That left the back and the base. To look underneath, she would have to lift it with magic, then crawl under to examine the bottom. Though she had recovered enough from the previous night’s exhaustion to tackle her lessons, she wasn’t sure if she could lift and hold the cabinet steadily. Did she really want to find the map that badly?
She peered through the glass at the books and rolled papers. A thin sheet of glass and wire mesh was all that lay between herself and a possible escape from Regin. She chewed her lip in frustration.
Then she noticed something odd about the wooden back. She could see two lines running down the length, too straight to be natural cracks in the wood. The back of the cabinet obviously wasn’t made from one large sheet of wood. Crouching a little, she checked to see if the lines extended all the way to the base. They didn’t.
Moving to one side of the cabinet, she peered along the gap between it and the wall. Using a tiny globe light, she illuminated the narrow space and discovered something strange.
Something about the size of a textbook, but made of wood, was attached to the wall behind the cabinet.
Stepping back, she took a deep breath and slowly extended her power out and around the cabinet, taking care that her magic did not touch that of the lock. With the gentlest flexing of will, she lifted the cabinet upward. It swayed slightly as it rose. Frowning with concentration, she turned it away from the wall like a door and carefully set it down again, a few faren scampering away from their webs in alarm.
Sonea let out the breath, and realized that her heart was beating fast. If anyone discovered what she was doing now, there would be no end of trouble for her. Looking through the glass, she was relieved to find none of the cabinet’s contents was out of place. Walking around the back she found that the object behind the cabinet was only a small painting. She looked at the back of the cabinet and drew in a breath in amazement.
A small square had been cut into the back. She slipped her fingernails into the crack, and the square of wood slipped out easily, revealing the ends of rolled up papers and a few books.
Her heart was racing now. She hesitated, wary of reaching inside. This square hole had been created by someone. Had it been there all along? Or had someone cut it later, so that they could take something unnoticed? Her senses did not detect a barrier over the hole, or any other magic. She slipped a hand in and gently pulled out one of the scrolls.
It was a plan of the Magicians’ Quarters. She inspected it carefully but could find no hidden passages marked. Replacing it, she drew forth another. This time it was a plan detailing the Novices’ Quarters. No secret passages there, either.
The third scroll she pulled out showed a map of the University and her pulse quickened. But nothing mysterious or unusual was marked on it. Disappointed, Sonea replaced it and was about to pick up another when something caught her eye.
Jutting up from between the pages of one of the books was a slip of paper. Curious, she eased the book out from between its neighbors.
“The Magiks of the Werld,” she read aloud. It was one of the early texts used in history class. Under the title was written, in faded ink: “High Lord’s copy.”
A chill went through her. Suddenly she wanted to replace the book, put the cabinet back in place, and get out of the library as quickly as possible. Taking a deep breath, she pushed her fears aside. The library was locked. Even if Jullen or Tya returned, she would hear them coming. Though she would have to move fast, she could probably put the cabinet back before they entered the storeroom.
Opening the book where the slip of paper lay, she examined the pages and recognized some of the text. Nothing strange or unusual explained the marker. Shrugging, she lay the paper bookmark back over the page.
Then her heart skipped. Three tiny, hand-drawn maps of the University had been sketched on the slip of paper—one for each level. Looking closer, she felt a thrill of excitement. On other maps the walls were thick lines; on this they were hollow, and doors were indicated in them where she knew there were none. Mysterious little crosses had been marked inside the walls. The third map, of the ground floor, showed a spider’s web of passages outside the University walls.
She had found it! A map of the passages under the University. Or, more accurately, a map of passages throughout the University.
Clutching the map, she stepped back from the cabinet. Should she take it, or would someone notice it missing? Perhaps she could copy it. How much time did she have left? Could she memorize it?
Looking down at the map, she traced the passages with her eyes. She noted a little symbol drawn on one of the inner walls next to the Magicians’ Library. Looking closer, she realized it was the wall she was standing next to, marking a place just about...
Turning, she stared at the painting hanging behind the cabinet. Why hang a painting behind a cabinet? Sonea took the frame, lifted it and caught her breath.
A neat square hole had been cut into the wall. Peering inside, she could see a corresponding square of light illuminating a stone wall beyond, an arm’s length away.
Hastily, she let the painting fall again. Her heart was pounding now. This was no coincidence. Whoever had made that hole had created it to reach the cabinet.
It might have been done centuries ago. Or it might have been made recently. Looking down at the map again, she knew she could not memorize it, and now that she knew that someone might return to the cabinet and notice it missing, she dared not take it with her. But she couldn’t leave empty-handed. An opportunity to get into the cabinet might not come again.
Running to Lord Jullen’s desk she found a thin sheet of paper, a pen and his inkwell. Laying the paper over the map, she began tracing as quickly as she could. Her mouth was dry as she worked, her breathing unsteady. It seemed to take much too long, but finally she was done. Folding the tracing up, she put it in a pocket in her robe.
Only then did she hear the faint sound of footsteps approaching the library. Cursing softly, she hastily cleaned Jullen’s pen and put it away. Running to the storeroom, she replaced the map in the book and slid it back on the shelf. As she pressed the square of wood back into place she heard the footsteps pause at the library door. Dancing away from the wall, she focused her mind on the cabinet.
Steady. Taking a deep breath, she lifted it and turned it back against the wall.
The library door clicked shut.
“Sonea?”
Realizing she was shaking, Sonea decided she didn’t trust her voice.
“Mmm?” she replied.
Tya appeared in the storeroom doorway. “Are you done?”
Nodding, Sonea picked up the empty boxes.
“I’m sorry I took so long.” Tya frowned. “You look a bit... unsettled.”
“It’s a bit spooky in here,” Sonea admitted. “But I’m fine.”
Tya smiled. “Yes, it can be. But, thanks to you, it’s all done and we can finally get some sleep.”
As Sonea followed Tya out of the library, she placed a hand over the pocket where the map was hidden, and smiled.
29
A Revelation
Sonea took a deep breath as she entered Yikmo’s practice room. Keeping her eyes lowered, she stopped just inside the door.
“My lord,” she began. “I apologize for disobeying you the other night. You helped me and I was rude.”
Yikmo was silent for a moment, then he chuckled. “You don’t have to apologize for that, Sonea.”
Looking up, she was relieved to see that he was smiling. He pointed to a seat and she obediently sat down.