He was (gratifyingly) sorry I was going, but not (disappointingly) because he wished he could enjoy my company longer. Rather, he was concerned that I was going to help the cathedral dean. “You know wizards try to stay aloof from the Church and their worries about sin-after all, we don’t want priests interfering in magic.”

I had heard all this many times. It is best not to get involved in the Church because the priests think they have the right answers, whereas instead we wizards have the right answers all the time. “He’s not interfering in magic-as soon as he ran into a magical problem, he had the sense to send for a wizard.”

He nodded slowly. “All right, but remember: our responsibility is to help mankind, and mankind would be helped more by technically-trained wizards who also knew how to improvise than by priests talking about the supernatural.”

I thought he was through, but after a moment’s hesitation he spoke again. “While I don’t want to sound as though I’m accusing your friend, there have been rumors, stories, the last month or two, apparently centered in the twin kingdoms of Yurt and Caelrhon … Some members of the aristocracy are starting to talk as though they don’t need wizards, even as though they resent us. Something like this must have been behind the quarrel Sengrim had just before his death. Though I must say he had been acting erratic lately; he even became furious with me because none of us here were interested in some ideas he had about teaching different kinds of magic. But his behavior must have intensified local opposition to wizardry. When I telephoned the royal constable of Caelrhon a short time ago, he was very brusque and unhelpful and said his king had no intention of hiring a new wizard. Our first idea, of course, is that these rumors are being fueled by the priests. So while you’re at the cathedral, keep your eyes open.”