Magician's Creed: The Orb of Alexandria

by Moab Blaster

Grateful for his life, Joe Gerber has a favor to do for the Magnus family. Once he finds out about Francis Jacobs, an evil magician with an afrit, he calls up Bartimaeus whose essence is still aching from the previous summons. He, Bartimaeus, fellow magicians and their spirits embark on a journey to bring Francis and his no-good team of magicians.

2. Bartimaeus

Chapter 2

Bartimaeus

Once again, I resisted the summons, and once again, failed. I appeared as a cloud of smoke rising from the pentacle, and looked over. Not Mandrake. He was younger, a little less than six feet tall, pencil thin, thin glasses, and brown hair. If he combed his hair back and dyed it black, he might as well been Simon Lovelace. "Oh, hello, how are you?" I asked, sarcastically. "Fine, if I might say so myself." America. I knew it. The odd room didn't look like an English townhouse, it was more or less a closet. In fact, that was what it was. A fancy closet with pentacles.

"Don't worry, Bartimaeus, I'll be nicer to you than Mandrake was. I'll be like... Ptolemy."

"Oh, yeah, right. So what's the charge?" The boy pursed his lips, like in thought. He took a deep breath and spoke.

"I charge you to locate the Orb of Alexandria, and if in possession of the magician Francis Jacobs, hide it under the greatest security you can find, and report back to me for further instructions."

If anybody was like Mandrake, it was the boy. Except he was too polite.

"Easy enough. What's your name?" I asked. I couldn't hope to get his birth name, he looked too old. I guessed fourteen. Maybe I could get his magician's name.

"Joe Gerber." He said. "I just got my name a few hours ago. I waited to summon you until I finally got my real name."

"Smart."

"Okay, Bartimaeus, you ready? I bide you to go."

At least he was nice. I kind of liked him. I went.

. . .

Francis Jacobs. His house was the best place to start. No magical stuff here, except for Joe's house. He lived in a rural neighborhood. Nice place. I flew until I found a djinni.

Oh no.

Faquarl.

"Faquarl?"

"Bartimaeus?"

This was awkward. I tackled him and pinned him to the ground.

"One question, then I'll let you go." I said. "Where does Francis Jacobs live?"

"Why would I tell you?"

"Because."

"Because he's my master."

"Wait, what?"

"You heard me."

This was even more awkward.

"What's your charges?" I asked Faquarl. "Does it have to do with a Joe Gerber?"

"No, it doesn't, but it has to do with the Orb of Alexandria."

Ooh, this had got to be good.

"What about the Orb?"

"I have to go get it."

"Where?"

"Is it any of your business?"

"Where?" I choked him.

"Okay!" He squawked.

Did I mention we were in the middle of a gravel parking lot on the side of a highway by a few eighteen-wheelers?

"It's in the Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh."

"Tough. I guess I can let you go." I did. He brushed off the dirt from his pigeon feathers.

"I better be going." He said.

"No, I do. Race you there, that's my charges too!" I said and flew away and materialized into a hawk. So did Faquarl, and I kicked him into the trees on my right, and started flying away, towards Pittsburgh and the Museum.