Free Thief’s Magic by Trudi Canavan Page A

He shook himself.
    “Nothing. You startled me.”
    Beetle flew over to the desk and settled among the machinery, as it was meant to do when it needed repairs. Miko’s gaze dropped to Vella, then rolled towards the ceiling. “Are you reading that book again? Honestly, you are such a bore.” He moved closer and peered at it.
    Tyen resisted the urge to put Vella somewhere out of Miko’s reach, knowing it would convince the other student that he was hiding something. Miko reached out and snatched the book from Tyen’s hand.
    “I thought you said it was about statistics or sums or some such thing. There’s nothing written on the cover.”
    Tyen shrugged, though his heart was now racing. “It’s old. The title’s worn off.” He leaned forward to take it back, but Miko stepped away. His stomach sank as his friend ran his thumb over the edges of the pages, fanning them open. Miko frowned, then opened the book. Tyen’s insides turned over.
    “There’s nothing written in here.” Miko shook his head. “Why would you…? Oh.”
    Tyen bit back a curse. He watched Miko’s eyes move from left to right and back again, then widen and rise to meet his own.
    “A magical book!”
    “I did say it was a book of sorcery.”
    “About sorcery. Not
of
sorcery.”
    “I wasn’t that specific.” He held out his hand. “Give it back.”
    Miko’s gaze had moved to the page again. As Tyen rose and reached for the book he sidestepped. “It says that you found it in the tomb. That you didn’t give it to the Academy even though you knew they’d want it.” He glanced up at Tyen and grinned. “Seems you
can
misbehave, when it suits you.”
    This time Tyen cursed aloud.
    “But you do plan to eventually,” Miko continued. “After you’ve filled in the last six hundred years of history and invention. What do you want to do that for? I wouldn’t.”
    “Give her to the Academy or add to her knowledge?”
    His lips pursed in thought, Miko held the book out to Tyen. “Both, I suppose. I’d find out everything it knows then sell it. I’ve never heard of a book like this before. It’s probably very rare.”
    Tyen took Vella back and slipped her into his inner jacket pocket. “She is. That’s why I have to give her to the Academy.” As Tyen said the words his heart sank. “But not until she’s ready.”
    “Well, better that than keep her. It.”
    Tyen frowned. “Why?”
    “Magical objects can be dangerous. They should be handled by an expert.”
    “She’s not dangerous.” Tyen shook his head. He’d never taken Miko for a superstitious type. “All her magic is in storing knowledge. She’s no more dangerous than any book in the Academy library.”
    “Knowledge can be dangerous.” Miko’s expression was serious. “If the wrong person gets the wrong information at the wrong time. And why do you call it a ‘she’?”
    Tyen smiled. “She was once human. A woman.”
But I’d best not mention she was made into one by Roporien. That
will
convince him she’s dangerous.
    Miko’s eyebrows had risen. “Really? Has she shown you a picture of herself?”
    “No.”
    “You haven’t asked her to?”
    “Well, no.”
    “Aren’t you curious?”
    “No. Well, I suppose I am now.”
    “She might be good-looking.” Miko moved over to his desk and sat down. “It would have been the first thing I’d have asked.”
    Tyen snorted. “Of course. And the second thing would be to see her without clothes on.” He retreated to his own desk.
    “Aha! So that’s the real reason you spend all your time staring at the book. Now it’s all making sense.” Miko grinned.
    “It is not,” Tyen replied. He sighed and picked up Beetle.
I ought to be studying, but it shouldn’t take long to fix this.
Soon dinner would be served, then he and Miko would have to meet Professor Kilraker and continue labelling and cataloguing the Mailand finds.
    “You won’t tell anyone about Ve— the book, will you, Miko? Not yet, anyway.”
    “I