I need a real title for this book.     I will be posting the next chapter every now and then currently I am working on the 5th chapter so keep you eyes peeled for new entries.

Chapter I

From Peasantry to Wizardry

Archaon was a twelve year-old peasant. He worked in the fields of a noble, Roderick the Wealthy of Hickory Shire. He toiled each day by breaking the clods of dirt a part left behind from the plow along with dozens of other peasants. Until, on the night of mid-summer’s eve as he laid shivering in the wattle and daub peasant shack unable to sleep, despite his exhaustion from the day of work, when he heard a rasping knock at the wicker door. Though why someone would be knocking at a peasant shack and after the stroke of twelve he couldn’t guess. As he shuffled clumsily to the door; the knock on the door became increasingly faster and louder. When he opened the door and something hard hit him and pain slid over his whole shin, but due to his weariness the pain was unnoticeable.

            “Oh, sorry about that fellow,” said the tall and dark figure silhouetted against the starry sky, with a staff in his hand, will you come with me, to where I live? I promise to provide you with good food, shelter, and most valuable you will learn, practice, of wizardry.” Archaon being a peasant had no idea of what wizardry, sorcery, witchcraft, or any other type of magic was, but at the prospects of good food and shelter, his will was quite bendable.

“Good, do you have any possessions or things of value you wish to keep?” Archaon slowly began to nod his head side to side; meaning no. “No one ever seems to these days,” mumbled the odd man. “Then will you accept my offer and come with me.  Archaon accepted. The strange man led him to a cross road on the edge of Roderick the Wealthy’s land. Here he saw several robed figures all cloaked and mounted on horses with a child saddled in front of them. Archaon and the man that had beckoned him here took the same position as the other cloaked riders. Where they were going or which way they took to get there He once again could not guess because. Soon after the company began their journey Archaon’s body finally succumbed to sleep.

            Archaon was awakened by the odd man gently shaking him. “Wake up, wake up, come on you sleepy thing wake up,” The man said in an irritated voice. Archaon arose to find himself surrounded by a stone barbican of a castle. The company passed through a court yard divided into four equally divided quadrants, by a sand stone walkway. Archaon followed the path with his eyes to the center were all four quadrants met and there stood a lichen-dappeled statue, surrounded by a ring of sparkling water, depicting a wizard with a pointed, wide-brimmed hat, a staff in his right hand, long flowing robe, and a abundant beard that hung all the way to the wizard’s scripted belt. They continued on through four smaller courtyards all in a similar design, but each with unique and very different ground characteristics. 

Entering the first courtyard Archaon saw extremely thick, and lush, green grass. The second, however, was brown, shriveled, and even charred in some areas; The third courtyard had ground that looked as if it had been plowed up by a mad ox. Lastly, the fourth yard had grass that was blown flat to the ground in random patterns, creating tuffs and riges, as if stormy winds had chosen that field over the others to blow it over.

They passed through a carefully tended garden, a very small courtyard with people young and old, playing chess and there were many robed people striding this way and that.  When the company reached the castle, Archaon and the other children were led through many hallways, vaults, and corridors until they reached the Great Hall. The Great Hall had four long tables running lengthwise with the Great Hall, then there was a table that ran perpendicular to the four other tables, and at the far back of the room was a large throne like chair with velvet fabric and a dark wood frame. In the chair sat an elderly wizard with his staff across his lap and ornate wizard hat upon his head.

“Welcome, children. You have been brought here from slavery, peasantry, being beggars, and orphans; to live here with food, shelter, company, and most valuable the learning of wizardry. Does anybody have any objections to this?” No one replied and the only sound heard was the shuffling of children’s feet. “Good, I was hoping no one would. Tomorrow, you will each select your own staff, your staff will allow you to manipulate and use the magic that is generated in the staff. Once you have received your staff you will be classified as a minor wizard, once you have learned and can comprehend all of the basic ways using your staff; you will then be recognized as a wizard. Once you have mastered the art of wizardry, you will be ranked as an Arch Wizard. Being an Arch Wizard enables you to replace the current head wizard if you are appointed by him, the current head wizard is, me Finaes Ridiax. So we are clear, you are to work- nay, persist in increasing your experience and moving though the ranks; take your time and do it right. Now,    appointed wizards will take you to your rooms. You are allowed to personalize your rooms anyway you wish, unless it is damaging to the castle or its contents. Tomorrow your training will begin as minor wizards, Farewell….”