Лайон Спрэг Де Камп Array - The Incomplete Enchanter

«I feel no sudden access of strength,» he remarked. «The spell must be very subtle. Or perhaps it is one you use on yourself — no, that could not be, for Cambina’s magic prevented the use of such spells at the tournament. Hey, Grimbald!» He reached across and touched the blue-cowled man on Shea’s other side. «He beat two of the most renowned knights of Faerie with this toothpick!»

«Aye,» replied the other, looking up from his plate, «including one of ours.» He addressed Shea directly. «Knew you not that Blandamour and Paridell, though they wear the Faerie livery, are in the service of this Chapter? Nay, you’re not a member — how could you? But ’ware both in the future.»

That explained a lot, thought Shea: the actions of the two knights, for one thing; and for another, why the magicians were so polite to him, though his rating was no more than that of an apprentice. There would be something practically supernatural about modern fencing technique to these people.

* * *

Busyrane had arranged his hair so that the light failing through the stained-glass window touched it to a halo. He might have been some kindly saint as he began:

«Magical sirs and ladies: Many are the pleasures that have fallen to our lot, but none equal to that of beholding you here assembled beneath our humble roof to carry on the good name and high purpose of magic. Ah, how much better and brighter a world it were if all in it could but know you all — could but see you all. My friends —»

The afternoon was warm, the lunch had been ample, and Shea had a feeling of having heard something like this before. His eyelids began to weigh on him. The smooth voice rolled on:

«— in the days of King Huon of glorious and blessed memory, my friends, when we lived a more abundant life —»

Shea felt himself itching, now here, now there, now all over. He made one more effort to keep awake, then lapsed into an unashamed doze.

He was aroused by a mild patter of applause. Busyrane’s place was taken by the keeper of ye archives, Courromont, a thin-lipped, bloodless-looking man, who hardly moved his mouth as he read:

«At the council of the Enchanters’ Chapter on August 1st following the address of our beloved archimage six members were advanced in grade from apprentice to journeyman and one journeyman member to wit the esteemed Sournoy was advanced to the full rank of master magician it was furthermore decided to raise the annual dues from seven and a half to ten elfars papers were read at the professional session by Master Magicians Malvigen and Denfero with various works of magical prowess in illustration it was furthermore resolved in the executive session to empower a special committee for drastic action against certain representatives of the Old Order whose activities have become threatening to wit the knight Sir Cambell and Belphebe of the Woods and the Princess Britomart the knights of the Chapter Blandamour and Paridell were accordingly —»

Shea came wide awake, but there were no details. Busyrane merely asked if it were moved and seconded that the minutes be accepted. They were.

Voulandoure’s fat face shone greasily in the heat as he droned off figures and urged members to pay their dues on time. What could those plans for drastic action have been? Presumably the late Malvigen had tried one of them when he got Belphebe’s arrow through him, but what else?

His attention was snapped back by Busyrane’s use of his name: «— proposed that the magicians Reed de Chalmers and Harold de Shea be admitted with the ranks of master magician and apprentice. If these gentlemen will kindly leave the room —»

Outside, Shea said softly; «Did you hear what they said about Belphebe?»

«Dear me, yes. Duessa seems quite determined on that point. She used a most vulgar term in speaking of her — one normally employed in the. uh. propagation of dogs. When —»

«What are they going to do? Specifically?» Shea’s voice was urgent.

«I —» The door opened and a voice called: «Master Reed de Chalmers.»

* * *

Shea was left to fidget for five minutes before being summoned. Busyrane grasped him by the hand at the door and led him to the front of the hall. «We present to you the apprentice Harold de Shea as a member of this Chapter,» he said. «A very worthy magical person, adept in the production of strange monsters, adroit in enchantments connected with the profession of arms. Apprentice Harold de Shea» — he turned towards the new member — «as members of a high intellectual calling we despise the silly ceremonies of admission such as the court uses for its orders of knighthood. Therefore, we will merely bid you welcome; but doubtless the other apprentices will have something to say to you tomorrow night after the Black Mass.»

Voulandoure came over and squeezed Shea’s hand in his own thick, moist ones. «My ’gratulations, also, magical sirs!» He lowered his voice. «May I point out the initiation fee —»

«Ahem,» said Chalmers, who had joined the group. «How much?»

«Fifty elfars for yourself, Master Magician Reed, and twenty-five for ’Prentice Harold.»

Chalmers looked slightly stricken. He fished out the money bag. His face showed some relief, but not much, when its contents proved adequate «I should think,» he remarked, «that with so many fine magicians about, you’d have no difficulty in conjuring up. uh. all necessary funds.»

A shadow crossed the face of ye keeper of ye moneys. «Alas, magical sir, our great problem! ’Tis a department involving the use of the philosophers’ stone and the blood of infants, this much we know. But our research in the question had been interrupted by the activities of that curst court and the Companions, and I fear me we shall never succeed till we rid ourselves of them.»

«Aye,» said Dolon. «The one who came nearest the solution was the enchantress Acrasia. She did make a conjured gold that was all but permanent; met every test, and would only turn to ashes when one pronounced a Pater Noster. But where’s Acrasia now? Eh? Dead, down and drownded by one of Gloriana’s Companions, a murrain on them all!»

«Good Master Dolon!» It was Busyrane. «The professional meeting is called, and I doubt not the other masters are as eager as we ourselves to hear your paper.»

Shea found the fuzzy-haired youth at his elbow. «D’you play at checks? We ’prentices are left much to our own devisings when the masters gabble.»

«Checks?»

«Aye, you know, king, queen, knight, fool, pawn, check and you’re mate. I’m hand in glove with one of Busyrane’s imps, who’ll furnish us a mug or two of musty ale to pass the time while we play.»

It sounded an attractive programme. But Shea remembered that chess game afterward. The fuzz-haired apprentice was not naturally a good player. Shea beat him in the first two games easily, winning the small bets the youth insisted on «to make the sport more interesting». Then the musty ale or the youth’s magic too late Shea remembered what profession he was an apprentice in, rose up and bit him. The fuzzy one’s pieces turned up in the most unexpected places, executing the most astonishing gambits and combinations. With every new defeat Shea grew more annoyed. Whether through annoyance or the musty ale, he began offering to double the bets for the next one.

When the doors at the end of the hall were flung open and the master magicians emerged, the fuzzy youth was remarking gaily: «That makes eighty-six elfars, sixteen you stand in my debt. Ha-ha, that reminds me. Did I ever tell you about the journeyman Sligon, who owed my master, Voulandoure, sixty elfars over a box of dice? He refused to pay — said he couldn’t — even when Vouldandoure sent him a plague of boils. Well, wasn’t it funny, when Sligon was playing with his own cat one day, that he should turn into a fish? I say a good magician should never lack for money, when there are people who can be kidnapped and ransomed. Don’t you agree?»