Wish I Could Help

Wilfort ov Hobnosta took the coffee pot from the ornate metal stove that stood in the middle of his small parlor and poured himself a cup. It was early autumn and there was a chill outside that made him welcome the warmth of both the stove and the coffee. He had no appointments for the day, so Wilfort was planning to spend it reading the book his friend Professor Oswold ov Stanfelda had sent him. The shelves that lined the walls of the little room were filled with a huge number of books, but he had no trouble finding the volume he wanted.1

There was a large oak desk near the bay window where it would get the most light. Wilfort had just settled in there with his book and his coffee when the doorbell rang. For a moment, he considered ignoring it and waiting for whoever was there to go away, but he decide against that. It might be something important and then he would regret not having answered it.2

The young man who was standing outside when Wilfort opened the door certainly did not look very important. He was thin, not very well dressed and he kept glancing about nervously.3

"May I help you?", Wilfort asked.4

"Oh...yes. Is this the house of Wilfort ov Hobnosta...the Wizard?"5

Wilfort nodded, "It is and I am Wilfort ov Hobnosta."6

Although the young man tried, he could not hide his surprise very well. "You're the wizard? I was..."7

He waited a moment for his visitor to continue, but when it became apparent he was not going to, Wilfort finished his remark for him. "You were expecting someone more impressive...tall, a little menacing, with a long beard." Wilfort was none of those things. He was a short, fat man with a soft face and a gentle smile. He had tried growing a beard several times, but it always itched so much that he soon shaved it off. "I may not look it, but I really am a wizard. Please, come in."8

Wilfort led the young man into his parlor and picked up the coffee pot. "Would you care for a cup?"9

"What? Oh, no thank you, Mister-Wizard Wilfort." The young man shook his head, "I'm not really thirsty."10

The wizard put the pot back on the stove and took his own cup from his desk. "I hope you do not mind if I drink one myself. Now tell me, what is your name and why have you come to see me."11

"Timmet, sir. Timmet ov Mazille. It's about my mother." Before he could finish, Timmet's attention was drawn to a movement behind the stove. A brindled gray cat walked from there to Wilfort and began rubbing itself against his leg. "Oh, you have a pet cat."12

At the word "pet", the cat turned and glared at Timmet. Wilfort corrected him, "She's my companion. Her name's Mollie."13

Timmet watched the cat who had now turned her attention back to Wilfort. "I imagine she wants cream."14

"Actually, she prefers it black." Wilfort filled a dish from a shelf near the stove with coffee and set it on the floor. Mollie began to lap it up eagerly.15

"I didn't think cats liked coffee."16

"Well, Mollie does. You were telling me about your mother."17

"Right, I was, Mister-Wizard. She's very sick. She hasn't been feeling very well for weeks now, but this morning she was too weak to even get out of bed. I'm very worried, sir."18

"And you want me to use my magic to heal her?"19

Timmet nodded, "If you would, sir. We don't have very much money, but if you'll heal her, I promise I'll pay whatever you ask, no matter how long it takes me to get it."20

Wilfort smiled at him, "You need not worry, Mister-Patron Timmet. I have never refused to heal anyone because they could not pay and I don't believe in charging people more than they can afford. Now, I think we had best be on our way to see your mother."21

It was rather cool out, so Wilfort was glad he had put on his long coat with the braid-work trim and his quilted skullcap. Of course, he had brought along his staff. It was beautifully made and Wilfort was quite proud of it. The staff was made of hand-carved oak, topped with a brass claw clenching a large crystal sphere. With it, he knew anyone would recognize him as a wizard, no matter what he looked like.22

As he walked with Timmet through the streets of Tweedon, it struck Wilfort how hazy the sky was. When he was younger, fall days had usually been crisp and clear. This kind of haze had only occurred during the heat of midsummer. It grew denser as they walked and the sun grew dimmer, until it almost seemed like twilight, even though it was midmorning.23

They had entered the section of the city between the textile mills and the railroad yards when Timmet said, "It's not far now, Mister-Wizard. Just around the corner." The streets were lined with long rows of the dreary, little houses the mills had built for their workers. They all looked identical to Wilfort, but Timmet had no trouble finding the one that was his.24

Once inside, Timmet led the wizard up a narrow stairway and into a small room. A woman was in a bed in the corner of the room, propped up with several pillows to a position between sitting and laying. When she heard them enter, she said weakly, "Timmy?"25

The young man walked to the side of the bed and rested his hand on his mother's shoulder. "It's me, Mother. You're going to be alright now. I've brought the wizard." Several children peered in the bedroom door from the hallway, too frightened to come into the same room as a wizard. 26

Wilfort stood at the foot of the bed and raised his arms. "First, I must determine the nature of her illness," he said solemnly. The sphere on top of his staff emitted a shimmering, blue glow that spread to the woman in the bed and surrounded her.27

Actually, the gesture, the staff and the glow were all just for show. Wilfort could have done his magic just as easily without them, but they did serve a purpose. They were a visible indication that he was doing magic, which kept people from interrupting him and allowed him to concentrate.28

After a few moments, Wilfort lowered his arms and the glow faded away. He stared at the woman, trying to find the words for what he had to say.29

"Do you know what's wrong with my mother, Mister-Wizard Wilfort?" Timmet asked.30

"Yes, I know what is wrong, Mister-Patron Timmet," Wilfort said slowly. "She has a condition that is called feeble-lung. People with this condition are not able to breath as strongly as they should, so all the dust and soot in the air starts to accumulate inside them. It is a condition that seems to become more and more common each year."31

"Then you have seen this before, sir, and you are able to cure it?"32

"I have seen it many times. Normally, it is not at all difficult to cure it, but I can not even try to heal your mother."33

Timmet stared at the wizard in disbelief. "I do not understand, Mister-Wizard. Why not?"34

Wilfort looked down at the floor to avoid the young man's gaze. "There is a connection between certain events that must be preserved. Wizards call that Destiny. We do not really understand it or know how it comes to be, but we are able to detect it. I must not use my magic to break the flow of Destiny. I know this is difficult for you to accept."35

"What if I promised not to tell anyone? You could cure her in secret and no one would know."36

"Preserving Destiny is part of the Oath of Wizardry. Like any oath, it binds my will, Mister-Patron Timmet. While I wish I could help your mother, it is, of course, not possible to break my oath."37

"And every wizard takes this oath?"38

"There are magicians who do not take the Oath of Wizardry, but they are unscrupulous people who prey upon the desperate. Do not go to those people for help, Mister-Patron Timmet. You and your mother would certainly regret it."39

Timmet stared at Wilfort. "Is there any hope for my mother, Mister-Wizard Wilfort?"40

"Some people do recover on their own. The magic I would use if I was able to would just increase the probability of that kind of recovery until it was virtually certain to happen."41

"But without magic, that probability is small, isn't it?"42

Wilfort nodded slowly, "Yes, very small, Mister-Patron Timmet."43

Wilfort returned to his home and plopped down in one of the big, overstuffed chairs next to the stove. The gray cat jumped onto his lap and studied his gloomy face. Then she rubbed her front paw behind her ear and he gave her a bit of a smile. "I know what you want." Wilfort started to stroke Mollie's head where she had indicated. "You look like you have something else to say to me. Something that needs words."44

Mollie's face became slightly different. It was still a cat's face, or at least very catlike, but now it was more expressive, more flexible than any normal cat's face. Wilfort's magic flowed through her, producing subtle differences in her tongue, her throat and even her nerves that were not visible, but necessary to allow her to speak. "Wouldn't it be easier to just leave me this way, Willy? It must be such a bother to change me every time I want to talk."45

"You know very well I can't do that Mollie. If I made the change permanent, it would create an anomaly. You would be the only talking cat in the world and the world does not tolerate anomalies."46

"Right, maybe all the other cats would start talking then, too. Oh, wouldn't that be terrible." Her expression make it obvious she was teasing him, and thoroughly enjoying it. "Maybe you should just teach me to do the magic myself. No, you've already tried that and it didn't work. They say those who can't do, teach, but what do those who can't teach do?"47

"I would say the problem was the student, not the teacher. You do not have the type of mind that can do magic and nothing will ever change that. Now, was something else you wanted to tell me?"48

"What I wanted to ask was did you take care of that young fellow's mom, Willy?"49

The gloom returned to his face. "No, I couldn't help her." 50

"Why?" Mollie looked at Wilfort with concern. "Was is some really strange disease?"51

"No, just common feeble-lung. But with her, it's a matter of Destiny. My oath wouldn't let me do anything."52

"Then that's the end of it. It's a shame for her, but you can't interfere with Destiny."53

"I know, but it's so hard to just do nothing." Wilfort looked around the room. "I wonder if there's some way I could help her without exactly curing her. Some way to work around Destiny."54

"Those are dangerous ideas, Willy. Remember that's a will-binding oath. You can't talk your way out of it."55

"You're right, of course. But it wouldn't hurt to read a little and see if it helps me think of anything. I promise I won't do anything foolish. Let's see how many books I've got with anything about feeble-lung in them." As he said this about three dozen books started to give off a reddish glow.56

Mollie looked at the glowing books thoughtfully. "Can you make other groups of books glow. I mean, could you make all the books that have nothing to do with magic glow."57

"Yes, but what good does that do?" The red glow faded and a large number of them started to glow green. "Those mundane books are just the ones I've read for fun."58

"Now, do both colors together."59

Doing two glows at once was a little tricky, but Wilfort managed to do it rather quickly. "I'll make the books glow all the pretty colors you want later, Mollie, but now I've got to..." Suddenly, Wilfort understood what Mollie was trying to do. There amid the red glows and the green glows and all the books that were not glowing at all was a single book that glowed bright yellow. "That's it, Mollie. That's the book I need. Thank you."60

