Part 58 (1/2)
I still couldn't believe that Lennox could craft
I grabbed his arm and took hin of This, or At the Sign of That; such a linguistic setup was coed Sword
I kid It was The Spyglass Cafe My pockets were empty I had no cash Lennox re thejaor, cinnamon-topped latte macchiatos, then he turned, and s the tiny silver coins ”I kneould be in Prague I saw it; as I'm sure did you”
He passed me a tiny coin and I looked at it It was staone unsaid, I really didn't knohere to begin Not saying orse than not knowing Perhaps Lennox had his reasons for never infors
”The vendor Was he a wizard?” I asked
Lennox had given the newspapericals, becoular money,” said Lennox ”He sahat he wanted to see”
Maybe I sahat I wanted to toohad I ever thought of that? But it eird to think the et , I told Lennoxbecause, let me tell you, I said to him, my eyes beheld
Primarily I wanted a dictionary of spellsif such a volues! Books were the order of the day Where were the books?
”That'll have to wait,” said Lennox ”Now tell me about Selwyn”
So he did know
Our drinks had coildisbrodir; enjoy!”
Mine hissed with soic Lennox thanked the waiter, who departed
For all the neon lights and coic, cracks in the wonderland were beginning to appear Don't look at the lights, I told myself I didn't want to be dissuaded froht Stillit couldn't hurt to at least peek, could it? Where was the Master House?
”Wellwhen you were goneI , Lennoxmy parents left me a House” I said ”Selwyn told me”
He put down his drink His hood was so low I saw only his eyes glowing out of the darkness I couldn't be sure but it looked like so like victory passed his eyes He obviously knew the power a Wiccan House entailed
”And e get backI' for it!” I proclaimed
House Rookmaaker I smiled fiendishly
My eyes probed for the Master Houseand then to Lennox's sleeve
”Hopefully, we can take care of that as well,” said Lennox
He asked for all the rest of the pertinent inforave to him: the marker; Selwyn; Veruschka Ravenseal (”So why she thinks she can winto is called Massimo's,” said Lennox ”But first, I think we should do soic word We spent two hours going through the stores Lennox wasn't kidding, when he said Praguers stayed up late It seeot As everyone ca of vaical inhabitants of the city were stocking up on things like aht us-stone
The lady who sold it, kept going on and on about its metaphysical properties ”It aids in communication, sir, 'tis a ainst weight gain, thus its position on the Mohs scale 'Tis also known as the Stone of Acceptance Will you receive it?
”And for you, Miss?” she asked me ”Ah, black onyx, combine it with silver as a raved with the word Italy,me feel homesick?
Lennox and I left the apothecary's shop, him with onyx, and me the apatite; onyx offered protection, and I liked that word (or should it be ward?)
I looked and looked for spell books, but there were none It can't be just the codex, I thought, disappointed Maybe crafting was an oral traditionspoken, not written down The only proble it with anyone, unless ere in a duel; by which point I wouldn't have very much to say to them anyway! Finally, I found the place
It was in an out-of-the-way dungheap, which didn't speak well for the literacy of wizards It was run by a pair of warlocks They reminded me of the S Bros, actually, Sandor and Septimusfinicky and like they knew stuff The shop was called Voettfangsand it was run by the Voettfang brothers, Sa over the threshold, a silver bell tinkled, and I felt a rush of immense pleasure It was just as a shop should look with ulected they were filled with duststacked right up to the ceiling, and all over the place Books were everywhere, and on all things I wanted to live here There was a spiral staircase which led to the next level It was like navigating a forest Stacks and stacks of books were in all directions They were siledy-piggledy wherever space could be found; and where there was no space one simply re-stacked the books toto find anything It was a mess Confused Out of order
”Not to worry,” said Sa, had his face in a book of nuht For such a sfacial hair was everywhere The Voettfangs werefor a book of spells,” I said
”Ah, now What degree are you? Nodon't tell uess A Neophyte, correct?”
”Wellyes,” I said
”Uh-huh,” said Sa Lennox had wandered off soh books by thedisplay An old-fashi+oned press, with movable type, sat in theI re nodded ”I know just the thing,” he said ”Nohere is it?” He began ruh his books They toppled on top of him ”Neophyte Neophyte N forHere we are!”
Pleased that he had not just pulled out The Idiot's Handbook to Beco Adept, I looked at the new volume ”Unadornedbut specifically for Neophytes,” he said
It looked rudimentary The title was NEOPHYTE: HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR FIRST YEAR OF MAGIC by Swillard Mannfall I'd already done that, thank you very, and sure she was rabbed it back ”Not to worry,” he said ”Advanced advanced Let ical Arts, Volu advanced-advanced Trying to be Adept, good on you!”
Perhaps he could see I wasn't kidding around
”Don't worry Not to worry Nohere is it?” he said
He dug through his books some more ”Ah-hah!” he finally shouted ”No, that's not it!” He looked like his shop had never let hi hie leather-bound to out of it ”Soboards knockedbut it will doit will do,” he said
He put it down on the counter where it thudded, causing the lightbulb next toBook,” he said ”If you want ure it out for yourself” It sounded perfect
”Book of Shadows, obviously well-beyond fledgede is kind of tricky Are you sure you don't want so to carry it out of the shop? Voettfang looked good-naturedly at me and I shook my head ”This is the oneI want this one,” I said
Lennox settled up with him I promised to pay him back, in full It went into my backpack, which was suddenly full (full of secrets and things to learn) The Everything Bookeven in ed
”A word of advicejust because you can do so