William Calhoun and the Black Feather. Book I. Aik Iskandaryan

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ Calhoun! There were many powerful wizards in your kin and they all did great at Templedoor and beyond it as well…»

      Nymus’s voice dropped to a whisper. But after a pause he continued cheerfully:

      «First thing in the morning, we are going to the Magic Post Office, I shall get the mailmage license back, and from there we shall go register your magic feather so that you could enrol in the Preparatory Course!»

      «It’s all great, but what am I going to tell Hoggarts when they get a letter from school about me missing classes?»

      «Letters are my job, Master Calhoun,» Nymus smiled. «Hoggarts will not get any letters about your absence from the demit school.»

      «Who are demits?» William asked. «I’ve heard this word from the barman, but didn’t pay too much attention to it back then.»

      «That is how we call non-wizard folk,» Nymus explained.

      «I see!»

      William found it hard to believe that all of this was happening to him for real. His life was changing rapidly. And each moment spent with Nymus changed his destiny even more. After a bit of thinking, he spoke up again:

      «So, Hoggarts will know nothing about the school… And where am I going to study? Where’s this school?»

      «The classes take place in London,» Nymus replied.

      «In London?» William repeated, unbelieving.

      «Yes, in London! Looks like I need to tell Master Calhoun even more about wizards and the wizarding world.»

      «Yes, please, if you don’t mind!» William replied gratefully.

      Nymus placed one hand over the other, as if he was going to start a very long story:

      «Well, you will learn most of it in the classes on wizard history, but I will tell you the main things!»

      «Take a seat, Nymus,» William pointed at the bed beside himself.

      «Take a seat?!» Nymus repeated indignantly.

      «Well, yes. Is something wrong with that?»

      «Master Calhoun, no decent mailmage will allow himself to sit when his master is present, under no circumstances. It is not according to the mailtiquette!»

      «Stop calling me master!» William said angrily. «I’ve never been a master to anyone. I’ve never even had a dog. Besides,» he added in a less angry tone, «I’m your wizard and I allow you to sit in my presence.»

      «No, Master Clahoun, I am a decent mailmage and I am very happy to find my wizard again! But even under these happy circumstances, I shall not break the Post Office Code! Allow me to keep standing before you and do not offer me to take a seat again.»

      «Well, as you wish,» William gave up. «So, what about wizards?»

      «Yes, right! The world we live in, Master Calhoun, equally belongs both to demits and to wizards.»

      «But Nymus,» William interrupted him, «during the fourteen years of my life, I’ve never met any wizards. Other people I know also believe that all the talks about wizards are nothing more than fairy-tales.»

      «Long time ago, fairy-tales were written by wizards themselves, as they described their own adventures or the lives of their friends. Then demits started writing fairy-tales. As for the fact you have never met wizards until today… that is how it is supposed to be! Demits should not be aware of the true state of things. But you are a wizard, Master Calhoun, and it is wrong that you find this out only at the age of fourteen. It is completely wrong, Green Monogram!» the mailmage couldn’t help swearing again.

      «Nymus, Nymus…» William hurried to cool the mailmage’s emotions. «I’ve found it out thanks to you, please, calm down.»

      «I apologize, Master Calhoun,«Nymus hurried to say and continued. «So, where was I…»

      «Talking about wizards and ordinary people,» William reminded him.

      «They are called demits.»

      «Fine! Wizards and demits. Continue!»

      «Right, demits! Most of them believe that everything they have achieved is due only to their own efforts!»

      «Isn’t it?»

      «Of course, not, I swear to Post Office! There is the IFW – International Federation of Wizards, which acts in all countries of the world. Its current president is Quincy von Bulberg. Though, to my mind, Fafner would have filled the role of the international leader of wizards so much better. But who am I, a mere mailmage, to judge these thing. I am just a midget! A Letter Worm! A wide-feet frog!» Nymus suddenly started to humiliate himself.

      «Nymus! Stop insulting yourself!» William said strictly. «We’ve already agreed that you are my Mailmage!»

      «Yes, Master Calhoun, that is true!» Nymus brightened up. «I serve the proud Calhoun kin, the last representative of this noble kin!»

      «Er… thanks, but you’d better continue your story about wizards,» William interrupted him softly.

      «Whatever you say, Master Calhoun! Your word is the Envelope Seal for me!» and Nymus bowed elegantly.

      «Oh, come on, stop apologizing, bowing, calling me master, and being so overly polite! Since today we’re friends, remember this. And friends don’t bow to each other!»

      These words made Nymus’s face practically glow.

      «Oh, my noble Master Calhoun! It’s clear that there’s noble blood in you, the noblest of them all! And I am very proud that I am…»

      «Tell me, Nymus,» William interrupted him calmly, «can a master fire his mailmage?»

      «Yes, if desired! Then representatives of several vacant kins will be sent over for a new mailmage to be selected. But this happens only if a mailmage dishonours the kin of his wizard or angers the wizard for some reason…»

      Then he added in alarm:

      «And why is Master Calhoun asking about it?»

      «Because Master Calhoun will fire you if you bow to him again or will continue praising him every other sentence!»

      «Oh Master Calhoun!»

      Nymus fell to his knees and started wailing and pleading not to be fired:

      «Fourteen years living in disgrace for staying without masters, for dishonouring my noble kin… Oh, I am a worthless mailmage, Green Monogram! Worthless! Worthless!»

      «Now, now…» William tried to calm him down, «I’m not going to fire you, just stop acting like this and embarrassing me!»

      These words made Nymus smile. He jumped up and turned to William.

      «As you say, Master Calhoun! Like I said, your word is the Envelope Seal for me!»

      «Alright, СКАЧАТЬ