Freedom, Humanity, and Other Delusions (Death's Handmaiden Book 3), Niall Teasdale [crime books to read .TXT] 📗

that one, and that one. Those are the other parts. Do I need to say how hard that would be to fix?’

Hoshi sagged visibly. ‘Not really.’

‘On the other hand, it’s broken beyond repair, so you can dismantle it with impunity. I think you could learn a lot by examining the parts. I’d be willing to help where I can, but I should point out that this kind of engineering isn’t my speciality. I’m a biologist, not an engineer. I’m actually not too bad at basic repairs, but not so great at how these things work in the first place.’

‘And it’s hard for her to think down to our level for what she does know,’ Carina put in.

‘Also true, sort of. We, the Harbingers, advanced beyond your understanding of sorcery and its relationship to the universe a long time ago. I studied the practical applications of physics to help with casting unlearned spells. I didn’t learn so much about the underlying theories. You are all still at the stage where the practical aspects and the theories behind it all are still a mixed, developing discipline. I can usually figure out Cari’s metaphysics homework, but it’s not as easy as you might think.’

Hoshi nodded. ‘I can understand that. It would be like… someone who had only ever known gravity through general relativity trying to help someone only used to working with Newtonian gravity.’

‘I’m going to have to take your word for that.’

‘Well, so much for a new age of advancement in sorcery,’ Mitsuko said.

‘We’ll get something out of this,’ Hoshi said. ‘We have to. This is the greatest opportunity we’ve ever had as far as understanding Harbinger artefacts is concerned.’

‘At the very least,’ Rochester said, ‘Trudy can tell us what the writing says.’

‘Yes!’ Melissa burst out. ‘Just knowing how to read the language would be amazing!’

Trudy picked up a relatively unbroken section of the device’s casing and peered at the glyphs carved into it. ‘Oh,’ she said.

‘W-what does it say?’ Hoshi asked, her expression almost rapturous.

‘“Do not open. Contents dangerous.’”

Part Two: Dirty Fighting

Shinden Alliance School of Sorcery, Shinden, 236/1/33.

‘Taryn Borchardt, you wished to make an announcement?’ The teacher looked down the classroom at the tall girl, and Taryn got to her feet with a smile. As Mitsuko turned to look in Taryn’s direction, she noticed the look on the teacher’s face and began to wonder what Taryn was going to announce.

‘I just wanted to make this to my class before anyone else,’ Taryn said. ‘I’ve decided to stand for student council president. I realise that puts me in competition with Mitsuko Trenton. I hope there are no hard feelings.’

Mitsuko glanced at the teacher and then got to her feet. It seemed like Taryn was expecting a response and Mitsuko was happy to give one. ‘That’s excellent news, Taryn,’ Mitsuko said. ‘I was beginning to think I’d be running unopposed this year. Now I have a competitor. The democratic process doesn’t really work if there’s only one candidate. I look forward to hearing how you’d like to improve SAS-squared.’

Briefly, Taryn seemed surprised at the response. Very briefly – it was barely noticeable, in fact. Mitsuko almost felt like she had imagined it. ‘I’m glad you’re taking it so well,’ Taryn said. ‘May the best woman win.’

~~~

Nava shrugged. ‘She seems the type.’

‘Type?’ Mitsuko asked.

‘The competitive type. It doesn’t surprise me that she’d want to try her hand at student politics, especially if she’s running against a Trenton Sonkei.’

‘You may have a point. She’s been rather competitive in combat classes. I just put that down to her being a Firmin.’

Nava considered her lunch briefly and then shrugged again. ‘Maybe it is. I’ve met very few Firmins and the others were not really open to communication.’

‘The mercenaries in the forest?’ Melissa asked.

‘Yes. They really didn’t even try to talk to me. Then again, I wasn’t very interested in listening. It should be interesting to see what Taryn has to say.’

‘Yes,’ Mitsuko agreed. ‘I’m rather looking forward to this year’s campaign. Hopefully, there’ll be no need for bodyguards this time.’

‘And I thought you liked me guarding your body.’

‘There are other things I’d rather you did with my body, Nava.’

Nava nodded slowly. ‘I’d get you to itemise them, but Chess is already turning a very unusual colour for a human.’

‘You could list a couple to see if his head explodes,’ Melissa suggested.

‘Still a little vindictive over Hoshi?’ Mitsuko asked.

‘No, of course not. Not at all. Well… Maybe just a little.’

236/2/1.

‘Only two candidates this year,’ Luca Newton said. ‘Not exactly a great showing but it happens some years. Officially, campaigning starts today, but I don’t think we’ll see anything from them until Monday.’ She looked down the classroom toward Nava.

‘The current president has no plans to hold any meetings before next week,’ Nava said, assuming that her teacher wanted a response. ‘The EA fair will be keeping her busy over the weekend. I have no insight into Taryn Borchardt’s campaign strategy.’

Luca nodded. ‘As with last year, lessons will end tomorrow at lunchtime to allow for the fair. Most of you won’t be changing clubs, I’d imagine, but some of you may be involved with recruiting. Don’t give the SSF too much to worry about this year. As for the presidential election… Well, we have the current president seeking re-election. We also have a Firmin seeking to displace her. It sounds like an interesting contest, even if it might have been better to have a few other candidates.’

‘Mitsuko was hoping there would be,’ Melissa said.

‘As I recall, she was unhappy when the majority of candidates dropped out last year.’

‘Yes, she was. I don’t think anyone aside from Taryn Borchardt thought they had a chance against her this year.’

‘Maybe they’re right.’

‘And then the question would be why Taryn Borchardt thinks she does,’ Nava said.

‘That,’ Luca said, ‘is what everyone has to work out for themselves.’

Nava nodded agreement. ‘Yes, Miss Luca Newton, it certainly is.’

236/2/3.

The extracurricular activities fair was, in fact, of little interest to Nava. She was a member of