Scholar of Magic (Art of the Adept #3) - Michael G. Manning Page 0,28

most relics are able to house more complex enchantments. The Rod of Breven, for example, has three separate functions, each requiring a different mixture of turyn. To my mind, that makes the idea of a secondary transducer even more likely. The original owner of the rod probably had three different customized transducers that could be switched out depending on how he intended to use the item—”

“Or Lord Breven was able to modulate his own turyn,” interjected Will.

Dulaney sighed. “I would have dismissed that idea out of hand, but you are living proof that such a thing is possible, though I still believe that your hypothesis is highly improbable.”

Will was almost certain he was right, but he didn’t have to guess. He resolved to ask Arrogan later and find out the truth. He rolled his shoulder, stretching it to relieve the tightness in it. It was a leftover side effect from his sparring the previous evening with Blake. As he expected, the former special agent for the king had had a lot to teach. The veteran was well acquainted with standard military practices and tactics as well as more formalized fighting styles like the rapier, but Blake’s focus had been on more practical techniques.

The older man’s teaching had focused on two goals, killing and survival. Blake had been emphatic that Will needed to be very aware of which of the two things he was trying to achieve in any given encounter. “For a civilian, survival is almost always the only goal,” the manservant had explained. “But given the life you lead, there may also be times when you are actively trying to end your opponent. In those cases, you need to make sure that your own survival remains the top priority. The only time it might not be is if you’re on a suicide mission.”

The sparring, if it could properly be called that, had been unorthodox to say the least. Apparently, the older man intended to cover everything from ground fighting to dirty tricks and escape tactics. As the class let out and Will rose from his seat, he could feel several additional sore muscles complaining. It reminded him of something Arrogan had once said when he had been complaining. “If it hurts that just means you’re learning something.”

Since Advanced Spell Theory was his last class for the day, Will let his feet head in the direction of home, but a voice caught his attention before he could get away. “Will! Hey, over here!” It was Rob. His friend appeared to have been waiting for him to get out of class.

He walked over, noting the enthusiastic expression on his friend’s face. “What’s on your mind?” Will asked cautiously.

Rob grinned. “Funny you should ask—”

“You called me over. Of course, I’d ask,” he quipped.

Rob rolled his eyes. “Ha, ha. You remember Veronica Wellings?”

Veronica was a third-year student who had helped Will the previous semester when he had needed to learn a bit of quick and dirty enchanting for his plan to disrupt Selene’s wedding to Count Spry. Will hadn’t actually spoken to Veronica himself, but apparently the question had given Rob an opening to get to know her.

“Yes…?”

“The ladies of Primrose House are planning an evening social on Friday and given your newfound fame I’m sure you’ll get an invitation since Stephanie is organizing the affair. Veronica would love to go, and I’d love to take her, but—hey!” Rob chased after him as Will turned and walked away. “Don’t be like that!”

“I’m not interested,” said Will flatly. It wasn’t that he was inherently antisocial—well, perhaps a little—the main problem was his absent wife. Everyone would be expecting the royal princess, and any explanation of her absence would likely create more problems than it solved, especially given how little she had been in the public eye since their unexpected wedding. Tailtiu’s impersonations had been able to keep the curiosity to a minimum, but Will loathed taking her out in public. Each time he worried they would encounter someone who knew Selene personally, someone who would begin to unravel the truth. Someone like Laina, thought Will.

“At least ask Selene,” insisted Rob. “She’s bound to be bored. She’s barely left the house since you two tied the knot. People are starting