Page 67 of Bonds of Magic
He swallowed the remains of his sherry and poured himself another glass. Only after he’d taken a sip of that did he continue.
“I taught atUniverzita Starobylých Umeníin Prague, before coming to Vesperwood. While I was there, I discovered someone was stealing my work. I exposed them, but they had powerful friends. I was forced to leave my post after confronting them.”
I didn’t know what to make of his confession. My instinct was to mistrust everything he said. That coin I’d found…
But I supposed it waspossiblehe really was in some kind of trouble that had followed him here from Prague. Then again, maybe that trouble was what had led him to work with Argus in the first place. Maybe Argus had promised retribution, once he was free.
“So you think someone from theUniverzitais after you?” I couldn’t quite hide the skepticism in my voice. “You’ve been here for two years, Sheridan. Why would they wait until now to do something?”
“Perhaps they were waiting for me to let my guard down,” he said stiffly.
“Over an academic tiff?”
He scoffed. “You asked, and I answered. That’s the best I can do. I wouldn’t expect you to understand, anyway.”
Right. Because I was just a lump of muscle with a single brain cell.
“Have you told Isaac about your concerns?” I asked.
“No. No.” Sheridan gripped the arm of his chair and looked at me with wide eyes. “I don’t want to involve anyone else. Don’t want to endanger anyone.”
“Keeping this to yourself could be just as dangerous.”
“Out of the question.” He swallowed half the contents of his glass, then waggled a finger at me. “And I expect you to promise me your silence as well.”
“If you insist,” I said, knowing I promised nothing of the sort.
He hiccuped, then waved a hand in my direction. “Good. Now be off with you. I have work to do this evening, and no more time for this conversation.”
If anything, it was an even ruder dismissal than Teresa’s. If all the faculty were this high-handed, I would never have been able to stomach working at Vesperwood. I couldn’t imagine Sheridan was going to get any work done tonight that didn’t involve draining that bottle, but I didn’t really care.
What mattered was that I’d gotten a new lead, and I intended to see where it took me. All I needed now was time.
First, though, I had to get through another lesson with Cory.
I wasn’t particularly looking forward to it. Understatement of the century. I wasn’t looking forward to it at all, because my body was looking forward to it way too much.
I’d have to be on my guard tonight. Not let him anywhere close.
The kid was silent on our walk through the manor. I assumed he felt as awkward as I did, and was trying to pretend that nothing had happened between us last time. I was fine with that. Hell, I was trying to do that too.
So I was surprised when we stepped outside the manor and Cory spoke.
“Could you teach me how to use a sword?”
12
NOAH
Istopped in my tracks. “What?”
“Could you teach me how to use a sword? I’ve been thinking maybe I should know how to defend myself better. Physically, I mean.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You don’t need that.”
I laughed, then saw the flinch on Cory’s face. I tried again.
“What I mean is, there are other people who can protect you. Provided you don’t go running around looking for trouble, that is.”
