Free The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas

heard the magisters were meeting later in the evening.
    â€œThey won’t be expecting me already,” he said,picking up his cane and jamming his wide-brimmed hat onto his head. “Best to keep them on their toes. Come along, boy.”

    He swept out of the mansion and, me following, went across the puddled courtyard, then down the stairs to the tunnel and the gate. Without hesitating, he raised his locus magicalicus and spoke the opening spell. After a sputter and spark, the gate swung open and he strode through it, me running to keep up.
    â€œNevery,” I said, wanting to ask him about how to find a locus stone and also about going to school. They were going to teach me to read, of course, but what else?
    â€œListen, boy,” Nevery said, pausing to give me one of his keen-gleam looks, then striding on.
    I nodded to show him I was listening.
    â€œYou must call me ‘Master,’ not ‘Nevery.’”
    I didn’t get it. Nevery was his name, wasn’t it? “Why?” I asked.
    â€œIt’s a sign of respect, boy.”
    â€œI respect you,” I said. It was true; I did.
    He shook his head. “It shows that you respect that I possess knowledge, experience, and abilities that you do not, boy. That I am your master.”
    I thought about that while Nevery opened one of the gates. “But I possess knowledge, experience, and abilities that you do not, Nevery.” And at least I didn’t call him old man the way he called me boy .
    â€œPerhaps. But I am your teacher,” Nevery said.
    â€œWell,” I said, running a few steps to catch up with him, “I could teach you what I know, if you like.”
    â€œCould you indeed?” He shot me another look. “What, for example?”
    â€œLike picking pockets and locks, learning the secret ways in the city, walking in the shadows. It’s worth knowing.”
    He looked like he was about to answer, then he closed his mouth and strode on, his cane going tap tap tap on the damp cobblestones of the tunnel. He let us through another gate, polished and moreornate than all the other gates. “Hrm,” he said. “This is the academicos gate. Come along.”
    He led the way up the stairs to the academicos island. The stairs opened onto a wide flagstone-paved courtyard thronging with chattering students and teachers. The school itself was a huge central building with four spired towers that were flanked by four-story wings that reached out like embracing arms.
    As Nevery strode across the courtyard, me hurrying behind him, people stopped and stared and gathered in little groups to point him out as he passed along. He ignored them; knowing Nevery, he didn’t even notice. When we reached the wide steps leading up to the academicos front door, he tap tap ped toward the door, then turned aside, seeing someone he recognized.
    Oh, no. I recognized him, too. The fat wizard from Magisters Hall. I felt suddenly afraid that he wasn’t going to want me at his academicos.
    â€œBrumbee,” Nevery said with a nod.
    Brumbee, who wore the same dark suit under the bright yellow robes I’d seen him in before, looked surprised. “Nevery!”
    â€œThe magisters meet this evening, do they not?” Nevery asked.
    â€œYes, we do.” Brumbee blinked. “Perhaps we should go into my chambers to, ah, discuss it?”
    â€œNo,” Nevery said. “I have a few things to do before the meeting.”
    â€œOh! Then you’ll be joining us?” Brumbee asked.
    â€œYes,” Nevery answered. He pointed at me. “This boy here is my, hrm, apprentice. He needs a place at the academicos.”
    â€œYour apprentice?” Brumbee asked. “But you’ve never had an apprentice before.”
    Nevery scowled. “Well, I’ve got one now. Can you take him?”
    Brumbee spared me a quick glance, then looked again, more carefully. “Yes. Yes, I think