Apprentices are not really meant to talk to each other about the various rituals which take place during our training. I have, of course, longed to talk to someone my own age about my experiences here, if not just to get a sense of whether anyone else’s training has been as confusing as mine. Occasionally, often when we’re eating together, someone will make an oblique reference to one of the ceremonies, and everyone will pretend they didn’t hear it while desperately looking around the table to get a sense of whether the word has resonated with anyone else.The ceremony I’d never heard mention of is The Endowment. When I was called for mine, I even looked the word up in a dictionary to see if it would give me any sense of what to expect. It didn’t. All I knew was that my Endowment was to be overseen by Master Scott and this was information which made me feel considerably calmer about things. The truth is that I’ve found myself powerfully drawn to Master Scott ever since I arrived here and, a few months ago, when I was finally given the opportunity to yield to him, I accepted it gladly.I was …More
