"Wizard -chapter 1-Fragment" by Dave Cripps

From up here Nai could see his entire world. On his free day he would climb to the top of his masters tower and gaze for hours across the city, sometimes it would be way past midday before he made up his mind to descend. Way below him the castle was laid out like one of his masters models small enough to grasp in his boyish hands. In front of him the city of Boduan stretched out before coming to a halt at the dockyards, he could clearly make out the walls jutting out into Trum Bay and the sea gate, open for now as a sleek elven ship made its way into the calm, sheltered harbour before the docks. The walls with their attendant road swept back inland to his right and left studded occasionally by defensive towers and barbican gateways.

Moving around the tower Nai could make out the small ant-like figures of travellers making their way to and from Boduan and other cities far away. To the southeast the mountain stronghold of Fadren, Nai had heard stories of Goblin raiders attacking that city, indeed he had watched the Kings Knights ride out to relieve it on more than one occasion.

To the northwest his hometown of Pen-Y-Trum, not as large as Boduan or even Fadren and consequently of little interest to the Goblin tribes. Pausing in his visual sweep of the city Nai wondered how his family were faring now after last winter. Smiling he remembered his older brothers, Terwyn and Huw, they would have helped his Da on the land and his sister Lydia would have help Ma. They would not have been left wanting for much.

Annoyingly Nai was still the ‘last little yellow chick’ in his mothers eyes even now he was an uncle to his elder brother Terwyn's new-born son Tomos. His Ma had cried when he had left nearly two years ago.

His master Aeron, the wizard, had spotted the ten year old Nai's potential when passing through Pen-Y-Trum. He had returned days later accompanied by no less than two of the Kings' Knights, which had caused quite a stir and had given his family a brief period of fame among their neighbours.

"This boy has the potential to become a great wizard one day," Aeron had told his Da in confidence, although Nai was eavesdropping he was still surprised later by Aerons' insistence that he travel with him back to Boduan, of all places, to take up an apprenticeship in the Kings' castle! How could his parents refuse the royal wizard, especially when they were offered an upkeep of ten gold crowns per year. Nai got half to pay for his expenses three were paid to his parents and two were kept in trust for them by Aeron. Overall this would ensure that his family would not find themselves in need with the loss of a son.

Nai although nearly twelve with his brown-red hair and thin frame was not very big for his age and would find himself the target of some of the other city lads' cruel jokes. If it wasn't for the friendship of one of the younger soldiers in the city guard he would be alone. His friend, Shadrack, was a few years older about sixteen and as tall as a tree though as thin as a branch yet strong for all his lack of muscle. The combination of Nai and Shadrack was enough to attract other lads into their small gang. And on their free days they would gather together to go on some adventure or other in the teeming city streets.

Far below him Nai could make out his master Aeron talking to someone he did not recognise. The woman, another wizard, for he could make out that much detail, was apparently having an argument with his master as they walked across the courtyard towards the Lady's House.

Near the inner bailey barbican he could make out the guard about to change. The relief saluted and took up their positions in a complex ritual which in the eyes of a small boy seemed very militaristic and impressive. But what really grabbed his attention was the lanky figure of Shadrack, two towels draped across his back making for the moat bridge. Sometimes it would be way past midday before he made up his mind to descend, but with Shadrack apparently going swimming Nai did not need to wait.