The Young Magician

city. They had heard nothing of him since he had left Stable Waterford and Tom’s mother wanted to hear every detail, while Tom’s father nodded solemnly at each fact. When Samuel mentioned being a magician, Tom’s mother had looked horrified for a moment, before recovering. Tom’s father looked at her and glowered. The air suddenly felt uncomfortable and Samuel had the sense to change the subject, leaving his tales unfinished.

‘What about Tom?’ Samuel asked after a time. ‘Where is he?’

‘He has his own business now, trading barrels in the old Clarnet store,’ Tom’s mother answered. ‘The Clarnets left the village about the same time…well, about the same time you did.’

‘Well, it’s been good to see you,’ Samuel told them, standing. ‘I’ll go see Tom and then I must be on my way.’

Tom’s mother hugged him again and Tom’s father shook his hand once more, and then Samuel waved goodbye and left their store. Outside, the day had grown warm and it was hot, sunny and dusty on the street.

‘Wait a moment, lad!’ called Tom’s father, hurrying out after him. ‘I need to talk with you a moment.’ Tom’s father drew Samuel a few steps away into the shade. ‘I want to tell you some things.’ Samuel waited expectantly and Tom’s father continued, somewhat nervously. ‘Things have never been the same here since you left, boy. Many things changed on the night of your parents’ murder, almost all of them for the worse.’ Samuel’s interest plucked up. ‘There were many murders that night, although we didn’t tell you at the time.’

‘Many?’ Samuel asked.

‘Yes. You see, for years before that time some foolish women, my wife amongst them, would meet each month, about the time of the full moon, and have a meeting.’ The man looked increasingly uncomfortable. He glanced around at others on the street, as if they could hear him even from far away. ‘It was just foolish women’s things at first-even now, I don’t know what they got up to-I don’t want to know. Three families were butchered that night and several others in nearby towns, so I heard. They were killed because they were meddling with things better left alone. Maybe they didn’t mean for it to happen, and perhaps it wasn’t even true, but some people at least believed they had begun fooling with witches’ business. In their ignorance and foolishness, they had been running around chanting spells and making silly incantations, even though they thought it harmless at the time. No one here wants anything to do with witches, witch-hunters or magicians.’ He started sounding a little upset, but added, ‘So it’s best to keep such things to yourself. Walking around here dressed like that will only get you into trouble.’

‘I understand,’ Samuel replied, looking down at his black clothes. ‘Do you mean to say my mother was killed because someone thought she was a witch?’

‘I don’t know. All I know is that everyone knew what those women were up to, and no one thought it would come to any harm, but only they were killed. I thank my lucky stars I wouldn’t let my wife go in those last few months or we could’ve been killed, too. The murderers were never seen and never caught.’ He sighed and gathered his thoughts for a moment. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be sounding so upset, but that was a hard time for everyone-yourself included, I’m sure. I’m not saying they were bad people-your mother and the other women-because I loved her like a sister. It’s just they got mixed up in things they shouldn’t have.’ He wiped his hands absent-mindedly on his trousers. ‘Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say. I thought it better you knew. Why don’t you go see young Tom? I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to see you.’

Samuel smiled as much as he could, nodded and walked away.

Walking into the old Clarnet store, Samuel found a young man hammering away at some newly-made barrels. The man stood up straight and wiped his brow and Samuel had to look closely to recognise his old playfriend.

‘If it isn’t Tom Cooper!’ Samuel declared.

Tom peered at the strangely dressed man before him with some uncertainty. ‘Samuel?’ His chin was covered in blonde whiskers and his voice was gruff and deep-all too deep for the young boy that used to jump into the river with Samuel on those hot summer days. ‘I don’t believe my eyes!’

‘Believe them!’ Samuel said and they hugged like brothers. Tom squeezed him like a bear, and Samuel had to break away before being crushed. ‘It’s been a long time.’

‘Too long! Where have you been? What have you been doing all these years?’

