Page 127 of A Tower of Half-Truths
“Why do wizards insist on having such absurdly tall towers?” she asked, rubbing her temples.
“It harkens back to the classical understanding of magic, when the Ether was believed to be not an intangible force but a physical layer of the atmosphere. Wizards thought that properly attuning oneself to the Ether required being as physically close to it as—”
“One of these days, I’m going to introduce you to the concept of a rhetoricalquestion.” She rolled her eyes. She risked another glance out the window and winced.
“You’re not partial to heights, I take it.”
She shook her head.
Alain leaned his back against the window, crossed his arms, and smiled. “And yet, you still sought out a wizard.”
She smiled back, appreciating the distraction from theunsettling view. “If you think I would’ve let a silly little fear of heights stop me, you don’t know me at all.”
“Oh, I’d never think that for a second.”
His gaze dropped to her lips, sending a trickle of heat up her neck. No, they definitely couldn’t risk doing anything risquéhere, of all places. She cleared her throat.
“Besides,” she said, “I’m fine so long as I have a landmark to ground myself. Where’s the Dauphinian Academy of Magic? Can we see it from here?”
“I’m not sure,” Alain said, glancing over his shoulder. “It might be on the opposite side of the city, come to think. I attended a conference there once, but I took the portal.”
“So, you’ve never actually visited Montesse?”
“As in seeing the sights, traveling for pleasure? No, I’ve never had the time.”
“Then maybe we should make that a priority.”
He laughed. “Dauphine may not be the ideal spot for a holiday, considering the rebellions.”
“Somewhere else, then,” Mavery said. “Maroba, Nilandor, the Isles, anywhere. Say the word, and we’ll go.”
A wistful look crossed his face. But it passed within seconds, and he stepped away from the window. “As lovely as that sounds, first things first: let’s get this presentation over with.”
Arm-in-arm again, they continued down the corridor until they reached a chamber. Before them, a larger-than-life painting of Archmage Seringoth hung over the fireplace. He looked much like the Archmages before him, with aged skin and a long white beard that matched his hair. His blue-gray eyes had an intensity that, even in paint, compelled Mavery to avoid his gaze.
On the left side of the room was a set of double doors that shimmered with a soundproofing ward. Running the length of the wall was a wooden bench, and upon it sat a familiar pair of women.
Alain froze.
“Hello, Aventus.”
Nezima gave him a benign smile. Sitting beside her was Corenta, the dean of the Faisancy Department, whom Mavery had met at the Lettered Gentleman over a week ago.
“Nezima,” Alain said with a stiff nod that matched his tone. “I didn’t know you also had a meeting with the High Council today.”
“Yes, Corenta and I are presenting a research proposal.”
“Together?” Alain asked, his arm tensing beneath Mavery’s hand.
“Consider this the first of what we hope will bemanycollaborations,” Corenta said. Her blue eyes peered at him over her spectacles.
Nezima looked to Mavery. “We missed seeing you on Middisday.”
“Oh, sorry about that,” she said. Alain gave her a sidelong glance, but she kept her eyes focused on Nezima. “We were working on our presentation.”
Among other things that had kept our hands and mouths occupied…
“Of course. Any scholar knows how demanding these presentations can be.” Nezima smiled as her gaze shifted downward. A chill prickled the back of Mavery’s neck upon realizing that her and Alain’s arms were still linked. “Mind if I take a look?”