Wilfort hurried over and picked the book off the shelf as all the glows disappeared. "Hmmm...''A History of Folk Remedies and Cures''. Let's see what it says about feeble-lung." He set the book on his desk and started to page through it. "Ah, here it is."61

Despite her changes, Mollie was still as agile as any cat. She leaped up onto the desk and looked in the book with Wilfort. "Warts of a speckled rock toad. Mushrooms picked under a full moon. Whiskers from a strangled cat! You're not going to try this, are you?"62

"Don't worry, Mollie, I don't intend use anything in here." He turned back to a page near the front of the book. "See, it says most of these remedies are now know to be ineffective, or even harmful."63

"Why would anyone ever want to make something so disgusting?"64

"Before the empire established the Council of Wizardry, most people feared magicians. They did not want to deal with them if they could avoid it, so they tried to find their own ways of healing themselves."65

"So, you still have no way to cure that woman."66

"Actually, this has given me an idea. When I was a boy, my mother would go to this little medicine shop and buy some kind of elixir. It was terrible tasting, but it was supposed to keep me healthy. I wonder if that place is still there."67

The medicine shop he remembered had closed a long time ago, so Wilfort went looking for another one. It took him all afternoon, but on the far side of the city, he finally found an old, narrow building with a sign over that door that said, "Eldone ov Gronette, Maker of Medicines and Elixirs." 68

The shelves that lined the walls of the shop held a large assortment of glass bottles, each one containing a different liquid or powder. At the far end of the room, a young woman was standing on a rolling ladder, placing some bottles on the top shelf. She was rather tall and naturally a little plump without the cumbersome padding that most women her age wore. Her hair was pulled back and tied in one of those complex knots what were considered very fashionable. Without turning to look at Wilfort, she said, "Would you wait a moment, please. I would like to finish putting these away while I am up here." 69

At the height the woman was at, her skirt was not long enough to hide her ankles, so Wilfort politely lowered his eyes. "Certainly. Please, take your time." 70

"Thank you, Mister-Patron." She put the rest of the bottles on the shelf and started down the ladder. "What were you interested in, sir. We have a new elixir that reduces the need for sleep -- very beneficial if you are working long hours at the mill."71

"Actually, I have adequate time for sleeping. What I need is a cure for feeble-lung."72

"I have never had a request for that before, Mister-Patron. I will..." The woman scowled when she saw the staff that Wilfort was holding. "What is this? Some kind of joke!"73

"Certainly not, I am quite serious."74

"You expect me to believe a wizard is going to come in here and buy some medicine. If you're sick, go cure yourself with your magic. We don't want your kind in here."75

"I do not understand. Have I done something wrong?"76

"You've ruined our business, that's what you've done. This is the only medicine shop left in the whole city of Tweedon and we're struggling to stay open. And it's all because everyone goes to wizards to heal them instead of buying medicines."77

"I regret that your shop is not doing well, but I really do need that cure. If it makes any difference, it is not for me, Mistress-Medicinier Eldone. I assume you are the proprietor, Eldone ov Gronette.78

"Actually, I'm her granddaughter, Herberta ov Cambelle, if you care. And I'm not a medicinier...at least, not yet. She's started to teach me, but mostly I just sell the medicine she makes. But why are you coming here to buy a cure? Are you such a poor wizard that you can't cure anyone yourself?"79

Wilfort sounded a little offended, "I cure people very often, many of them with this same ailment. In this case, the woman's disease is bound to the flow of Destiny, so I do not dare treat it with magic. That is why I am looking for another way to cure her."80

"I suppose we should be thankful for any business we get." Herberta walked across the room and checked the bottles in one section of the shelves. "I didn't think we had any of it ready. I'll ask my grandmother to prepare some, Mister-Patron...?" She looked at Wilfort expectantly.81

"Of course, I should introduce myself. I am Wilfort ov Hobnosta."82

"If you'll wait here, I'll go talk to my grandmother, Mister-Patron Wilfort ov Hobnosta."83

Wilfort waited for Herberta to return. He lived in a busy part of the city, so he was accustomed to the noise of crowds around him. Here the streets were almost deserted and the only sound in the shop was the ticking of a clock on the back wall. He watched the pendulum swing back and forth, hoping her grandmother would be more agreeable than the young woman had been. His hopes disappeared when an old woman stomped into the room and scowled at him.84

Eldone ov Gronette was only slightly taller than Wilfort, but the way she looked at him made him feel she was towering over him. "So, Wizard, you want medicine for feeble lung. That'll cost fifty gliddas. Are you willing to pay that much?"85

Herberta had followed her grandmother into the room and from the look of surprise on her face, Wilfort guessed the old woman was asking substantially more than the usual price. It would be very difficult for Timmet to pay that amount, but there was no reason he had to know it cost that much. "Yes, that will be acceptable, Madam-Medicinier Eldone."86

"Good. Let's check the ingredients." Eldone pulled a large book out from behind a counter and opened it on top. After studying it a few minutes, she looked up and shook her head. "Looks like you're out of luck, Wizard. I can't make the medicine without stenchberries and nobody grows them any more. They're nasty-smelling things. The only thing they're good for is medicine and with you wizards doing all the healing these days, there's no reason to grow them."87

"Perhaps it would be possible to find a substitute...or maybe these berries are available somewhere else." Wilfort offered.88

The old woman rubbed her chin and thought about this. After a moment a cold grin spread across her face. "Herbie, are there still wild stenchberries in the woods near your mother's farm in Eweshire?"89

"Yes, Grandma, I believe so."90

"Good. Then tomorrow you will take the train to Eweshire and fetch me some."91

"Of course, Grandma."92

Eldone pointed a bony finger at Wilfort, "And you, Wizard, will accompany her."93

"What? I do not understand, Madam-Medicinier Eldone. Why would you want me to go with your granddaughter?"94

"To protect her, of course. There are men out there who would like nothing better than to take advantage of a young woman traveling alone."95

"I do not need anyone to protect me...especially him. I am a citizen of the empire and I am protected by its laws."96

"The empire does a better job of punishing wrongdoing than preventing it and there are too many men who are governed more by their passions than their fear of what the empire will do to them. The wizard is going with you. That is my decision."97

"He is a stranger, Grandma. How do you know I wouldn't need someone to protect me from him?"98

"You will be safe with the wizard, Herbie." The old woman sniffed loudly. "A person's scent always reveals their true nature and the wizard's only passion is for his books." 99

The next morning, Wilfort and Herberta meet at the railroad station and Wilfort bought them each a ticket to Eweshire. Wilfort had a book along to read and Herberta stared out the window, so they avoided any conversation for most of the morning.100

Finally, the boredom was too much for Herberta, so with a smirk she asked, "What does your wife think about this, Mister-Patron Wilfort? Is she concerned that you are going on a trip with an attractive, young woman?"101

Wilfort glanced over the top of his book at her. "Why would you make such an assumption, Mistress-Vendor Herberta. I am not married and I have no intention of ever being married."102

"Really? That surprises me. I was certain you were the type who would want a nice, safe, secure relationship." She shifted in her seat so she could look at him better. "Most men say they don't marry because they can't choose only one woman, but I don't think that's the reason in your case. I would guess some woman has rejected you and you will give your love only to her or to no one at all."103

"My romantic affairs should not be any concern of yours, Mistress-Vendor Herberta, but since you have chosen to pry into them, the truth is I simply do not have time for such things. Magic is a difficult occupation that requires a great amount of study."104

"You have no time for love, but you can spend a couple days to go and pick berries?"105

"Days I would be using productively," Wilfort said as he tapped the book he was holding, "if you were not interrupting me with this silly chatter."106

"I don't see what's so difficult about magic. You wish for something and then it happens. Isn't that all there is to it?"107

"It is important to know exactly what to wish for and exactly how to wish for it. Without the proper training, it can be very dangerous. There are many things about magic you do not understand."108

"Then perhaps you could explain them to me, Mister-Patron Wilfort."109

"Yesterday, you did not even want a wizard in your shop and today, you want to learn about magic. What has caused such a change, Mistress-Vendor Herberta?"110

"Boredom, Mister-Patron Wilfort. This is a long trip. If we talk a bit, the time will pass more pleasantly and I imagine you'd rather talk about magic than anything else."111

"If you insist, I will give you a brief explanation." Wilfort marked his place in the book with a strip of leather and closed it on this lap. "Maybe then you will let me return to my reading."112

"You make talking to me sound like such a chore, but please go on."113

"The first thing you must know is that there are four different forms of magic and each one is identified with a different symbolic object. They are easy to remember because they are the same as the suits in a deck of cards." He reached inside his coat and pulled a deck from a pocket. Then he spread the deck and pointed to a card of each suit. "Mirrors, coins, masks and crowns. The simplest form is Magic of the Mirror."114

"Is that the kind of magic where someone looks in a mirror and sees something far away?"115

"Yes, that is an example of it."116

"So if you had a mirror, you could look at your house right now to check that everything was alright?"117

"Remember the objects are just symbolic, Mistress-Vendor Herberta. I really do not need to have a mirror to do the magic." Wilfort tilted his head back and his eyes seemed to be focused on a great distance. "The doors and windows are all locked. There are no intruders. Everything is just as I left it."118

"It sounds like your house is empty now. You must live alone, Mister-Patron Wilfort. Don't you have any brothers or sisters?"119

"No, my mother had no other children, but I do share my home with Mollie."120

Herberta grinned, "Who is this Mollie? I thought you had no time for romance."121

"Mollie and I do not have a romantic relationship, Mistress-Vendor Herberta!" Wilfort reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a small, gray creature. "As you can see, she is a mouse now and that would be a very awkward romance."122

