Betrayed by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #5)(5)

“I see.” Janta was quiet for a moment. “Have you asked the Chief Mage about this?”

“He’s been very busy,” I evaded. It wouldn’t do me any favors to tell Janta that Iannis didn’t want me to know my father’s name. After all, he was her employer, and she wouldn’t want to do anything to anger him. “Lord Iannis lost a significant amount of time when he went missing, and again when he rescued me from that island, and he’s still got his hands full with the fallout from the failed uprising. I don’t want to trouble him, if I can find the information elsewhere.”

“That’s true. He must be overburdened with duties just now.” Janta’s voice briefly softened in sympathy, then became businesslike again. “Do you have any information that may help narrow our search?”

I thought for a moment. “My mother lived in Solantha before my birth, and did not travel during the time she would have conceived me, as far as I know. It is likely that she met my father right here, but how, and who he was, is a mystery. Hookups between shifters and mages are really rare, even in Rowanville. She would never tell me, and none of her surviving family ever said anything about him.”

“Is there anyone who might remember their affair?” Janta pressed.

“My aunt Mafiela. She and I haven’t had the best relationship, and she would never speak a word of anything to do with my mage heritage. But she and my mother were close, so it is possible Mother confided some detail or clue to her. Perhaps if I asked her to lunch, she might be willing to divulge something now.”

“That would be helpful.” Janta eyed me speculatively. “Your eyes and coloring must come from your father rather than the Jaguar Clan,” she noted. “That may help narrow things down, as there are not very many mage families known for such brilliant green eyes.”

“Oh!” I exclaimed as a memory popped into my head. “I did meet someone in Dara, a mage, who bore an uncanny resemblance to me. His name was Coman ar’Daghir, and, last I knew, he was the Rhodea Mages Guild’s Legal Secretary. He did not act as though he knew anything when we met, and he is too young to be my father—I think. But he might be a relative of some kind.”

“That is very helpful indeed,” Janta replied, pulling a notepad from her sleeve. She extracted a pen as well, then wrote the information down. “We have an up-to-date genealogical section. I should be able to trace his family history and connections.”

“That’s great!” Excitement bubbled up inside me, but it quickly faded as I recalled Iannis’s warning about my father. “Is…is there any way my father could pose a problem for my upcoming marriage to the Chief Mage?”

“Most certainly,” Janta said, her eyebrows rising. “Your father could prevent the marriage if he decides he does not want his family allied with Lord Iannis’s.”

“What!” I shouted, then winced as Janta frowned. “Sorry,” I said, lowering my voice. “But how could my father do such a thing? He gave up his right to be my father the moment he walked out of my mother’s life. Surely he has no legal authority over me.”

“I’m afraid that’s not how it works,” Janta said, sympathy in her eyes. “Regardless of whether or not your father raised you, you are of his bloodline. You would not have your magic if that were not the case. That you no longer have a living mother only strengthens his claim, should he choose to exercise it.”

“And just what claim is that?” I asked, doing my damndest to keep my voice even. Janta didn’t deserve my fury—she was just the messenger. “I’m an adult, aren’t I? Why does he get to decide who I do or don’t marry?”

“Well, by shifter standards, you most certainly are an adult,” Janta allowed, a small smile briefly curving her lips. “But mages don’t reach their majority until they are thirty years of age or finish their apprenticeships, whichever comes first. If you were done with your apprenticeship, your father would not have a say, but considering your late start, I doubt that will happen anytime soon. Therefore, your father unfortunately has every right to disallow the match, should he find Lord Iannis an unsuitable candidate for any reason.”

I snorted. “That’s so ridiculous. He’s the Chief Mage. Magorah knows that the majority of Canalo doesn’t think I’m a suitable match for him, but I doubt anybody would claim that he isn’t good enough for me.”

Janta nodded. “That is true. However, I assume you don’t wish to count on your father’s benevolence, considering his track record with you.”

“No,” I admitted, my jaw tightening. “I have no idea what kind of man he is.” For all I knew, he would gloat at the chance to strike at Iannis, should he prove to be some kind of rival or enemy. “I need to find a way around this.”

“I’m not sure there is one,” Janta said gently. “Even if you weren’t years behind in your mastery of Loranian, any shortcuts you might take have severe consequences.”

“Yeah, that’s true.” I winced a little—Loranian was the language of magic, used in spell casting, and I was nowhere near mastering it. “What kind of shortcuts are you referring to?” I asked, curious despite myself.

Janta pursed her lips. “They are not worth speaking of.”

“Oh, come on. You can’t just say that and not tell me anything.” When she just stared at me, I gave her my best puppy-dog look. “Please?”