The Familiars: Animal Wizardry. Adam Epstein

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      Jack stood there reluctantly at first. Then curiosity got the better of him. He reached his hand out and ran his finger across the lizard’s scaly scalp. The diminutive reptile flicked out its tongue, striking the boy’s fingernail and causing him to shrink to the size of a peanut and land on the lizard’s back. He fitted perfectly in the miniature riding gear.

      “Hey, what happened?” squeaked Jack, who had to grab onto the reins for dear life as the riding lizard sprinted down the counter, leaping over ink pots and feeding dishes. Jack managed to brace his now minuscule feet in the stirrups as the galloping reptile charged for the edge of the counter, racing straight past Aldwyn, who watched from inside his cage.

      As the lizard sped towards the three-foot drop, the inch-tall Jack seemed half terrified and half thrilled, his hair bouncing in and out of his eyes. Then the two went airborne and the shopkeeper snatched the lizard out from under the boy. As soon as Jack was no longer touching the magic reptile, he expanded back to his normal size and landed with a thud on the floor.

      “I think I’m going to pass on that one,” said Jack, shaking off the after effects of the spell before dizzily rising to his feet. He was starting to look a little discouraged.

      “Just remember Pharkum’s three T’s of animal companionship. Temperament,Toughness and Talent,” advised the shopkeeper. “At least two should match your own.”

      Kalstaff put a reassuring hand on the young boy’s shoulder.

      “But what’s most important is that you find a connection with your familiar,” he said. “Its magic skills won’t help you, however impressive they may be, unless you share this deep bond. You’ll know when you feel it.”

      The shopkeeper gestured to the cage before Aldwyn’s, with the large-eyed lemur—or whatever it was—still hanging upside down.

      “This one came from the jungles north of Vastia. It can see through solid objects. Nifty talent, but impossible to get any privacy.”

      Jack only half heard, as he had already moved on to Aldwyn. The boy bent down and looked straight into his eyes. Aldwyn was attempting to lie low and not call any attention to himself, but here he was being singled out. He tried to look bored and as uninteresting as possible.

      “This cat’s got green eyes, just like me,” said Jack.

      The shopkeeper walked over and looked at Aldwyn.

      “I don’t remember where I got that one. Must have been one of the telekinetic bicolours I picked up from Maidenmere.”

      “Ooh, I want to see!” exclaimed the boy.

      They all waited expectantly, but Aldwyn just lay there.

      “The truly powerful don’t need to put their talents on display,” said the shopkeeper. “His gifts must be especially strong.”

      Aldwyn couldn’t believe just how mistaken the store owner was. He was an ordinary alley cat, whose only real talent was for getting into trouble.

      “I’ll take him,” Jack blurted out.

      Aldwyn thought he hadn’t heard right. Had the young wizard apprentice, in this shop filled with countless amazing animals, each one more magical than the next, really picked him as his familiar?

      “Are you sure?” asked the shopkeeper. “This is not like a wand or a hat. A familiar must be chosen very carefully.”

      Jack reached into the cage and stroked the underside of Aldwyn’s chin with the backs of his fingers. Aldwyn instinctively nuzzled his cheek against the boy’s hand and a little purr of pleasure escaped from his mouth. He felt his tail curl, something that rarely happened. He didn’t know why, but Aldwyn felt a connection to Jack, an instant sense of belonging that could only be described as magical.

      A smile crossed Kalstaff’s face. “He’s sure.”

      The bald wizard handed the shopkeeper a leather purse filled with coins and Jack pulled Aldwyn out into his arms.

      “I’m going to name him Mittens!” he said excitedly to Kalstaff. Aldwyn shuddered at the thought.

      “This is no ordinary pet,” replied the old wizard. “You don’t name them. Familiars reveal their names to you.”

      “But how?” asked the boy.

      “Vocarum Animale, a simple but powerful spell created by Horteus Ebekenezer, the great forest communer. You’ll see later.”

      Before they reached the door, the shopkeeper called out to Jack with one last piece of advice.

      “Don’t expect too much from him at first,” he said. “He will reveal his powers when the time is right.”

      With Aldwyn in his arms, Jack nodded and followed Kalstaff back out onto the street. Aldwyn spied Grimslade lingering on the corner, his crossbow poised menacingly in hand. A most distressing image flashed through Aldwyn’s mind: his own fur laid out on Grimslade’s sitting-room floor as a catskin rug. Quickly, Aldwyn nestled deeper into Jack’s arms, hoping he would remain hidden and out of sight.

      “Let’s pick up some fish for your new friend before heading home,” suggested Kalstaff.

      Aldwyn felt his whiskers tingling and couldn’t hold back another happy purr. It had been a rough start to the day, but at long last things were looking up.

       THREE

       Stone Runlet

      As promised, before leaving Bridgetower Aldwyn had enjoyed a delectable piece of fresh fish. Then, tucked in the crook of Jack’s arm, he’d been carried across the wide stone overpass built above the moat that surrounded the easternmost wall of the city. Upon reaching the other side, the old wizard led СКАЧАТЬ