Now cometh ye professional meeting
I. M. M. Dolon — «Ye powers magical of six selected Water Fae-Human hybrids.»
II. M. M. Surnoy — «A new use for ye Blood of unbaptized infants.»
III. M. M. Nuisane — «Of ye comparitive efficacie of ye Essence of ye Spotted Frogge & ye Common Green Frogge in sleeping Enchauntments.»
These all with Diverse experiments and shews by ye Maistres aforesaid.
Daye ye Second
Ye Maistres will meete in Executive Council
in ye D.M.
Banquet
At Vespers
Maistre of ye Toasts
M. M. Nuisane
Ye Black Masse will be Celebrated after, followed by a Grand Ball, with various Comeley Witches, Sprites and Succubi.
«Sounds like a big occasion,» observed Shea. «Let’s go down to the great hall and see whom can we find.»
They found their way to a huge room whose stained-glass windows bore pictures of mystical signs grouped round centrepieces of knights in magical torment. Already five people were gathered at one end, talking earnestly. Shea recognized Busyrane, Dolon, and Duessa. He caught a fragment of a story Dolon was telling: — «and I say he was no more than a bungling poursuivant, journeyman though he ranked. Imagine summoning up a devil, but leaving one corner of the pentagon open! He deserved no better than he got — ho-ho! — which was to have his head torn off by the demon’s red-hot pincers! Ha, here come my pair! Busyrane, do ’em the honours!»
The Archimage bowed, first to Duessa and then to the new arrivals. «We are highly favoured,» he said, «to present Master Reed de Chalmers, who has applied for elevation to the honourable state of mastership of our Chapter. He is most expert in the production of singular monsters, also a man full of ideas for the benefit of our order. Also his apprentice, Harold de Shea.»
* * *
Was there a slight change in the voice on that last sentence? Shea could not be sure, and Duessa was curtsying, pronouncing in a fine contralto: «Enchanted, good magical sirs.» With that red hair she was certainly a beauty when she wanted to be gracious. If only —
«By your leave, not well,» croaked the good Fripon, sadly. «I had all but trapped that wretch Belphebe, when what does she do but get a counterspell from Cambina, then shoot an arrow through one of the best sprites I ever had. Curse her! She’s killing off the Losels, too.»
«I live for the day when I can tear her toenails out,» said Duessa venomously. Shea’s scalp tingled. A dust whirlwind that puffed in the window set everyone coughing, and dissolved into a short, fat man, who mopped his brow.
«
Now magicians began to pour into the hall, by window and door, so many of them Shea could not keep up with their names. The trumpet for the midday meat found him vainly trying to catch up — and also separated him from Chalmers, who was taken in tow to sit at the masters’ table.
Shea found himself next to a fuzzy-haired youth who said shyly; «Pray, generous sir, may I see your enchanted blade?»
«Huh?» said Shea. «But it —» before it occurred to him that no useful purpose would be served by disillusioning these people about the epee. He produced it and handed it over. The fuzzy young man waved it over the table, making noises of approval.
«I feel no sudden access of strength,» he remarked. «The spell must be very subtle. Or perhaps it is one you use on yourself — no, that could not be, for Cambina’s magic prevented the use of such spells at the tournament. Hey, Grimbald!» He reached across and touched the blue-cowled man on Shea’s other side. «He beat two of the most renowned knights of Faerie with this toothpick!»
«Aye,» replied the other, looking up from his plate, «including one of ours.» He addressed Shea directly. «Knew you not that Blandamour and Paridell, though they wear the Faerie livery, are in the service of this Chapter? Nay, you’re not a member — how could you? But ’ware both in the future.»
That explained a lot, thought Shea: the actions of the two knights, for one thing; and for another, why the magicians were so polite to him, though his rating was no more than that of an apprentice. There would be something practically supernatural about modern fencing technique to these people.
* * *
Busyrane had arranged his hair so that the light failing through the stained-glass window touched it to a halo. He might have been some kindly saint as he began:
«Magical sirs and ladies: Many are the pleasures that have fallen to our lot, but none equal to that of beholding you here assembled beneath our humble roof to carry on the good name and high purpose of magic. Ah, how much better and brighter a world it were if all in it could but know you all — could but see you all. My friends —»
The afternoon was warm, the lunch had been ample, and Shea had a feeling of having heard something like this before. His eyelids began to weigh on him. The smooth voice rolled on:
«— in the days of King Huon of glorious and blessed memory, my friends, when we lived a more abundant life —»
Shea felt himself itching, now here, now there, now all over. He made one more effort to keep awake, then lapsed into an unashamed doze.
He was aroused by a mild patter of applause. Busyrane’s place was taken by the keeper of ye archives, Courromont, a thin-lipped, bloodless-looking man, who hardly moved his mouth as he read:
«At the council of the Enchanters’ Chapter on August 1st following the address of our beloved archimage six members were advanced in grade from apprentice to journeyman and one journeyman member to wit the esteemed Sournoy was advanced to the full rank of master magician it was furthermore decided to raise the annual dues from seven and a half to ten elfars papers were read at the professional session by Master Magicians Malvigen and Denfero with various works of magical prowess in illustration it was furthermore resolved in the executive session to empower a special committee for drastic action against certain representatives of the Old Order whose activities have become threatening to wit the knight Sir Cambell and Belphebe of the Woods and the Princess Britomart the knights of the Chapter Blandamour and Paridell were accordingly —»
Shea came wide awake, but there were no details. Busyrane merely asked if it were moved and seconded that the minutes be accepted. They were.
Voulandoure’s fat face shone greasily in the heat as he droned off figures and urged members to pay their dues on time. What could those plans for drastic action have been? Presumably the late Malvigen had tried one of them when he got Belphebe’s arrow through him, but what else?
His attention was snapped back by Busyrane’s use of his name: «— proposed that the magicians Reed de Chalmers and Harold de Shea be admitted with the ranks of master magician and apprentice. If these gentlemen will kindly leave the room —»
Outside, Shea said softly; «Did you hear what they said about Belphebe?»
«Dear me, yes. Duessa seems quite determined on that point. She used a most vulgar term in speaking of her — one normally employed in the. uh. propagation of dogs. When —»
«What are they going to do? Specifically?» Shea’s voice was urgent.
«I —» The door opened and a voice called: «Master Reed de Chalmers.»
* * *
Shea was left to fidget for five minutes before being summoned. Busyrane grasped him by the hand at the door and led him to the front of the hall. «We present to you the apprentice Harold de Shea as a member of this
