In the Castle
22 September 2006 10:10 pmA wizard doesn't always want to have to do magic on demand, as it were; it gets old and it gets dull, and there's nothing to do to make it more interesting. Even strong Words of Power lose their appeal when they're performed on demand.
This, Howl thinks, is the only thing wrong with being sought after by the King: the seven-league boots have to be produced in such quanitity that they're not fun to make. They become a chore. The same with the protective spells for the army soldiers and their medical kits and supply packs.
"It's all drudge work and nobody appreciates it." Howl sets down the paper with the spell on it and turns round. "Michael. Why aren't you able to do these spells yet? It would be so helpful but no... I take you in and clothe you and feed you and make you my best and only apprentice, but a simple protective spell is beyond your abilitles. That's a fine how do you do. I'm busy. I've got things to do." He looks up cautiously to see if anyone's listening, but Michael is knee-deep in his own spell, Calcifer is sleeping in the fire, and Sophie is...
...not at her stool sewing? Where could...
Aha. Standing, Howl's suddenly by the door, looking over Sophie's shoulder.
"I told you, Sophie: black down is private. Is nothing safe with you around?" He's trying to be so very stern, but he's afraid it's not quite working. "You, my dear, are rather a huge piece of work. An amusing, annoying, nosy piece of work."
This, Howl thinks, is the only thing wrong with being sought after by the King: the seven-league boots have to be produced in such quanitity that they're not fun to make. They become a chore. The same with the protective spells for the army soldiers and their medical kits and supply packs.
"It's all drudge work and nobody appreciates it." Howl sets down the paper with the spell on it and turns round. "Michael. Why aren't you able to do these spells yet? It would be so helpful but no... I take you in and clothe you and feed you and make you my best and only apprentice, but a simple protective spell is beyond your abilitles. That's a fine how do you do. I'm busy. I've got things to do." He looks up cautiously to see if anyone's listening, but Michael is knee-deep in his own spell, Calcifer is sleeping in the fire, and Sophie is...
...not at her stool sewing? Where could...
Aha. Standing, Howl's suddenly by the door, looking over Sophie's shoulder.
"I told you, Sophie: black down is private. Is nothing safe with you around?" He's trying to be so very stern, but he's afraid it's not quite working. "You, my dear, are rather a huge piece of work. An amusing, annoying, nosy piece of work."