The Apprentices (The Crimson Guard Trilogy Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

world.     
    “Why am I not dead?  Why am I not just a distant voice?”  I thought aloud.
    I stood in the intense light for a few moments, trying to figure out what to do. Off in the distance under an awning, I could see a beggar staring at me, eyes wide.
    “Come, do not fear.”  A voice sounded from behind the closed doors. Forgetting the dirty beggar I turned towards the voice. I saw two great oak doors with one word etched into the stone above, Knowledge. This must be a library.
    As I closed the distance between myself and the doors, they swung open revealing a man silhouetted against the bright light from the interior of the building.
    “Who are you; I will come no closer until you answer me.”  This sudden boldness caught me by surprise.  Before I could apologize or defend myself, he answered.
    “I am the Keeper and I have been waiting a very long time for you to step through the forbidden flames.”
    “Me? One who can’t even control my own magic or body?” I said and nearly broke into tears.
    “Only great berserkers can learn to control their magic.”  Berserker, did he say Berserker?  Thoughts filled my head. “What does this all mean?”
    “Your previous master was not strong; he had insufficient power and fortitude to instruct one such as yourself.”  His words were getting more and more confusing to me.
    “He knew as we did that you would have to come here.  He knew that we, the Librarians were the ones to help you on your path.  We can only show you the road.  Even we do not have the knowledge to teach you the ways of control.  Only one who has been where you are can help.”  Yeah, that helps me a lot.
    “You must have the wrong mage.  I am only a basic level apprentice of a great and powerful wizard.”  My words did not have much strength behind them.
    “No, we are sure you are the one.” I was shocked by his confidence.  Then he continued, “You never knew, but your master’s name was Smithson.  He was one of the six who survived the great battle of Red Beach.”
    “Red Beach, why is it called that?”  I questioned him.
    “So much blood and magic was spilled that dreadful night it caused the sand to become permanently stained red.  This is not relevant now, so please ask no more questions.”
    Already this “Librarian” as he called himself was getting to me.  Bringing up things I do not know, and then telling me to not ask questions.  
    As the Keeper continued to speak it sounded to me that he liked to hear his own voice.  “The other five that survived were Trimble, Doxen, Apox, Rem, and finally the most powerful, Matlintoc.”  So many questions were running through my head and it took a lot of restraint to hold back. 
    “The fate of the first four are illusive to us here in the Library, but we have seen Matlintoc.  He is the one who told of your eventual arrival.”
    I could not hold back any longer, “Is he here, and is he a Seer?  I have read and heard many stories about Seers.” 
    Seers are very powerful magicians who dedicate their entire lives for the chance to see the future.  My master had told me of one that he had once known and I was hoping that this Matlintoc was him.  I would like to meet him so much.
    “Slow down child, for he is neither.”  The Keeper said
    “Oh well, then what does all this have to do with me?” 
    “Before Matlintoc, no one had ever crossed the threshold. We feared that our destiny was to be alone forever.”   His voice had a slightly sad note to it.  “The mage taught us many things and told us that we must read all of the books.  So when the time came we would be able to help the enlightened one.” 
    “So are you saying that this enlightened stuff is talking about me?” 
    “Yes, that is exactly what we are saying.” Joy replaced the sadness in his words.  “But now I will introduce you to my companions.”
    I had not realized it, but the whole time we were talking I had remained in the