Theodosia & the Eyes of Horus by R. L. Lafevers Page B

Henry. "Do you?"
    He returned his eyes to the stele and stared at it reverently. "I believe I do. If I'm not mistaken, you've just found the Tabula Smaragdina, otherwise known as the Emerald Tablet, which magicians and alchemists have been searching for for centuries."
    "Oh," I said, uneasy. If my experience with the Arcane Order of the Black Sun was any indication, when magicians are interested in something, it usually means it holds dangerous and questionable properties.
    "Does it do anyhing?" Henry asked.
    Hearing Henry's voice seemed to remind Stilton that he and I were not free to talk openly. He blinked, focused his gaze on Henry, then smiled. "It is said to contain the alchemical formula that turns metal into gold."
    "Gold," Henry breathed.
    I frowned at Stilton. "But alchemy is all bunk, isn't it? Just an old misguided scientific theory that turned out to be wishful thinking, right?"
    "I don't know, Miss Theo. Some people think there is much truth to be found in the ancient science." I cleared my throat and caught Stilton's eye.
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    "Er, right," he said. "Historical nonsense, really. From a more ignorant time."
    "Thank you, Stilton." I did not need him planting such rot into Henry's head.
    Henry's face fell. "But even if the formula was just wishful thinking, wouldn't a tablet made of emerald be worth a fortune?"
    "Well, yes. There is that," Stilton conceded. Honestly. The man was not helping a bit!
    "Did you say our parents were getting ready to leave?" I asked.
    "Yes. Yes, I did. They were about to walk out the door when I came down here."
    "We'd best hurry then, Henry. We don't want to get left behind." I turned back to Stilton. "Thank you, Stilton. Could you tell them we'll be right along? Oh, and do me a favor, if you would. Let's not tell anyone-- anyone --about this find just yet. I'd like to surprise my parents with it."
    "Of course, Miss Theo," Stilton said. "I won't breathe a word." Then he winked. Or twitched, I couldn't be sure.
    "Henry, come put these weapons away," I said as Stilton disappeared up the stairs.
    With a sigh and a sullen shuffle of his feet, Henry slumped back to the corner and replaced the weapons he'd been playing with. While his back was turned, I slipped the tablet under
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    an old wooden shield on the shelf. While I thought Stilton was mostly trustworthy--at least, more so than the others--I felt it best to hide the tablet, just to be on the safe side.
    When Henry continued to dawdle, I gave him a little nudge (more of a push, really). I glanced around for Isis, but she had disappeared again. I worried briefly about locking her down in the catacombs for the night, then realized that since she'd gotten down there on her own, she could get out as well.
    We reached the top of the stairs but found the hallway empty. "Maybe they're waiting in the foyer," I suggested. They weren't, so we hurried to the sitting room, hoping to find them there.
    "Tell me again why we can't spend the night working here?" Father was saying as he shrugged into his coat. "We have over six weeks' worth of work we need to accomplish in only two."
    "But darling," Mother said, wrapping his scarf around his neck. "This is Henry's first night home since Christmas."
    "Blast! I forgot again!"
    Well, at least I wasn't the only child he forgot about.
    "That's because you've been working too hard," Mum said. "It would do you good to have a night off. Now, come along. Let's go find the children."
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    Not wanting to be caught eavesdropping, I stepped into the room, pulling Henry behind me. "Here we are!" I said brightly.
    "Like bad pennies, you two are," Father said. Even though his words were gruff, he ruffled Henry's hair in a playful manner. I found myself wishing for a much shorter haircut, like a boy's. It's hideously unfair that boys get to have their hair mussed as a sign of affection whereas girls aren't allowed to get mussed at all. Just as I was beginning to feel sorry for myself, Father put his arm around my