Scholar of Magic (Art of the Adept #3) - Michael G. Manning Page 0,17

obligation to appear quickly. Coming here every day to satisfy Mother’s demands is trouble enough,” she remarked.

Will took a deep breath, silently blaming his dysphoria on Blake’s horrifying attempt at breakfast. Keep your wits about you, he cautioned himself. He’d gotten so used to having Tailtiu around every day that he had started to think of her as somewhat human, a dangerous pitfall if he allowed such thoughts to color their negotiations. “I need your help with a separate matter,” he told her. “You still owe me twelve days from the agreement on your payment of the second unbound favor.”

“What is it you require then?” she asked. Tailtiu showed no outward sign of annoyance, but her lack of flirtation was all the evidence Will needed to see she was out of sorts.

“It’s about my sister, Laina. She’s being followed by an assassin.” He described the events of the previous night.

Tailtiu frowned at him in obvious disappointment. “You were defeated? After all our work, I thought you more proficient than that.”

“I can’t use my magic for the next few days,” he replied. “Apparently I hurt myself worse than I realized at the dam yesterday. That’s part of the reason I’m asking you to do this.”

His aunt remained silent for a long minute, her expression pensive. “I can watch her during the day until you’ve recovered. In the evening I have another obligation, as you are already aware. I can’t help you during those hours.”

Tailtiu’s job in the evening was nominally to impersonate Selene if the need arose, but Will knew her other purpose was to serve as a bodyguard for him. Whether that was because Aislinn had asked for it, or whether Selene had tacked that stipulation on as part of her own negotiations he couldn’t be sure. “That won’t be a problem,” he informed her. “I’ll follow her myself in the evenings. You’ll just have to stay close to me.”

“If you can’t use magic you won’t be able to hide your presence from her,” she pointed out.

“I’ll just keep my distance. Besides, I’m not bad at following people, even without magic.”

His aunt seemed unconvinced. “You might avoid your half-sister’s notice, but I doubt you’ll remain unseen by this assassin you mentioned.”

He rubbed his chin, nodding in agreement. “You might be right, but I’m going to keep an eye on Laina regardless.” Will gave the fae woman a knowing smile. “You’ll just have to decide the best way to keep me safe. Letting me risk a blunder or following Laina in my stead.”

Tailtiu growled softly. “You’re picking up bad habits.”

“Must be the company I keep,” he returned, meeting her gaze evenly.

After she left to begin her watch over Laina, Will wasted no time hurrying to his first class of the day, Foundations in Artifice. He barely made it in time, causing Janice to give him a questioning glance as he found his seat beside her.

“You’re nearly late. What happened at the dam yesterday? Stephanie has been telling some wild stories about—”

He interrupted her, “Whatever she said, she’s probably lying.” Before he could say more the lower door of the auditorium opened and Professor Salsbury entered. The chatter in the room quickly died away. Todd Salsbury was nominally the head of the Department of Artifice, though the man didn’t look much like many of the other teachers at Wurthaven. Despite being in his middle years the professor was still lean and his hands showed the thick skin and scars that came from years of hard use. He was very much a man who had learned by doing, or if his knowledge had come from books, he had then spent most of his time putting it to use.

The professor glanced over the room, then pointed at Will. “Mister Cartwright, there you are. Master Courtney asked me to tell you to report to the Healing and Psyche building immediately. Doctor Morris is waiting on you there.”

All eyes were on Will as he grimaced, then replied, “Should I go after class?”

“Now, Mister Cartwright. Master Courtney seemed to feel it was urgent.”

Will stood, glancing down at Janice as he did. Her eyes were full of questions,