Adrien took in a trembling breath. He realized that, ever since he'd arrived to the tower, Val had been doing nothing but tutoring him; only rarely had he seen him sit down at the table and write in his journals and tend to his own matters. Adrien had no doubt that Val had been neglecting his own affairs and projects to be able to mentor him. He thought again about the chat he had with the old lady down in the village; she had said that Valerion seldom had guests. Adrien surmised that he was perfectly happy living here in the middle of nowhere; and, judging from all the beautiful things he owned, he imagined him wealthy enough to be able to move to a less remote place, had that been his wish. Why would someone like him choose to live so far away from the world, if not to enjoy some peace and quiet and work on his books and research? And he - he had come from so far away just to break that; to encroach on his boundaries; to be an intruder living in his house and eating at his table. Even as he was thinking this, he was in his guest room - not a guest room: an entire tower - and he was lying in a comfortable bed with sheets made of the softest cotton; and Val was waiting for him.