"She is adorable! Would it be alright if I held her a moment."123

"You may if Mollie agrees." The mouse nodded her head, then crawled onto the young woman's hand.124

Herberta gently stroked Mollie's fur with a finger of her other hand. "She seems very intelligent for a mouse. Is she your familiar? A spirit you have summoned and bound with your magic?"125

"No, nothing like that. I found her living in the house when I moved in, that's all."126

"And you decided to let her stay?"127

"Actually, she is the one who decided to let me stay. You seem to be very comfortable holding a mouse, Mistress-Vendor Herberta. Most people would not be."128

"I've always liked little creatures like this. When I was a little girl, Mom and Uncle Tory were going to poison the mice in the barns, but I begged them to let me trap them instead. Then I would take them far out into the woods and let them go." 129

"I would say it was an unlucky day for the mice when you left, Mistress-Vendor Herberta." 130

"No, the mice are still fine. I made my brother take over for me. There are some advantages to being the older sister." 131

Herberta rubbed Mollie behind her ears. "She seems to really enjoy this." Suddenly, she stopped stroking the mouse and grimaced. "Ugh! What's that? Some kind of bug has attached itself to her back!"132

"That's a spinerider, Mistress-Vendor Herberta." Wilfort replied calmly. "It's a very interesting parasite because it takes control of the body of its host."133

"Aren't you going to do something to get that horrible thing off Mollie?"134

Actually, the spinerider is Mollie. The mouse is her host for now, but as you've noticed, she does not really act like a mouse."135

Herberta stretched out her arm to hold Mollie farther away from her. "Can it attach itself to anything besides a mouse? Like a human?"136

"Anything that has a spine, Mistress-Vendor Herberta. Yesterday, she was attached to a cat, but the railroad makes cats ride in the baggage car, so she transferred to something smaller, easier to hide." Mollie rubbed behind her ear with her front paw and then looked hopefully at Herberta. "You were right. She does enjoy that."137

"She won't try to control me?"138

"Of course not. You have no reason to be afraid of her."139

Herberta started stroking the mouse again, being careful to avoid touching the spinerider. "I thought she was really a mouse. You even talked about her like she was a mouse."140

"I was not trying to mislead you, Mistress-Vendor Herberta. I do tend to think of her as being her host, although I know she really is not."141

"It doesn't surprise me. I wish I never knew she was really that awful, little parasite."142

"You know more about her now, but doesn't change her into some kind of monster. She just needs to have a host, like we need to eat food."143

"And that's the way the One or the Many made the world and who are we to question it. That's what Uncle Tory always said when he couldn't explain why things weren't the way I wanted. Did you want to tell me more about the forms of magic?"144

"Certainly. Another form is Magic of the Coin, which is used to influence which one of a number of possibilities actually occurs."145

"Would you explain that again, Mister-Patron Wilfort? I am not sure I know what you mean."146

"It might be easier to understand if I demonstrated it." He pulled a deck of cards from a pocket inside his coat, shuffled the, and dealt five of them on top of the book on his lap. "Please, turn over the cards, Mistress-Vendor Herberta."147

Herberta turned over the cards one by one. "We have...the ten of coins...the maid of coins...the swain of coins...the dame of coins and...the ace of coins. An imperial flush -- you would make a great gambler, Mister-Patron Wilfort."148

"Of course, it would not be ethical to use magic while gambling. The point is that while it is improbable I would just happen to deal those exact cards, there is a chance it could happen without magic." He shuffled the cards and again dealt five on this book. "Other forms of magic allow us to go beyond the merely improbable to the impossible."149

Once again, Herberta turned the cards over. "We have...the ace of masks...the ace of masks....another one...they're all the ace of masks."150

"Yes, and I never would have dealt that hand without magic. This is Magic of the Mask. You must understand that I have not actually changed the cards. As soon as I stop the magic, they will be back to normal." Suddenly, there were five different cards laying on the book and none of them were the ace of masks.151

"I understand now, but I would like to see something...more impressive. Change something besides just cards."152

"The cards are enough to demonstrate the magic. There is no need for anything, as you say, more impressive."153

"Please, Mister-Patron Wilfort, don't be pigheaded. Let me really see what you can do."154

"I suppose it would not hurt to do something to amuse you." As Herberta watched, Wilfort's head started to change shape as if it were made out of soft clay. In a few minutes, it looked just like the head of a pig.155

Herberta laughed, "Is that just an illusion or are you really pigheaded?" She reached over and touched Wilfort's snout. "It certainly feels like a real pig. I thought you said this magic did not really change things."156

"That is correct. My head has not actually changed. It has just been temporarily replaced by one that is produced by magic."157

Mollie twitched her ears and suddenly scurried back into Wilfort's pocket. A moment later, a porter walked into their car and announced, "Lunch is now being served in the dining car. We are offering fresh salad, lentil soup and a delicious glazed ham..." When he noticed Wilfort with his pig head, he started to stammer, "If...if you're pork...er...if you don't eat pork...the chef will be happy to cook you...uh...cook you something else." Before Wilfort could say anything, the porter hurried into the next car.158

Herberta started to laugh so hard she doubled over. "That was hilarious! The look on that porter's face."159

"He was very upset. I should probably check how he is doing." As he said this, Wilfort let his head slip back into its usual shape.160

"Don't worry. He'll be fine. You just surprised him, that's all."161

"I suppose you're right. Would you like to have lunch now, Mistress-Vendor Herberta?"162

"Yes, I would, Mister-Patron Wilfort. Laughter always gives me a good appetite."163

Once they were seated in the dining car and waiting for their food to be served, Herberta asked Wilfort, "You said there were four kinds of magic. What does the fourth kind do?"164

"Magic of the Crown allows a magician to change the material world with his mind. Like Magic of the Mask, it can do what would otherwise be impossible, but the changes made with it are real and permanent. As you may imagine, it is extremely powerful. However, it is also by far the most dangerous form of magic, so I will not be demonstrating it for you."165

The server brought their soup and Herberta took a taste of it. "The food here is very good. You must give my thanks to that rich lady you are working for." 166

"Why do you think she is rich?"167

"She must be. She's paying that outrageous price my grandmother is charging for the medicine and she can afford to hire a wizard to be her errand boy. I don't imagine a wizard like you works very cheap."168

"She is really very poor. I will not ask her for more than a token payment for the medicine. Everything else is my own expense."169

"Oh. Then she must be a relative of yours."170

"No, I only met her and her son yesterday when he came and asked me to cure her."171

"So you're paying all that money and going all the way out to Eweshire just to help a stranger?"172

Wilfort nodded.173

"Are you really that generous or was your pride hurt because you could not use your magic to cure her?" Herberta smiled at Wilfort. "Do not answer that, Mister-Patron Wilfort. People who do good things are good people--no matter why they do them."174

It was almost sunset when the train stopped at Eweshire. It was a small, pleasant, country town--an open square lined with a chapel, a pub and a few shops, a ring of comfortable houses and then the barns and pens for the livestock. Beyond the town were rolling hills where huge flocks of sheep grazed in meadows between scattered patches of woods that were just beginning to turn to fall colors. The station had been built quite a distance from the town itself and the road to it passed by a large, fortified, stone building.175

Wilfort looked around and smiled. "This is a very beautiful place, Mistress-Vendor Herberta. I miss clear, autumn days like this in Tweedon."176

Herberta nodded. "Yes, it is nice here...if you can stand the smell."177

Wilfort sniffed loudly. "Now that you mention it, I do notice a little odor."178

"You do not need to be so polite, Mister-Patron Wilfort. Everyone here admits this place stinks. They say there is something in the grass that makes the sheep smell so bad, but they say it is also what makes their wool the best in the world."179

"The smell really does not seem that bad to me, but I do not have a very good sense of smell."180

"Consider yourself lucky for that while you're here, Mister-Patron Wilfort. Everyone in our family has an unusually sensitive nose. And tomorrow, we'll be picking stenchberries. They're even worse than the sheep." Herberta wrinkled up her nose at the thought of it. "We'd better start walking if we want to get to our house before dark."181

"What is that building over there, Mistress-Vendor Herberta? It looks ancient."182

"That's Eweshire Abbey. It's been here since before the empire was established. I guess things were not so peaceful here, then. We'll be stopping there. Grandma send along a package for one of the monks."183

The entrance to the Abbey was a pair of huge, wooden doors with a massive, iron knocker on one of them. Herberta pulled the knocker back and let it strike, making a noise so loud it sounded like someone was trying to batter the door down. After a few moments, the door groaned open and an elderly monk looked out. "May you know the way of the Nameless One and follow it well. What do you seek?"184

Herberta bowed slightly. "I bring a package, sir, from Madam-Medicinier Eldone ov Gronette for Reverend-Monk Fideles."185

The monk nodded and opened the door farther. "Please, come inside and wait here. I will inform Reverend-Monk Fideles you have come."186

When the monk had gone, Herberta whispered to Wilfort, "The monks do not believe in using magic. They were Grandma's best customers when she lived in Eweshire, even though they tend to be very healthy. There's no medicinier left in Eweshire, so she still sends them medicines when they need them."187

Even wearing the loose, gray robes of his order, it was obvious that Fideles was a large, muscular man. He gave Wilfort a stern glance when he noticed his wizard's staff, but he smiled at Herberta. "Mistress-Neighbor Herberta, I was not aware you were back in Eweshire. Will you be here long?"188

"Only a couple days, Reverend-Monk Fideles. I need to gather stenchberries for a medicine my grandmother is preparing. She told me to give you this package."189

"It must be my sleeping medicine. I still have enough for several weeks from her last shipment, but Madam-Medicinier Eldone must have thought to save the delivery cost by sending this with you. I give my thanks to you and your grandmother, Mistress-Neighbor Herberta."190

