‘You can’t call them black magicians,’ I said. ‘You realise that we’re using “black” in its metaphorical sense here,’ said Nightingale. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ I said. ‘Words change what they mean, don’t they? Some people would call me a black magician.’ ‘You’re not a magician,’ he said. ‘You’re barely even an apprentice.’ ‘You’re changing the subject,’ I said. ‘What should we call them?’ he asked patiently. ‘Ethically challenged magical practitioners,’ I said.
