Hunted by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #3)(78)

Iannis spoke several Words aloud, and I pressed my lips together in thought. “If it’s so contagious, I suppose it makes sense that he was placed under quarantine. Shouldn’t the Minister’s office have demanded the other mages be tested for the disease, since they were all likely to have been in close proximity with the Minister for at least a week?”

“Yes.” The hand Iannis placed on the Minister’s forehead began to glow. “The fact that they didn’t do so is highly suspect.”

I pressed my lips together, but said nothing more, only fetching a chair for Iannis so that he could sit and focus on healing the Minister. I opened the door to the corridor wide to let in some cleaner air before we all choked, then stood by and watched as Iannis worked his magic. A good hour passed as Iannis fought to drive the infection out, sweat beading on his brow as his jaw clenched with the strain. Watching Iannis heal the Minister gave me a new appreciation for him – he’d done this for me several times now, but because I’d been unconscious I had no idea it was such a strain on him. Or perhaps this disease was especially tough to beat, as he’d said.

Finally, Iannis removed his palm from the Minister’s forehead and sat back in his chair. “It’s done,” he exhaled, sounding both pleased and tired. There was an undercurrent of relief in his tone that suggested this healing had not been a sure thing at all. I wondered if other mages without his Tua heritage could have managed.

The Minister blinked open chocolate-brown eyes, and in the light of my flame I could see his complexion was much healthier. All the scabs had fallen off or disappeared, and there was no trace of pockmarks on his now-smooth skin. Confusion filled his expression as he pushed himself to an upright position.

“W-where am I?” he asked a little more loudly than I would have liked. His eyes fixed on me. “And who are you?”

“Shhhh.” Iannis’s voice was hushed, but soothing, as he drew the Minister’s attention to him. “It’s Iannis, the Chief Mage of Solantha. This is my apprentice, Sunaya Baine. You’ve been very ill, sir, and we came here to heal you.”

“Ill. Yes.” The Minister pushed a hank of sweat-laden hair from his handsome face. “I do recall not feeling very well and taking to my bed, but I don’t remember how I ended up here.” He cast a dubious look at the humble room and wrinkled his nose.

“The story that was given out to the Convention was that you were too sick to receive visitors, in quarantine for your own good,” Iannis said tightly. “But after some discreet questioning, we have determined there is a more sinister plot behind your quarantine.”

“What do you mean?” the Minister demanded in a querulous voice. “Who would dare?”

“I think we should table this discussion until after we’ve gotten out of here,” I interrupted, casting a nervous glance toward the window. The Minister had lowered his voice a bit, but he was still too loud, and I really didn’t want to tip the guards off to our presence after we’d worked so hard to go unnoticed.

“Yes, I agree.” Iannis stood up, then helped the Minister to his feet. “Miss Baine, help me escort the Minister downstairs. Once we have him safely back in the hotel suite, we can go over everything and decide what to do from there.”





27





I can’t believe I’m letting Iannis disguise me as Secretary Asward, I grumbled to myself, arms folded across my chest as Iannis worked. We were standing in the living room area, and the delegate I was impersonating was sitting on one of the couches next to Bosal, drinking coffee and looking down his ugly nose at me. Said ugly nose now disfigured my own face too, and I could not wait for the time when I would be rid of it. But for now, there wasn’t anything I could do about it.

“I don’t understand why you’re taking Miss Baine along instead of me,” Asward complained yet again, and I rolled my eyes. Iannis had already explained to them what had happened with the Minister and why they were staying here so that the Minister and I could go to the Convention without being seen. “I understand why the Minister has to attend, of course –” here Asward stopped to incline his head respectfully at the Minister, who was standing next to me, “but Miss Baine has no legitimate reason to attend the Convention. It sets a terrible precedent.”

Iannis turned slowly to face Asward. “Are you questioning my authority, Secretary?”

Asward’s round face blanched. “Of course not, my lord. It’s just that –”

“Then the matter is settled. You and Secretary Bosal will stay here until I call for you. It will not do to have either of you anywhere near the Capitol Building while the Minister and Miss Baine are in disguise. Have I made myself clear?”

“Yes.” Asward lowered his gaze, but the way he pressed his lips together told me that he wasn’t at all pleased with the decision.

As Iannis turned to apply the Minister’s illusion, I retreated to the island counter where the Finance Secretary was sipping his coffee so I could pour myself another cup. Iannis and I had stayed up late into the night briefing the Minister and discussing strategy. After the two of them had gone to bed to recover from their mutual ordeal, I’d catnapped on the couch, keeping my senses trained on the door in case any guards or Resistance soldiers came barging through the door looking for the Minister.