The Magic Thief Read Free Page A

got to work on the lock. It was fancy, but it was a good one, with flanges, studs, and crenellations. Finally— calm breath, quick fingers —I got the wires to click into place and the lock turned over. I eased the door open and peered into the room. Empty.
    I crossed the room to the stairway; it gaped like a pit, dark. I went down a few steps and listened, then went farther, down and down, deeper into the darkness. The stairs were narrow and steep, and I kept my hand on the wall to steady myself. At last, I came to a turning. I peered around. Nothing, just the dim outline of another turning ahead, with lights beyond it. I crept down.
    When I reached the next turning, I crouched inthe darkness on the step and peered around the corner. Quickly, I pulled back. Bright lights, movement, a big space. Too many people down there to go any farther. I heard clanking, the sound of metal hammering on metal, a grinding of gears, a man’s voice, cursing. An acrid smell, like burnt metal, hung in the stairway and prickled in my throat.
    I listened for a few more moments, then heard steps coming up from below. Holding my breath, I skiffed up the stairs and out the bookcase-door, then across the room and into the dark room beyond. I swung the door closed and used my lockpick wires to lock it again.
    Something was going on. Crowe had a workshop or something down there, and who knew what else. He and this white-haired wizard were up to something, clear as clear. I’d have to figure it out.
    But now it was time to get back to the front door.
    Quietly, checking the doors as I went, I skiffed back to the hallway, then back to the entryway.
    I slithered through the door. Just Benet-the-Muscle at the other end, no sign of Underlord minions. I cat-footed it back down the black shiny stone hallway.
    As I coasted up, Benet reached out with one long arm and grabbed me, then gave me a swat across the face. I’d gotten worse, but I wasn’t expecting it, so I went crashing off into the wall, banged the back of my head, and bit my lip.
    Benet didn’t say anything, just folded his arms again and stared down at me.
    My ears were ringing from the blow as Nevery and the minion came through the door at the end of the hallway. Tap tap tap went Nevery’s cane on the polished stone floor. I was glad to see him. Not everybody walks out of a meeting with the Underlord. Nevery gave me one of his keen-gleam glances as he came up but didn’t say anything. The minions with him glared at me, butthey didn’t say anything, either.
    Staying as far from Benet as I could, I followed Nevery as we left Dusk House. From the sound of the wizard’s words with Benet, the meeting had not gone well.
    I hoped Nevery knew better than to deal with Crowe. Only one thing ever happened to anybody who crossed the Underlord. And it involved weights and chains and the river on a dark night. Made me shiver just thinking about it.

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    From Nevery Flinglas, Wizard to Her Grace, Willa Forestal, Duchess of Wellmet.
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    Your Grace,
    Recently, I was made aware that Wellmet has been suffering from a decline in its level of magic. I decided to visit the city to see if this is true. Since my return from exile—yes, I am here—I have noticed the decay and desolation that, according to my readings on the subject, is characteristic of magical decline. Many houses lie empty and rotting, the streets are desolate, the people listless; the very fabric of the city is unraveling. No doubt, you have magisters working on the problem. They are incompetent fools, as you well know.
    I am here; I offer my services. If you will lift the order of exile—if you deem that twenty years banishment is enough—I will put all of my energies into identifying the cause of the magical decline and then act to correct it.
    You may send a response with my man, Benet, or send a letter to me at the chophouse on Half-Chick Lane in the Twilight.
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    Yours