A Darker Shade of Magic
Chapter 3: The traveler III
by Schwab, V. E.The chapter introduces the Stone’s Throw, a grimy yet enduring tavern that exists in various forms across different versions of London. Despite its dilapidated appearance and watered-down drinks, the tavern serves as a constant, almost magical fixture in Kell’s life. It attracts those drawn to the idea of magic, particularly in Grey London, where believers and the curious gather. Kell, a magician, uses the tavern as a meeting place for his dealings, making him a fixed point in its ever-changing reality. The tavern’s patrons are lured by rumors of Kell’s abilities, adding to its mystique.
Kell prepares for a meeting with a client by examining a rare wooden game box containing elemental tokens—earth, water, sand, oil, and bone—used in his world to test magical affinity. The box, commonplace in Red London, is a coveted item in magic-starved Grey London. Kell anticipates dealing with a Collector, a wealthy individual who values magical artifacts as curiosities rather than tools. However, his expectations are disrupted when an Enthusiast named Ned approaches him. Enthusiasts, unlike Collectors, seek magic for practical use, a prospect Kell finds both irritating and dangerous.
Ned, an awkward young man with a poorly drawn power rune tattoo, reveals his desire for “a bit of earth” from another world, believing it will grant him magical abilities. Kell dismisses the request, knowing that the doors between worlds are closed and only Antari like himself can traverse them. He reflects on the decline of Antari, with only himself and Holland remaining as the last of their kind. Ned’s ignorance of magic’s true nature highlights the futility of his aspirations, yet Kell engages him in a test involving the elemental game box.
Kell challenges Ned to manipulate one of the elements without touching it, offering a cryptic bargain. The interaction underscores the tension between Kell’s disdain for Enthusiasts and his reluctant role as a gatekeeper of magical knowledge. The chapter closes with Kell’s amusement at Ned’s naivety, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of magic’s limitations and the consequences of its misuse. The tavern, as always, remains the backdrop for these exchanges, a silent witness to the interplay of power and desire.
FAQs
1. What makes the Stone’s Throw tavern significant, despite its unimpressive appearance?
Answer:
The Stone’s Throw is significant because it serves as a fixed point across multiple Londons (Grey, Red, and White), despite its grungy appearance and watered-down drinks. Though not a traditional source of magic like the Thames or Stonehenge, it consistently exists in the same location across different worlds, making it a unique phenomenon. Kell, who conducts his affairs there, considers himself similarly a “fixed point.” The tavern also attracts those sensitive to magic—whether Collectors or Enthusiasts—drawn by its subtle, mysterious pull and the rumors surrounding Kell.2. How does Kell’s wooden box game function in its original world, and why is it valuable in Grey London?
Answer:
In Red London, the wooden box is a common children’s toy and test, helping them discover their affinity for different elements (earth, water, air-substituted with sand, fire via oil, and bone). Most outgrow it, moving to advanced spellwork. However, in Grey London—where magic is absent—it becomes a rare artifact. Collectors, who seek exotic items for display rather than use, prize such objects. Its value lies in its scarcity and cultural significance, representing a world where magic is intrinsic, unlike Grey London’s skepticism.3. Compare and contrast Collectors and Enthusiasts. Why does Kell prefer dealing with Collectors?
Answer:
Collectors are wealthy, bored individuals who acquire magical trinkets as curiosities, with no real understanding or intent to use them. Enthusiasts, however, believe themselves true magicians and seek items to harness magic, often misguidedly. Kell prefers Collectors because their transactions are straightforward and non-threatening; they pose no risk of misusing magic or uncovering dangerous truths. Enthusiasts, like Ned, frustrate him due to their delusions of capability and the ethical dilemma they present—their aspirations border on treason, as they attempt to access forbidden power.4. What historical event led to the current scarcity of Antari, and how does this impact Kell’s role?
Answer:
The fall of Black London centuries ago resulted in the destruction of the doors between worlds, cutting off the free flow of magic. Only Antari—innately powerful magicians—can now create new doors, but even they are dwindling because the separation of worlds has reduced their emergence over time. Kell and Holland are among the last, making Kell’s ability to traverse worlds exceptionally rare. This scarcity heightens his isolation and responsibility, as he navigates the dangers of interdimensional trade while witnessing the decline of his kind.5. Analyze the symbolic significance of the tavern as a “fixed point” in relation to Kell’s identity.
Answer:
The Stone’s Throw’s unchanging presence across worlds mirrors Kell’s role as a constant amid shifting realities. Just as the tavern persists despite superficial changes (name, drinks, clientele), Kell remains a stable figure who bridges multiple Londons. This duality reflects his Antari nature—both anchored and transient. The tavern’s gravitational pull toward magic also parallels Kell’s own magnetism to those seeking power. The “fixed point” metaphor underscores his loneliness and endurance, as he operates in a world where true understanding (like Holland’s potential appreciation of the “poetry”) is rare.
Quotes
1. “It fascinated him, this place, because despite its grungy appearance and grungier customers, the fact was that, by luck or design, the Stone’s Throw was always there… A phenomenon. A fixed point.”
This quote introduces the mystical significance of the Stone’s Throw tavern as a constant across multiple Londons, establishing it as a supernatural anchor point in the narrative and reflecting Kell’s own role as a fixed point between worlds.
2. “Word of mouth was its own kind of magic, and here, in the Stone’s Throw, word of the magician passed men’s lips as often as the diluted ale.”
This beautifully crafted metaphor captures the dual nature of magic in Grey London - both as a real force and as rumor/legend - while also characterizing the tavern’s atmosphere and Kell’s reputation among its patrons.
3. “In Grey London, only two kinds of people came to find Kell. Collectors and Enthusiasts… Kell did not like Enthusiasts—in part because he found their aspirations wasted, and in part because serving them felt so much closer to treason.”
This quote establishes a key world-building distinction that drives the chapter’s conflict, revealing Kell’s professional dynamics and moral stance while foreshadowing his encounter with Ned.
4. “Now only the Antari possessed enough power to make new doors, and even then only they could pass through them… Now, Kell and Holland seemed to be the last of a rapidly dying breed.”
This crucial exposition explains the magic system’s current state and Kell’s unique position as one of the last Antari, highlighting the story’s central tension about disappearing magic and isolated worlds.
5. “What so many Grey-worlders didn’t seem to grasp was that a spell was only as strong as the person casting it.”
This insight encapsulates a core theme about the nature of magic and power, while setting up Kell’s test for Ned and demonstrating his cynical view of magic enthusiasts’ capabilities.