Under the Shadow of Darkness: Book 1 of the Apprentice Series by James Cardona, Issa Cardona Page B

from being seen from afar. This made the going much slower because of the uneven terrain and rock. Twisting an ankle out here would mean certain death. Bel longed for the ridgeline. At least ghoul-kind couldn’t sneak up on them out here in the open, Bel thought.
    The dead man grew disoriented more and more quickly so they had to keep stopping and allowing him to drink from his flask. When his flask ran out, he took to wringing the rabbit above his opened mouth. Some more blood came out. It wasn’t much but it restored him, at least a little.
    Muolithnon spoke, “I know. I know. It’s gross. I can’t believe I have to do this. Ah well. Such is life. Hahaha. Or death. Hahaha.”
    Each time they stopped, Kerlith tried to call more rabbits but none came. Then he cast his net wider and called for other creatures. Anything. “” But nothing came. They were surrounded by boulders, rocks and stones; his magic should be strong here, but nothing came.
    It felt to Bel like they had been walking for days in what seemed like one long running, continuous dream. A nightmare, really. The silence was so heavy. His ears rang from the lack of sound. It was cold. He knew they would have to sleep soon. They couldn’t walk forever. And what then? They would have to take watches. Could he handle a master who decided he was going to drain him, even without his stones? Not likely. And all it took was one bite. A nip even. You couldn’t fight the poison. It even took a master. He knew he wouldn’t last long if he was bitten. Doubt, fear and now dread seeped from his every pore.
    Bel tried to push his mind back to fishing, the ocean and his family but it wouldn’t work. Not anymore. So he turned to Kerlith, “So. How’re you doing?”
    Kerlith looked at him like he was crazy. At least that’s what Bel thought but he couldn’t be sure, the light was so dim. “Don’t worry about it,” Kerlith replied.
    “When someone says that, there’s always something to worry about. That’s what my father used to say.”
    “I don’t want to talk about it and I don’t care what your father used to say. Just leave me alone.”
    “Sorry. Just making conversation. It’s too quiet out here. Silence is getting on my nerves.”
    Kerlith huffed then said, “Okay, then let’s talk. You want to know how I’m doing? Terrible. My master back there is dead. So now what do I do? I have no master. Yet, he still walks. I can’t just leave him; I have to take care of him. But he’s a ghoul. What does that make me?”
    “Hopefully we can close this breach and send him home.”
    “We have to try but for me it’s all over.”
    Bel tried to cheer him up, suddenly wishing he wouldn’t have started this conversation, “When we close the breach, all the lands will know who did it. You will find a new master then. No problem.”
    Kerlith seemed suddenly angry. “I know you mean well but at the moment I don’t feel like talking about it. Especially not with you. I don’t even like you. Sure, we went to school together and I tolerate you sometimes but at the moment I feel like if you fell off this mountain I wouldn’t even blink.”
    “Nice. Real nice. The true Kerlith comes out once again. Can’t keep that bottled up too long without letting it out, can you? Hey, I’m sorry your master died. That’s a tough break. But don’t take it out on me. I had nothing to do with it.”
    Nes’egrinon hissed, “Keep quiet you two. Don’t attract any unwanted attention.”
    Kerlith ignored the wizard. “Yeah, I know you had nothing to do with it. But you’re here right now.” Kerlith flicked his finger and a small stone rose up from the ground and pelted Bel on the face.
    Bel wanted to smash him but he knew he couldn’t. Kerlith always was kind of irritating, but now, with his master just dying, he had an excuse. “Listen Kerlith, I get the message. You don’t want to be bothered. I’ll leave you alone. Just quit throwing stones at