"We are happy we can help, Reverend-Monk Fideles." Herberta tilted her head towards Wilfort. "And this is Wilfort ov Hobnosta, a wizard from the city of Tweedon. Grandma thought I had to bring someone along to protect me."191

"I am pleased to meet you, Reverend-Monk Fideles"192

Fideles frowned at him. "This abbey is consecrated ground, Wizard. You know your magic will not work here."193

"I know, and I would respect your beliefs and refrain from using it here even if I were able to."194

Herberta decided it would be best if they left. "Umm, I'm afraid we need to hurry, Reverend-Monk Fideles. I want to get to my mom's house while it is still light out."195

"Of course, Mistress-Neighbor Herberta." Brother Fideles looked at her and smiled again. "May you know the way of the Nameless One and follow it well."196

Like most of the buildings in the village, the house Herberta's family lived in was made of gray-brown brick and topped with a green copper roof. While the shutters on the other houses usually depicted sheep in some way, here they had a complex leaf pattern carved in them. Herberta led Wilfort around to a door on the side of the house.197

"My mom'll be making supper now, Mister-Patron Wilfort, so we'll go in through the kitchen."198

"Are you certain your family will not mind if I stay here, Mistress-Vendor Herberta? Perhaps it would be better if I stayed at the inn."199

"There isn't any inn in Eweshire. There aren't too many people who want to visit here. You'd have to go all the way to Oakbrook and we have plenty of room right here. And don't worry about the food, either. Mom always makes more than enough."200

Even with his not-so-sensitive nose, Wilfort could not help noticing the delicious aromas that filled the kitchen when they entered. A woman who looked like a somewhat older and heavier version of Herberta was stirring a huge kettle of mutton stew. She looked at them and smiled warmly.201

"Herbie! I didn't know you were coming."202

"Grandma just decided yesterday to send me out here to get berries for some medicine, Mom."203

"Well, it doesn't matter. You're here now and that's good. And you've brought a gentleman with you."204

"Oh yes, this is Wilfort ov Hobnosta. He's the wizard who wanted Grandma to make him the medicine."205

Herberta's mother stopped stirring a moment and bowed slightly. "Welcome to our home, Mister-Guest Wilfort. I'm Cambelle ov Eldone"206

Wilfort bowed in return. "Thank you, Madam-Hostess Cambelle. I am very grateful for your hospitality."207

She resumed stirring and waved her other hand towards the cupboard. "Get those dishes on the table, Herbie. And be sure to give Mister-Guest Wilfort the good plates."208

Herberta handed Wilfort a stack of dishes from the cupboard and motioned for him to follow her into the dining room. While they were setting the table, a large man with a weathered face came into the kitchen from outside, with a nearly fully-grown boy behind him. "That does smell good, Cambie! If only sheep smelled half that good while they were alive."209

"Guess who's here, Tory? Herbie! And she's brought a gentleman with her--a wizard. They're in the dining room."210

Tory hurried into the other room and hugged Herberta, effortlessly lifting her off the floor. "Who said you could come back here, Herbie?" he laughed. "Did you get tired of that big city?"211

"No, Uncle Tory. I just came for a couple days to get stenchberries for Grandma. I do miss you, though."212

Tory set Herberta back on her feet and looked at Wilfort. "You must be the wizard. I'm Istor ov Eldone and I welcome you to this house."213

"I thank you for welcoming me here, Mister-Host Istor. I am Wilfort ov Hobnosta from the city of Tweedon."214

"You've already met my sister Cambelle and of course you know my niece Herberta, so that just leaves my nephew, Steward." He shouted into the kitchen, "Boy, get out here and greet Mister-Guest Wilfort!"215

Steward came into the dining room and bowed a bit awkwardly, "Pleased to meet you, Mister-Guest Wilfort."216

"It is my pleasure as well, Youngster-Host Steward."217

The doorbell rang and Herberta answered it. There she was surprised to find Fideles.218

"Pardon me for disturbing you, Mistress-Neighbor Herberta, but it seems your grandmother has included an item of hers in that package by mistake." He held out his hand and showed her a medallion on a chain.219

"That's Grandma's alright, Reverend-Monk Fideles." She took the medallion from the monk's hand. "Thank you for bringing it. I know she'll be very happy to get it back."220

"I will not take any more of your time, Mistress-Neighbor Herberta..."221

"Nonsense!" said Cambelle, who had come in from the kitchen when she heard the bell. "No one comes to my house at supper time and leaves hungry. I insist you join us, Reverend-Monk Fideles. Herbie, fetch another plate."222

"It seems that is the way the Nameless One has set before me, so I shall follow it. I will be happy to join you, Madam-Hostess Cambelle."223

A short time later, Herberta's family had gathered around the table in the dining room with their guests. Fideles was seated directly across the table from Wilfort. He stared at him intently and said, "The wizard has journeyed much farther than I did to be here. I think he should have the honor of saying the prayer tonight."224

The monk's gaze made Wilfort uncomfortable and he lowered his head quickly to avoid it. Laying his hands palm-up on the table, he began, "We thank the One or the Many for the food and drink upon this table. We do not claim them as our due, but accept them as the gracious gifts they are. Let us show our gratitude for the nourishment we receive by using it to only do what is right."225

When he looked up, Fideles was giving Wilfort a smile that made him wish he could have kept his head down. "You can recite well from the ''Imperial Book of Common Prayer'', Wizard. But, I wonder, who do you thank in your heart? Is it the One...or is it the Many? Or are these only empty words for you?"226

Wilfort hesitated for a moment, then said, "I do not know whether the One or the Many made the world, Reverend-Monk Fideles. The greatest minds are not able to agree on an answer to that question. But my gratitude to whoever made this world is sincere."227

"But you must have some opinion on the matter, Wizard. Do not be afraid to speak freely." He gave Wilfort another smile. "I promise not to chop off your head if I disagree with you."228

"I suppose I find it easier to believe in the Many than the One. There is much pain and misery in this world, Reverend-Monk Fideles. If the Many made the world, that might not be their intention, just the result of struggles between them. But if it is made by the One, then it is the One's choice that we suffer, because the world must be exactly as the One wants it."229

The smile faded from the monk's face. "Do not be so arrogant, Wizard. Do you think the Nameless One needs your approval? We exist for whatever purpose the Nameless One chooses and whether that brings us joy or it brings us sorrow, we have no right to expect anything else."230

Cambelle slapped the table so hard all the dishes on it shook and shouted, "Enough! This is my home, Reverend-Monk Fideles, not a hall of inquisition." Without giving him a chance to reply, she turned to her daughter and asked, "How is the medicine shop doing, Herbie?"231

Herberta had been listening to the confrontation between the monk and the wizard so intently that her mother's question took her by surprise and it was a few moments before she answered, "It is difficult, Mom, but we are managing to survive. Grandma has started to teach me how she keeps records."232

Wilfort asked, "You mean you are learning to do the accounting for the shop, Mistress..." Herberta did not live here anymore, but her family treated her as if she did, so Wilfort was not certain whether he should now consider her his hostess. After what he felt must have been an awkwardly long pause, he decided to say, "...Mistress-Vendor Herberta?"233

Herberta did not seem to have noticed the pause. "No, these are records about the medicine...what works, what doesn't work, what does people more harm than good. She keeps them for every one of our customers, because the medicine does not affect everyone the same way. Most mediciniers just follow whatever their books tell them, but that isn't Grandma's way. It's a lot of extra work, but maybe that's why we're the one medicine shop that's still open in Tweedon." 234

Istor waved a fork in the air as he spoke, "If you ask me, you and your grandmother should just close that shop and move back here. We're making more than enough money on the farm to support you both. And no one really needs medicine now that wizards can cure everyone. Isn't that so, Mister-Guest Wilfort?"235

"Magic does have its limitations, Mister-Host Istor. That is why I came to your mother's shop--to buy medicine for a woman I could not cure with magic."236

"Then she has some strange disease that you don't know how to cure?" Istor asked.237

"It is not the disease itself that is a problem for me, but the flow of Destiny around it. I have taken an oath not to disturb Destiny with my magic, so there is nothing I can do for her."238

Steward spoke up, "Old Man Gabbel says warlocks can break any oath they want. He was telling Uncle Tory and me about them at the pub today. He says their will's so strong, not even the One or the Many can bind it."239

His uncle reminded him, "Mister-Publican Gabbel likes to tell stories, Stewy. You know there really aren't such things as warlocks."240

Cambelle frowned at Istor. "He's not the only one who likes to tell stories. You said you were going to be working all day in the fields, Tory. How long were you two at the pub?"241

"We just went over to get a quick lunch, Cambie. We just ate and left, that's all." 242

"Uncle Tory works hard, Mom", Herberta remarked. "He deserves a little fun now and then. Anyway, that medicine Mister-Patron Wilfort's buying will really help us at the shop. He's paying fifty gliddas for it."243

Cambelle looked rather surprised at this. "That must be very special medicine, Mister-Guest Wilfort. What is is for?"244

"It is for feeble-lung, Madam-Hostess Cambelle."245

"Fifty gliddas for feeble-lung medicine! That is..."246

"...what Mister-Patron Wilfort agreed to pay for it, Mom." Herberta added quickly.247

"Yes, I suppose it is my mother's business what she charges. Anyway, I hope you are pleased with the food, Mister-Guest Wilfort. It must be a much simpler meal than what you are accustomed to in the city."248

"The mutton stew is excellent, Madam-Hostess Cambelle. I wish I could eat this well all the time."249

Herberta laughed, "From the size of your belly, I'd say you already eat well enough, Mister-Patron Wilfort."250

"Perhaps I do indulge my appetite a bit too much, Mistress-Vendor Herberta."251

Cambelle gave her daughter a reprimanding glance, then pushed the pot of stew closer to Wilfort. "Don't listen to her, Mister-Guest Wilfort. You just go ahead and have all you want. There's plenty left."252

