The Watchmage of Old New York (The Watchmage Chronicles Book 1) Read Free Page A

pattern.  Chaos into Order.  Magic.
    While only true wizards can build enough energy to weave at will, anyone with the right training can cast simple magic using the elements within them.  They’re called magelings, and part of my responsibility is to enforce The Star of Nine’s laws for and against them.
    The human body can produce a small amount of energy.  Magelings often draw their power from other objects: candles, herbs, gemstones and the like.  Doctor Dee—advisor to Elizabeth the First—was famous for his collection of crystal balls.  Some other magelings draw their powers from more nefarious places.
    I know the lure of magic, and I do my best to teach those that want to learn.  My present student is the brightest that I have ever had, and he’s in for a surprise today.
    “Hendricks,” I called from my basement laboratory.  I heard the shuffling of feet, and the boy rushed down the stairs.
    “You called, sir?”
    “I wish to talk to you.  Come closer, my boy.”
    He walked the fifty feet from the stairs to the center of my laboratory, where I stood next to a desk stacked with books.  My laboratory needed to be large. I keep the teaching area away from my experiments, which are separate from the summoning circles, which are far from my potions, crystals, and other curiosities.  Of course, the entire room had to be completely free of dust, dirt, and grime.  A stray hair or speck of dust could be disastrous for the wrong spell.  The entire room was actually a pocket inside of the Veil.  This protected Turtle House in case of an accident.  Why should everyone suffer for my carelessness?
    Geebee (my housekeeper) does an excellent job of keeping the laboratory spotless.  She’s the younger daughter of Pellofun, a Gnome that has homesteaded on this land since before I was born.  Gnomes, along with their ancestral rival, Goblins, were the first of the Dweller races to come to Manhattan.  Many came along with the Dutch and Huguenots.
    “What is it, sir?” Hendricks’ Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he spoke. His voice was high and quivery.
    “How long have I been teaching you?”
    “Three years, sir.  Since I was fifteen.”
    “Yes.”  I rubbed my whiskers and turned my smile into a frown. “Hendricks…Ezekiel…I fear that you have reached the limits of your humours.”
    “I see, sir.”  His eyes slowly fell downward, like an old man dozing.
    “You have one of the keenest minds that I’ve ever known.  I’ll not let your potential go to waste.  You have the talent, but you lack the power.”
    “I don’t understand, sir.”
    I couldn’t hold the frown any longer. “This should add what you lack.”  I reached into my vest pocket and withdrew a pendant and chain.  “I empowered this with my own Chaos Seed.  It’ll need replenishing after a time, but it should provide the power to perform true magic.”  I tossed him the chain.  He fumbled it, but recovered before it hit the ground.  “I know you’re a man of faith so I forged it as a cross.”
    Hendricks was quiet, his cheeks flushed red.  “I’m speechless, sir.”
    “An apprentice calls his teacher ‘Master.’ Tradition, and all.”  I summoned a small amount of Chaos and traced a rune in the air.  A leather-bound book flew from a bookcase and into my hands.  I gave it to Hendricks.  “You’ll need this as well.  The first ten pages are filled with runes that you already know.  The rest is blank.  Fill it as you will.”
    He thumbed through the pages.  Joy shone from his face like a newly lit lamp.
    “Of course, this means that I’ll expect more of you.  It’s not easy work, and it’ll push your mind to its limits. Can you do this?”
    He closed the book.  “Yes, sir,” he quickly added, “Master.”
    “Excellent.  Now if you don’t mind, I have an annoyance in Five Points to deal with.”  My head ached with the thought.  “Study those runes, but don’t try anything dangerous