Wielder: Apprentice: Book 1 of Lady Shey's Story (The Wielder Cycle) Read Online Free

not remember the last time she wore a bow in her hair. “I would like that.”
    After Fawna had finished with her hair, Sheyna unfolded the blue dress and pulled it on. Fawna straightened the collar for her.
    “You have beautiful black hair,” Fawna said.
    “Thank you,” Sheyna replied.
    “What is your name? I don’t believe I have seen you around here before.”
    “Sheyna Namear.”
    “That’s a nice name. Where are you from, Sheyna? Namear sounds Ishraki. I used to travel through Ishrak with my mother as a child.”
    Sheyna thought the girl was a bit preoccupied with her place of origin. She was about to tell her she didn’t know where she was from, but before she could get the words out, Mavis appeared at the door and Fawna stood attentively.
    “All ready, I see,” Mavis said, looking over Fawna’s handiwork. “Oh yes, a definite improvement. You are a remarkably beautiful young woman under all that dirt. You should take more care.” She waved her on as she stepped out of the doorway. “Come along now, we will not have Mistress Enowene waiting any longer.”
    Sheyna’s heart began to pound again. She was not sure what Mistress Enowene was up to yet, but she had wits enough about her to know that Enowene knew she didn’t belong in the tower.
    As they entered the hallway, a blonde-haired girl with milky white skin and piercing hazel eyes stood outside of the doorway, staring at Sheyna with suspicion. Her face was as radiant as the women on the tapestries in Mistress Enowene’s chamber.
    “Hello,” Sheyna greeted.
    The girl looked at Mavis, who nodded in return. The girl turned back to Sheyna with forced pleasantry. “Hello,” she said, trying to sound friendly and failing.
    “Come now, girls, Mistress Enowene is waiting. The hour grows late, and you two have studies at daybreak.”
    Not I, thought Sheyna.
    Mavis led the two girls into Mistress Enowene’s chamber. She cleared her throat. “Mistress Enowene, I have brought the two girls as instructed.”
    Enowene looked up from her parchment and quill pen. “Ah, very good, Mavis, you may leave us now.”
    Mavis glared at Sheyna with disappointment. “As you wish, mistress.” She left the room muttering to herself as she pulled the door shut behind her. Clearly she was hoping to hear Sheyna’s fate.
    “Have I done something wrong, Mistress Enowene?” Marella asked.
    Enowene rose from her chair and moved to the front of her desk. She gently leaned on the front edge.
    Marella went pale—Sheyna thought she could not become any paler—and then she blushed.
    “Forgive me, mistress. I speak out of turn.”
    “Good, now, I brought you here for a reason, but first I wish to speak with Sheyna alone. Marella, please return to the hallway.”
    Marella gave Sheyna a contemptuous look and exited the room.
    Sheyna started to feel queasy. She knows my name! “I am sorry. I—”
    “Be silent, dear,” Enowene interrupted. “I am not interested in sorry. I have seen you before.”
    Sheyna attempted to speak again but fell silent. She was certain Enowene could see the fear on her face.
    “Not to fear, Sheyna, I have been keeping an eye on you in your hiding place in the old guard tower in the courtyard wall. I had hoped you would stay there a bit longer, but you seem to have exposed yourself to Mavis. Now I suppose I will have to pass you off as an apprentice.” She moved back behind her desk. “I shall have that wall repaired now that you are not going to be using it any longer.”
    “But all my things are in there.”
    “You will retrieve whatever you deem important to you.” Sheyna’s perplexed expression did not change. “I see you are still confused. I am afraid that I cannot give you all the answers you seek quite yet. However, I will tell you what I know. As soon as I can, I will get you out of this tower to a place of safety. This tower is being watched. There are people searching for you. At the moment, you will live inside where I can