MA02 Myth Conceptions Read Free Page B

existence of ridiculousness as reality. Now try explaining the court magician thing to me again.”
    We resumed walking as Aahz organized his thoughts. For a change, Gleep trailed placidly along beside Buttercup instead of taking off on another of his exploratory side trips.
    “See if this makes any sense,” Aahz said finally. “Court magicians don’t do much ... magically, at least. They’re primarily kept around for show, as a status symbol to demonstrate a court is advanced enough to rate a magician. It’s a rare occasion when they’re called upon to do anything. If you were a jester, they’d work your tail off, but not as a magician. Remember, most people are skittish about magik, and use it as seldom as possible.”
    “If that’s the case,” I said confidently, “I’m qualified. I’ll match my ability to do nothing against any magician on Klah.”
    “No argument there,” Aahz observed drily. “But it’s not quite that easy. To hold the job takes next to no effort at all. Getting the job can be an uphill struggle.”
    “Oh!” I said, surprised.
    “Now to get the job, you’ll have to impress the king and probably his advisors,” Aahz continued. “You’ll have to impress them with you, not with your abilities.”
    “How’s that again?” I frowned.
    “Look, kid. Like I said, a court magician is window-dressing, a showpiece. They’ll be looking for someone they want to have hanging around their court, someone who is impressive whether or not he ever does anything. You’ll have to exude confidence. Most important, you’ll have to look like a magician ... or at least, what they think a magician looks like. If you can dress like a magician, talk like a magician, and act like a magician, maybe no one will notice you don’t have the abilities of a magician.”
    “Thanks, Aahz,” I grimaced. “You’ll really doing wonders toward building my confidence.”
    “Now don’t sulk,” Aahz admonished. “You know how to levitate reasonably large objects, you can fly after a fashion, and you’ve got the disguise spell down pat. You’re doing pretty well for a rank novice, but don’t kid yourself into believing you’re anywhere near full magician status.”
    He was right, of course, but I was loathe to admit it.
    “If I’m such a bumbling incompetent,” I said stiffly, “why are we on our way to establish me as a court magician?”
    Aahz bared his teeth at me in irritation.
    “You aren’t listening, kid,” he snarled. “Holding the job once you’ve got it will be a breeze. You can handle that now. The tricky part will be getting you hired. Fortunately, with a few minor modifications and a little coaching, I think we can get you ready for polite society.”
    “Modifications such as what?” I asked, curious despite myself.
    Aahz made a big show of surveying me from head to foot.
    “For a start,” he said, “there’s the way you dress.”
    “What’s wrong with the way I dress?” I countered defensively.
    “Nothing at all,” he replied innocently. “That is, if you want people to see you as a bumpkin peasant with dung on his boots. Of course, if you want to be a court magician, well that’s another story. No respectable magician would be caught dead in an outfit like that.”
    “But, I am a respectable magician!” I argued.
    “Really? Respected by who?”
    He had me there, so I lapsed into silence.
    “That’s specifically the reason I had the foresight to bring along a few items from the inn,” Aahz continued, indicating Buttercup’s burdens with a grand sweep of his hand.
    “And here I thought you were just looting the place,” I said drily.
    “Watch your mouth, kid,” he warned. “This is all for your benefit.”
    “Really? You aren’t expecting anything at all out of this deal?”
    My sarcasm, as usual, was lost on him.
    “Oh, I’ll be around,” he acknowledged. “Don’t worry about that. Publicly, I’ll be your apprentice.”
    “My apprentice?”
    This job