William Calhoun and the Black Feather. Book I

«No, I’m definitely dreaming!» William had no more doubts. «Such things can’t be happening in real life.»

The waiter came closer, bent over the feather and read the name inscribed on it very quietly:

«Calhoun…» Then he added in a normal voice: «There could have been no mistake, I knew it from the moment I heard your voice…»

He made a few steps back and said, giving William a serious look:

«Young William should not be surprised with such things. It is quite…»

«What?!» Everything that had been building up in William over the day suddenly burst out. «A rude person tells me to go to the bathroom where he says I belong; in the bathroom I meet a strange man in a uniform who sits me down on the toilet and flushes me; then I find myself in a very strange place with oddly dressed people; then a waitress nearly knocks me off my feet, and she can collect soup from the floor and glue broken dishes back with the wave of an ordinary feather; and in the end I meet you, and in a few seconds you move me to my own room, where I take out the feather and it is bigger than it was seven years ago and, what’s more, it moves! And you say that I shouldn’t be surprised?!»

Despite William’s heated speech, the waiter remained calm.

«My name is Nymus,» he said. «I am the mailmage of the Calhouns! YOUR mailmage, Master Clahoun!»

«My who?!» William asked.

«Mailmage! Each wizard kin must have one,» and after a pause, he added: «As far as I can see, Master Calhoun still does not know that he is a wizard?»

William needed half a minute for the question to sink in. As he took a grip on himself and ran today’s events in his head again, he asked:

«So, I’m not mad and all that happened to the waitress and the tray was for real?»

«Yes. I saw that, Master Calhoun. I admit, I even laughed at your clumsiness. How stupid of me! Laugh at my own master!»

«I’m not your master, what are you talking about? And why do you keep calling me Calhoun?»

«Young William has so much to learn! You should better sit down.»

After giving it a bit of thought, William realized that the mailmage was right. He sat down and then Nymus continued:

«What do you know about your family?»

This question made William shiver, as if someone had just thrown a shovel of snow right into his face. Suddenly, he looked at the mailmage as if this Nymus was the most important person in his life.

«You know about my REAL family?»

«I do! Tell me, how long have you been living here, young William?»

«Since I was seven. Before that, I lived with my grandma. She found me in the street when I was a baby.»

«And how old are you now?» asked Nymus in the same busy-like voice.

«Not long ago I turned fourteen. On July 1.»

«Green Monogram! Then it is really you. I understood that as soon as I heard your voice! Listen, Master Calhoun,» Nymus’s voice became even more serious and busy-like, «All your family and relatives tragically died fourteen years ago. It happened a day after you were born.»

William was speechless. For a while, he couldn’t say a word, no matter how hard he tried. Then he took a grip on himself and asked:

«How did it happen?»

«Nobody knows!» Nymus replied. «The only known thing is that seventeen wizards died over one night. All of them Calhouns. After that night, the Calhoun kin perished. And I…» he trailed off holding back his tears, «was left without work.»

William thought that the last words were too selfish. They were talking about a completely different thing. And he snapped:

«How is your work connected with my family?»

«It is connected by ancient, really ancient magic, Master Calhoun! Each wizard kin has their own mailmage kin that serves them faithfully. From kin to kin, kin for the good of kin… Our kin was always proud of their masters. Because the Calhouns is a rather famous kin among wizards.»

«And I…» William found it hard to process all the information Nymus was giving him. «So, I’m a Calhoun, too?»

«The last,» the mailmage corrected him, «the last Calhoun. Until today you were also considered dead, young William.»

There was a brief silence, after which William said:

«You’re saying that I’m a wizard! I’m sorry to disappoint you, but… I can’t do things like you do or like that waitress in the tavern.»

«It is easy to refute!»

William gave him a puzzled look and the waiter – the mailmage now – continued serenely:

«Take the magic feather.»

William took the box obediently. As he opened it again, he didn’t even have time to touch the feather. It shot out of the box on its own and, pausing in the air for a moment, started drawing eights at high speed.

«Do not be alarmed, Master Calhoun,» Nymus calmed him down, «The feather is not going to hurt you. You just need to call it! It will not lie in your hand otherwise.»

