Bill opened his mouth to answer, to say no, then paused. Slurg’s gaze was very intense. Bill thought everything through. He had been about to tell Thomas no he wasn’t becoming a cobbler but ask if it could work if he did.
But Slurg was making it very clear that the words mattered. If Bill said he wasn’t a cobbler and wasn’t going to become one, would that be a binding statement as far as the magic went? And really, what was a cobbler other than someone who was making shoes?
“Yes,” said Bill. “I am going to become a cobbler. I’m going to look up how to do it tomorrow, once I get over my hangover, and order the supplies in. And then I’m going to try and…” He broke off as Slurg cleared his throat.
“And then I’m going to start making shoes,” Bill said. “And I’m going to make them s
