Read The Reach Between Worlds (The Arclight Saga, Book 1) for Free Online Page B

more careful.”
    Moira searched through her bag, utterly dumbfounded that they’d managed to get without her noticing.
    “Thank you,” she said graciously.
    “It’s an old trick,” Nima said, just catching up.
    Taro brushed the dirt off the cover. “Those boys work for the shopkeep. He sells a book for well under its value, and they steal it back.”
    “That’s quite an eye you have,” the woman said. “Twenty crowns was too good to be true.”
    “It’s worth at least a full sovereign,” Taro said.
    “Maybe a sov and a half,” Nima added.
    Moira tilted her glasses down and sized the children up. “You know books?”
    “I’ve got some experience.” Taro stopped short of mentioning that his experience involved trading stolen ones.
    Moira went to grab her purse, but it wasn’t there. She went from red with anger to an exasperated laugh. “There was a time when even the poorest person wouldn’t dare rob a member of the Magisterium.”
    “You’re a magister?” Taro said.
    “No, I just work there. I catalogue and archive books in the Librarium. Sometimes I visit shops around town looking for new works to add to the collection, but with the Arclight situation it’s become much more difficult.”
    “So it will be available there soon?” Taro said.
    “As soon as I find a place for it.”
    “We’ll be the first to check it out then.”
    “I’m afraid the Librarium is only open to members of the Magisterium.”
    “We’re doing admissions tomorrow,” Nima said.
    Moira looked genuinely surprised. “Both of you?”
    “Yes,” Nima said, slightly offended. She flashed her iron aurom. “Is that a problem?”
    “Of course not.” She peered down at her book. “Tell you what, hold onto this for me.”
    Taro pushed the book away. “I couldn’t.”
    “I insist. Bring it to me in the Librarium after you’ve had a chance to read it.”
    She dropped the book into Taro’s arms. It was like being trusted with a brick of solid gold. When it became clear that Moira wouldn’t take no for an answer, he thanked her a dozen times and stashed it in Aris’ wagon. Taro ached to take a few minutes to read through the first chapter, but it’d already been over a half-hour since Aris left and they still needed to book a room.
    Taro and Nima hurried towards the inn, keeping a fair distance from the Rashkal’s wagon. The shopkeeper looked like he was going to beat the boys senseless.
    “I’m going to stay out here and watch the show,” Nima said.
    “Stay out of trouble.”
    The brass bell on the door jingled as Taro entered. Even inside, he heard Rashkal hurling vulgar insults.
    The inside was much more upscale than the outside suggested. Yes, it was very old; the floor beams creaked underfoot and the ceiling sagged like the weight of the top floors was too much for it to handle, but at least it was clean, and the girl at the desk looked friendly.
    She was a few years older than Taro, and much too pretty to be working in a place like this. Her hair was bright blonde and cut short like a boy’s. She had two books in her hand, one wedged inside the other. The one on the outside was pulp fiction from some penny-bin, but the book on the inside rode up and its title was visible: Gravidic Magistry: Revised Edition. When she saw Taro, she straightened the books out so that the second one was covered.
    “May I help you?” She sounded as though he’d interrupted her.
    “I’m looking for a room.”
    She set her books face-down. Beside her were small square shelves, each with a different number and a hook inside. Half had room keys dangling from them.
    Taro realized he’d been staring at her and snapped his glanced towards her books. “Are you studying for the term?” he asked hastily.
    “Term?”
    “For the Magisterium. I saw you reading—"
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    Taro gave his best smile. “Ah, that’s too bad. I thought you could give me some pointers for