The Magykal Papers

by Angie Sage

  Linda became a lonely child. She had nothing to do but hang around trying to overhear conversations. She even got into the habit of doing that with her family, and one day she caused her own mother to be arrested and thrown into a dungeon. Linda had overheard a disparaging remark that her mother had whispered to her father about the Supreme Custodian. Linda was by then a keen member of the Custodian Youth, who met in the Palace stables every week. At Tell-Tale-Time Linda proudly related what she had heard. She won a much-coveted Tell-Tale badge and when she got home that night her mother was gone. Her father saw the badge and guessed what had happened, but he was too scared to confront his own daughter.

  Linda’s father was relieved when she moved out. She did not tell him that she had been recruited into the spy network and given her own rooms in the Ramblings, but he guessed that something of the sort had happened. Linda’s father finally got his wife out of the dungeon by selling everything he had. They fled to the Port and never saw Linda again.

  Linda was a successful spy. And when some gossip about how the Heaps’ daughter looked very unlike Silas Heap reached her ears, she went with her information to the Supreme Custodian. She immediately was given a room along the corridor from the Heaps and also a crash course in herbs and healing so that she could gain Sarah’s confidence. Linda soon inveigled her way into the Heap household. She put her drawing skills to use and sketched all the children and sent copies of the sketches to the Supreme Custodian. And when she discovered Jenna’s date of birth, she went triumphantly to him with the news. He was convinced that Jenna was the lost Princess and the trap was set.

  For her own protection and as a reward for finding the Princess, Linda was given a new name and some of the best rooms in the Ramblings, overlooking the river. But she did not enjoy them for long. Some months later she was recognized by one of her past victims, and one night as she sat drinking the very pleasant wine that the Supreme Custodian had sent over, she was pushed off her balcony and into the river, where she drowned.

  Linda Lane was not seen again until the night she Appeared on the ghostly barge of Queen Etheldredda, where once again she proved useful to someone who was after Jenna.

  A MESSAGE FROM MADAM MARCIA OVERSTRAND, EXTRAORDINARY WIZARD

  TO ALL IN THE CASTLE

  The reign of the Supreme Custodian is over! The Wizard Tower is back in operation, and most of the Wizards have been Returned. The young Princess has taken her rightful place in the Palace with her adoptive parents, Sarah and Silas Heap. We ask that you respect their privacy as they become used to their new life.

  The Palace Guard has been disbanded. The Young Army has been disbanded. All boys and girls who have lost touch with their families have been settled into the old barracks in family groups, for which we seek caring houseparents. We also seek high-quality Apprenticeships throughout the Castle. Many people of the Castle have spent the past ten years working for the Supreme Custodian, performing tasks that perhaps, now, they are not so proud of. To that end, we are happy to announce the Second-Chance Scheme, the first of which will be many new programs to get the Castle back on track. Anyone may come to see us at any time and will be given new training toward a new profession, no questions asked.

  We do not care what you have done in the past, only what you can do to contribute to a brighter, better future.

  PAPERS FROM THE WIZARD TOWER

  THE Wizard Tower

  HOW TO GET THERE: From the Palace follow Wizard Way. Go through the Great Arch and stop for a moment to admire the amazing lapis lazuli facings. Now you are in the Wizard Tower courtyard. Cross the courtyard, ascend the marble steps and wait until the duty Wizard answers. Do not bang on the door.

  WHO LIVES THERE: The ExtraOrdinary Wizard, the ExtraOrdinary Apprentice, Ordinary Wizards with some of their Apprentices and assorted peripheral staff.

  WHY YOU’D GO THERE: You wouldn’t, unless you were invited to see a Wizard.

  WHY YOU WOULDN’T: Marcia Overstrand does not like unexpected visitors.

