Hunted by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #3)(73)

“I guess you have a point.” My lips twisted as I acknowledged that logic. If I was going to ferret out more information about the identity of my father, I couldn’t very well do it as myself.

“I do find it very interesting that Coman approached you, however.”

“And why is that?”

“Because he is Lord Cedris’s Legal Secretary.”

“What?” My eyes widened. “What was he doing out in the coffee shop then, instead of the rotunda?”

“He may have come there during an intermission for refreshments,” Iannis speculated. “More likely, though, Lord Cedris sent him out specifically to question you and try to find out more information about me, since he believes I am his direct competition.”

“Huh.” I pressed my lips together as I considered that. “He was asking questions about our time at the Resistance camp,” I recalled. “I don’t know why that information would be of relevance to Lord Cedris, though.”

“The fact that he is asking might suggest that he has an interest in the Resistance somehow,” Iannis said, frowning. “Although he could have just been digging for dirt.”

“Well maybe we can find out more at the ball tonight,” I suggested hopefully.

“Indeed. Our main objectives tonight are to discover exactly where the Minister is sequestered, and to determine if Lord Cedris’s sudden popularity is legitimate. It defies belief, but after all that has happened we cannot exclude the possibility that he is somehow allied to the Benefactor or the Resistance.”

“I’m guessing that means you’re going to rub a lot of elbows and I’m going to listen in on as many conversations as possible?”

“Yes. And since you are not a delegate, you’ll attract less notice if you sneak off somewhere that guests are generally not supposed to be.”

The carriage rolled to a stop, and I peered out the window to see that we were in a long, long line of carriages dropping ball guests off at the Grandham Hotel, which was where the ball was being held. Guess we weren’t the only fashionably late ones. It took us a good ten minutes before our carriage pulled up in front of the entrance, and I tried to act aloof rather than self-conscious as Iannis helped me down from the carriage. Reporters and photographers crowded near the entrance, and I had to force myself not to flinch as camera bulbs flashed and reporters shouted questions at us about the upcoming vote and who we thought the next Minister was going to be. Blinded by the flashes, I clutched Iannis’s arm and allowed him to guide me up the stairs and through the doors.

Oh well, at least we’ll look good for the photographs, I thought as we passed through the elegant lobby. Uniformed staff greeted us respectfully and directed us toward the ballroom, which was several hallways away. I’d picked out a set of royal blue robes for Iannis, with winged shoulders and golden vines that shimmered as he walked. A gold satin sash belted around his waist, and the ensemble enhanced the contrast of his broad shoulders to his tapered hips. Only the tips of the dark blue leather boots with gold buckles I’d bought for him could be seen, but they were my favorite part of the outfit. I would have bought a pair for myself if they had come in my size. I’d commission a similar pair for myself once we got back to Solantha, if I ever had any money of my own again.

One problem at a time, Sunaya.

“Welcome to the Convention Ball,” another hotel staff member greeted us at the entrance to the ballroom. Like the other staff, he was dressed very smartly in a suit and tails, and he held a clipboard and pen in his hands. “May I have your names, please?”

“Iannis ar’Sannin, Chief Mage of Canalo, and Miss Narina Sernan.”

“Yes, of course, my lord.” The man bowed deeply, then extended a hand toward the entrance. “Please enjoy your evening.”

We stepped into the ballroom, and I tried not to crane my neck as my eyes took in the enormous space, which was packed to the gills with delegates and invited guests. The walls were painted a pale, creamy gold, and soared past the mezzanine balconies to meet the ornate crown molding that bordered the ceiling. The ceiling itself was fairly plain, the only adornment a large, stylized flower painted in the center, and hanging from the middle of the flower was a single chandelier that cast the huge room in a muted yellow glow. Wall sconces set in the pillars that lined the walls and supported the arches of the mezzanine provided additional light, but the overall effect was subtle, creating plenty of shadowed corners for attendees to lurk in and whisper to each other when they weren’t socializing with the main crowd.

I remained on Iannis’s arm for the first half hour as introductions were made, but as time went on more and more female mages began to flock to him, slyly flirting, and he took to the sport like a duck to water, coaxing information out of them the same way they were trying to do to him. I knew there was a purpose to it all, but I hated the way these women dismissed me or gave me thinly disguised looks of derision. So I was more than happy to let a handsome young mage sweep me off to the dance floor before the jealousy monster trying to rear its ugly head made me do something stupid.

I danced and socialized for a good hour with the delegates and their guests, making small talk while surreptitiously testing the waters to see if anyone knew anything about the Minister’s whereabouts or Lord Cedris’s campaign. A good number of the guests were humans, wealthy socialites who had enough pull in their own circles that they merited an invitation and flew in across the country to mingle with these high-ranking mages. None seemed to have any more information about the Minister than I did, however, and there was also frustratingly little to be learned about Lord Cedris. I gleaned some speculation that he’d made agreements with key mages to push for certain types of legislation, but nothing concrete.