Page 124 of A Tower of Half-Truths
She smirked. “As if you even need to ask.”
He laughed. “Well, one should never assume. Then that settles it. After we present the Sensing spell, I’m going to meet with Kazamin and hand in my resignation. In the meantime…” He gave her a coy smile. “I see no reason to delay the courtship part.”
He drew her in, and their lips met in a gentle caress. His fingertips combed through her hair, guided her head back to kiss her more deeply, though he lacked the fervor he’d shown back in the forest. But Mavery matched his slower pace, allowed herself to savor the simple pleasure of their connection. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had kissed her so tenderly, without any need to hurry. Because neither of them was going anywhere.
A firm tug of his robe sent her to her back, his weight on top of her. The sudden change of position forced them to break the kiss. She opened her eyes at the same time he did, and they exchanged a laugh.
He lightly kissed her forehead, then placed a more lingering one on the scar across her nose. It didn’t matter that this mark was a permanent reminder of the night she’d met Neldren; he gave that part of her as much reverence as he’d given her lips. She sighed as he moved downward, placing a kiss on one corner of her mouth,then the other, before continuing to her jaw. He pushed aside the blanket, her collar.
“Oh…” She shivered as his lips brushed the crook of her neck. Then his fingers fumbled with the top buttons of her blouse, and her eyes widened. “Oh!Er, wait a moment.”
Alain pulled back. “Is something wrong?”
“Your timing,” she groaned, then sat upright. “If only you’d come to this decision yesterday, before I started my courses.” She sighed. “I’m afraid anything beyond what we just did is out of the question for the next few days.”
“That’s a relief. Er, not your courses, I mean.” He blushed. “For a minute there, I was worried I’d been too presumptuous.” He took her hand, gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I don’t mind waiting a little longer. In the meantime, how are you feeling? Is there anything I can get you?”
Smiling, she kissed his cheek. If only she could show this man her appreciation ineveryway she knew how…
“You’re sweet to offer, but there’s no need. Not when I havethis.” She leaned over and retrieved her mug. The liquid no longer appeared scalding, but the stoneware was warm against her palms. Alain sniffed the drink—and gagged.
“Gods, whatisthat!?” he coughed.
“An old remedy for aches and pains: a cup of fallowroot tea, the juice of a lemon wedge, a pinch of cinnamon, and a shot of whiskey.”
“Yes, the whiskey was apparent.” He waved a hand in front of his face as his eyes watered. “Does it at least help?”
“Immensely. The taste isn’t half-bad, either, though I won’t be disappointed when I no longer have to drink this every month. Until then… Cheers to you, Lavestra.” She raised the mug toward the ceiling before taking a large gulp. She winced as the liquid burned all the way down—she’d poured the whiskey with a heavier hand than she’d intended—but the few seconds of discomfort were worth the immediate relief it brought to her aching muscles.
“Lavestra?” Alain asked. “I’m no theologian, but isn’t Illara the Goddess of Fertility?”
Mavery laughed flatly. “I promise you, this is entirely withinthe Goddess of Afflictions’s domain.” She began to take another sip, then paused. “But speaking of fertility, I ought to prepare some persilweed tea for when all this passes.”
“Oh…that won’t be necessary,” Alain said. When she raised an eyebrow, he cleared his throat before continuing, “Not long after I became a wizard, I underwent a procedure involving a rather complex infertility spell that’s part Soudremancy, part Transmutation. I’ll admit, it was quite painful—”
She threw him a pointed look.
“Though not as painful as childbirth, of course!” He laughed nervously. “I’d say the majority of wizards have taken advantage of this procedure, as the majority of wizards would rather not have children.”
“The Covenants definitely didn’t mentionthat.”
“Er, no, they wouldn’t. The procedure is voluntary, but it’s not exactly a topic that comes up in polite conversation.”
“This procedure is effective?”
He nodded. “Completely. And irreversible.”
“Huh…”
As she drank more of her whiskey-tea concoction, Mavery pondered how, over the years, she’d run the gamut of contraceptives: herbs brewed into bitter teas, sheaths made from questionable animal parts, the tried-but-seldom-true method of consulting lunar charts. Neverhad she heard of an infertility spell. It had to be yet another privilege the wizarding community kept to itself, but it was a fortunate one nonetheless.
“I take it you never wanted children,” she said.
Alain shook his head. “Like most wizards, I wanted to focus fully on scholarly pursuits. Besides, I can barely handle first-years. Could you imaginemetrying to care for achild?” he said with a nervous laugh. “That, er, won’t be an issue for you, I hope…”
She put her tea aside, then cupped his face between her hands. “Not in the slightest. I’m glad that’s yet another thing we agree on.” She smiled wryly. “You know, I may be on my courses, but there areotherthings we could do.”
“Oh?” His eyes widened. “What did you have in mind?”