"Thank you, Madam-Hostess Cambelle. I really can not resist having another helping."253

As Wilfort refilled his plate, Herberta told him, "I didn't mean you were doing anything wrong, Mister-Patron Wilfort. There are girls who like their men plump, you know." Wilfort said nothing in reply, but he did blush slightly.254

After Cambelle rebuked him, Fideles was silent until the meal was finished. Then he said to her, "Thank you for a wonderful meal, Madam-Hostess Cambelle. I must return to the abbey now, but before I do, would you allow me to serve the coffee...as my very inadequate way of showing my gratitude."255

Cambelle thought this was an odd request for a guest to make, but she just said, "Yes, Reverend-Monk Fideles, if you want to. It's brewing in the kitchen."256

The monk left the room and returned a few moments later with a tray of coffee cups. He set the first one he took off the tray in front of Wilfort. "Please, accept my apologies if you felt my earlier remarks were inappropriate."257

"There is no need to apologize, Reverend-Monk Fideles. The conviction you have in your beliefs is something to be admired."258

The monk served the rest of the coffee and set the tray on the sideboard. "I must ask your pardon for leaving, but it is already past the time when I was expected back at the abbey. May you all know the way of the Nameless One and follow it well."259

After Fideles had left, Cambelle sighed and said to Wilfort, "I'm really sorry about what he said to you, Mister-Guest Wilfort. I hope he didn't make you feel too uncomfortable."260

Wilfort sipped his coffee, then set it back down. "Please, do not feel responsible, Madam-Hostess Cambelle. Besides, no harm was done."261

Herberta started to giggle and her mother frowned at her. "I didn't think there was anything funny about that, Herbie."262

"Sorry, Mom. I...uh...was just thinking about something that happened back at the shop." Seated next to Wilfort, Herberta was the only one who could see that hidden behind his hand, Mollie was sharing his coffee. She knew her mother would not approve of a mouse on her table, even if it was a very well-mannered one.263

Wilfort tried unsuccessfully to suppress a yawn. "Please, pardon me. It must be the long train trip that has tired me."264

Cambelle nodded, "Trains do the same thing to me. Herbie, why don't you show Mister-Guest Wilfort to the spare room off the kitchen. It's nice and private there."265

"This room doesn't get used much any more." Herberta motioned to a dismantled loom and a spinning wheel stacked in the corner. "All the wool goes to the mills these days."266

"The mills are very busy, Mistress-Vendor Herberta." Once again, Wilfort could not help yawning.267

Herberta took a large mat and some blankets out of a cabinet and laid them on the floor. "I used to sleep here myself once in a while. Sometimes the snoring in the common room just gets to be too much." She walked over to a large window and opened it. "Grandma says it isn't healthy to sleep in a room with the windows closed, Mister-Patron Wilfort. It shouldn't be too cold tonight."268

While she was looking out, Herberta thought she saw a gray figure hiding by the garden wall. She knew it must just be a shadow in the starlight, but it gave her a nasty idea. Still facing the window so Wilfort could not see her impish grin, she said, "There aren't any streetlights out here in the country, so it really gets dark at night. If you're afraid, Mister-Patron Wilfort, I could stay here. There's plenty of room on that big mat, you know."269

She waited, wondering how Wilfort would refuse while trying not to offend her, but she had not expected his actual response, a very loud snore. Turning around, she saw he had fallen asleep on the mat, fully dressed. She knelt down to cover him with the blankets and laughed softly, "Are you that tired, Mister-Patron Wilfort, or do you lack passion so much that even the thought of spending the night with me puts you to sleep." She paused to watch him sleeping as she was closing the door and quietly recited a rhyme from her childhood.270

"Awake, by day,
In dreams, by night,
We seek our way,
And hope it's right."271

Back in the kitchen, Herberta joined her family who were already busy cleaning away the dishes from their dinner. As she did, her brother asked her, "Did you do it, Herbie? Did you kiss him goodnight?"272

Herberta laughed, "Since when are you interested in kissing, Stewy? But no, I didn't kiss him. Mister-Patron Wilfort isn't my suiter--he's a customer of the shop, that's all." She glanced at the door to the spare room and sighed so slightly that no one noticed. "Besides, he was too tired to do anything, even if I had wanted to."273

"He won't always be that tired, Herbie", Cambelle said. "It's time you should be giving me some grandchildren. It won't get any easier as you get older."274

"I'm planning to, Mom...when I'm ready. But, would you want grandchildren as short and fat as that wizard?"275

"If they were as intelligent and kind as he is, I'd be satisfied."276

"It doesn't really matter what we think about it. He isn't the least bit interested in romance with me...or with anyone else, it seems."277

"If he's not interested, find someone who is, Herbie. That city you live in is a big place. There must be a lot of nice men there."278

"There are, Mom, but I want someone who'll be committed to me, maybe even get married."279

Her uncle came in from the dining room, caring a large stack of dirty dishes. "You know what they say, Herbie. 'A man who wants one woman is a man no woman wants'."280

"He's right," Cambelle agreed. "Only the most desperate men are willing to get married, the kind who think they're lucky to find even one woman who'll accept them. And men always think they're much better than they really are, so imagine how awful those men must actually be."281

"Hey, how can you say that, Cambie?" Istor asked with mock indignation. "I know I'm not merely as good as I think I am...I'm even better than that." 282

Cambelle laughed, "You, of course, are the exception, Tory. But seriously, Herbie, you know your Uncle Tory will watch out for you and your children, and Stewy is almost grown now, too."283

"We're family, Herbie," Istor told her. "We'll protect you better than any husband ever would."284

"I know you and Stewy will, Uncle Tory. I don't anyone to replace you...but I want someone...different."285

Cambelle motioned for Istor and Steward to leave her alone with her daughter. When they were gone, she said, "Herbie, the truth is once a man has his seed in a woman's spermatheca, he'll lose interest in her. A vow may bind a man so he does not seek another woman, but it can't keep him from wanting to. That's just the nature of men."286

"I want to find a man who loves me, Mom. Are you saying men never actually fall in love. They just pretend they are so we'll..."287

"No, Herbie, their love is as real as ours...it just doesn't last as long."288

"It doesn't seem fair. Look at the caudatans. They get married all the time. Why can't we be like them?"289

"She-caudatans lay eggs and he-caudatans must seed each one, so they both know who their children are. With us, a woman holds every seed she receives, so a man always wonders from whose seed a child grew. I think that's what makes men the way they are."290

Herberta sighed, "And that's just the way the One or the Many made this world."291

"That's what your uncle says...but, I think he's right, Herbie. No matter how much we wish the world was different, we still have to live in it the way it is."292

The next morning, Herberta knocked on the door to the spare room. "Are you awake, Mister-Patron Wilfort? My mom'll have breakfast ready soon and then we got to get out there and pick those berries." She waited several moments, but there was no answer, so she knocked a little harder. "Wake up in there! Don't think I'm going to do all that berrypicking myself." The wizard still did not respond, so she shouted, "Mister-Patron Wilfort, are you alright? I'm coming in there!"293

When Herberta opened the door, she saw Wilfort was not sleeping there--he was not in the room at all. The empty mat was on the floor and the blankets were thrown in a pile next to it. Wilfort's travelling bag and staff were still where he had set them last night. Herberta went back into the kitchen and asked her mother, "Have you seen the wizard this morning?"294

Cambelle shook her head. "No, I haven't, Herbie, and I've been here since dawn."295

"Then I think he's disappeared."296

"Well, he is a wizard. I'm sure he knows how to do that."297

"I mean he's gone. If he was just invisible, he could still hear me when I called."298

"Did he take his belongings with him?"299

"No, his staff and things are still in there, Mom. Then he must be coming back. He wouldn't leave those behind."300

"Maybe he went out early to meditate or something. I don't know, but I imagine wizards might need to do that."301

"You're right, that must be what happened."302

"Grab yourself a bowl of porridge, Herbie, and come and eat."303

Istor and Steward were already eating in the dining room when Herberta and Cambelle came to join them. Istor asked, "Where's our guest? You're not going to let him miss this good breakfast, are you?"304

"I don't know where he is, Uncle Tory. He wasn't in his room this morning."305

"Maybe the Wizard's Council summoned him during the night to fight some goblins or demons for them," Steward suggested.306

"I doubt the Wizard's Council even knows that Mister-Patron Wilfort is alive, Stewy," his sister replied. "Besides, if he was summoned somewhere, I'm sure he would've taken his staff with him."307

Steward agreed, "That's right. He couldn't fight anything without his staff. I'd love to see him zap a goblin with it."308

Cambelle said, "All this talk of goblins and demons--you and your uncle both spend too much time listening to pub-stories, if you ask me."309

"I don't think there are such things as goblins and demons, Stewy, but if there were, Mister-Patron Wilfort does not seem to be the sort of person who would be fighting them."310

Her uncle said, "He might surprise you, Herbie. You know what they say, 'There're two sides to every coin.'"311

"I didn't think he was the kind to avoid working, but maybe that's his surprise side, Uncle Tory." In a louder voice, Herberta said, "If you've turned invisible, Mister-Patron Wilfort, and are waiting for me to go and do all the berrypicking, it won't work. I'll just stay here too, and then you won't get that medicine you came all the way out here for." She waited a while, then in her normal voice, said, "I guess I didn't really expect him to appear when I said that, but I was hoping he would."312

"So what are you going to do now?" Istor asked.313

"Go and pick the berries myself, just like I said I won't. I still want to sell him that medicine, even if he isn't going to help."314

Steward got up and started to take his empty bowl to the kitchen. "Don't forget to take you little mice friends out to the woods with you, Herbie."315