And indeed, William’s attempt to grab the feather, then another one and another, ended with the feather slipping away from him the moment he was going to grab it. The feather seemed to be teasing him, hanging right before his nose after each unsuccessful attempt.

«You need to say «Obnoxus’,» Nymus advised, «and it will lie in your hand.»

William gave him a look full of disbelief, but decided to make one last attempt:

«Ob… Obnoxus!» he repeated after Nymus.

The moment William said the word, the feather swayed from side to side and lay onto his hand. The next moment, bright blue light escaped from the tip of the feather, frightening William. The pale yellow inscription «Calhoun’ on the feather shone bright and became golden.

This lasted for a few seconds, after which the glow died. The inscription became pale yellow again and the feather in his hand was moving its hairs lazily and calmly, like a cat moving its tail when scratched behind the ears.

«The feather has found its master,» Nymus smiled and advised: «Always keep it close, Master Calhoun Without the feathers wizards become vulnerable.»

«So it’s true?» William asked, still staring at the feather. «I’m a wizard?»

«Yes, Master Calhoun. And you are no worse than other wizards. Like I said, you have all the rights to live and study among people like yourself.»

«But,» William looked up at Nymus, «I already live with the Hoggarts and go to school.»

«It can be easily fixed. Now tell me, do they treat you well?»

«Yes!» William said truthfully. «They are wonderful people.»

«That is good!» Nymus said approvingly. «Master Calhoun, you will need to change school. Now you are going to study together with other wizards.»

«Does this mean that there are special places where magic is taught?»

«You think wizards are illiterate? Or that they do not have their own world? Only magic is not taught, young wizards are taught to control it by developing their skills.»

«Tell me, in that place…» William began, as he suddenly remembered, «where we met… were there also…»

«There were only wizards there,» Nymus finished for him. «But I cannot understand how you managed to get there if you did not know about it.»

«By accident. Well, it was my first time at a café,» William admitted. «And when I entered, the barman directed me to the bathroom. You know the rest.»

«Oh, the fate favours us, young William! We have reunited – a wizard and his mailmage!»

«Are you… are you going to live with me now?» William asked awkwardly.

«Live?!» Nymus laughed. «No, young William! Mailmages are not supposed to live with their masters! They live at the Magic Post Office! I used to live there as well until I was fired after losing my masters.»

«But it wasn’t your fault that they died, Nymus. Why did they fire you?»

«A mailmage without his wizard is no mailmage at all. He becomes useless and is banished. I was forced to go looking for work and became a waiter at the „Well-Fed Wizard“, that is how the tavern is called,» Nymus explained seeing William’s reaction to the name. «I have worked there for fourteen years, but now it is in the past! I shall return to the Post Office tomorrow and tell them that I have found my master, then they will take me back!»

«Well, I’m happy for you, Nymus!» William said sincerely. «You said you used to serve my family… My parents… what were their names?»

«They were Patrick and Sally Calhoun,» Nymus replied. «But like I said before, nothing is known about their deaths. Their bodies were found far from their home.»

William repeated the names of his parents in his head and, for a while, he sat silently. Then he turned to the mailmage again:

«Did you know them well?»

«The mailmage position of the Calhoun family had just been transferred to me at that time. I took it from my father Lester after he had retired. I had just finished the Post Office Academy and started working there. And soon…» Nymus stumbled, «I lost everything.»

He was looking at William as if he could hardly believe that they had met. After a few moments, Nymus continued in a more cheerful voice:

«A for your studies… Like I have already told you, you will have to change school. You are fourteen, and this is the age when wizards are enrolled in the Preparatory Course to one of the MUnis.»

«MUnis?» William repeated.

«Magic University! After graduation, each wizard can choose a profession. You cannot do without higher education, Master Calhoun! There were many powerful wizards in your kin and they all did great at Templedoor and beyond it as well…»

Nymus’s voice dropped to a whisper. But after a pause he continued cheerfully:

«First thing in the morning, we are going to the Magic Post Office, I shall get the mailmage license back, and from there we shall go register your magic feather so that you could enrol in the Preparatory Course!»

«It’s all great, but what am I going to tell Hoggarts when they get a letter from school about me missing classes?»

«Letters are my job, Master Calhoun,» Nymus smiled. «Hoggarts will not get any letters about your absence from the demit school.»

