“Thank you,” I said in my deepest voice. “I’m sure I will find much here to interest me.” The air cart was twitching, eager to be flying again. “If you could just help me with my luggage-”

The constable helped me unload the boxes, while his wife ran to open the door to my chambers. The door opened directly onto the courtyard. I had somehow expected either a tower or a dungeon and wondered if this was suitably dignified, but at least it meant we didn’t have far to carry the boxes. They were heavy, too, and I had not had enough practice with the spell for lifting more than one heavy thing at a time to want to try in front of an audience.

The air cart took off again as soon as it was empty. I watched it soar away, my last direct link with the City, then turned to start unpacking. Both the constable and his wife stayed with me, eager to talk. I was just as eager to have them, because I wanted to find out more about Yurt.

“The kingdom’s never had a wizard from the wizards’ school before,” said the constable. I was unpacking my certificate for completing the eight years’ program. Although, naturally, it didn’t say anything about honors or special merit or even areas of distinction, it really was impressive. That was why I had packed it on top. It was a magic certificate, of course, nearly six feet long when unrolled. My name, Daimbert, was written in letters of fire that flickered as you watched. Stars twinkled around the edges, and the deep blue and maroon flourishes turned to gold when you touched them. It came with its own spell to adhere to walls, so I hung it up in the outer of my two chambers, the one I would use as my study.

“Our old wizard’s just retired,” the constable continued. “He must be well past two hundred years old, and when he was young you had to serve an apprenticeship to become a wizard. They didn’t have all the training you have now.”