Negotiating Magic
By Alfred Underhill
Slowly, carefully Udo made his way up the slope. His eyes scanned the terrain for
any signs of an aperture, cave, crack, fissure, or hole- any opening that might lead to the inside
of the mountain. The altitude and cloudless day prevented the uncomfortable journey from
turning into an unbearable one. He hoped to find his destination before nightfall.
Hours passed as he methodically ascended, and Udo grew tired. His hooves were
beginning to ache from the steep, uneven rocks. His body was better suited for the woods or
grasslands, not this. He smiled awkwardly at the thought, city dweller that he was. Finding a
mostly level slab, he sat down and pulled the water skin from his pack. He gazed upon the forest
below, long and wide and green like the ocean. Toward the horizon, he saw the city of Cervus,
his home. At least he thought he could see it.
Absently, he rubbed one of the nubs where his antlers had been until a few days ago.
If not for his quest, he'd have kept his rack a few more months. Maybe he could re-grow them
with a little magic before the season turned cold. Vanity. If I succeed, he chastened himself. He
let out a sigh.
His blessing and curse was his conscientiousness. A rare quality amongst his people,
outside of the nobility at least. He knew that trait was why the prince had taken him under his
wing as an apprentice. The prince, 6th in line to the throne, was the court magician for the
Kingdom of Cervus, the land of the perytons. Udo guessed that being 6th in line to the throne