The Magykal Papers (19 page)

FARA FIELD

An old housekeeper. Has ancient uniform with lots of ribbons and carries a small piglet under her arm. She wanders around the battlements on the roof, where she says she can see danger coming from “farafield.” I don’t know what her real name is so that is what I’ve called her.

YOUNG WAINWRIGHT

He is a boy groom. I often see him curled up asleep in the corner of the stable. Domino likes him, so he must be okay. Sometimes he tries to help me brush her, which is a bit weird.

THE UNKNOWN PRINCESS

I think she is a bit crazy. I only see her at the full moon when she paddles in the ornamental Moat, waving her arms like a jellyfish.

SIR BRETTICUS-PETTICUS

He was a knight and a Wizard too, which is unusual—plus he married a Queen. I can’t think what she saw in him—he is very rude. He told me that I did not look like a real Princess. He was killed by an
UnStable
Spell of his own creation and now he roams the Long Walk with his feet on fire. At least he lights up the place a bit.

MARY

Was once governess to Princess Esmeralda’s poor baby sisters. She is convinced that I am Esmeralda and is always telling me to be careful. I do feel sorry for her, but sometimes I just wish she would cheer up. If I see her coming I try and go another way.

DELIVERED BY HAND FROM THE WIZARD TOWER

Received at the Palace 11:20
A.M
.

From: Septimus Heap

Dear Jen,

Came by to see you, but you were out with Mrs. B on Domino. Hope you had a good ride. Tonight there is a special evening at the WT, as one of the really doddering old Wizards is retiring. Marcia said I could ask you. Well, actually, she said, “It would be appropriate for the Princess to be present tonight, Septimus. Please give her this Invitation.” Except I have lost the Invitation. Oops. But please come tonight, Jen. A party of Wizards (me included!) will pick you up at the Palace at 7:00
P.M
. Can you wear your best tunic with the gold stuff around the hem and clean your boots? You know what Marcia is like. And your best cloak.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Love, Septimus xxxx

P.S. Marcellus did not remember a thing. Spent the entire time looking for his glasses.

Marcellus and his stupid glasses! But I had a lovely evening in the Wiz Tower and Marcia was really nice.

People (and Dragons) at the Palace Who I Like

BY
J
ENNA
H
EAP, PRINCESS

HILDEGARDE PIGEON

You would not believe it, but Hildegarde once worked for the Council of the Custodians! She was employed in the Accounts Department, which she says spent most of its time trying to curb the lavish spending of the Supreme Custodian. She was transferred to the Sales Force, which forced the sale of
all
the Palace treasures. Hildegarde loved the old pictures and furnishings she had to sell, but as she said to me, she had to balance the books. Later though, she felt really bad about what she had done and she applied to take part in the Second-Chance Scheme. She was accepted for training as a sub-Wizard, which is part-time, and volunteered for door duty at the Palace to try to make amends. She told me that she longed to be called to the Wizard Tower to train as an Ordinary Wizard, but she knew she had to be patient.

Now Hildegarde is at the Wizard Tower but not quite as she had hoped—she is in the Infirmary. I do hope she gets better soon.

BILLY POT

Billy Pot is grumpy, but he is sweet too. He told me that he once owned a pet shop that only sold reptiles. Billy loved lizards and snakes, and he specialized in breeding purple pythons. (The biggest python that Billy Pot ever bred now lives in the backyard of Terry Tarsal’s shoe shop.)

When the Supreme Custodian bought a colony of snapping turtles from Billy, he ordered him to move into the Palace to look after them and Billy dared not refuse. Billy’s niece, Sandra, took over the pet shop and started selling fancy hamsters and fluffy rabbits, which Billy thinks are silly.

Sandra bought Billy's pet shop, and Billy set up the lizard lodges down by the river. He built the Contraption and, with his lizards, embarked on his never-ending quest for the perfect lawn.

But now Billy cares for a lizard much bigger than those he used to breed—a dragon named Spit Fyre.

SPIT FYRE

Only just arrived! He is down on the big field by the river where Billy used to grow vegetables. They have finished building him a huge kennel. They thatched it at first, but Mum pointed out that thatch and dragons don’t go well together so now it has fireproof tiles. Mum’s friend Sally told the builders where to get them. I think having Spit Fyre here is going to be really interesting.

