Melancthe stepped up to the tower's gate with some trepidation. The grove around the Telvin Tower was filled with foul smelling, dark flowered vegitation, and there were a noticable lack of bird song or insects. The handwritten note had warned her not to leave the path under any circumstances, and she had followed that advice to the letter.
She rang the door knocker, and there was an ominous booming noise from within. After a few moments the door opened, and there stood an old man with greying hair and an untidy beard. His eyes were slightly wild, and Melancthe saw that they were instantly filled with lust.
It wasn't that surprising. She was a beautiful young girl of twenty years, with dark brown hair and a slender body that she knew men found desirable. She was wearing her finest green dress, which stopped at her knees and looked remarkably cheap next to the enchanter's fine robes.
"Melancthe, I take it?" The man said. He smiled, without any trace of friendliness. Melancthe could see that he was mentally undressing her as they spoke, his eyes settled somewhere around her small chest, and it made her distinctly uncomfortable.
"Yes, sir. I've come as instructed to be your apprentice."
"Yes, yes, good. Come in!"
The man stepped back and allowed her into the tower. It smelled of rot. Shields and swords hung on the walls, although clearly its master was not one for their use.
The old man waved a hand forwards. "Come with me to my room. We have much to discuss."
Melancthe was feeling slightly sick with nerves, but she followed the old man as he walked at some pace through the winding corridors of the tower. Her burgoning magic powers and sharp wits were the only thing that could possily lift her life out of the horrors of peasantry. She had no wish to spend the rest of her days plowing the fields or bringing up children for shepherds! Kohorn had an awful reputation, but as the King's Enchanter he was also the most powerful and influential of his order. If she could impress him as his apprentice, she could learn an enormous amount.
Eventually they passed into a small study with a log fire, a table piled with crumpled notes and elegant, ancient tomes, and an oak chair. Kohorn settled into the oak chair with a sigh and gazed at his new apprentice appreciatively.
With a note of alarm, Melancthe saw that there was a growing bulge in his robes.
"You are indeed as beautiful as they say," Kohorn said. "You must be very proud."
Melancthe didn't know how to respond. She could feel her face flushing.
"You have come to learn the ancient ways. I will teach you, although a simple girl like you might take years to pick up even the most basic of cantrips. But let me be very clear with you, girl, right from the outset. I demand absolute obedience, is that understood? I simply cannot have any risks to my magics from a girl like you getting in the way at a crucial moment. Is that understood?"
Melancthe nodded. "I understand, but - "
"No! You will speak only when I ask you to."
Melancthe fell silent and stood uncomfortably.
The old man leaned forward on his desk slightly and looked at her with glittering eyes. "Now, you will demonstrate your obedience to me, or leave. Please remove that dress."
Melancthe felt her heart drop at his words.
"I - but - "
"Stop gawking, girl! You heard me. I want you to demonstrate your obedience to me. Its a simple request! Now take it off or leave, I care not."
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