The Familiars: Circle of Heroes. Adam Epstein

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СКАЧАТЬ and shirts, they looked threatening despite their size.

      “Elvin pirates,” said Skylar. “Waist-high plunderers of the sea. What they lack in stature they make up for in temper. Forbidden to serve in the Vastian Army due to their inability to meet the height requirement, they took to the open waters, cutting all ties to country, queen, and even each other. Now they’ll sink a ship just to see the bubbles.”

      The disreputable swashbucklers marched from the river’s edge, across the street, and into a ramshackle tavern. Above the door dangled a rusty goblet with the words ‘Inn of the Golden Chalice’ carved on to it.

      “There must be some mistake,” said Skylar once she had read the sign. “Galleon wouldn’t be caught dead in such a place.”

      “I don’t think it’s a mistake,” replied Aldwyn.

      As he took his first steps into the Inn of the Golden Chalice, he immediately felt his paws sticking to the cider-stained floor. Aldwyn moved between muddy boots and dirty bare feet and over peanut shells and shards of broken clay. As he glanced up he could see concealed daggers shoved into the undersides of tabletops and playing cards hidden up the sleeves of gambling patrons. With its lunchtime crowd of drunkards, pirates, and otherwise bad folk, this was no place for a wizard, let alone a town hero. And save for a ferret curled up on the bar top and the mice collecting scraps from the floor, it wasn’t a place for animals, either.

      “I don’t see Galleon,” said Skylar, flying above the crowd for a look around. “Maybe this isn’t the only Inn of the Golden Chalice in Split River. Maybe there’s another one.”

      Aldwyn didn’t have time to respond, because the inn’s most unladylike barkeeper was bashing a fork against a glass. She shouted in a husky voice, “Paksahara may win, and our days may be numbered, but if this is indeed the end, there’s no reason not to have a little entertainment first. Please give a warm welcome to our house magician, celebrating three years performing here on the Golden Chalice stage. Galleon the Magnificent!”

      “We found him!” exclaimed Gilbert, relief in his voice.

      But Aldwyn was wondering why a wizard as skilled and powerful as Galleon was supposed to be would be performing in an establishment as seedy as this one.

      Then the purple velvet curtain opened and a young man emerged. Unshaven and with shoulder-length hair, he was wearing a rainbow-coloured robe and comically crooked hat. He held a wooden stick with pine needles in the shape of a star glued to the top. Aldwyn thought he looked more like a befuddled court jester than a heroic wizard. He stole a glance at Skylar. Her crushed expression made it clear that this was indeed Kalstaff’s former apprentice standing before them.

      “Ladies and gentlemen, I am Galleon the Magnificent, conjurer of things unknown.” The so-called magician pulled a bouquet of paper flowers from his sleeve. It was a poor sleight of hand even for this drunken crowd. The pirates let out a chorus of boos.

      “He must be undercover, posing as the village idiot,” said Gilbert to the others. “He’s probably trying to root out some vagabonds.”

      Aldwyn didn’t have the heart to tell Gilbert the truth.

      “Now, friends,” continued Galleon, his voice barely audible above the din of the tavern, “let me introduce you to my wondrous familiar, whose talent will leave you in awe. The faint of heart should sit down. Presenting Edgar, the mind-reading chipmunk!”

      An overweight chipmunk emerged from behind the purple curtain, dressed in a robe that matched Galleon’s.

      “Chipmunk?” Gilbert’s bulging eyes grew even wider. “Where’s Banshee?”

      Galleon leaned down towards Edgar, as if listening to something being whispered in his ear. Then he turned to a burly man sitting in the front row.

      “According to Edgar, you, sir, are hungry for another bowl of peanuts.”

      “It doesn’t take a mind reader to tell me that!” bellowed the angry patron.

      “On to my next trick,” said Galleon. “Who would like to feast their eyes on the floating balls of Astraloch? And if you like what you see, please drop a coin in the mug. Remember, your money won’t do you any good once Paksahara has laid waste to all of Vastia.” Galleon pulled two crudely painted wooden spheres, one with stars and one with moons, out from beneath his robe. “Edgar, make the balls dance in the air.”

      Edgar stared at the two spheres, concentrating, and suddenly they began to rise into the air. But it was obvious to everyone in the tavern that they were both dangling from clear strings tied to Galleon’s wrists.

      “Let’s head backstage and wait for Galleon there,” said Skylar. “Maybe he can tell us what happened to Banshee. Besides, I can’t bear to watch this anymore.”

      She flapped away, with Aldwyn right behind her. Gilbert reluctantly followed, eyes glued to the stage. The Three darted behind the curtain and found themselves in a broom closet, where they could still hear Galleon trying to amaze the audience.

      “Now the balls will float away, perhaps never to be seen again.”

      The curtain parted slightly and the balls moved through with strings still attached. From the tavern, Aldwyn could hear more boos and hisses.

      “Tough crowd,” said Gilbert. “I thought that was pretty neat.”

      Edgar scurried backstage, huffing and puffing. Naturally, he was surprised to see three animals standing in the closet.

      “This is an exclusive dressing room back here,” he said. “The only ones allowed are entertainers and kitchen staff.”

      “We’re old acquaintances of Galleon,” explained Skylar. “What’s happened to him? I know human magic was recently dispelled from the land, but he couldn’t have hit rock bottom that fast.”

      “Ha!” Edgar laughed. “Galleon hasn’t had magic in years.”

      “You’re wrong,” said Gilbert. “He sent letters, about slaying river dragons and battling sea trolls.”

      The chipmunk shook his head. “I don’t know what tall tales you’ve been hearing, but Galleon fell on hard times way before Paksahara started causing trouble.”

      “If you don’t mind me asking, where’s Banshee?” asked Skylar.

      “She left town years ago,” said Edgar.

      “Without Galleon? Impossible,” said Skylar. “A familiar and loyal stay together for life.”

      “Not this time,” said Edgar. “When Galleon first arrived in town, he was coming to replace an elder sorcerer who had protected Split River for half a century. The city was thriving, safe from ravaging monsters and plunderers. But then Galleon fell in love with a girl named Delilah, the daughter of the richest shipping baron on all of the Ebs. Problem was she had already been betrothed to a wizard named Coriander, born to a spice fortune. He challenged Galleon to a disenchantment duel, and if you know Galleon, you know that he never backed down from a challenge.”

      Gilbert and Skylar nodded.

      “They fought the battle right here on the banks of the river.” Edgar took off his robe and began changing into СКАЧАТЬ