"That's your job now, Stewy."316

"It's my job when you're gone, but you're not gone today."317

"Alright, I'll take care of them. It seems the wizard isn't the only one who knows how to avoid work."318

Actually, Herberta enjoyed the task of taking mice to the woods. She had made those remarks to Steward mostly because she liked irritating her brother a little. The cage and a pair of heavy gloves were on a shelf in the barn where they belonged, which Herberta hoped meant that Steward was taking good care of them and not that he was neglecting to use them. As she went to the different traps, she only found five mice, so apparently her brother was emptying them regularly. The gloves protected her from the mice that tried to scratch and bite her as she moved them from the traps to the cage. The mice, of course, did not understand that she was saving their lives.319

She was just resetting the last trap, when she heard someone walking in the barn behind her. She looked over her shoulder and was relieved to see it was Wilfort. "Where in the world have you been? I thought I'd have to pick those berries by myself."320

He looked at a her a while and grunted a few times. Finally, he just said, "I can't tell you."321

Herberta grinned at him as she stood up. "Why? Have you been doing something you're ashamed of? You can tell me, I'm not shocked very easily."322

He shook his head, "I really can't tell you. I need one of those mice, Herbie. I remembered you said you trapped them here."323

"Another mouse? Are you looking for a little friend for Mollie?" Suddenly, Herberta's mouth dropped open as she realized what he had said. "You called me Herbie! Why'd you call me that?"324

He looked at her with a puzzled expression. "Because that's your name."325

"It's the name my family uses, you won't use it. That's not like you." She studied him intently and was certain there was something different about him. His movements were smoother, his manner seemed more relaxed, yet also more alert. "That's a name a man uses for a sister or a niece..." 326

His tone became more insistent and he started to walk towards her, scratching himself behind his ear as he did". "Can I have a mouse now, Herbie?" 327

Instinctively, Herberta backed away, ignoring his request as she continued, "...or...or a pet! You're that awful spinerider!"328

"It's me. I'm Mollie. I just want to..."329

"...eat my soul! You're not going to!" Herberta looked around for something to defend herself with. She grabbed a pail that was hanging from a nail on the barn wall and swung it in front of her like a makeshift flail. "I knew poor Mister-Patron Wilfort shouldn't have been carrying a horrible creature like you around with him. You got him, but you won't get me!"330

"Willy is alright, Herbie. I'm just using his body for a little while. I use bodies, that's all I do. I don't eat anybody's soul."331

"Why are you using his body at all? What were you doing with it?"332

The spinerider-controlled wizard grunted a few more times, then said, "I can't say. I just can't say. Now, if you'll just let me have a mouse."333

Herberta set the cage of mice down on the floor and backed away from it. She hated to let the spinerider have them, but if it was busy with them, she might have a chance to escape.334

The creature made Wilfort's body kneel down by the cage of mice and Herberta hurried to the door. She knew she should keep running, but she just had to see what it was going to do. Quicker than she had ever seen the fat, little man move, it reached into the cage and snatched one of the mice. The mouse struggled to escape, but the spinerider-man held it firmly. It reached behind its head and pulled is collar down with the other hand, then held the mouse against the back of its neck.335

There was nothing magical about it, but to Herberta it seemed a greater transformation took place than when Wilfort had given himself the head of a pig. That had just been changing shape, this was someone becoming a different person. It was just a little more formality in his posture, a bit of gentle confusion in his expression, a subtle awkwardness in his movements, but it convinced Herberta that this was really Wilfort again. He lowered his arm and held out his hand. The mouse that sat on his open palm was no longer a wild animal. She was an intelligent being, she was a person, she was Mollie.336

Herberta wanted to run to Wilfort and hug him. She told herself this did not mean she felt anything special for him, that she would feel the same relief for anyone who had been in his situation. She told herself she did not do what she wanted because she was still afraid of the spinerider he was holding. She knew none of the things she told herself were true.337

What Herberta did do was stand in the doorway and ask, "Are you alright, Mister-Patron Wilfort?"338

"Yes, Mistress-Vendor Herberta, I am fine. I am sorry if I caused you any distress. I have had a rather unusual experience."339

"I was just worried you won't be able to buy that bottle of medicine and we'd lose all that money you were going to pay us." She gave him an uncomfortable smile.340

"You needn't worry. I still intend to make that purchase."341

"Can you tell me what happened?"342

"Yes, I'd be happy to do that. Even though Mollie was in control for a while, I was still aware of everything that happened. It may take awhile, though. Perhaps I should tell you while we go for the berries."343

"The berries, I almost forgot about them. I'll get the mice and a couple baskets and we can be on our way."344

When Wilfort had awoken that morning, he felt that something was wrong. He remembered the trip to Eweshire and for a moment thought it might just be the confusion of waking up in a different place, but there was more to it than that. His memory of the last evening was a little blurred, but he vaguely recalled the mat in the spare room. He was not laying on any mat now, just a cold, stone floor.345

He opened his eyes. The only light was from two narrow slits high above him, but he managed to see that he was in the bottom of some deep pit. He got up and walked around the pit. He found a jug of water and a bowl of stale bread, but nothing else. His movements did draw the attention of a shadowy figure who looked down at him through one of the slits.346

"So, Wizard, I see you're awake. I hope you slept well."347

Wilfort recognized the voice. "Reverend-Monk Fideles? Where am I? Why am I your prisoner?"348

"You are in the Abbey of the Nameless One, Wizard."349

It seemed odd to Wilfort that there would be a prisoner pit in an abbey, but then he remembered how ancient it was. In those days, religions had been very militant.350

The monk continued, "But, you are mistaken. It is your magic that makes you a prisoner, not me. I want to set you free."351

"If you want to set me free, then let me out of here."352

"At the right time, I will, Wizard. It is almost dawn and my fellow monks will be gathering in the Sanctuary for morning prayers. After that, the Sanctuary will be empty, so I will return and take you there."353

"I do not understand what you are talking about, Reverend-Monk Fideles. Why would I want to go to the Sanctuary?"354

"It is the proper place for swearing an oath. Would you want to swear it there, in that pit? No, it must be in the Sanctuary."355

"I am not intending to swear any oath, neither here nor in the Sanctuary."356

"But you must, Wizard. You must take the Oath of Renunciation. I hate to see you in that pit, but I must keep you there until you agree to swear you'll never use magic again."357

Wilfort reached in his pocket. There he felt Mollie, still asleep. He remembered sharing his coffee with her, the coffee the monk had served. "It was the coffee! You put some of Madam-Medicinier Eldone's sleeping medicine in my coffee. You must think you are very clever, Reverend-Monk Fideles."358

"I can not take credit for cleverness that is not mine, Wizard. It was Madam-Medicinier Eldone who thought of this whole plan. She even put her medaillon in the package so I would have an excuse for visiting her daughter's home. But now the bells are ringing for morning prayers. Be ready, Wizard. I will be back soon."359

Wilfort sat down on the stone floor of the pit. He found it rather strange, but what he felt most was neither fear of what would happen to him nor anger at the monk and the medicinier. He was concerned whether Herberta had know of this scheme. Had she been a part of it all the time or was she as ignorant of the real reason for their trip as he had been. As he thought about it, he realized she could not have known about it. If she had, she could have put the medicine in his coffee herself and there would have been no need for the monk's visit, which now seemed so suspicious. It surprised him how much relief he felt from confirming her innocence.360

Mollie stirred in his pocket, so Wilfort took her out and held her in front of him. "We're in trouble, Mollie. That crazy monk who came to dinner last night put sleeping medicine in our coffee. Now he's got us locked in a pit under the abbey and he won't let us out unless I take an oath not to use magic any more."361

The wizard got up and walked around the pit, examining the wall. The pit had been carved out of solid rock that had been polished until it was smoother than glass. Even Mollie's sharp claws could not cling to it. Wilfort sat down again, and gave out a loud sigh. "There's no way out of here, Mollie, except the opening in the ceiling and we can't reach that." The mouse in his hand hung her head sadly. "I wish I could let you talk now, but I can't do any magic here. And no one can use their magic to find us, either. I think taking that oath is the only hope we have of getting out of this pit." Mollie shook her head frantically. "I don't like the idea either, Mollie. I will miss hearing you talk. And I don't know what I'll do to earn a living. Magic is the only work I've ever done. Perhaps Mister-Professor Oswold could get me a job at the Academy. I would still know about magic, even if I could not do it."362

Wilfort closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, trying to think of another solution. After a while, he opened them again and looked at Mollie. "I think I might have a plan, but it could be dangerous for you. I wouldn't ask you to do this if I thought there was another way." Mollie stretched closer to his face, waiting for him to continue. "I'll tell the monk I'm going to take the oath. When they take me out to go to the Sanctuary, I'll bring you out too. You'll have to sneak out of the abbey and go back to the village. Find Mistress-Vendor Herberta and make her understand I'm a prisoner here, so she can bring help. I'm certain she wasn't part of the scheme to capture me."363

"When we get to the Sanctuary, I'll pretend I've changed my mind and refuse to swear the oath. Hopefully, they won't do anything worse than put me back in this pit." Wilfort stroked Mollie behind her ears. "If anything does happen to me, I'm sure Mistress-Vendor Herberta will take care of you. It's really not a good plan, but unless you've got a better idea, that's what we'll have to try." Mollie stared at him for a while, then suddenly she ran up his arm and across this shoulder. He felt her furry body rubbing against his neck and he could not help laughing. "I don't think tickling me is really a better idea, Mollie."364

Fideles returned to the abbey's dungeon with three other monks. Each of them carried a quadent, a long-handled axe with four blades. They stood next to the entrance to the pit and Fideles called down, "Are you ready to turn away from your evil ways and swear the Oath of Renunciation, Wizard."365