DELIVERED BY HAND FROM THE WIZARD TOWER BY B. CATCHPOLE

Received at the Palace 7:30
A.M
.

From: Septimus Heap

Dear Jen,

Can you meet me at Marcellus’s place today? Have just had a note from him! It is really good. I think he has remembered some things at last. He has some stuff of Nicko’s to show us and he says there may be a way for him to come back!!!! See you there.

Love, Septimus xxxx

Yay! I can’t wait until midday. We are going to get Nicko back—I know we are!

Wizard Way

HOW TO GET THERE:
Wizard Way runs between the Palace and the Wizard Tower. As the saying goes in the Castle: “All roads lead to Wizard Way.”

WHO LIVES THERE:
Scribes, printers and papermakers and anyone who likes to be in the center of things.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND THERE:
A beautiful wide avenue lined with trees and tall silver torch posts. The buildings are the oldest in the Castle, and they are home to everything to do with the written word. Here you will find the fabled Manuscriptorium.

WHY YOU’D GO THERE:
If you need Spells,
Charms
, pamphlets or just a book to read. You might have an appointment at the Manuscriptorium. Or you might just want to buy a Wizard Sandwich, sit on one of the benches in the shade of the trees and see if you can spot the ExtraOrdinary Wizard’s Apprentice wandering down to the Palace.

WHY YOU WOULDN’T:
You might get asked to pick up litter by the Wizard Way Conservation Society Representative.

The Shops and Services of Wizard Way

An Informative Guide by the Wizard Way Conservation Society

{ A
MESSAGE FROM THE
W
IZARD
W
AY
C
ONSERVATION
S
OCIETY
:
Take your litter home.
}

W
hether you are a day-tripper from the Port or a resident of the Castle, there is a myriad of surprises and delights to be found on Wizard Way.

To make your shopping experience a pleasant one—and to guide you to some of the more unusual establishments—the Wizard Way Conservation Society has produced this handy map with a brief description of some of the more interesting destinations. Please note that we cannot be held responsible for the goods and services offered in these establishments. Caveat Emptor!
^*

• Larry’s Dead Language Translation Services:
  A small cubbyhole of a shop with room only for a desk, which is occupied by Larry himself. Will translate any dead language for a small fee.
  

PROPRIETOR:
Larry

Larry can be a little irascible. When we asked him his surname for the purposes of this guide we were told, “Antiquis temporibus, nati tibi similes in rupibus ventosissimis exponebantur ad necem.”
^*

• Bott’s Wizard Secondhand Cloak Shop:
  Formerly located in the Ramblings, Mr. Bott’s popular shop now has an impressive frontage on Wizard Way. Note the ornamental green dragons and crouching purple lions. Mr. Bott tells us that he carries only the finest pre-loved fashions for the discerning Wizard—mainly cloaks. All garments are
  Deep-Cleaned
  and
  Anti-Darke
  treated. Also available: tunics, shoes and some Ordinary Wizard belts.
  

PROPRIETOR:
Mr. Bott (the younger)

Mr. Bott took over the Secondhand Cloak Shop when his father retired thirteen years ago. He is inclined to be talkative but is very helpful.

TIP FOR SHOPPING AT BOTT’S:

Bring a magnifying glass—the labels on the cloaks are very small.

• Tarsal’s Fine Boots and Shoes:
  Follow Instep Way—a small dead end off Wizard Way—and you will find Terry’s shop at the end.
  

PROPRIETOR:
Terry Tarsal

Terry is a master craftsman and a gifted shoe designer. He will make shoes to your own specifications, repair a shoe while you wait and give advice on shoe care (whether you ask for it or not). Although famous for the purple python shoes he creates for ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand, Terry Tarsal has asked the Wizard Way Conservation Society to point out that he will not make any further snakeskin designs.

SERVICES:

• Heel repair
  
• Toe repair
  
• New soles
  
• Stretching
  
• Restoration
  
• Dragon poop removal (
  price on application
  )
  
• Custom orders (
  no snakeskin
  )