  THE Wizard Tower

  NO. 3 IN THE POPULAR SERIES HEAPS OF KNOWLEDGE

  A PAMPHLET BY SILAS HEAP

  OTHER PAMPHLETS AVAILABLE: HEAPS OF FUN, HEAPS OF MAGYK, HEAPS OF HANDY HINTS, HEAPS OF HERBS

  DESIGNED AND BUILT by the first ExtraOrdinary Wizard, Hotep-Ra, the Wizard Tower is the Wonder of the Castle—twenty-one stories high and topped by the great golden Pyramid that houses the famous Pyramid Library, which has been collected by ExtraOrdinary Wizards across the centuries. At the very top of the Pyramid is a small, flat square inlaid with silver, on which are inscribed the unknown hieroglyphs. Tradition has it that these hieroglyphs can only be deciphered at a time of Great Peril. A copy of a tracing of these is available at the Manuscriptorium for a considerable sum.

  No one has ever been able to count the windows of the Tower and get the same number twice; this may be because of the UnStable window on the seventh floor, which is not always visible. The windows have a purple Magykal film floating over the glass, which may appear rainbow colored on a sunny day.

  The Magykal lights that flicker around the Tower vary in color from light purple to dark indigo blue, depending on the amount of Magykal activity within the Tower. The underlying color of the Tower is silver.

  The most dramatic approach to the Wizard Tower is along Wizard Way and through the magnificent Great Arch. As you walk across the cobbled courtyard you will see the great white marble steps leading up to the awe-inspiring double silver doors that are the entrance to the Wizard Tower. Please note this entrance is by password only.

  Marcia Overstrand’s apartment

  The current ExtraOrdinary Wizard is Madam Marcia Overstrand. Like all ExtraOrdinary Wizards, her rooms occupy the twentieth and twenty-first floors. Madam Overstrand shares her quarters with the current ExtraOrdinary Apprentice, Master Septimus Heap—a very talented boy who is rarely allowed to leave the Tower to visit his family. However, it is tradition that the younger Apprentices live in the Tower with their Tutor Wizards. Adult Apprentices may live elsewhere if they so wish.

  Below the twentieth floor, there are generally two apartments on each floor, although on the lower stories there are some single rooms for the very junior Wizards. Wizards move up the Tower according to aptitude and experience, although some of those on the lower floors will dispute this.

  Dragon launchpad

  FEATURES TO NOTE

  The smell of Magyk. Please be advised that those with allergies may be adversely affected.

  The Great Hall with its Magykal floor. Stop awhile. If you are lucky, you will see a message cross its strangely sandy surface.

  The Magykal silver spiral stairs. Accompanied timed rides are available on alternate Monday afternoons. Please ask the DoorKeeper for a ticket.

  The Magykal pictures on the walls. These appear and disappear according to an ancient and long-lost Spell. The pictures depict moments from the history of the Wizard Tower. Please note that particular pictures cannot be produced on demand.

  The great purple door to the ExtraOrdinary Wizard’s rooms. This may be viewed as part of the spiral stairs ride. Visitors must remain silent while on the landing outside the door. You may not touch the door.

  The fabled Pyramid Library at the top of the Tower. It is regretted that Library visits are no longer available to the public.

  NOTABLE EXTRAORDINARY WIZARDS THROUGHOUT HISTORY

  FIRST: HOTEP-RA

  Arrived thousands of years ago from the Far Countries. Hotep-Ra built the Wizard Tower and founded the entire system of Magyk in the Castle. There are many legends surrounding Hotep-Ra, but most are confidential and we will not attempt to delve into them.

  TALLEST: TERRENCE BROWN

  Seven feet, five inches. Had all the doorframes raised in the ExtraOrdinary Wizard apartment. He suffered badly from vertigo, as many of the more talented ExtraOrdinary Wizards do.

  SHORTEST: LOUANNA MOON

  Four feet tall and proud of it.

  Y
OUNGEST-SERVING: DAN FORREST

  Dan Forrest was only sixteen years old when he became ExtraOrdinary Wizard. He was one of the early ExtraOrdinary Wizards, and in those times it was not so unusual for those in their teens to hold important positions, because people tended not to live so long.

  Dan was a popular ExtraOrdinary Wizard and one of the more powerful, being descended from both Witch and Wizard stock. He added many new Spells—one of his longest-lasting was a popular Unseen (once used by Nicko Heap). Dan died at the young age of thirty-six.

