“Three times over,” said Courtney dryly. “I’ll have to examine the site, though it will be impossible to make more than a rough estimate given what we know.”
“You believe him?” asked the doctor.
Master Courtney nodded. “His story matches what Duncan told me almost exactly, and given the fact that the Lanover Dam is still standing I’m inclined to believe the boy.” After a moment he added, “I have other reasons to believe him as well.”
Being discussed in the third person was annoying, not to mention Doctor Morris’ outright skepticism about his claims, but Will tried to keep his feelings hidden. “Can I return to class?” he asked the two men, keeping his tone neutral.
Master Courtney smiled. “Actually, no. I’d like you to accompany me to the dam so I can inspect it. You can show me what happened.”
Will groaned inwardly.
Chapter 5
The carriage ride to the Lanover Dam site was relatively quiet for the first half hour. Will had worried that Master Courtney would question him the entire way, but the graying professor remained silent, staring out the window and watching the world go by with a faint smile.
He stares at the world as though it’s constantly telling him jokes that only he can hear, observed Will. What a strange man. He wondered what his grandfather would have thought of the man. Don’t forget he’s a noble too, he reminded himself. Outside of academic settings the professor was also a lord of the realm, though more so than even the other teachers at Wurthaven, Alfred Courtney seemed to care very little for his social standing.
“What was your teacher’s name?”
The question emerged from absolute silence, startling him. “Pardon?”
Alfred’s piercing eyes settled directly on Will. “I asked what your teacher’s name was.”
His brain leapt into high speed, racing in circles as he struggled to come up with a convincing lie. “Uh. I usually called him Grampa, but his given name was, uh, Johnathan.”
“Isn’t that your maternal uncle’s name? Was he named after his father?”
The question was delivered in an innocent tone, but it was enough for Will to realize he had made a terrible mistake. Master Courtney had apparently researched his family at some point in the past. “Yes, sir,” said Will weakly.
“If you don’t wish to tell me your teacher’s name then don’t. I’m not an officer of the law or an agent of the king. I can’t compel you to give me answers, but please be truthful. I’d rather you simply refuse honestly than force me to guess at the truth.”
His mouth went dry, and for a moment Will wasn’t sure how to respond. Alfred Courtney seemed entirely different than his grandfather, and yet for some reason the man frightened him just as much. He’s not going to chase me around with a staff, he reminded himself, but somehow his body didn’t believe it. “Yes, sir,” he said at last.
“And? Is there something else you’d like to add?”
“His name wasn’t Johnathan. I promised I wouldn’t give people his real name.”
Master Courtney smiled. “Much better. I prefer to build on a foundation of honesty. Is your grandfather actually dead? It seems strange you’d be concerned about such a promise if he’s deceased. The law can’t reach him if he’s already passed on.”
A spark of anger kindled in his chest. “He’s dead, sir. He died defending my mother and cousin when the Prophet’s men came to our home.”
The older man stared at him, waiting.
“My promise wasn’t conditional on his being alive or dead,” Will explained.
The old scholar looked out the window again, seemingly satisfied. “Interesting,” he remarked. “So, this promise was probably as much for your protection as for his own. Your grandfather must have been a notorious criminal.”
“He was a good man,” said Will stubbornly.
“Being labeled a criminal says nothing about his character. While I would generally assume that most criminals possess lower moral standards, that isn’t always the case.” The old man watched the trees pass by for a minute or two. “Were you always a natural transducer, or do you think your grandfather’s training somehow enabled you to become one?”
Will was pretty sure it was the training, but he wasn’t ready to share his grandfather’s secrets. “I’m not sure,” he answered noncommittally.
“You told Professor Dulaney that you spent several years just training with the candle and source-link before you were ever allowed to learn how to construct a spell. Is that correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Was there anything specific you had to do during that period of time? Or perhaps things that were done to you?”
Will gave the man a flat stare. “I’d rather not say.”
The older man laughed. “You don’t trust me, do you?”
“There are some things I don’t trust anyone with, sir. It isn’t personal.”
“Yet you’ve come to Wurthaven to learn what we have to teach. Doesn’t it seem a little one sided? We give you everything we know while you keep your secrets to yourself.”
Will thought about it for a moment before answering. “A school’s job is to teach. The students pay to learn what you have to offer. There’s no implicit agreement that students will provide anything to Wurthaven other than their money.”
Master Courtney nodded vaguely. “That may be generally true, but Wurthaven is more than a simple school. My position is Head of Research, so surely you can understand that it’s my job to try and increase our knowledge and understanding. At the moment you appear to be a fascinating source of information.”
“I can understand your perspective, but I have no obligation to satisfy your curiosity.”
Alfred raised one brow. “Even though the king sponsored your entry into Wurthaven?”
Will kept his expression flat. “More so because of it.”
“You mean you owe nothing to the college because of your father-in-law, or…” The older man paused for a few seconds, then his eyes lit up with understanding. “You’re hiding your secrets from the king himself.”
Will said nothing, keeping his eyes focused on the scenery outside the window.
They arrived at the worksite a short while later. They were met by Professor Jason Dugas, the head of Wurthaven’s Engineering Department. The senior engineer had come to the site to oversee repairs in Duncan’s place. Professor Jason Dugas, the head of Wurthaven’s Engineering Department, met them there. The senior engineer had come to the site to oversee repairs in Duncan’s place. Professor Dugas greeted Master Courtney with a smile and a deferential dip of his head. “I’m honored that you’ve come to see things personally, Master Courtney.”