Samuel laughed. ‘It’s too much to tell in one sitting, but I’ll try.’ Samuel began to tell of his time in Stable Waterford and Cintar all over again, making sure to avoid all mention of magic.

‘So what were you studying in Cintar?’ Tom asked him.

‘History, literature, politics, mathematics. Nothing too intriguing.’

‘Argh! Sounds terrible! You should have stayed here with me. Our adventures were never the same without you. But look at your strange city clothes!’ Tom declared. ‘And where are you off to now?’

‘I don’t really know,’ Samuel admitted. ‘But I shall find out, as soon as I get there.’

They chatted a little more, but Samuel soon felt himself longing to leave. It was wonderful to see Tom again, but the whole atmosphere in Stable Waterford had him feeling uncomfortable. Remembering his past had turned out to be more of a painful experience than he could have foretold. He shortly made an excuse and promised to come back again soon when he could.

Stepping outside, the village now seemed altogether small and empty. Years of city living made his childhood village seem remote and lifeless. So it was for only a few hours that Samuel had remained in Stable Waterford.

He had passed by his family’s home and waited for several long minutes at the end of the road. It looked overgrown and long unused and the thought of seeing the place of his childhood had been all too alarming, so he had urged Jess on with a flick of the reins and a kick of his heels, and he turned his back on the place where his family had all been killed.

After a long and uncomfortable journey across nearly all the lands of the southeast, crossing rivers, hills, mountains and valleys, Samuel came to the unmistakable conclusion that he was quite lost. According to the last directions he had received, he should have arrived in Gilgarry well before noon, but it was now getting dark and he was still winding around barren hilltops, with no hint of human habitation in sight. He drew Jess to a halt and twisted in his saddle to look all around. The sky to the west was a pale rose as the sun was just settling into the valley. The wind was making a soft sigh upon the rocks and everything seemed peaceful in the dim dusk light. As Samuel sat atop Jess and absorbed the scene, a movement on the hillside caught his eye. A figure was clambering up towards the roadway and so Samuel clicked his tongue and shook the reins, setting Jess ahead at a walk.

As Samuel neared, he could see it was an old man, and he was climbing the hillside with obvious difficulty, grunting and struggling, sending cascades of rocks and stones clattering away below him. Samuel dropped down and hurried towards him as carefully as he could.

‘Ho!’ he called. ‘Old man, what are you doing there? Let me help you.’

The man was puffing and gratefully offered his arm to Samuel. Together, they made their way back up to the roadway, where the old fellow dropped down onto his backside for a rest.

‘Many thanks to you,’ he said, puffing and wheezing. ‘I thought I’d never make it.’

Samuel eyed the old man’s leg and he could see at once his aura was pulsing around an injury. ‘What have you done to yourself, old man?’ Samuel asked. ‘How did you hurt yourself like that?’

The man took a handkerchief from his shirt pocket and wiped at his glistening brow. When he had enough breath he managed to speak. ‘I took quite a fall crossing the gully. I’m not as spry as I once was, would you believe it? Once I’m home, I’ll be right. Mrs Down will take care of it.’

‘Where do you live?’ Samuel asked, surveying the hilltops. ‘There’s no house or home in sight of here.’

‘A little way further,’ the old man responded. ‘Once I rest here a time, I’ll go a bit further. Soon enough, I’ll be there.’

The old man looked fit to drop dead already and Samuel was in need of some lodging for the night so he decided to help the man back to his home. ‘Then perhaps I can offer you some assistance. I’m in no particular hurry and, if you can hop on top of old Jess here, it will save you a lot of trouble. I was heading for Gilgarry, but I seem to be a little lost.’

The man guffawed. ‘Lost you are, all right. You missed Gilgarry half a day ago. You’re just on the outskirts of Lenham. I’ll tell you what. If you can get me home, Mrs Down will fix you a hot dinner and a bed for the evening. How does that sound?’

Samuel could not help but smile. ‘That’s exactly what I was hoping for. I think you’ll be helping me much more than I’m helping you.’

The old man held up his knotty hand. ‘Glad to be of service. Simpson Down.’