  LONGEST-SERVING: MYRIAM D. DROMENDURRY

  Myriam was ExtraOrdinary Wizard for so long that most people in the Castle at that time could remember no one else. She became ExtraOrdinary Wizard at the age of twenty-two and retired on her ninety-third birthday because, she said, she was becoming a little forgetful. Myriam had thirteen Apprentices who all loved her dearly, and one of them, Julius Pike, became the next ExtraOrdinary Wizard.

  OLDEST-SERVING: BRYNNA JACKSON

  Brynna Jackson was a mediocre ExtraOrdinary Wizard and knew it, but she wanted something to be remembered for and this was all she could manage. She hung on to office for years longer than she should have. No one can force an ExtraOrdinary Wizard to retire, but they can drop heavy hints. For years the Wizard Tower resounded with the clanging of hints being dropped, but Brynna was deaf to them all—until the day after her ninety-third birthday.

  FATTEST: BIG BRIAN BOOM

  Brian Boom ate seven meals a day because he thought seven was lucky. But it wasn’t lucky for Brian. He got wedged halfway up the narrow stairs to the Pyramid Library, and for three days no one noticed he was gone. After that, Brian Stopped the Wizard Tower stairs and walked instead. He lost a lot of weight but was not popular with the other Wizards, who also had to walk.

  SHORTEST-SERVING: TAM THISTLE

  Tam Thistle was ExtraOrdinary Wizard for three hours twenty-three minutes and thirteen seconds. Unfortunately she got her new robes entangled in the spiral stairs and you don’t want to know the rest. No, really you don’t.

  THINNEST: TIMOTHY PAU?

  No one really knows—it is hard to tell under all those robes. But Timothy Pau was apparently known as Thin Tim. And that, indeed, is all that is known of Timothy Pau.

  LEAST TALENTED: BERT THE BASHER

  A case of mistaken identity. A few days before his induction as ExtraOrdinary Wizard, Hamilton How was mugged by a footpad known as Bert the Basher. Bert found the Letters of Induction in Hamilton’s pocket and, realizing that he looked a lot like Hamilton, decided to assume his identity and see—as he put it—“what he could get out of those Wizard dummies.”

  Bert toughed it out for a few weeks until Hamilton How turned up. Then Bert fled, taking ten gold plates from the dining service and the duty Wizard’s best boots.

  MOST TALENTED: _______________________.

  The pamphlet would not dare to venture a comment, as we know that this will be read by the current ExtraOrdinary Wizard (see below).

  MOST RECENT: MARCIA OVERSTRAND

  Not bad, all things considered.

  MARCIA OVERSTRAND

  EXTRAORDINARY WIZARD

  MARCIA OVERSTRAND grew up as the only daughter of an ancient Wizard family from the Far Countries. The family arrived at the Castle when Marcia was five years old after some embarrassing difficulty with her father’s job as a minor Wizard and adviser to an Eastern Snow Princess. The young Marcia received little encouragement to take the extra Magyk classes at school, as her parents wished to distance themselves from Magyk, but, being Marcia, she insisted and they—as usual—gave in.

  Naturally Marcia excelled at school. She knew that she wanted to be ExtraOrdinary Wizard, but she kept quiet about it until one day as a teenager when she had a huge argument with her mother and told her that she was going to be ExtraOrdinary Wizard, so there.

  After the argument, Marcia moved out of the family home—an attic in a tall house in Snake Slipway, two doors up from the Van Klampff house—and rented a small room in the Ramblings from where she enrolled as a Hopeful in the Open Magyk classes that were run at the Wizard Tower for those who hoped to become Apprentices.

  Her chance came suddenly. Silas Heap gave up his Apprenticeship to Alther Mella, and Alther wanted to replace him immediately. Alther had given a few lectures to the Hopefuls and he had been impressed with Marcia. He invited her—along with three other Hopefuls—to spend a day at the top of the Tower. It was no contest: Marcia was by far the best for the job as his next Apprentice, and despite her rather brusque air, Alther found that he liked her very much. Marcia really cared—about Magyk and, more importantly, about people.

