A whipcrack of the gun's report spattered an echo through the Hall. The gaping wound in Ajax's chest signaled the end of an era: the Hossletassle Magician gene was lost forever and the Company would be forced to hold new elections for High Magician. If only they could see him now. Somewhere, the Black Hat Swami was laughing in his grave.
But no, that's a cop-out, and I'm not lazy. This story writes itself! Click for Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
A Tisket A Tasket - Part 4
If it wasn't for the low level of sunlight from the High Magician's Dais, Ajax never would have seen past the blinding glint of Chatter's gift that temporarily blinded his immediate crowd. It was every magician's dream, right before him, in Chatter's webbed hands was a knotted length of yellow metal that would have stretched from his shoulder to his elbow. What first looked like intricate etchings along an awkwardly lathed surface at a distance turned out to be a series of notched alternating discs along a non-concentric axis. Taking it from Chatter's hands, Ajax marveled at the ancient text inscribed across the very few smooth surfaces of this gift. He knew instantly what it was, and the very idea of holding the Antikytheran Key both chilled his blood and sent his heart into a full sprint.
"I swear on this day of my inauguration, I will uphold the seat of High Magician in the grand tradition of those before me." Ajax said, thrusting his arms into the air, he was met with a grand applause and amazement. As quickly as his arms were in the air, he brought them down. Surely, there were some who would recognize the Key for what it truly was. On the surface, it was the Magician's Staff, a literal transformer that would amplify his power tenfold. In reality it was his greatest asset.
***
As the last of the revelers were ushered out of the great Hall, Chatter turned to his master and noticed the immense gravity of his mood.
"Take the time to rest, Master." Chatter said. "There will be many days more troublesome and with many less reasons to celebrate."
"Yes, this I know. Please, leave me for a moment." Ajax motioned as a dismissive afterthought. "If you might, for one moment though..." Ajax trailed off. Chatter hadn't even moved a step, anticipating his line of thought.
"The Key has been in the Von Dox line for generations, Master Hossletassle." Chatter said. "It was always your family's destiny to inherit it, from your grandfather, Ecclesius, to his grandfather, Watt. All that was left was for one of you to become High Magician. On this day, you have been deemed worthy, Ajax."
"Worthy? How worthy must I be to wait my entire life to become High Magician?" Ajax said. "How worthy am I that I have no idea what I will do with it? How worthy must I be to use it and not lose my mind?" Ajax said, calmly.
"Those are not my questions to answer." Chatter said as he climbed down the dais and walked a few steps before meandering into a hop, his Familiar's robes gathered behind him. Taking in the emptiness of the Hall, save the great iron throne behind him and his retainers, Ajax's attentions moved to a polished door hewn from an ancient petrified tree. This door, set behind the grand drapery of the Hall, had an iron handle set deeply into its face, shaped like the maw of a great dragon, who's name had been long forgotten. Forged from the same iron as the Throne, this door would open for no one but the High Magician. Confidently, with the Antikytheran Key in arm, Ajax opened the door to reveal his observatory and the massive orrery that was Archimedes' Device.
Upon first sight, the enormous porcelain globes and bronze arms of the incredible machine lit a smile on his face. Three simple astrolabes, set with three crimson rubies, greeted him below the vast base of the Device. It wasn't the cold touch of the astrolabes before him that stopped his heart, but it was the warmth of the Key in his arm.
"I swear on this day of my inauguration, I will uphold the seat of High Magician in the grand tradition of those before me." Ajax said, thrusting his arms into the air, he was met with a grand applause and amazement. As quickly as his arms were in the air, he brought them down. Surely, there were some who would recognize the Key for what it truly was. On the surface, it was the Magician's Staff, a literal transformer that would amplify his power tenfold. In reality it was his greatest asset.
***
As the last of the revelers were ushered out of the great Hall, Chatter turned to his master and noticed the immense gravity of his mood.
"Take the time to rest, Master." Chatter said. "There will be many days more troublesome and with many less reasons to celebrate."
"Yes, this I know. Please, leave me for a moment." Ajax motioned as a dismissive afterthought. "If you might, for one moment though..." Ajax trailed off. Chatter hadn't even moved a step, anticipating his line of thought.
"The Key has been in the Von Dox line for generations, Master Hossletassle." Chatter said. "It was always your family's destiny to inherit it, from your grandfather, Ecclesius, to his grandfather, Watt. All that was left was for one of you to become High Magician. On this day, you have been deemed worthy, Ajax."
"Worthy? How worthy must I be to wait my entire life to become High Magician?" Ajax said. "How worthy am I that I have no idea what I will do with it? How worthy must I be to use it and not lose my mind?" Ajax said, calmly.
"Those are not my questions to answer." Chatter said as he climbed down the dais and walked a few steps before meandering into a hop, his Familiar's robes gathered behind him. Taking in the emptiness of the Hall, save the great iron throne behind him and his retainers, Ajax's attentions moved to a polished door hewn from an ancient petrified tree. This door, set behind the grand drapery of the Hall, had an iron handle set deeply into its face, shaped like the maw of a great dragon, who's name had been long forgotten. Forged from the same iron as the Throne, this door would open for no one but the High Magician. Confidently, with the Antikytheran Key in arm, Ajax opened the door to reveal his observatory and the massive orrery that was Archimedes' Device.
Upon first sight, the enormous porcelain globes and bronze arms of the incredible machine lit a smile on his face. Three simple astrolabes, set with three crimson rubies, greeted him below the vast base of the Device. It wasn't the cold touch of the astrolabes before him that stopped his heart, but it was the warmth of the Key in his arm.
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