The Automaton's Treasure Read Free Page A

the eye, to steady my breathing.
    “It's been in here.”
    “I've been asleep,” I said. “It might've been in here, but I haven't seen it.”
    She stood with her weight on one foot and studied me, eyes flicking over my face. I didn't flinch away.
    “You aren't going to find anyone who could break it down on Starlight Rock, so no use hiding him,” she said. “Have to undo the magic first, and there aren't many there who can work that sophisticated a magic.”
    “I have no idea what you're talking about.” But as I spoke I thought about Safin's golden scales, his inlaid jewels. He'd fetch quite the price if he were in pieces.
    He must have felt the tracking spell. No wonder he fled.
    The woman gave me another hard look. “You sure about that?”
    “I swear it. I've never seen a magical crocodile in my life.”
    The boat rocked, the lantern swung, the lines of Safin's footsteps glowed.
    “We'll see,” she said, and then she left my cabin, slamming the door shut behind her.
     
    Our journey to Starlight Rock progressed as it always had, but now my days were punctuated not only by meals and trips up above, but by visits from Safin, who crept into my room with news about the ship.
    “The captain never leaves his quarters unless the moon is out,” he told me. “The crew is bored. The other passengers cry a lot. Hafsa is angry she hasn't caught me yet.”
    Hafsa was the woman who had slammed into my cabin that night. Safin talked about her almost as much as he talked about his great treasure back in Qilar.
    “She wants to sell me in Lisirra,” he said. “Just like the thief.”
    “She can't sell you if she hasn't caught you.”
    “But she'll catch me eventually, yes? I can disembark with you at Starlight Rock, and together we can return to my great treasure!”
    He was so convinced I could save him that it made my heart ache. “I imagine they'll be looking for you when we leave the ship,” I said. “Or Hafsa will, anyway.”
    Safin hung his head. His expression never changed—always the same gleaming eyes, the same toothy grin. But I'd talked with him enough that I could see the other ways he revealed his feelings.
    “I can't stay aboard,” he said. “You are the only one who can converse in Qilari. Who else will help me?”
    I crossed my arms over my chest and looked away from him. A year ago I had dreams of swooping in and saving her , taking her away from the palace, running off into the Jokja Jungle together. But now I couldn't even save myself. That Safin thought I could save him was laughable. Ridiculous.
    “You can try and disembark,” I said. “But unless your great treasure's on Starlight Rock, we won't get to it.”
    “It's in Qilar!”
    I sighed. “I know that. I'm just saying— “ He was up on his hind legs, pressing his front claws into the side of my cot. “We would need a ship.”
    “We have a ship here.”
    “ We don't have anything.”
    Safin looked at me for a moment longer, blinking. Then he dropped down to the floor and paced. I could imagine the lines appearing the next time Hafsa cast a tracking spell.
    “Do you want to go to Starlight Rock?” he asked, still moving.
    “Of course not. I'm not sure there's even food there. Or anything.” This past month I had done everything in my power not to think about the future. But we were getting close. I knew that. Safin had told me; he'd overhead the crew talking.
    “Then don't go.” He stopped and looked at me again.
    “I'm a prisoner,” I said, irritated. “I have no choice.” Just like the rest of my life. No choice in leaving Jokja. No choice in who I loved.
    Safin didn't answer. I flopped down on my back and stared at the ceiling and listened to the grind of his gears as he walked in circles. Then there was a great bellowing hiss and suddenly Safin pounced on my stomach.
    “Hey!” I scrambled to push him off, but he dug his claws into my dress and held on tight. “Let go!”
    “You must stay onboard the ship,” he