Thief’s Magic by Trudi Canavan Read Free Book Online Page A

however.
    “At least you found
something
.”
    Miko narrowed his eyes then, not seeing disapproval, he straightened and grinned. “Yeah, you had back luck with that tomb.”
    Tyen sighed and looked way. “I have nothing but all the calculations I made to find it.”
    “If it’s any consolation, the professor’ll probably take all the credit anyway. I expect he’s already showing off everything to his Academy friends.”
    “He won’t let them touch a thing until it’s all properly labelled and recorded,” Tyen assured his friend. “Which we’ll probably have to do after class.”
    Miko groaned. “Well, so long as we still get Market Nights off to visit Nectar Ally.”
    Tyen narrowed his eyes. “I thought you were broke?”
    “Won’t be soon.” Miko patted his bag and grinned.
    “You’d better pay me back for this ride before then.”
    “Of course!”
    The two-seater broke from a knot of traffic and put on some speed. They grabbed the handholds and whooped as the morni dashed between slower vehicles, making up the time lost in the clotted streets around the station. Soon she settled into a steadier pace, slowing for corners and the occasional obstruction, until the stone pillars and iron fence that surrounded the Academy appeared. The driver reined her back to a walk and directed her through the open gates into the courtyard.
    A few students were huddled in the shelter of recessed windows and doors, but no one else was about. There was no sign of the longcart that Kilraker had hired. Tyen assumed it had entered by one of the delivery gates. He paid the driver and they climbed out. Miko moved close to Tyen’s side, then looked up and grimaced as rain splattered over his face.
    “Aren’t you shielding?”
    “No,” Tyen replied. Though using magic was legal in the Academy, frivolous use was still frowned upon.
    “Must you always be so well behaved?” Miko gave a little huff of annoyance, left Tyen’s side and ran to the entrance. Tyen chuckled and followed at a fast walk, wet enough from the ride that it wasn’t worth trying to avoid a little more rain. As they made their way through the building he was surprised to find himself relaxing.
    Maybe I am more relieved than disappointed to be home.
It was reassuring to be in familiar, safe surrounds. As they passed the library he inhaled deeply. How had he not noticed before how wonderful the smell of books was? They took a corridor past the lecture halls, imbued with the scent of wood polish and dust. Instead of crossing another rain-soaked courtyard they detoured past the laboratories, from which all kinds of odours and sounds emerged, both pleasant and disgusting in equal measure. Their senses hadn’t recovered by the time they reached the Student House, so the smell of the evening meal cooking didn’t tempt them to stop. They called out to and were greeted by other students as they climbed the stairs to their room. Tyen found himself automatically peering into the dining hall to note the time displayed on the big round clock. An hour until dinner. Enough time to change and unpack.
    The upper floors were where the poorer students took residence, as the rich ones preferred to avoid the daily climb. Tyen and Miko’s room was on the fourth floor, second from the top. When they finally reached their door they were both a little breathless. They tossed their bags on the floor, threw off their jackets and collapsed onto the beds.
    “Home,” Miko said.
    “Yes,” Tyen agreed.
    “I’m hungry.”
    “Dinner isn’t for an hour.”
    Miko tapped his fingers together. “Then I’ll take my gear to the washhouse. Want me to take yours?”
    “Thanks.”
    They set to unpacking, and soon Miko had gone off with a bundle of dirty clothing under one arm. Alone, Tyen looked at the rest of his travel gear, now strewn across his bed. He began putting everything away. Miko had emptied the contents of his luggage on his desk, but Tyen’s was covered in tools and