Betrayed by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #5)(66)

Rylan laughed. “I guess you’re right.”

We arrived at Jonias’s house in short order. It was on the outskirts of the Mages Quarter, close to Maintown, and sat on an acre of land that looked like it was in serious need of a gardener. The grass was several feet high and had swallowed up the footpath leading from the gate to the house. Ivy grew up the walls with reckless abandon. The house itself was large and stately looking beneath said ivy, though the pale yellow siding was chipped in places, and many of the white roof tiles were cracked. The wrought-iron gate that surrounded the place was showing signs of rust, and made a loud screeching noise as I pulled it open.

“Nice digs,” Rylan remarked as we waded through the grass. He sneezed as the scent of magic grew stronger. “If not for my nose, I wouldn’t have guessed this was a mage’s residence.”

“I told you he was a hermit,” I said, shrugging. I didn’t understand why Ballos’s house looked like crap either. I mean, yeah, maybe he didn’t go outside much, but surely he had the funds to hire a gardener and repaint the walls every once in a while. Or did he just not care?

I grabbed the heavy brass doorknocker and pounded on the door once, twice, three times. My nose caught the faint, but fairly recent, whiff of an elderly human male, so I assumed there was at least one servant around to answer the door. When no one came, I knocked again.

Eventually, I heard the shuffle of footsteps in the hall, and the scent of elderly human grew stronger. The locks disengaged, and the front door slowly opened to reveal a skinny, white-haired man with rheumy eyes, dressed in an ancient-looking black suit.

“Good evening,” he said in a warbling old-man voice, and I suppose it was, since it was nearing five o’clock now. “How can I help you?”

“I’m from the Enforcer’s Guild, here to speak with Mr. Jonias Ballos.” I held up my bracelet as proof. “Is he in residence?”

“Yes,” the old man said, squinting as he eyed us up and down. “Though I don’t think he’ll see you.”

“Tell him I just need to ask him a few questions.” I held up my bracelet, and he leaned in closer so he could peer at it. “My bodyguard and I won’t take up too much of his time.”

“An enforcer with a bodyguard, eh?” he said, shaking his head. “My, how times change. I will go and see if he will speak with you. Please wait here.”

To my annoyance, he closed the door on us instead of letting us in to wait in the hall. Sighing, I tapped my foot as I looked around, wondering where the strong magic smell was coming from. Did Ballos keep a lot of magical artifacts in the house? Or was there some kind of spell set upon the grounds? I wondered if there was a spell that would magically keep a garden trimmed. If so, this guy seriously needed to learn it.

Nearly ten minutes went by, and I was about to explode in frustration when at last I heard the butler’s footsteps shuffle back down the hall. Was he only capable of walking at a snail’s pace?

“I’m sorry, but Master Ballos is in the middle of an important research project and cannot be disturbed,” the butler said. “You may feel free to call another time when he might be more available.”

“I’m here by order of the Chief Mage of Solantha,” I said through gritted teeth, even though that wasn’t strictly true. If I had to suffer through this yearlong engagement, I was at least going to throw around the Chief Mage’s title every once in a while. “He will be very displeased if he has to come down here himself.”

The old man hesitated. “I will relay this information,” he said reluctantly, moving back inside again. “Please, wait here—”

“Oh, hell no,” I growled, planting my foot on the threshold. I wasn’t going to wait another ten minutes to get another bullshit answer! “I’ll just come with you—”

A loud buzzing noise sounded as the air super-heated around me, raising the hairs on my arms as a ward activated around the perimeter of the house. Before I could get clear of the threshold, an unseen force threw me back, and I went flying. I grunted as I hit the ground, hard, the overgrown grass cushioning my fall somewhat.

“Oh, dear,” the butler said as Rylan hurried over to help me up. “Master Ballos has set a spell on the house that bars access to all individuals he has not given express permission to enter. You cannot get inside.”

“A little warning would have been nice!” I shouted, accepting Rylan’s offer of a hand up. I dusted off my leather pants and straightened my jacket, then approached the man again. “If not for your overgrown lawn, I might have broken something!”

“I do apologize,” the old man said, bowing stiffly. “I’m afraid I am not as young as I used to be, and we are terribly understaffed here. Please wait just a little longer, and I will get the Master for you.”

“Thanks,” I said, softening my tone a little. The butler disappeared back inside, and as I listened to him shuffle off, I couldn’t help but feel a little bad for him. Was he seriously the only servant here? If so, no wonder the place was in such disrepair. What was Ballos thinking, leaving it up to one elderly man to take care of this big house? I wondered why the old butler hadn’t simply retired at this point. Maybe he needed the money, or felt some sort of loyalty for the mage who’d employed him all these years.

Eventually, the butler came back again. This time, he seemed more relaxed. “Master Ballos will see you,” he said, opening the door wider. “Please, come in.”