The City of Ravens by Richard Baker Read Free Book Online Page B

fellowship with a mage of the highest caliber and most impressive credentials,” Jack said.
    “And who would that be?” said the old man.
    Jack glared at the doorman. “Why, me, of course! Whom else could I possibly be referring to?”
    “Ah, I see,” said the doorman. “Well, why don’t you come in, and I’ll summon Master Meritheus to discuss your potential for membership.”
    ” ‘Potential for membership’, indeed! Why, the Dread Delgath should—”
    “Right this way, sir,” the old man said.
    He turned and scurried inside so quickly that Jack had to dart after him in a most undignified manner in order to make sure he was inside rather than out when the door creaked closed again. Jack found himself standing in a dark-paneled foyer, dim and dusty, the air thick
    with dust and the faint, mysterious scents of exotic incense and alchemical experiments. The old man was nowhere in sight.
    Jack waited a long moment, and then, just as he was about to strike off on his own, he was surprised by the sudden appearance of a tall, heavyset wizard in voluminous robes. The wizard was a young man with a round, sallow face and a drooping black mustache; he resembled nothing so much as an overfed house cat with a lazy inch-nation to toy with its prey.
    “I am Meritheus. So, you’re interested in Guild membership?” he said in a bored voice.
    “The Dread Delgath is indeed interested,” Jack said. “In fact, the Dread Delgath is so pleased by your magnificent guild house and your friendly porter that he shall refrain from charging you for the privilege of his company. Access to your library shall be sufficient for his compensation today.”
    Meritheus merely raised an eyebrow. “Our thanks. Now might I see some small demonstration of your powers? We would like to ascertain whether or not you are really a wizard before we consider your application.”
    “Under normal circumstances the Dread Delgath might incinerate you for your insolence, demonstrating his powers quite thoroughly!” boomed Jack. “However, the Dread Delgath is from time to time moved to small and compassionate acts, and thus he refrains from destroying you utterly. Attend, sir!” He reached out and seized the magic in the way he always had, shaping a spell of chaotic energy that swirled around him in a green spiral.
    In the blink of an eye, Jack stood behind the wizard. He reached out and tapped the fellow on the shoulder; when the Guild wizard turned, he disappeared again, now standing back in his original spot. He tapped the wizard
    on the other shoulder, and then magicked himself to the top of a nearby bookshelf, where he perched like a brightly colored bird.
    “Witness how the Dread Delgath masters time and space! I can be here—” he vanished, taking up a position on the other side of the hall— “or there!” — now standing on his head at the opposite end of the hall. He vanished again, appearing right before the young wizard. “Or anywhere, for that matter!”
    The young wizard frowned. “I have seen spells such as that before, but I did not see how you cast it. Are you using some kind of magical device to accomplish your teleportations?”
    “Faugh! The Dread Delgath needs no crutch to employ his magic!” Jack thundered. He dropped the iron rod to the floor and repeated his instantaneous vanishings again. “My magic is simply too advanced for one of your minuscule accomplishments to comprehend!”
    Meritheus pulled a small notebook or ledger from the sleeve of his robe and readied a pen. “HI take your word for that,” he said dryly. He looked Jack up and down, and then started to write. “Name: Delgath—”
    “The Dread Delgath!”
    “The Dread Delgath, then. Specialty: None—” “Master of time and space!”
    “Very well, then. Specialty: Master of time and space.” Meritheus narrowed his eyes and scratched angrily at his book. “Rank at entry… your spell of demonstration would seem to indicate full membership over