  Marcia enjoyed her Apprenticeship with Alther. For seven years and a day she and Alther argued, laughed and learned together. Marcia had not long completed her Apprenticeship—and survived the dreaded Draw for the Queste—when she came with him to help him out at his Welcoming Ceremony for the newborn baby Princess.

  That evening, a profoundly shocked Marcia found herself wearing the Akhu Amulet and the purple robes of the ExtraOrdinary Wizard. It was what she had always wanted—but never like that. The old Castle saying, “Beware of what you wish for, lest it come true,” has haunted her ever since.

  Now Marcia has her own Apprentice, Septimus Heap. Septimus is remarkably young to be an Apprentice, but Marcia chose him after ten years of living without one—and Marcia knows best.

  ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BOUGHT Silas Heap’s I-C-U in the Castle Scorebook may wish to know how to spot Marcia Overstrand and gain the top 100 points.

  DESCRIPTION: Tall with dark, curly hair. Piercing green eyes.

  SHE WEARS: Around neck (although usually hidden), lapis lazuli and gold Akhu Amulet. Purple double-silk cloak (lined with indigo-blue fur in the winter). Long purple silk tunic with small amount of gold embroidery. Gold and platinum ExtraOrdinary Wizard belt. Pointed purple python shoes.

  N.B. If you see someone wearing all of the above but without the shoes, it is not Madam Marcia Overstrand.

  A Guide to How to Behave When Visiting the Wizard Tower

  BY MADAM MARCIA OVERSTRAND EXTRAORDINARY WIZARD

  We, the Wizards of the Wizard Tower, firmly believe in access to all, and tours are available on alternate Monday afternoons. However, we reserve the right to refuse entry to those considered unsuitable. Visiting the Wizard Tower is a privilege. The following rules must be read before you enter the Tower. Please sign the “I accept” clause at the bottom, otherwise entry will be denied.

  GENERAL BEHAVIOR

  Remember that this is home to many Wizards, so please behave as you would in your own home (or at least as you would like people to think you behave). No screaming, shouting or swearing. No running, singing, dancing, playing ball games or skipping. No chewing gum, no musical instruments, no looking in the cupboards and no imported fruits or vegetables.

  PETS

  No pets allowed. Any smuggled hamsters will be speedily removed.

  THE PASSWORD

  The double silver doors at the main entrance are protected by the password. This will be whispered by your host Wizard and it is considered very rude to try to listen. In any case, you will not hear anything that is correct, as the password is self-scrambling. Please do not try shouting random words at the doors, hoping to get lucky. If you do, you will be asked to leave immediately.

  THE MAGYK FLOOR

  In the beautiful main vaulted entrance hall of the Wizard Tower you will notice that the floor feels somewhat like sand. Do not attempt to poke at it with your foot; it is a delicate, enchanted substance and difficult to repair. Stand still a moment and take time to watch for any messages. It will welcome respectful visitors if there are not more important messages to be relayed. Do not ask the floor to write something special for you—the floor does not take requests.

  THE SPIRAL STAIRS

  These are probably the most popular feature of the Wizard Tower with visitors—and the most commonly abused. These are moving spi
ral stairs and must be treated with caution. Children under ten are not allowed on the stairs.

  Do not attempt to mount the stairs unless accompanied by your Wizard guide.

  Do not attempt to instruct the stairs. Your Wizard guide will instruct them to turn.

  Do not run up the stairs while they are moving.

  Do not request stairs to be placed on emergency speed.

  Wizards have priority use, so please do not complain if one wishes to stop the stairs to get o? or on.

  Obey the safety instructions of your Wizard guide at all times.

  N.B. Rides are timed to ten minutes maximum.

  THE TWENTIETH FLOOR

  The top two floors of the Tower are home to the private rooms of the ExtraOrdinary Wizard. The spiral stairs stop at the twentieth-floor landing. Selected groups of visitors (those who have caused no trouble on the lower floors) may briefly get off the stairs and walk quietly along the landing to see the magnificent purple door that is the entrance to the rooms of the ExtraOrdinary Wizard. Do not touch.

  THE PYRAMID LIBRARY

  We regret that access to the Library is not available at present.

  I hereby agree to accept the above terms and conditions and promise that I will abide by all instructions given by the Wizard guide.