THE MAGICIAN'S APPRENTICE
Author: J.A. Jaken (jajakenfiction@gmail.com)
Length: 108,000 words
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure, M/M Romance
Blurb:
Jander Teregnan has never wanted anything more than to become a mage--to serve his king and defend his country as he explores his natural talent at commanding the strange power known as magic. Of course every apprentice needs a master, which comes with its own set of challenges...especially when the master he's chosen for himself is none other than Andrei Teresh, personal advisor to the king and master mage of the city of Vallerin. Andrei, however, has more pressing problems on his mind than dealing with the unsolicited advances of one untrained mage-apprentice.
Jander Teregnan has never wanted anything more than to become a mage--to serve his king and defend his country as he explores his natural talent at commanding the strange power known as magic. Of course every apprentice needs a master, which comes with its own set of challenges...especially when the master he's chosen for himself is none other than Andrei Teresh, personal advisor to the king and master mage of the city of Vallerin. Andrei, however, has more pressing problems on his mind than dealing with the unsolicited advances of one untrained mage-apprentice.
A fierce and merciless army of unknown intent is sweeping across the land, threatening the kingdom he has sworn to protect. Even worse, dragons--long thought to have withdrawn from the world of mankind--are emerging once again and spreading chaos in their wake. Somehow, Jander must find a way to help; not only to prove that he can be of use in the defense of his kingdom and become a mage, but also to secure his place at the side of the man he hopes to claim as master both of his magic and his heart.
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Excerpt:
"There's Teresh."
Boaen's voice snapped Jander from his reverie, and he stared
across the crowded floor to the far end of the hall, where he caught his first
glimpse of the master mage known as Andrei Teresh.
The first thought that crossed his mind was that this
couldn't be the great sorcerer he had come to find, and right on the heels of
that was a second thought...stunning. Teresh was a large man, standing
head and shoulders above most of the others in the crowd, his strong form
draped in a clinging earth-brown robe that looked totally incongruous among the
brightly dressed courtiers. His hair was a deep golden brown and thick, cut
chin-length at the sides and tied back in a short knob at the base of his neck
in a severe style that accentuated the stern lines of his bearded face. His
eyes were chips of dark mahogany, cold and hard. The sight of them sent an
inexplicable shiver down Jander's spine.
"I didn't know he'd be so...so...."
"Fuckable?" Jander glared at his friend with
barely contained irritation, and Boaen held up his hands in surrender,
laughing. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry." After the slightest pause, he
added, "But he is, isn't he?"
Boaen's irreverence notwithstanding, the other man was
absolutely right. Jander cleared his throat uncomfortably. "He looks very
intimidating."
"That's just part of the wizardly mystique." Boaen
spoke with the casual flippancy of one who is well-versed in such matters.
"You'll learn how to do that, too, once you become a mage. It's all a part
of the act. We normal folks are supposed to feel intimidated by your
kind."
Jander was slightly put out by the phrase "your
kind" but sensed that his friend meant nothing hurtful by it. Gathering
his courage, he handed his wineglass to Boaen and lifted one hand to stroke
down Gabrielle's smooth flank before setting off into the crowd.
The crowd faded to nothing around him as he approached the
stately figure of Andrei Teresh. Jander had eyes only for the mage. His heart
pounded with nervousness as he drew near, and the magic seemed to whisper in
rising excitement around him. Teresh was engaged in a low conversation with one
of the guards stationed by the rear door that opened further into the palace,
but his eyes moved to Jander as the younger man approached. One elegant eyebrow
rose fractionally in silent question.
"Master Teresh," Jander said, bowing slightly. His
heart was hammering in his chest, threatening to choke the breath from his
lungs. "I've come a long way to find you."
"Have you?" It wasn't really a question. There was
a note of mild amusement to the voice that made Jander flush darkly.
"Yes. I...I want to be a mage." The words spilled
from him now; he couldn't stop them if he tried. "I want you to teach me.
I have the talent, I know I do. I want to learn. It's all I've ever wanted.
Please, sir, I want you to take me on as your apprentice, and train me in the
ways of magic." He paused, breathless, and waited for Teresh's reply.
The mage was regarding him with a certain degree of amused
tolerance. "So you want to be a mage, do you?" His tone was not
particularly kind. "I'd guess you were more suited to being someone's
bedservant, wouldn't you?" The guard behind him smirked rudely.
Jander felt his hands clench at his sides and stared up at
the man in open astonishment. "Master Teresh...?"
Teresh nodded towards something over Jander's shoulder, and
Jander turned to see Boaen standing at the periphery of the room, watching the
confrontation anxiously. "Go back to your tutor, boy," Teresh said.
"You'll have to find easier marks than me."
It was clearly a dismissal. Mustering up what was left of
his dignity, Jander turned and walked away, his cheeks flaming. Boaen met him
halfway across the floor and clutched at his sleeve fretfully. "What is
it? What happened?"
"He said no." Jander's voice was frigid. He didn't
know which hurt more—the humiliation he felt or the absolute certainty that he
had been treated unfairly. Either way, it stung. "Can we leave now?"
"Just like that? He just turned you down? Why?"
Boaen was relentless.
"I'm not sure, but I believe he thinks I'm a
whore." The absolute absurdity of such an assumption made his cheeks flame
all the hotter.
Boaen was silent at that. He appeared to be thinking. After
a lengthy pause, he said, "So that's it, then? You're just going to pack
it in and run home with your tail between your legs?"
"What would you have me do, Boaen?"
"Not give up, for one thing. Nothing worthwhile is ever
gained on the first try." He looped one arm around Jander's shoulders and
started weaving a path toward the open front doors. Lowering his voice, he
said, "You, my friend, need to learn the fine art of seduction."
Jander ground to a halt. "What...?"
Boaen laughed. "Figuratively speaking, of course. You
can't expect Teresh to take on just anyone as his apprentice. You have
to hunt him a little. Seduce him."
"And how do you suggest I go about doing that?"
Half-sarcastic, half not.
Jander's questioning gaze was met by a wicked
flash of those deep emerald eyes. "Leave that to me, my friend. You just
leave that to me."
Author bio:
J.A. Jaken has been writing fictional stories and novels for more than ten years, most frequently in the fantasy and science fiction genres. She got her start in the profession writing slash fanfiction, where she has published numerous stories under the pen-name Rushlight. Over the years she has written short stories and novels in genres ranging from science fiction/fantasy to gothic horror to modern detective mysteries, most with at least a touch of m/m romance to them. She lives at home in the southwestern U.S. with her college-aged son, a cat, and the family Rottweiler. Outside of writing, her interests include studying foreign languages, practicing martial arts, riding horses, and collecting medieval weaponry.
Author's Links:
Author's email: jajakenfiction@gmail.com
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Author's Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3525941.J_A_Jaken
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