Myth conceptions by Robert Asprin

Garkin’s hut, where I had first been introduced to magik, had been full of candles, vials of strange powders, dusty books . . . now there was a magician’s lair! Of course, I had since discovered most of what he had was unnecessary for the actual working of magik itself.

I was beginning to see what Aahz meant when he said I’d have to learn to put on a show.

“We’ve got a lot of stuff we can work into your presentation,” Aahz continued. “Isstvan left a lot of his junk behind when he left. Oh, and you might find some familiar items when we unload. I think the Imps helped themselves to some of Garkin’s equipment and brought it back to the inn with them.”

“Really?” I said, genuinely interested. “Did they get Garkin’s brazier?”

“Brazier?” My mentor frowned.

“You remember,” I prompted. “You used it to drink wine out of when you first arrived.”

“That’s right! Yeah, I think I saw it in there. Why?”

“No special reason,” I replied innocently. “It was always a favorite of mine, that’s all.”

From watching Garkin back in my early apprentice days, I knew there were secrets to that brazier I was dying to learn. I also knew that, if possible, I wanted to save it as a surprise for Aahz.

“We’re going to have to do something about your physical appearance, too,” Aahz continued thoughtfully.

“What’s-“

“You’re too young!” he answered, anticipating my question. “Nobody hires a young magician. They want one who’s been around for a while. If we-“

He broke off suddenly and craned his neck to look around.

“Kid,” he said carefully, studying the sky. “Your dragon’s gone again.”