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“Dear Mr. Franklin.” Nothing that started that way was good, the stray thought supported the slightly sick feeling in his stomach. “It has come to our attention that your familiar is a rare type that can control others. You will bring your familiar and report immediately to the Wizard’s Guild of Alaska. Sincerely, Dr. Ibrahim Salozar, MWtD.”
He looked up at the master wizard. “What’s this about?” he asked.
“You’ll find out. Collect your familiar, I’m bringing you in.”
“What?”
“Your familiar is highly illegal, it’s also possible you stole it from the Guild itself. I’m bringing you in. If you resist, I have been authorized to use magical force.”
Oliver blinked at him a few times, then the weight of what was happening hit him. He was in real trouble. More importantly, he was responsible for it. He hadn’t checked on familiar rules since he hadn’t known there were any. He was such a great fool. He’d just ruined all of his chances to be a real wizard.
There was a crash. He looked over. Rill had knocked the computer off the table in his haste to escape. Before he could fly out the window, the master wizard waved a hand and the window closed. He produced a wand, and with a few mumbled words, and a flourish, there was a puff of smoke, and Rill was suddenly confined in a cage.
“Hey,” Oliver protested. But the master wizard aimed the wand at him. He shut up and followed him out of the apartment. Rill floating along beside them.
Chapter Four
“Sorry, Rill,” Oliver said to the bird, after they were placed in a cement room with an iron door. Iron was one of those things that made magic difficult. Not that he was a magical threat to anyone. Rill beeped at him and sent him an image of both of them in a tiny birdcage.
“That’s about it. They said I stole you from the Guild, and your gift is illegal. How was I supposed to know that your ability to control other birds was frowned on?”
Rill cocked his head. He sent an image of the birds flying in and dropping coins on the roof, in the planters. “You are a good bird, thanks. I know you did it for me.”
Rill squawked at him. And sent him the image again. Oliver didn’t understand, he could tell Rill was trying to tell him something important, but that was all he got. So, he shook his head. Rill continued to send him image after image, but he still didn’t understand what he was trying to say. Finally, the bird stopped and started pecking the walls of his cage. Oliver tried to reach inside, but although it looked like a wire birdcage, the walls were solid. He couldn’t even poke a finger through.
They sat like that for hours in the room that contained only a table and two chairs. At least, it felt like hours. He didn’t have a phone or a watch. For that matter, they’d taken his belt and shoes as well. He slouched in the chair, defeated. He’d never work for the Guild now, even if he didn’t end up in magic jail—which was looking possible.
When he felt like he couldn’t take another minute locked up like a criminal, there was a brisk knock, the door opened, and a wizard in full robes entered. He looked like a caricature of a wizard, from his tall, pointed hat to his long grey beard. He was average height, grey-eyed, and a little pudgy around the middle. He was carrying a briefcase.
Oliver sat up a little straighter, his stomach roiling and his hands sweaty.
The new wizard held out his hand. Oliver stared at it. The few wizards he knew rarely shook hands. He wiped his hand on his pants, then took the offered hand gingerly, waiting for magic to strike him. Nothing happened.
“My name is Geoffrey Hamilton. I’m your lawyer,” he said.
Oliver shook his head. He didn’t know what was going on. Lawyer? “I don’t know any lawyers. I don’t have the money to pay you either,” he said reluctantly. Who sent for a lawyer? He needed a lawyer? The enormity of it all hit him. He slouched back down, defeated.
The lawyer waved him away. “No worries, my boy. I’m not worried about payment right now. Let’s get you out of trouble, shall we?”
That sounded good. He couldn’t be in trouble or go to jail. He’d never so much as broken a traffic law. He’d never been in trouble, not even growing up. He was a good student, dependable, and an obedient child. He’d always done his chores, he paid his taxes on time, took care of the building as best as he could. He didn’t know how to be a criminal. He even returned his library books on time. That brought an errant thought of the magical library book sitting on his kitchen table. If he didn’t get out of here it would be his first late return, ever.
He was hyperventilating now. Geoffrey frowned, “Are you alright, my boy?” he asked.
Oliver tried to control his breathing, but it made it worse. He started to feel lightheaded. Geoffrey stood up and came around. “Put your head between your knees, boy, before you pass out,” he commanded.
Oliver did as he was told, and a few minutes later he had control again.
“Don’t worry old boy,” Geoffrey said with a wry grin. “We’ll get you out of this.”
Rill beeped at him as well. That did more good than anything. Rill was with him. He’d get out of this for him.
He took a few deep breaths and wiped his hands down his pants. “Who hired you?” he asked. A little suspiciously.
The old wizard laughed. “Well, that’s a bit of a long story. We’ll talk, but I want to get you and your lovely familiar out of here and away from the control of the Guild, so you are going to be quiet and let me work.” He opened his briefcase and fumbled around the inside of it. “Ah, here it is.” He pulled out a paper and shook it. “They’ve charged you with theft of a valuable animal and possessing an illegal familiar.” He examined the paper closely.
When he was done, he looked up. “Those are serious. The first charge could strip you of any rights as a magic user, effectively taking away your magic and leaving you as a mundane. The second charge will get you locked up.”
Oliver’s eyes flew open with horror. His heart sank, and he felt like hyperventilating again. He whispered, “Guild jail?”
