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“Okay, so you do… what, now, exactly?”
“Well, let’s see… minor enchantments, general transfigurations, standard potions and wards. Wand construction and maintenance.” There was a pause as notes were scratched upon tea-colored parchment, a thoughtful, pensive breath between them. “There has to be some demand here. Anything at this point.”
“Villages aren’t looking for wizards these days, Mr. Blackthorn. But we do our best to fill what positions we can.” The scribe was picking through a pile of scrolls and picked up one. “How would you feel about work at a library in Southbrook? They could always use replication spells for important documents.”
Ilgrin Blackthorn could feel the silk material in his hat threatening to tear between his long fingers as he held it in his lap. The agency’s representative for Magical Arts Placement was half his age — probably not even past his first century, from the length of his beard, from the color still in it — and he couldn’t even imagine how they had picked him for this. For him to suggest working spells that he had mastered his second week of mystical training… it probably wouldn’t earn him a handful of silver in a week. “Isn’t there anything that would offer a bit more pay?”
“Groundskeeper for the dragon rookery?”
“Pass.” The thought of picking up even one of those made his back spasm like a lightning bolt.
There was another shuffle of scrolls. “Palmistry for local curse-holders?”
“Is it a temporary position or permanent?”
The man across from Blackthorn slid his half-moon glasses up his long nose. “Temporary, I’m afraid.” He continued on quickly as the old wizard started standing up, redness in his cheeks. “Look, Mr. Blackthorn, this really is the best we can do right now for mages in your position. Do you know how many wizards just like yourself are looking for work?” He pressed one hand down between them and dropped his voice low. “At least we’re finding you something. It’s not like we’re giving these listings to witches.”
“Don’t think I don’t understand that, young man.” Blackthorn straightened his robes, one long nail catching in a stray, snagging loop of fabric. He hadn’t been able to replace his working vestments in a year, even after having to downgrade his familiar from his family’s manticore to a scrap of a cat that was more interested in chewing its own tail off than inspiring sorcery. “You have to realize, however, that not three years ago I was a king’s advisor. Before that, officially named antagonist for a princess. By the gods, I could hand over swords and stones by the cartful, was paid handsomely and then still had time to holiday anywhere I wished. Now I can’t even afford the ingredients for a love potion.”
The representative smiled tiredly. “Who can?”
Blackthorn threw his hat down on the stool. The tip of it drooped depressingly, and one of the many patchwork stars was peeling at the edges. “I have to rent my own keep!” he finished as he snatched up one of the pieces of parchment that had been between the fingers of the case worker. He gave a look between him and the office around them. Not a single tome of magical lore, not a crystal ball, not even a scrying mirror. He may as well have been talking to a gargoyle. “No young man even wants to be a wizard these days. Going to school to work as a smith. Or staying home, shoveling muck in their family’s pig farm.”
“They come in here too from time to time. It’s bad everywhere, I’m afraid.”
Not for you, quill-pusher… you have a job. Blackthorn tried to keep himself from imagining turning the scribe into an unpleasant toad for the remainder of his days and looked down to the paper in his hands, slightly crushed by his tirade. “What’s this one, then?”
“Ah…” There was another adjustment of the glasses, a smile that told him to prepare for the worst. “Funeral services for mythical beasts, domestic and otherwise.”
Ilgrin Blackthorn sighed and pulled his wand from within his robes. He pressed it against the paper, watched his signature illuminate and then fade to the color of old blood. If he was going to eat, he couldn’t afford to be picky any further. “At least it’s not dealing with elves.”
Katie Pugh is a local writer in Pittsburgh, PA, where she lives with her husband. Originally born in Virginia, Katie moved northward after graduating from college in search of excitement and snow (she figures one out of two is pretty good). She pens urban fantasy and “strange” fiction.
This story is sponsored by
the psychic archaeologists at The Morpheus Initiative — Check out author David Sakmyster’s first two books in a trilogy about remote-viewers, ancient mysteries, lost tombs, and exciting adventure! At Amazon.com or visit www.sakmyster.com.
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15 Responses to “A KIND OF MAGIC • by Katie Pugh”
Comments
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November 7th, 2011 at 1:55 am
I have decided to handle things a bit differently here than last time I did something like this. The sentence containing the word “gargoyle” also contains a grammatical error that slows the pace a bit if (like me) you spot it. No, I will not tell readers what the error is. If I did that, some people around here would think I was just complaining about the grammar, merely being pedantic. I am pointing out how damage to such mechanical details of the prose detracts from what, elsewhere, flows quite well indeed – it affects the effect.
