Page 178 of A Tower of Half-Truths
Alain should have felt relief for finally telling Kazamin what he ought to have said years ago. Instead, he felt only dread as his supervisor—his mentor, his friend—gave him a look of utter shock.
But then that look turned into a wide, almost patronizing smile. “I understand your hesitancy, Aventus. I, too, went through a similar phase early in my career, when I believed myself the worst professor to ever walk the face of Perrun. But you are talented, passionate, dedicated. Above all else, you are still young. I have faith that you will—”
“There’s more to it, sir.” He braced himself, hating that it had come to this, but he needed to geteverythingout in the open. “I’ve violated the Covenants by having romantic relations with my assistant. Therefore, I’m no longer fit to be a professor.”
Kazamin sighed. “Well, yes.Obviously.”
“Obviously, I should no longer be a professor?”
“Obviously, you have been having an affair with your assistant.” He chuckled at what Alain could only assume was a look of bafflement mixed with horror. “My boy, though my mind may not be as sharp as it once was, myeyesremain as keen as ever.
“I’ve known since you first brought that woman into my office. You looked at her the same way I looked at Safiya during the early days of our courtship.” He shook his head. “I had only hoped you wouldn’t be foolish enough toconfessto it.”
Alain could do nothing but stare at Kazamin, mouth agape. His head reeled, though this really should have come as no surprise. Ever since Mavery entered his life, he could scarcely remember feeling more content. His mother had known it, as had Declan.
“If anyone asks, I’ll forget this conversation ever happened,” Kazamin said. “Having a faulty memory does have its upsides.”
“But…” Alain shook his head. “Perhaps I misunderstood, but are you saying youwon’treport me to the High Council for this?”
“What you and your assistant do in private is of no consequence to me. So long as itremainsprivate, I see no reason to report you. Far be it from me to let a minor slip-up get in the way of your career.”
Alain continued to gawk. He’d just confessed to something that ought to serve as grounds for being fired—if not stripped of his rank—and Kazamin had called it “a minor slip-up.” Even Declan, the student body’s most beloved professor, had received a more severe punishment.
Alain glanced at the portrait hanging above the hearth. Seated next to Kazamin was a graceful Nilandoren woman, Safiya Fel’Shara, his wife and long-time assistant. Of course, Alain should have known Kazamin would be understanding. But Kazamin had been Dean for nearly fifty years, and he’d been married to Safiya decades before the covenant banning such a union went into effect. Never would Alain have equated their circumstances.
“As for your resignation, I cannot accept it.”
Alain looked to Kazamin again. “But I followed the Covenants.I gave you plenty ofnotice—”
“And the Covenantsstate that a dean reserves the right to deny any resignation that would place undue hardship upon his department. Thanks to the latest budget cuts, the Gardemancy Department is in the midst of a hiring freeze. Had you not been on sabbatical for the past year, you would have known that.” Kazamin’s words carried with them an abnormal bitterness.
“Speaking of which,” he continued, “I will not be allowing any sabbaticals for the upcoming term. Should you decide to take another unauthorized leave of absence, Iwillreport you to the High Council. But we both know you would not do anything so unwise. Marya knows the Gardemancy Department cannot afford any more upheavals…”
“ ‘Upheavals,’ sir?”
Kazamin muttered something in Maroban as he shook his head. “Nothing to concern yourself with. Put it from your mind for now.”
He struggled to hoist himself from his armchair. Alain rose to his feet, offered Kazamin a hand that was shooed away. Kazamin managed to get out of the chair on his own. He grabbed his cane, hobbled across the library, and opened the door for Alain.
“Take my advice and enjoy your summer holiday. Read for pleasure, travel, do something that isn’t related to scholarship. Given what you’ve just achieved with the Innominate Temple, no one will begrudge you for taking a few months off. Do that, and I fully believe you’ll have a change of heart come autumn.”
Alain opened his mouth, yet he was unable to find the words to argue with Kazamin further. He simply nodded.
All the way home, he dreaded how he would break this news to Mavery. Since returning to Leyport two days ago, she’d dived head-first into the role of his assistant and had spent most of her time formulating ideas for what to do with Aganast’s tower. In fact, Alain suspected her bargaining for the tower had been for her own benefit as much as it had been for his.
When he entered the apartment, he found her amid a pile of biographies. She turned to the door withThe Definitive Biography of Seringoth Iin hand—a tome that could double as a blunt weapon. Seeing her spring green eyes meet his, being on the receiving end of that slightly crooked yet stunning smile… Both were enough to make him fall in love with her all over again.
“As you can probably tell, I’ve been thinking of the library,” she said.
He blinked, pulling himself from his musings. “Er, what library?”
“Yours. More specifically, my idea of moving your books to Aganast’s tower. Gods know you’ve long outgrown this space.”
He laughed. “I won’t argue with that.”
“And then I got to thinking…” She put the book aside and pulled herself to her feet. “Why not do more than simply house your books there? Why not allow anyone to come visit and read your books as they please?”
Alain scratched his chin. “I’ve never heard of a wizard opening up their private library to just anyone.”
