The Unmage Read Online Free PDF

quickly slipped behind the open door, trying to hide. His mother would be furious if she found he’d been in the Hall of Records.
    “Yes, Secundus,” Barra said. “We’re quite well. Thank you for enquiring.” Timo cringed at the fawning tone in Barra’s voice, but his mother would probably welcome it.
    “And hard at work I see,” Arabella Fonti replied.
    Hestor stopped in the doorway, beside Barra. Timo sidled away from the door, backed down an aisle, and crouched beside a shelf.
    “Of course, Secundus Fonti,” Hestor said. “It’s important to make sure Apprentices keep up with all aspects of their studies. Although Barra is so diligent that she hardly needs my encouragement.”
    “Very good,” Arabella said. “I won’t keep you. No doubt you have more studies to attend to.”
    “Yes, of course,” Hestor said.
    From his vantage point Timo saw him hesitate and then look behind him, into the Hall of Records.
    “Good day to you, Secundus,” Hestor finally said, bowing slightly.
    “And to you,” came the reply, this time from further away.
    Timo straightened and headed towards the door.
    “Sorry,” he said when he reached the others, holding up his satchel. “I forgot this and had to go back for it.”
    “Did you?” Hestor asked.
    “You missed your mother,” Barra said. “I mean the Secundus.” She frowned. “You could have told her what a fine student I was.” Barra turned to Hestor and smiled. “Although Hestor very generously praised me to her. It may even work out better this way. Once Timo compliments me she will have heard two good opinions.”
    “I think mine would carry more weight than Timo’s,” Hestor said, sending a dark look Timo’s way.
    “Of course,” Barra said. “But it wasn’t something I could ask you to do. The fact that you did it is wonderful, though.”
    Timo followed the other two out into the hall. Would Barra be able to get Hestor to help him again? He wanted to find out what the records said about Santos Nimali. He needed to know more about the man he was planning his future around—the man who would hopefully conduct his Journeyman training.
     
    “HOW DARE YOU disobey me?”
    Timo looked up from his work table. His mother stood in the doorway, glaring at him. Rorik hovered behind her. She stepped into the room, and Timo sighed and placed his pen on the table.
    “What have I done now, Mother?” He knew though. She’d found out about his trip to the Hall of Records.
    “You were told not to,” she said. “And yet you entered the Hall anyway. By recruiting a pair of unwitting accomplices.” Arabella walked over to the table, leaned over, and smiled grimly. “Don’t count on either them or anyone else helping you in the future.”
    “It wasn’t their fault,” Timo said.
    “No, but they will both pay a price nonetheless,” Arabella said. She sat down in the chair opposite him. “By not asking enough questions, they helped you do something that both Rorik and I had forbidden.”
    “It’s not fair to refuse me entry,” Timo said.
    “That’s not your decision,” Arabella replied.
    “It shouldn’t be yours either,” Timo muttered.
    “What did you say?” His mother straightened up and raised her eyebrows as purple mage mist swirled around her.
    “You heard me,” he said louder. “My studies should be a matter between me and my Master, but somehow every time Rorik should be giving me instructions, there you are, telling me what to do as if it’s your right. Well, it’s not your right. It hasn’t been your right since I was eight and found my talent. Why don’t you get your own Apprentice and leave me alone?”
    Arabella’s eyes narrowed, and she leaned back into the chair. Rorik glared at Timo from behind her, but he didn’t say anything, and Timo shook his head in disgust.
    “You will not visit the Hall of Records again,” his mother said.
    “I think that should come from my Master, don’t you?” Timo said. He met Rorik’s