The Third Apprentice Read Online Free PDF Page A

provide more padding than the thin
blanket he had brought.
    “We should get a
few more supplies,” Zamna said. “You’ll need more water than me, and we don’t
want to run low on food. We might need to pick up some medicine as well, just
in case.”
    “I can handle that
myself,” Taren informed him. “I’m an herbalist.” Unlatching his shoulder bag,
he held it open for Zamna to look inside.
    The assassin nodded
his approval. “Let’s get some food then.”
    Stepping down from
the inn stairs, Taren said, “Look, this really is something I should do alone.
You don’t need to come along.” He couldn’t dare say what he was really
thinking. He did not trust this person, and he’d been an idiot to invite him
along.
    Zamna narrowed his
eyes. “You’ll never make it alone,” he said. “The only reason you got away from
the stone beast was because the other two were slower than you.”
    Taren stared at him
in disbelief. Had he revealed more than he meant to last night? His memory was
blurry, and he could not recollect when he had returned to bed. Perhaps he had
partaken of too much house ale, despite promising himself he would have no more
of it. The mage vaguely remembered the reptile man insisting they drink on
their agreement. What had he told this man about the symbol? Revealing too much
might put him in danger. This assassin could easily take it from him once he’d
retrieved it. It was possible he was a mage as well and was hiding it.
    “Ailwen’s tomb is
rumored to be full of riches,” Zamna said, filling the silence. “Now that
you’ve put the idea in my head, I’m going, and I’ll need a mage to open the
door.”
    “Why is that?”
Taren wondered.
    “Because it’s
sealed with magic,” Zamna replied, shaking his head. “Do you know nothing of
the place you’re going?”
    “I know a little,”
Taren replied, trying to hold his head high. In reality, little was known of
the tomb. Master Imrit had studied more than anyone else on the subject, and he
had little information to pass on. Once he had discovered its location, he had
mapped out the route that his apprentices should take and left it at that. How
to get inside and retrieve the symbol was up to the them. With the three of
them together, surely they could figure it out. Imrit had grown old and
impatient, and his apprentices were eager to please. They had convinced
themselves they could do anything. Never once had they imagined not making it
out of The Barrens.
    The other
apprentices were gone, fallen at the hands of a monster. Taking in a deep
breath, Taren resolved to complete his quest, and return with the symbol or die
trying. What harm could there be in allowing Zamna to join him? Two heads were
better than one, weren’t they? Letting out the breath slowly, Taren said,
“Let’s get what we need and be on our way.” His chances of success seemed good,
as long as Zamna proved to be a man of his word. If he wasn’t, Taren would
probably find out sooner rather than later. After all, if he intended only to
rob him and kill him, he would probably do it as soon as they left town. Taren
decided he would take the risk. Alone in the wilderness, he would likely die
anyway.
    Together they
walked down the narrow street leading into the main thoroughfare. Market stalls
lined each side of the wide road, and numerous vendors called out in loud
voices in hopes of attracting customers. Taren’s eye fell on a baker’s stall,
where sticky sweet rolls displayed themselves with pride, begging him to
indulge. Resisting the urge, he pressed on. This was not the time to satiate
his sweet tooth. Provisions needed to be kept light for the long journey ahead.
Walking all day with a heavy pastry in his stomach would only lead to problems.
    Though Taren had
brought some rations from Imrit’s cottage, he had no idea how long the journey
would take. It couldn’t hurt to purchase more while he had the chance. The pair
stopped at a stall where nuts and dried