TALE OF THE NECROMANCER WHO LEARNS RESPECT
                    By: John Brengman

     A mage rode into the sprawling city after a three-day journey
from the north. He held a silver amulet in his hand upon which was
inscribed a strange black symbol. Seeing a passer-by walking along
the row of shops near him, the wizard's whisper-like voice
inquired, "Dear peasant, where might I find a seer?" His hand
glowed lightly as he softly grasped the hand of the unsuspecting
pauper. Upon receiving his directions, the dark mage continued on
his way, ignoring the slightly peasant that his life and his hand
had just touched. Winding his way through the cobbled streets, he
finally stopped his black mare in front of a small row of shops.
     After tieing his horse securely to a nearby post, he entered
one of the shops. The interior was well-lit but crowded with books,
artifacts, and trinkets of all shapes, sizes, and colors. A wooden
counter with stacks of books inhabiting it ran down the left side
of the shop in front of a large bookcase the occupied the entire
wall. A frail-looking old man stood behind the counter, studying an
ancient-looking book.
     "I don't serve your type, mage," the man said coldly without
looking up from his book. The ghostly visitor approached the
elderly man, ignoring his comment. "I have come for some
information." He stated.
     "I said," the seer replied, "I do not serve your kind,
necromancer. You are vile, evil, and vicious, and I will have
nothing to do with you. Leave this place at once."
     Leaning over, the death mage sneered at the aged seer. "I do
not need your morals or your pandering." He snarled. "I only want
some information on this amulet." He held out the amulet so the
seer could see it. 
     "I asked you to leave," the seer stated after briefly scanning
the amulet.
     "Worthless fool!!," the necromancer screamed, grabbing the
seer by his robes. "Tell me what I need to know, or met death here
and now!"
     There was no visable reaction from the seer to this physical
abuse and he calmly said: "Physical violence is unwise here. I have
very powerful friends. One of them is right behind you."
     The necromancer looked at the seer increduluously. "Do you
believe me to be a fool. Do you expect me to believe such a feeble
lie?"
     The necromancer had an invisible demonic friend who could
become visible at will. It was a demon who had lost a war with an
earthly king and his minions  and had found the necromancer during
his wanderings. The two could communicate using telepathy, and now
the demon informed him: "Master, there is a demon behind you and he
is very BIG!!"
     "What should I do?" The necromancer thought.
     "Cooperate."
     Feigning thoughfulness, the mage murmured calmly, "Then
again," as he gently put the seer down, "maybe I can find the
information I need elsewhere." He turned to leave the shop.
     "Just a minute, necromancer," the seer said. "I am interested
in that amulet. Perhaps I can uncover its secrets if you do me a
favor."
     "And that would be?"
     "I don't know as of yet, but you will owe me a favor at some
time. If you get any more trinkets, I will any of your questions
for future favors."
     "Fine, now what about that symbol?"
     "It's a royal symbol from the Isle of Ourvak," the seer
replied. "Ourvak is an island in the north that can only be reached
by ship. It is a very dangerous place, what with all of the evil
that lurks there. But," he paused, "you should feel quite at home
there."
     The necromancer thanked the seer, then turned to depart.
     "Oh, by the way," the seer said as the wizard was about to
leave. "In the future, be more respectful to your elders."