Read Online Fathomless by Anne M. Pillsworth - Free Book Online

the meeting over?”
    â€œNo,” she whispered back. “But don’t worry. We’ve dropped our big bomb.”
    â€œYou’re sure about me and Orne?”
    â€œI wouldn’t have told you otherwise.”
    â€œBut what should I do about it? Should I tell anyone else?”
    She smoothed the mockingly cheerful hide of her binder. “You could tell Eddy. I’d wait on Daniel, since you’re just getting to know him.”
    â€œYeah, it might scare him off, how I’m the spawn of an evil wizard.”
    He’d expected Helen to laugh. She didn’t. “You are going to take this seriously, Sean?”
    â€œYeah, I just meant—” Nothing, that was what he’d meant. “I was just kidding.”
    â€œAll right. And you’re not a spawn.”
    â€œDon’t count on that.”
    His usual composure regained, at least outwardly, Marvell returned and seated himself on the broad sill of the east windows. He leaned out and waved at someone. “Daniel and Eddy are in the garden. It looks like they’re waiting for you, Sean, so let’s finish up. Helen, Eddy will be working at the MU Library weekdays, nine to two?”
    Helen nodded.
    â€œSo Sean and Daniel will have class the same hours. We’ll meet in the library here. You’ll have reading, but no papers or tests. The weekends are all yours.”
    â€œSounds great, Professor.”
    â€œYou will have a curfew. Ten o’clock, unless you’re with an Order member.”
    Ten was too early, but if they wanted to hit a midnight movie, Eddy could talk Helen into playing chaperone.
    â€œOne more thing, which I hope won’t disappoint you.”
    Sean sat as straight as his chair allowed, which was straight of the ramrod variety. This had to be about his mentor. If there was disappointment involved, he might not get Geldman, or even Benetutti, but a magician he didn’t know yet. Still, that could be cool—
    â€œI’ve been thinking about last summer,” Marvell went on. “How one day you thought magic was a pleasant fantasy, the next you found out it was real and potentially deadly. An extreme introduction, do you agree?”
    He’d be an idiot not to. “Yes, Professor.”
    â€œFacing not just the Servitor but an Outer God? People have been staggered by much milder exposure to the truth of the Mythos. I’m impressed by how well you’ve handled it. However—”
    However, the Death Star of words. Sean held on for the blast.
    Marvell fired. “We need to pull you back a few steps. You started with advanced practical magic, which is exactly the wrong way to start. Theory should come first. Without it, a student’s magic remains wild. So for now you’ll concentrate on theory.”
    That disappointment Marvell had been worried about? A big old fist of it hung in the air ready to punch Sean in the gut. Maybe he could still dodge it. “Okay, but I’ll still learn a little practical magic?”
    â€œNo. You won’t learn any.”
    The big old fist nailed him, right in the solar plexus. “But what will I do with my mentor?”
    â€œSince you won’t be practicing magic, you won’t need a mentor this summer.”
    Big old fist nailed him again, lower.
    Helen jumped in. “Sean, I know you were looking forward to studying with a magician. But, believe me, theory will keep you plenty busy for two months.”
    â€œAnd I hope to make it interesting,” Marvell said.
    He and Helen—Helen, especially—looked like the parents of a kid on the brink of a tantrum because the expensive present he’d unwrapped wasn’t exactly what he’d wanted. Sean had to remind himself that these were the people who’d helped save his butt last year. They were offering him a huge opportunity right now. Spoiled-brat behavior was not an option, even though Marvell had never talked about going