Days after his twelfth birthday, Nathaniel summons Bartimaeus, an ancient and cocky djinn who resents his enslavement, and charges him to steal the Amulet. Retrieving the artifact, Bartimaeus barely escapes Faquarl and Jabor, two of Lovelace's djinn, and is accosted by a mysterious gang of youths who attempt to take the Amulet; they are later revealed to be the Resistance, working to undermine the magicians’ rule. Bartimaeus is ordered to hide the Amulet in Underwood's study, and overhears his master's birth name "Nathaniel," which provides him a defense against punishment from the young magician. However, he applies a spell to guarantee Bartimaeus’ servitude for one month. Later, Nathaniel is officially named “John Mandrake” (apprentices are given substitute names at the age of twelve years) and accompanies the Underwoods to the state address at parliament. At the gathering of high-ranking magicians, a Resistance member causes an explosion, resulting in several injuries.