The Tome of the Magi by Devin Hanson

Author:Devin Hanson [Hanson, Devin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Talia woke abruptly. Someone was standing in the doorway, eclipsing the light. She grabbed at the dagger in her sleeve and was halfway to her feet before she recognized Arin. She pressed a hand to the satchel still lying across her stomach and felt the hard outline of the book. Just to make sure, she lifted the flap and glanced inside. The book was still there. With a rueful laugh, she slumped back against the wall.

“By the gods, you startled me,” she said.

“Do you always draw a blade when you wake up?” Arin asked her warily. He had fallen back a step when Talia had woken, and now he approached once more.

“I do when there’s a strange man standing over me,” she grinned. “Help me up.” Arin pulled her effortlessly to her feet and she stretched, going up on tip-toe. “What time is it?”

“Almost noon,” Arin gave her a wry half-smile. “Jinny sent me to wake you. She’s expects her master to arrive at any minute and she has to open the tavern.”

“Noon! Why didn’t you wake me earlier?”

“You didn’t ask me to. And to be perfectly honest, you looked like you needed it.”

Talia scowled at him, but there wasn’t any heat to it. She let it go with a sigh. “Okay. I need a minute. I’ll meet you in the tavern room.” She blinked, suddenly aware that Arin was wearing a winter coat. “You went out.”

“Had to. I didn’t want to slow us down when you woke.” He hesitated. “I went by your apartment. Not too close,” he assured her, seeing the look on her face. “The Freeswords are watching it. I spotted their lookout before he saw me and got out of there.”

She nodded, unsurprised. “I’m not going back.” Saying the words out loud somehow made it final to her.

“This is about that book?”

“What book?”

Arin sighed. “I’m not stupid, Talia. I was a lieutenant in the Freeswords. I know we—they—came to Casita looking for a book.”

“They tell you what it is?” Talia knelt down and tightened her bootlaces.

He shook his head. “No. Only the commander knows that. If he does.”

“So, the commander doesn’t want it for himself?”

Arin snorted. “For what? Shonen Falkner has no use for a book. The Freeswords are a mercenary company, Talia. The only reason they do anything is because someone is paying them.”

“Someone.” Talia dug her comb from her pack and started putting her hair back into place with quick motions.

“Yeah. Someone paid for a winter campaign and a march halfway across Elira. For a book.”

Talia gave a low whistle. “That can’t be cheap.”

“Ten thousand bars of gold. Or more.”

She stared at Arin. “Ten thousand?! I’m in the wrong business.”

Arin snorted a laugh. “Somehow I doubt you’d enjoy the mercenary life, but you’re missing the point.”

“And that is?”

“Talia, that book you have is worth more than some kingdoms.”

“To someone. To the guy who had it before me, it was a fancy paperweight. I’m not sure it’s much more use to me.”

“I don’t understand.”

“The book doesn’t open.

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