MA02 Myth Conceptions Read Online Free PDF Page B

control,” Aahz murmured, half to himself. “Not bad.”
    Sure enough, the old man in the red cloak currently before the throne gestured wildly and tossed a cloud of purple powder into the air, and a light drizzle began to fall.
    My spirits fell along with the rain. Even with Aahz’s coaching on presentation, my magik was not this powerful or impressive.
    “Aahz ...”I whispered urgently.
    Instead of responding, he waved me to silence, his eyes riveted on the pavilion.
    Following his gaze, I saw the general speaking urgently with the king. The king listened for a moment, then shrugged and said something to the magician.
    Whatever he said, the magician didn’t like it. Drawing himself up haughtily, he turned to leave, only to be called back by the king. Pointing to the clouds, the king said a few more words and leaned back. The magician hesitated, then shrugged and began gesturing and chanting once more.
    “Turned him down,” Aahz said smugly.
    “Then what’s he doing now?”
    “Clearing up the rain before the next act goes on,” Aahz informed me.
    Sure enough, the drizzle was slowing and the clouds beginning to scatter, much to the relief of the audience, who, unlike the king, had no pavilion to protect them from the storm. This further display of the magician’s power, however, did little to bolster my sagging confidence.
    “Aahz!” I whispered. “He’s a better magician than I am.”
    “Yeah,” Aahz responded. “So?”
    “So if they turned him down, I haven’t got a chance!”
    “Maybe yes, maybe no,” came the thoughtful reply. “As near as I can tell, they’re looking for something specific. Who knows? Maybe you’re it. Remember what I told you: cushy jobs don’t always go to the most skillful. In fact, it usually goes the other way.”
    “Yea,” I said trying to sound optimistic, “Maybe I’ll get lucky.”
    “It’s going to take more than luck,” Aahz corrected me sternly. “Now, what have you learned watching the king’s advisors?”
    “They don’t like each other.” I observed immediately.
    “Right!” Aahz sounded surprised and pleased. “Now, that means you probably won’t be able to please them both. You’ll have to play up to one of them ... or, better still, insult one—that’ll get the other one on your side faster than anything. Now, which one do you want on your side?”
    That was easier than his first question.
    “The general,” I said firmly.
    “Wrong! You want the chancellor.”
    “The chancellor?!” I exclaimed, blurting the words out louder than I had intended. “Did you see the size of that axe the general’s carrying?”
    “Uh-huh,” Aahz replied. “Did you hear what happened to the guy who interviewed before old Red Cloak here got his turn?”
    I closed my eyes and controlled my first sharp remark.
    “Aahz,” I said carefully. “Remember me? I’m Skeeve. I’m the one who can’t hear whispers a mile away.”
    As usual Aahz ignored my sarcasm.
    “The last guy didn’t even get a chance to show his stuff,” he informed me. “The chancellor took one look at the crowd he brought with him and asked how many were in his retinue. ‘Eight,” the man said. ‘Too many!” says the chancellor and the poor fool was dismissed immediately.”
    “So?” I asked bluntly.
    “So, the chancellor is the one watching the purse strings,” concluded Aahz. “What’s more, he has more influence than the general. Look at these silly walls. Do you think a military man would leave walls half-finished if he had the final say? Somebody decided too much money was being spent constructing them, and the project was cancelled or delayed. I’m betting that somebody was the chancellor.”
    “Maybe they ran out of stones,” I suggested.
    “C’mon, kid. From what we’ve seen since we crossed the border this kingdom’s principal crop is stones.”
    “But the general ...”
    As I spoke, I glanced in the general’s direction again. To my surprise and discomfort,