Bound by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #2)(6)

Lakin’s lips twitched. “I’m sure you could,” he agreed, then paused. “Is this going to interfere with your apprenticeship at all? I wouldn’t want to put you on the Chief Mage’s bad side.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m always on his bad side, so there’s nothing new there.” I was not going to let this stupid apprenticeship get in the way of my chance to participate in this investigation, the Mages Guild be damned. Surely they could find someone else to shuffle paperwork around tomorrow morning. This was far more important.

Lakin only shook his head. “Well you’re a grown woman, and I’m not going to pass up your assistance when I could really use it.” He smiled, and the expression softened his rawboned features. “I really appreciate your help with this, Sunaya.”

“No problem.” I smiled back as pleasure filled me. It had been a long time since I’d basked in the glow of appreciation, and I’d forgotten what it felt like. “I’ve been cooped up in the Palace for way too long. I’ll be glad to finally have some action again.”

Lakin glanced down at the file. “Somehow I get the feeling we’re going to experience more than our fair share of action before this case is over.”

He didn’t know how right he was.





3





The next morning, I pulled into the small parking lot outside the Enforcer’s Guild building, the sun just cresting the rooftops of the buildings lining the street. I figured the earlier we got this done, the sooner I could get back to the Mages Guild. Sure, I was due for a scolding either way, but they’d be less pissed at me if I was simply late rather than absent the entire morning.

As I sat on my steambike waiting for Lakin to arrive, I allowed my gaze to roam over the tall, dingy grey building that represented Canalo’s law enforcement system. It was rectangular, four stories high, with cracked windows and stains sunk deep into the concrete walls. The state of the building was a perfect allegory of our current justice system – old, flawed and neglected. One of the reasons I’d become an Enforcer was to try and make a difference in the system, and uncovering Yantz’s role in the silver murders was the first time I’d made a dent in my goal. It felt good to finally be back in the trenches again, even if just for a short time.

A large shadow passed over my head, and I glanced up to see one of the new tourist dirigibles passing overhead, puffing out white steam that trailed across the morning sky. Half-open glass windows lined both sides of the small cabin fitted to the underside of the large, bright red transport, and I snorted at the sight of cheery humans leaning out and gleefully waving their hands. I was amazed the tour company allowed such a thing – if a tourist hadn’t tumbled out one of those windows yet, it was bound to happen eventually. But dirigibles were a relatively new addition to Solantha’s tourism industry, and I had to admit that enjoying the sunrise from up there sounded pretty fun. If I ever had some spare coin again, I’d have to get myself a ticket, even if they were pretty pricey.

The high-pitched whistle of Lakin’s steambike drew my attention away from the dirigible, and I turned my head to see him enter the parking lot. He wore a helmet with a visor that covered his face, and the wind blew his long leather coat out behind him, which I had to admit looked pretty badass. Maybe I should get myself one of those things.

With what money?

I sighed, shoving my hands into the achingly empty pockets of my own leather jacket. Right. I was really going to have to do something about my money situation soon. The reward I got for my part in uncovering the silver murder conspiracy was drying out in my bank account, and the small stipend I received from the Mages Guild as an apprentice wasn’t enough to cover my living expenses. If I didn’t convince the Chief Mage to let me take on work at the Guild soon, I really was going to have to move back into the Palace. Most people in my situation would have happily taken Iannis’s offer of free room and board without a second thought, but I knew the moment I did that I would lose my connection to the outside world. If I cloistered myself away in the Palace long enough, it would be all too easy to turn into one of these lofty, ice-hearted mages and lose touch with myself. And I’d be damned if that was going to happen.

“Morning,” Lakin said as he tugged off his helmet. His blond hair was slightly tousled, making him look positively boyish as he grinned at me, and I was surprised at the answering flutter in my stomach. “You ready to twist some arms?”

“You bet.” I grinned back as I hopped off my bike.

We drew curious looks from the Enforcer trainees manning the front desk as we walked in through the front door, which I guess was only to be expected – Lakin was new in town, and I was something of a conundrum. When I’d dragged the Chief Mage into the silver murders, I’d brought the scrutiny of his office down on the Enforcer’s Guild, and Captain Galling hadn’t forgiven me for making him look bad. But on the other hand, I had the Chief Mage on my side, so Captain Galling couldn’t do anything overt to make my life miserable. As a result, the other Enforcers weren’t sure how to react around me. Some were exceedingly polite, while others glared daggers at me and whispered nasty things about me when they thought I wasn’t within hearing distance. I didn’t know where the foreman of Sillara’s crew stood, or whether his attitude toward me would make this easier or harder.