The Magic Thief Read Free Page B

sincerely,
    NEVERY
    Â 
    Post Script: Willa, if you choose to again force me from the city, I will leave and you may deal with the problem yourself.
    Â 
    From Her Grace, Willa Forestal,
Duchess of Wellmet,
To Nevery Flinglas, Wizard.
    Â 
    Nevery,
    I am quite aware of your return. And I readily admit that Wellmet has a problem and that the magisters have done little, or perhaps nothing, to discover what is wrong. As always, I place the city’s needs above my own, and so I am lifting the order of exile. However, one wrong step, Nevery, and I will see you cast out again. No pyrotechnic experiments. Do not try my patience.
    Â 
    On this fourth day of Nonembry,
I am
Duchess Willa Forestal, &c.

    Duchess has responded to letter; however, must tread carefully, as she could easily change her mind, have me arrested. Letter from duchess means I can move back into Heartsease. House is surely falling to pieces, but best place for my purposes. Tomorrow, first thing: leave chophouse, put servant boy and Benet to work making place habitable.
    Once settled there, must discover magisters’ position.
    Likely boy useless as servant. And more trouble than he is worth. His breakfast alone cost four copper locks:
    Three biscuits
    Bacon
    Four eggs
    Two cups tea
    Cup of milk
    Bowl of porridge with:
    Butter
    Brown sugar
    Nuts
    An apple
    A cold potato
    Leftover berry pie
    Â 
    Boy does look better for it, true.
    Sent him off to buy paper, pen, and ink. Half expect him to take money and disappear. Might be better for him if he did.
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CHAPTER 3
    O n the morning of my second day as Nevery’s apprentice, I woke up wrapped in my blanket, snug before the coal fire. My eye hurt a little from the day before, when Benet had thumped me, but it wasn’t too bad. I could still see out of it.

    Except for me, the room was empty. I wriggled out of the blanket and headed for the door. Benet and Nevery were probably in the chophouse eating all the bacon. I headed downstairs.
    Nevery and Benet were just gathering up their things. Oh, no. Had I missed breakfast? I skidded to a stop at the bottom of the stairs.
    The wizard gave me one of his keen looks. Benet ignored me.
    â€œAll right, boy,” Nevery said, sitting down again. “Eat quickly. I’ll have another cup of tea.” Then he spoke to Benet. “Pack up the things, and we’ll leave straightaway.” Benet nodded and went off up the stairs.
    The chophouse keeper brought stale biscuits from the day before, and some other things. I made a sandwich out of biscuit, jam, and cheese, and took a big bite.
    Nevery poured himself more tea. Then he poured me a mug, too, and I took a drink, washing down my bite.
    â€œWhere we going?” I asked, and ate more biscuit sandwich.
    He didn’t answer right away. He was holding a piece of paper, a letter, which he tapped a few times on the tabletop. Then, “Heartsease.”
    I opened my mouth to ask what that was, but he waved me silent. “Just eat, boy. I’ll answer your cursed questions before you ask them.” He drank his tea. “Heartsease is a large mansion on its own island in the river. It is my home, but no one has lived in it for twenty years.”
    I opened my mouth to ask another question.
    â€œDon’t ask why it’s been empty that long,” he said. “I ran into some trouble here in Wellmet some time ago, let that be enough.”
    That was enough, for now. I nodded and took another bite of my breakfast.
    â€œYou may not have noticed,” he went on, “but this city is facing a crisis. The level of magic has been dropping. Only ebbing, for years, but lately, I am told, the level has dropped more precipitously.If it is not stopped, Wellmet will fall into decay.”
    â€œWhat’re we going to do about it?” I asked.
    He raised his bushy gray eyebrows. “We? I am going to demand leadership of Magisters Hall so I can research the problem and then deal with