The voice from the darkness of the pit replied, "I'll take the oath, Monk."366

"I must say it surprises me that you agreed so quickly, but I am pleased you did. Perhaps you are not the fool I believed you were."367

The four monks got two long, wooden poles and slid them through iron rings on the stone slab that covered the entrance to the pit. Then, each one grasped one end of a pole, to lift the heavy slab. The disciplined life the monks led made them stronger than average men, but it was still a great strain for them to move it. One of the monks lowered a wooden ladder into the pit and they waited for the prisoner to come up. They either did not notice or did not care that a mouse ran off into the shadows of the dungeon when he reached the top of the ladder.368

The four monks stood in a circle around the pit entrance, holding their quadents again. They were ceremonial weapons, but they still would be effective as clubs, even if their blades were not sharp. If the monks had been unarmed, the fat, little bookworm still would not have had a chance against them. With Fideles leading them, the monks escorted their prisoner through the dungeon, towards the Sanctuary.369

"You should rejoice, Wizard, for you have chosen to turn away from magic and follow the way the Nameless One intended for you."370

"You didn't really give me a choice, Monk." 371

"It is better to follow the right way by force, than the wrong way by choice, Wizard. But I should not call you Wizard any longer. You are beginning a new life, so it is fitting that I should give you a new name. I proclaim you are now Libreziel. That was the name the Holy Warriors of Vale Lora bestowed on the last mage-king when he too renounced magic."372

"You obviously didn't take a vow of silence."373

"This is not a time for silence, Libreziel. Today, the Holy Warriors are reborn. As they did in ancient times, we shall fight to rid the world of the plague of magic."374

"I thought the Holy Warriors were just a legend, Monk."375

"You are wrong, Libreziel. This place has not always been called Eweshire. Once it was known as Vale Lora and it was not the home of sheep but of the greatest crusaders who ever lived."376

The Sanctuary was a large, circular room, covered by a high dome. Fideles led his little procession through one of the four pairs of huge, oak doors and past rows of long benches to the dais in the center of the Sanctuary. The four monks took their places around the edge of the dais, facing their captive, who stood at its center. A pattern of grooves carved in the floor of the dais radiated out like a sunburst from the place where the fat, little man stood. Although they had not been used for over a thousand years, they were a grim reminder that once the blood of sacrifical victims had flowed here.377

"The time has come, Libreziel. Swear the oath that will set you free."378

"I think I'd like to reconsider this. Why don't you let me go and I'll think about doing the oath tomorrow."379

Fideles thrust his quadent towards the reluctant oath-maker. "Do not mock the Nameless One! You shall not walk away from here unless you swear the oath." 380

"Alright, I'll do it." In a more solemn voice, he said, "I swear to the One or to the Many, through the agency..."381

Fideles glared at him, "Stop! You dare to invoke the Many in the Sanctuary of the Nameless One?"382

"This is my oath, not yours, Monk. It won't work if I don't say what I believe."383

One of the monks, whose name was Quandes, said, "He speaks the truth, Reverend-Monk Fideles."384

Fideles snorted, "Then proceed as you will."385

"I swear to the One or to the Many, through the agency of these holy witnesses that from this time onward, I shall perform no magic. I shall use neither Magic of the Mirror nor Magic of the Mask nor Magic of the Coin nor Magic or the Crown nor magic of any form not yet known. By my..."386

Quandes interrupted, "Reverend-Monk Fideles, I am afraid he may not understand the good we are doing for him. When he leaves, he might seek revenge for the wrong he imagines we have done to him."387

"He will have no magic to use against us, Reverend-Monk Quandes, and I am certain he would not be able to harm us without it."388

"He could tell others what has happened, Reverend-Monk Fideles, and they could use their magic to destroy us. We would not be able to leave the safety of the abbey."389

"I had not considered that, Reverend-Monk Quandes, but I must agree that is a great danger. Libreziel, you must also swear to never reveal what has happened here."390

"You said you'd let me go if I swore not to use magic. You didn't say I had to swear to anything else."391

"That is true, but the circumstances require us to make a slight change to the conditions of our agreement. It is unfortunate, but necessary."392

"I guess I don't have a choice about that either. I further swear that I will never tell that I was captured and brought to this abbey, that I was forced to renounce magic in order to be released. I will say nothing about these events that would cause anyone to think these monks have done me any harm. By my own will, my words are said. By my own words, my will is bound."393

The four monks recited together, "With our ears, the Nameless One hears your words. With our voices, the Nameless One proclaims your will bound." They stamped the handles of their quadents on the floor four times.394

"Am I free to go now, Monk?"395

"Yes, Libreziel," Fideles answered, "you may go for you are truly free now. May you know the way of the Nameless One and follow it well."396

The man hurried out of the Sanctuary as fast as his fat, little body would let him, but he stopped at the door and shouted back at the monks, "Actually, you're right about that, Monk. I'm free in ways you'll never understand".397

Herberta opened the cage and the mice scampered out into the woods. "That was certainly an ordeal you went through, Mister-Patron Wilfort, both you and Mollie." She looked glumly at Wilfort. "Are you planning to report it to the Imperial Patrol?"398

"No, Mistress-Vendor Herberta. Your grandmother was involved in this matter and I expect the Imperial Patrol would treat her rather harshly."399

Herberta looked very relieved when she heard this. "Thank you, Mister-Patron Wilfort. We still must do something about Reverend-Monk Fideles and his followers, though. We can't let them think they are the new Holy Warriors of Vale Lora."400

"I agree, but I would not want to harm them."401

"I know you wouldn't, and I don't want to hurt them either. But, I think I might have a way to handle them. If they want to bring legends to life, we should remind them how bad some of the creatures in those legends were. So after we get back with the berries, we'll go to the pub."402

The pub, Mistress-Vendor Herberta? "I do not understand how going there will solve this problem."403

"Don't worry. I'll tell you exactly what to do." Herberta held out her hand so Mollie, who had been riding on Wilfort's shoulder, could climb onto it. She started to rub the mouse's back with her finger, no longer concerned about the spinerider on it. "Was it really all Mollie's idea to swear the oath instead of you?"404

"Yes, I did not even know she was planning to take control of my body until she transferred to it from the mouse."405

"Even if Mollie was controlling you, you actually did say the oath. Shouldn't you still be bound by it?"406

"It is the will that is bound by an oath, Mistress-Vendor Herberta, not the body. It was her will that made my body say the oath, so it is her will that is bound by it, not mine."407

"So she gave up her ability to do magic so you could keep yours."408

"Actually, she could not do any magic before the oath. No spinerider can, no matter who its host is."409

"Really? I guess I just assumed she could. In stories, the animal companions of magicians are always magical themselves." Suddenly Mollie pressed her nose tightly against Herberta's palm. Herberta pressed her other hand against her own nose. "Ew, you're right, Mollie. Those stenchberries must be very close." She looked at Wilfort, who did not seem affected at all by the smell. "You really can't smell that?"410

"Just slightly. I would not consider it offensive."411

Herberta told him, "Since you've got that defective nose, I ought to make you pick all the berries yourself." But she still picked her share of the berries.412

It was late in the afternoon when Herberta and Wilfort got to the village square. The building they faced was small compared to the abbey, but larger than anything else in the village itself. Carved in stone above the entrance were the words, EWESHIRE PUBLIC HOUSE, with the imperial crest on one side and the crest of the village on the other.413

"You're sure you remember what to do, Mister-Patron Wilfort?"414

"Yes, Mistress-Vendor Herberta. I fill follow your plan, even though I do not understand what it will achieve."415

"It'll work, I'm certain of that." She raised her arm to her nose and sniffed. "Ugh! Even after scouring with our strongest soap, we still stink like those berries. Can you change smells with your magic?"416

Wilfort looked surprised at this question. "I never thought of it, but I suppose I could."417

"With such a useless nose, you must seldom think about smells at all. Try to make me smell better, Mister-Patron Wilfort."418

The wizard raised his staff and a stream of tiny, sparkling lights flew from the crystal sphere and swirled around Herberta. When they had disappeared, he said, "I think you will find that a pleasant improvement, Mistress-Vendor Herberta. It is only Magic of the Mask, but I'll make it last until we are finished in the pub."419

The young woman sniffed her arm again. "You've made me smell like mutton stew!"420

"It was the most pleasing aroma I could think of."421

She started to scowl at the little wizard, but when she saw how sincere his attempt had been, she could only laugh. "A woman wants to smell attractive, maybe even alluring, Mister-Patron Wilfort. Not edible! It's no wonder you've never found romance."422

Wilfort asked her uncertainly, "What would you like to smell like?"423

"For now, I'd be happy to just smell clean, maybe like soap." Once again the sparkles from Wilfort's staff whirled around her, then vanished. "Hmmm, that's better. It's a little stronger than I'd like, but I suppose you don't even know what a subtle smell is like. Now, do it to yourself so I don't have to smell that stink any more."424

The pub was crowded and noisy. It was still too early for supper, but people were gathered around tables of various sizes, some large, some small, talking, laughing and drinking. Herberta led Wilfort to a small, empty table near the center of the room and they sat down. A few moments later, a white-haired man wearing an apron came up to their table. He was as fat as Wilfort, but even shorter.425

"Mistress-Neighbor Herberta, it is so good to see you again. Has the way you follow made you happy?"426

"It is difficult at times, Mister-Publican Gabbel, but I think, yes, it has."427

"And who is your companion? I don't recognize this fellow."428

"This is Wilfort ov Hobnosta, a wizard from the city of Tweedon. He is a customer of my grandmother's medicine shop."429

"Greetings and welcome to Eweshire, Mister-Visitor Wilfort." The publican bowed low, then grinned at Wilfort. "A wizard who buys medicine, now that is not someone I expected to meet today."430

