind him, and then the sounds of pursuit. Pel settled into a ground-covering run, and began leading the remaining goblins from his master.
He ran for thirty minutes, the smaller goblins falling behind, until he could no longer hear them. Then, he turned west, and began making his way back towards the hut. It was nearly dawn by the time he arrived, and his master sat at his desk, again going over his new books. He glanced up with a smile, “well done young man. We’ll make a sorcerer out of you yet. Why don’t you rest, looks like you need it.”
Pel collapsed on his pallet, and as he drifted off to sleep, smiled to himself. Someday, he thought, and again began to dream, this time to remember upon wakening.