If this piece were terrible, I wouldn’t point out its minor error but its major errors – but this doesn’t have any like that. So, why bother with the minor one? To try to give constructive feedback to any writer reading this for future occasions, not just to this piece’s author this one time. I have mentioned before that I have a tendency to come over as negative because I don’t praise what is right any more than I fix what “ain’t broke”. But I don’t want people to misunderstand the nature of what I point out, either. Even minor improvements are improvements, and breaking flow is sometimes something that should be fixed – and sometimes a deliberate choice. But doing it without realising calls for being shown, so that you realise and can decide deliberately whether to have it or not.
November 7th, 2011 at 4:42 am
This piece definitely had its moments – ‘quill-pusher’; love it!
November 7th, 2011 at 6:29 am
I agree with P.M.
As a new writer I want, and I may be in the minority, total feedback. If I have a comma in the wrong place, I want to know. If someone comments that my story needs another edit, help me out and tell me where.
“A Kind of Magic” is a good story. I like the pictures it creates in my mind but I stumbled over unnecessary words. For instance: “He hadn’t been able to replace his working vestments in a year, even after having to downgrade his familiar from his family’s manticore to a scrap of a cat that was more interested in chewing its own tail off than inspiring sorcery.”
Bit long but it’s the ‘even after having to’ that I don’t like. Simply changing it to ‘…even downgrading his familiar…’ works better for me.
I don’t consider that criticism, I consider that informative and helpful. I certainly hope Ms. Pugh does as well. Or, she can totally disagree and leave as is.
Because it’s a lovely mystical tale just as it is.
November 7th, 2011 at 6:57 am
I overlooked the few mistakes there were. Hopefully she will learn as she keeps writing.
As for the story itself, this is one old wizard who knows the sadness of compromise. I found it ironic that they had the same problems with job hunting in bad times that we have today. Some things never change…
Nice little tale!
November 7th, 2011 at 8:46 am
Fanciful, entertaining, and fun…liked it.
Given the sad state of the economy in most places, putting an out-of-work wizard in the same boat was a great idea…and I thought nicely executed. Does make you wonder though about all those witches that must also be out of work according to the comment in the story (“It’s not like we’re giving these listings to witches.”) But, maybe that’s a post-Halloween problem for them every year. Food for thought.
Made me smile. Three plus big stars…+
November 7th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Actually, the word “mystical” does not necessarily describe magic or witchcraft. It’s the belief that anyone can reach communion with God without professional religious assistance, special instruction, repetitive prayers, or special approval. It’s connection to the word “mystery” is, of course, why it is sometimes associated with wizardry, etc.
I always enjoy stories about employment offices. Between the real estate desks and the sheet metal “quill pushers” I usually find my place in the tin can department.
November 7th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Great story!
By chance, I spent Saturday evening watching Merlin on BBC1 (in the UK), yesterday reading Terry Pratchett’s Sourcery (yes, that is how it’s spelt), and this morning reading A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuin.
Thinking that I had read enough of magic stories, I thought I might not enjoy this piece. I was wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It might not be perfect, but neither is it boring. And I think Blackthorn should definitely go back and turn the quill-pusher into a toad – just for the fun of it!
November 7th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
Well the problem with this story is obvious. A magician who specializes in transfigurations ought never to have to worry about money. No magician or wizard or warlock would ever be out of work. The story is cute and perhaps it is allegorical but when the basic premise of the story doesn’t work, I can’t look further.
November 7th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Perhaps, the wise king/queen (or any other form of government) of this realm has outlaw the wizards and witches from “printing” money, as to prevent undue inflation.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:31 am
Times are tough all over, even for wizards over a hundred years ago.
Love it, five stars!
November 8th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
It’s a witty satire on a current occupational situation. I’m not sure if it goes thematically further than the joke at the end. I enjoyed reading it. I thought it was good writing. I have difficulty with the word “Ilgrin”.
very entertaining.
November 10th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
I enjoyed the story very much. Wonderful satire.
I wouldn’t worry about Fishlovesca’s transfiguring money comment. A fantasy story requires extreme suspension of disbelief, so I don’t consider it a problem. Besides, the Harry Potter stories would have the same problem with the Weasley’s being poor.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:34 am
[...] the flash fiction “A Kind of Magic” by Katie Pugh at Everyday [...]
December 5th, 2011 at 6:31 am
Pardon my ignorance, but if he was going to eat, couldn’t he just wave his magic wand and make some food?
December 29th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
suggesting an answer to the questions of why the wizard does not make food or money by magic a logical reason might be a code of magical use where a wizard may be forbidden from using magic to make money or anything else which an ordinary person would need to work for.