Since he was already seated, Wilfort just nodded to return Gabbel's bow. "I am pleased my way has brought me here, Mister-Publican Gabbel."431

"Has Mistress-Neighbor Herberta told you of the toll our visitors must pay?"432

As Herberta had instructed him, Wilfort pretended to be surprised, "No, she has not mentioned that. Is it a very expensive toll?"433

"It is a toll that is a pleasure to pay, Mister-Visitor Wilfort. All we ask is that you tell a story to entertain us. As a wizard, you must certainly know an interesting tale or two."434

Wilfort hesitated. This was not what Herberta had planned, so she gave him a little shove. Then he got up and stood in an open space between the tables. Gabbel unfastened the bell that was attached to his belt and rang it above his head to get everyone's attention.435

"Good neighbors, Mister-Visitor Wilfort ov Hobnosta has found his way here from the great city of Tweedon and is about to tell the toll-tale." The publican looked at Wilfort and began to recite.436

"If you wish to pass this way,
With a story you must pay.
True or false, you need not say.
Of the past or of today,
Tell it now, without delay."437

Wilfort looked around the room. Everyone was watching, listening, waiting for him to start. His friend Oswold said that all magicians were performers, that all the magic they did in public had what he called an element of theatrics. So what he was about to do should not be so hard for him, but the number of people in his audience made him nervous.438

Then he reached in his pocket and felt Mollie rub his hand to comfort him. Then he looked back at his table and saw Herberta smile to encourage him. Then he began his story.439

"One day it happened that a magician needed to go on a journey." He stamped his staff on the floor and suddenly he no longer was a short, fat man. He was a tall, sinister-looking figure, dressed in the long, black robe that magicians of long ago had worn. His eyes could be seen glowing red in the big, black hood that hid his face. Instead of a crystal sphere, his staff was topped with a horned skull. The crowd reacted with murmurs of surprise and approval.440

In a voice that was now deep and ominous, he continued, "After the magician had gone a great distance, he grew tired. So he stopped to rest and fell into a deep sleep. While he was sleeping, four of the Holy Warriors of Vale Lora came along and saw him." Wilfort pointed his staff to his left and to his right, then behind him and before him. Each time he pointed it, a glowing sphere appeared that turned into an image of an ancient crusader in gleaming silver armor.441

"The Holy Warriors said to one another, 'If we attack him here, he will surely destroy us with his magic. Therefore, let us take him to our abbey, for that is consecrated ground and his magic will have now power there.' The Holy Warriors did as they had said and so sound was the magician's sleep, that he did not awaken until they arrived at the abbey."442

"There the Holy Warriors said to the magician, 'No magic can not help you here, Magician, for you are on consecrated ground. Swear to the Nameless One that you will repent your evil way and never perform magic again. If you refuse, we shall cleave you in four.'" As he said this, the images of the Holy Warriors pointed their quadents towards Wilfort.443

"The magician agreed to their demand and swore a solemn oath to never perform magic again. The Holy Warriors went on their way, rejoicing that they had saved a soul from the horrible grasp of magic."444

"But the next day, they met the magician again. He asked them, 'Do you regret the deed you did to me yesterday, Holy Warriors?' 'No, we do not regret that deed for we have done the will of the Nameless One', they replied. Then he asked, 'Do you promise to never again do such a deed, Holy Warriors?' They answered, 'No, we shall not make that promise for we would do such a deed again.' Finally, he asked them, 'Do you fear my wrath for the deed you have done, Holy Warriors?' Now they laughed at him and said, 'No, we do not fear you for without magic you can do us no harm.'"445

"'You have answered wrongly, Holy Warriors.'" Wilfort threw back the hood that had hidden his head to reveal a gaunt face beneath a pair of twisted, black horns. "'For I am a warlock and neither the One nor the Many have the power to bind my will!'" Wilfort raised his staff. An image of fire appeared around it and a thick, smokey smell filled the room. The fire expanded into a ring that spread outward to the Holy Warriors and reduced them to ashes. This produced gasps from the crowd that quickly turned into loud cheers.446

The next moment, Wilfort was again a short, fat man and there was no evidence the Holy Warriors or the fire had ever been there. He almost let the soap scent he had given Herberta and him fade with the other magic, but fortunately, he remembered to keep that a while longer. 447

Without saying another word, Wilfort went and sat at the table with Herberta. Gabbel came over and set two mugs of his best ale in front of them. "Well done, Mister-Visitor Wilfort! Well done! There'll be no charge for that ale. You've earned those with that story. Of course, the best storytellers don't need any magic tricks to tell a good tale." The publican pulled over an empty chair and sat down, resting his arms on their table. "Did either of you ever hear of the Night-Gnashers? They were the most bloodthirsty band of goblins that ever walked the ways of this world. One day it happened..."448

It was already dark when they left the pub, but the crystal sphere on Wilfort's staff was glowing brightly to light their way as Herberta took them back to her family's home.449

"I think you really enjoyed giving that little performance, Mister-Patron Wilfort."450

"I must admit it was fun, Mistress-Vendor Herberta, but everyone in the pub thought it was just a story. I still do not understand how it will solve our problem with the monks."451

"I'm sure there were a couple monks in the pub and even if they do not say anything about it, Old Man Gabbel will be telling everyone the story of how you told your story. So we can be certain Reverend-Monk Fideles and his followers will hear what you did."452

"They will just know that I told a story, that's all."453

"But it's the story they think you swore you'd never tell. Even if you've changed a few of the details, it's closer to the truth than you should be able to say. Mollie did take that oath and she couldn't tell me anything at all about what happened. And you used magic to tell it, which you shouldn't be able to do either."454

"You think the monks will believe I'm a warlock?"455

"As far as they know, you took an oath and then you broke it. How else will they explain that? Besides, anyone who thinks they're the Holy Warriors of Vale Lora shouldn't have any trouble believing in warlocks."456

"So the monks will take that story as a warning directed towards them. That was really a very clever plan, Mistress-Vendor Herberta."457

"I must get that cleverness from Grandma. From what I know of Reverend-monk Fideles, that warning will be enough to keep him from trying anything like this again. My grandmother is going to be a more difficult problem." They had reached her family's house, but Herberta stood outside the door for a while, staring at the wizard. "Give me a week, Mister-Patron Wilfort. I think I might have a solution by then."458

It was a week later when Wilfort returned to the medicine shop. Mollie came too, walking along side of him now since she was a cat again. Herberta smiled when she saw them come in.459

"Greetings, Mister-Patron Wilfort, Mollie. Did the medicine Grandma made for you work?"460

"It was very effective, Mistress-Vendor Herberta. Madam-Patron Mazille is now completely cured. Her lungs are as healthy as any I've encountered."461

Mollie leaped up to the top of the counter, to let Herberta rub her behind her ears. As Herberta did, she asked, "Did the medicine have any other affect on Madam-Patron Mazille?"462

"No, it cured her feeble-lung without causing her any kind of trouble."463

"Good, I will mark that in our records." She paused and stroked Mollie thoughtfully. "I've had a long talk with my grandmother, Mister-Patron Wilfort."464

"What was the outcome of your conversation, Mistress-Vendor Herberta?"465

"Let me ask you a question first. How would you feel about a partnership?"466

Wilfort said nothing for a moment, then asked, "What sort of partnership do you mean?"467

"A business partnership. There are diseases medicine can not cure, there are problems magic can not solve, but together we can help more people than either of us could separately."468

"The idea is very appealing, Mistress-Vendor Herberta."469

"Then you probably should start addressing me as your partner."470

"Of course...Mistress-Partner Herberta. Your grandmother has agreed to this?"471

"She was completely against it at first, but then I explained all the advantages to her. Our share of the profits from the partnership should be much more than the medicine is making alone. Of course, that means your share will less than you earn now, but I'm sure you won't mind."472

"I suppose that would only be fair. A third for each us, your grandmother, you and me."473

"I was thinking half for Grandma and me and half for you, but if you want thirds, that's what we'll do. Anyway, I also told her this would give her a chance to work on her cause-searching again."474

"What is cause-searching, Mistress-Partner Herberta? I have never heard of that."475

"I think it's something Grandma thought of herself. Remember I said she keeps records of which medicines work and which don't. She tried doing something like that to find out why some people get sick and other people stay healthy. Did you ever wonder about that, Mister-Partner Wilfort?"476

"Yes, I have wondered, Mistress-Partner Herberta, and I have wondered why diseases like feeble-lung are so common now when they once were rare. But that is the will of the One or the Many and we can not expect to understand it. We can only hope we are able to cure the people who do become sick."477

"Grandma thinks we can know why, or at least we can look for patterns and see what is different about the people who become sick and the people who stay healthy. Think what we could do if we knew that, Mister-Partner Wilfort. It would be like curing people before they even became sick."478

"It would be incredible, but if your grandmother knew how to do this cause-searching, why did she stop working on it?"479

"She needs to have a large number of people to find a pattern and we had hardly any customers. But if she can keep records on all the people you cure with magic, I'm certain she'll have enough."480

"So that is what convinced your grandmother to accept the partnership?"481

"No, even after I told her all that, she still did not want to have anything to do with a wizard."482

"Then how did you get her to agree to it?"483

Herberta looked at Wilfort with an impish grin. "I told her Destiny has brought us together and I was determined to keep you a part of my life one way or another. So, if she would not let us be business partners, I was going to marry you."484

Mollie purred merrily when she heard this, but Wilfort just stared blankly at Herberta. Finally, he managed to say, "Uh, I am very glad we can be partners, but you really should not make false threats to your grandmother, Mistress-Partner Herberta."485

Herberta laughed, "I would never do that, Mister-Partner Wilfort. That threat was not the least bit false."486