«Who are demits?» William asked. «I’ve heard this word from the barman, but didn’t pay too much attention to it back then.»

«That is how we call non-wizard folk,» Nymus explained.

«I see!»

William found it hard to believe that all of this was happening to him for real. His life was changing rapidly. And each moment spent with Nymus changed his destiny even more. After a bit of thinking, he spoke up again:

«So, Hoggarts will know nothing about the school… And where am I going to study? Where’s this school?»

«The classes take place in London,» Nymus replied.

«In London?» William repeated, unbelieving.

«Yes, in London! Looks like I need to tell Master Calhoun even more about wizards and the wizarding world.»

«Yes, please, if you don’t mind!» William replied gratefully.

Nymus placed one hand over the other, as if he was going to start a very long story:

«Well, you will learn most of it in the classes on wizard history, but I will tell you the main things!»

«Take a seat, Nymus,» William pointed at the bed beside himself.

«Take a seat?!» Nymus repeated indignantly.

«Well, yes. Is something wrong with that?»

«Master Calhoun, no decent mailmage will allow himself to sit when his master is present, under no circumstances. It is not according to the mailtiquette!»

«Stop calling me master!» William said angrily. «I’ve never been a master to anyone. I’ve never even had a dog. Besides,» he added in a less angry tone, «I’m your wizard and I allow you to sit in my presence.»

«No, Master Clahoun, I am a decent mailmage and I am very happy to find my wizard again! But even under these happy circumstances, I shall not break the Post Office Code! Allow me to keep standing before you and do not offer me to take a seat again.»

«Well, as you wish,» William gave up. «So, what about wizards?»

«Yes, right! The world we live in, Master Calhoun, equally belongs both to demits and to wizards.»

«But Nymus,» William interrupted him, «during the fourteen years of my life, I’ve never met any wizards. Other people I know also believe that all the talks about wizards are nothing more than fairy-tales.»

«Long time ago, fairy-tales were written by wizards themselves, as they described their own adventures or the lives of their friends. Then demits started writing fairy-tales. As for the fact you have never met wizards until today… that is how it is supposed to be! Demits should not be aware of the true state of things. But you are a wizard, Master Calhoun, and it is wrong that you find this out only at the age of fourteen. It is completely wrong, Green Monogram!» the mailmage couldn’t help swearing again.

«Nymus, Nymus…» William hurried to cool the mailmage’s emotions. «I’ve found it out thanks to you, please, calm down.»

«I apologize, Master Calhoun,«Nymus hurried to say and continued. «So, where was I…»

«Talking about wizards and ordinary people,» William reminded him.

«They are called demits.»

«Fine! Wizards and demits. Continue!»

«Right, demits! Most of them believe that everything they have achieved is due only to their own efforts!»

«Isn’t it?»

«Of course, not, I swear to Post Office! There is the IFW – International Federation of Wizards, which acts in all countries of the world. Its current president is Quincy von Bulberg. Though, to my mind, Fafner would have filled the role of the international leader of wizards so much better. But who am I, a mere mailmage, to judge these thing. I am just a midget! A Letter Worm! A wide-feet frog!» Nymus suddenly started to humiliate himself.

«Nymus! Stop insulting yourself!» William said strictly. «We’ve already agreed that you are my Mailmage!»

«Yes, Master Calhoun, that is true!» Nymus brightened up. «I serve the proud Calhoun kin, the last representative of this noble kin!»

«Er… thanks, but you’d better continue your story about wizards,» William interrupted him softly.

«Whatever you say, Master Calhoun! Your word is the Envelope Seal for me!» and Nymus bowed elegantly.

«Oh, come on, stop apologizing, bowing, calling me master, and being so overly polite! Since today we’re friends, remember this. And friends don’t bow to each other!»

These words made Nymus’s face practically glow.

«Oh, my noble Master Calhoun! It’s clear that there’s noble blood in you, the noblest of them all! And I am very proud that I am…»

«Tell me, Nymus,» William interrupted him calmly, «can a master fire his mailmage?»

«Yes, if desired! Then representatives of several vacant kins will be sent over for a new mailmage to be selected. But this happens only if a mailmage dishonours the kin of his wizard or angers the wizard for some reason…»

Then he added in alarm:

«And why is Master Calhoun asking about it?»

