Driz aspires to be a great mage but he’s done poorly the last few years of his schooling and cannot enter the mage university. Instead he seeks a mentor in the remnants of the once-great magical race of Melcovia, now mostly driven into hiding by the brutal government of dictator Congerson.<br><br>Cory has hidden out in a remote estate in the foothills of the great mountains and sorely misses contact with others of his kind. When he hears a telepathic call from a youth seeking a mentor and master, it seems a dream come true. But will the young man find him? Can he buckle down enough to learn the discipline and control he needs? And can he ever become the true partner and soul-mate Cory has never found?<br><br>When Congerson’s minions and a rogue mage strike the last empowered folk in Melcovia, Driz’s family is in dire peril. He must choose between staying to work with Cory or breaking his indenture to try to save his mother and siblings. Which will it be?

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

He didn’t dare try to reach for his mother, as badly as he wanted to. That was just too dangerous because he could not guarantee the shield would hide a telepathic shout of that strength. Suddenly, he felt as if they’d come up against yet another wall, although nothing tangible was there. Instinct told him the prisoners deemed most powerful and thus most dangerous were held there, inside a third spell-wall set by the rogue mage. Would they be able to break through it? He fought down his doubt and fear lest it weaken him and spread to the others.


Within a few heartbeats, most of the strike force assembled again, the work of clearing the first section accomplished. They huddled together, touching, to expedite communication in the least obtrusive way possible.


::What now?::It seemed they all looked to Cory for leadership and direction. One grizzled elder perhaps should have had that role, still, for whatever reason, he deferred to the younger mage.


Chapter 16