«Because Master Calhoun will fire you if you bow to him again or will continue praising him every other sentence!»

«Oh Master Calhoun!»

Nymus fell to his knees and started wailing and pleading not to be fired:

«Fourteen years living in disgrace for staying without masters, for dishonouring my noble kin… Oh, I am a worthless mailmage, Green Monogram! Worthless! Worthless!»

«Now, now…» William tried to calm him down, «I’m not going to fire you, just stop acting like this and embarrassing me!»

These words made Nymus smile. He jumped up and turned to William.

«As you say, Master Calhoun! Like I said, your word is the Envelope Seal for me!»

«Alright, then!» said William. «Now, please, continue telling me about the federation of wizards and its connection with pe… with demits.»

«Yes! So, demits do not even suspect that there is at least one wizard among the leaders of their countries, who makes sure the situation stays under control. Because if wizards stop helping demits, the balance will shift and then…»

«Then what?»

«It will be chaos!» Nymus said. «The peace between wizards and demits will be gone!»

«Has it happened before?»

«Thank Celestine, no! But things worse than that happened!»

«What can be worse than what you’ve just described, Nymus?»

«Once,» Nymus’s voice dropped to a whisper, «there were dark times for wizards. Wizards were on the verge of extinction! But it is best to avoid mentioning this! As we, mailmages, like to say: «Do not disturb the Post Office archive!»

William gave it a bit of though, then said:

«Well, if it’s best to avoid it, then we will! Tell me, where do wizards live? Not here, in London?»

«Not only in London! Wizards live everywhere. In all corners of the world.»

«And they live in houses, like demits?»

«Of course, they do!» Nymus said indignantly. «Their houses are situated quite close to demit ones. But they are either hidden from prying eyes or they can be seen, but nobody will pay any attention to them.»

«Why is that?»

«Because a Repulsion spell is placed on wizard houses, which allows them to avoid any attention from demits. They do not need it.»

«And schools for wizards, are they hidden from demit eyes as well?»

«Master Calhoun, wizards do not study until they are fourteen. And they do not go to schools.»

«How? What do they do all this time?» William was surprised.

«They learn to control their abilities from the age of seven, when they get their Magic Feather, and they spend seven years after that on becoming close to it. It is one thing to receive a feather – you need to get along with it. And it requires a lot of time and a lot of knowledge, which they get from the books and from their parents. When the time comes and wizards turn fourteen, they are enrolled in the Preparatory Course, after which they can be admitted to a MUni. MUni is…»

«Yes, yes, I already know! You said it yourself – Magic University!»

«Envelope Seal! That is right! Master Calhoun learns fast!» Nymus noted happily.

«I’m trying!» William said sarcastically. «Continue.»

«There are four MUnis: Templedoor…»

«And there’s place for all students in them?» William asked with a shade of distrust.

«Of course! Those are not like demit schools, small, uncomfortable, where it is hard even to study, not mentioning living!»

«Do wizards live in MUnis?»

«It is an obligatory part of education! Otherwise, they will stop perceiving MUni as their home, which will later weaken their connection with teachers and influence their studies. Not mentioning the time they would spend on getting to classes.»

«Are MUnis that far?»

«Nobody knows. Even we, mailmages, have never known the exact location of any MUni, young William! And we are supposed to know all the addresses to get all letters to addressees.»

«Oh! Then each wizard is sent letters through you, mailmages? Is that right?»

«That is right! Cannot do without us, mailmages!» Nymus replied, proud of his profession. «We deliver not only letters, but also parcels, gifts, and everything that can be sent.»

«How do you deliver mail to students without knowing MUni addresses?»

«Oh, that is easy! We simply put the name of the MUni as our destination and get there in a few minutes! But I have to say…» at this point Nymus raised his chin and added another portion of pride to his voice, «not all mailmages are so slow! Peregrining takes some mailmages only a few seconds…»

«Mailmages like you, for example?» William could barely keep himself from smiling.

«Master Calhoun is so kind… and right, as always!»

«Alright, alright, I understand that I’m very lucky to have you as a mailmage!» said William solemnly. «What is peregrining?» he asked after a bit of thinking.

«Peregrining is a process of movement, transporting letters or wizards across space.»

«Well, looks like I’ve already been through it and let me tell you: peregrining is a rather peculiar way of earning a headache! And what is Templedoor?»

«The first peregrining is always accompanied by discomfort, Master Calhoun! But do not worry. You will get used to it! As for Templedoor, it is one of four MUnis and, according to the popular opinion, it is the most elite institution to teach magical arts. There are also Wingville, Findsor, and Garville. These are four acknowledged MUnis.»

William got up and started pacing the room, trying to remember each word.

«Are there not acknowledged ones?» he asked.

«There are. But few wizards take them into account! And few enter them.»

William stopped for a moment and looked at Nymus.

«Do they give bad education?»

«It is not bad or good, Master Calhoun, it is WHAT they teach that matters. And they teach dark evil things, Green Monogram! They even say that no mailmage dares to go there. Unless his master sends him over there with an errand! But wizards usually try to avoid giving such errands. They understand that things may not go well for their mailmage.»

«Oh! What can they do to him in there?»

«Torment! Torture! Pry important information about the Post Office and even kill! Green Monogram! To do this to us, mailmages!»

«Calm down, Nymus! I won’t send you there, don’t worry. Have there been such cases?»

«Oh, of course there have, young William, there have!»

William started pacing the room again.

«Why is it impossible to enter a MUni right away? Why is it necessary to study for a year before that?»

«Because it is the preparatory course of magic that reveals the abilities of a wizard! Unable wizards or those who do not want to study will never get invitations from MUnis! But I am quite sure that in a year I will deliver a letter from a MUni to Master Calhoun! And, Post Office save me, let that letter be from Templedoor!»

«So what’s so special about it that makes it better than others?»

«Well, the first and the main reason is that it is headed by Fafner himself!»

«Who is he?»

«Unsent Letters! Not knowing Ferzibald Fafner is like knowing nothing about wizards!»

«Well, Nymus, you can excuse me. Don’t forget, I’ve known about wizards for less than an hour.»

«Wind Take My Letters!» Nymus slapped his forehead with his large hand. «That is right! Ferzibald Fafner is one of the greatest wizards of all times! He founded the Wizard Association and he is the chairman of the Wizard Education Department. He is also one of the founders of the «Carefree Wizard’ Fund that helps wizards from all around the world with problems connected with housing, health, and family. The Fund has helped many those suffering from the incurable Bellini’s Disease to cope with the illness and ease their suffering.»

«But if this Fafner is so powerful, why is Quentin von Bulberg the president of the International Federation of Wizards, not him?»

«Quincy!» Nymus corrected him. «Well, Quincy von Bulberg inherited the position from the previous president – Oliver Burke. Burke fiercely hated Fafner for being so loved and respected by everyone, while he, Burke, the president of the International Federation of Wizards, was not taken seriously by anyone. At one time, Burke even wanted to dismiss him from the position of the rector of Templedoor, but as soon as the Wizard Association and the rest of the Wizard Community learned about his intention, the main office of the International Federation of Wizards immediately received several hundred million of letters with threats. The letters said that if Fafner was to be dismissed, all the parents would take the students back home. And the teachers, in their turn, called the Council of Professors where they collected the votes of all colleagues and they threatened to leave their positions if the MUni would be headed by someone other than Fafner.»

«Wow!» William said emotionally.

«Yes… I remember that the Magic Post Office played a great part in it… I can still clearly remember my grandfather telling how crazy it was in the building of the Magic Post Office because of such amount of letters!»

«So this happened in your grandfather’s times?»

«Yes. About three hundred years ago! Not a line more, not a line less!»

«Oh! So how old is Fafner?»

«Well, nobody knows Fafner’s exact age! As far as I know he is about six hundred years with an envelope!»

«Six hundred years!» William found it incredible that someone could live this long. «And how old are you, Nymus?»

«Oh, I am quite young, Master Calhoun, I am just a century with an envelope!»

«Over a hundred years!» he cried out. «Amazing…»

«So, Fafner,» Nymus continued, «at the time, he was going to run for the president of the International Federation of Wizards, but Oliver Burke used his right to appoint his successor personally, and, of course, Fafner was the last wizard to become his successor. But this only led to increased hate towards Burke and Fafner’s popularity.»