Marked by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #4)(39)

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Urama,” I said, rising from my seat, filled with new optimism. “Finding the identity of the Benefactor is a major part of the current emergency, and might just be the most important task aside from fending off the Resistance attacks. I’ll speak to the Chief Mage today, and get you cleared to make your phone call.”

And with that in mind, I swept from the room, determined to locate Iannis and get my long-overdue audience.





16





A quick consultation of my serapha charm told me that Iannis was back in the Palace, so I followed the tug in my chest, hoping I might find him alone for once. Unfortunately, said tug led me back into the Mages Guild, and Dira flagged me down as soon as I stepped into the lobby.

“The Chief Mage is a holding meeting, and it’s starting right now,” she told me. “He requires your presence in the conference room immediately.”

I couldn’t find it in me to be annoyed that I wasn’t getting my private audience – I was curious what this conference was about, and why I was being summoned to it. Thanking the receptionist, I made my way to the conference room, which was next door to Director Chen’s office.

“Miss Baine,” Iannis greeted me with a nod as I walked in. “Please, come join us.” I caught just the briefest flash of pleasure in his eyes before he retreated behind his stoic mask, and I had to bite back a smile. He was at the head of the conference table… right between Director Chen and Fenris, who was attending in human form for once. The urge to smile quickly disappeared as I noticed just how close Chen leaned in toward Iannis – they were practically rubbing elbows.

I glanced dubiously at the only seat available –to the left of the very bottom of the table, furthest from the Chief Mage. Iannis opened his mouth to speak again, but I cut him off. “This will do great,” I said cheerfully, pulling out the chair and giving Secretary Bosal, who was occupying the foot of the table, a wide smile. “It’s nice to see you again, Secretary.”

“And you as well,” Bosal said, inclining his head courteously. I’d helped rescue him from the Resistance camp along with the other delegates not long ago, and as a result, he was friendlier to me than most of the other mages. The Finance Secretary was sitting on this end too, and though he and I weren’t exactly friends, I was reasonably sure we were in the same camp.

The discussion was pretty interesting at first, as the senior mages reported how the conflict against the Resistance was developing. A few key Resistance members had been captured, and were being kept apart from the looters and other riff-raff in a special cell on Prison Isle with extra security. Privacy Guard was still on strike, and they all agreed to boycott the company in future. I mentioned that I was investigating the company’s ownership, and that there might be ties to the Benefactor through something called the Bellington Trust in Dara. Iannis seemed pleased to hear it, and readily agreed to authorize Janta’s further investigations into the matter.

As the discussion turned back to the prisoners, I wondered if my cousin Rylan was amongst them, and added that to the increasing list of topics to discuss with Iannis in private. I didn’t like the thought of Rylan stuck on Prison Isle, but at least it would mean he wasn’t causing any more trouble, or in major danger for the moment.

Since most adult mages had volunteered to help with the defense and counterattacks, there was a severe manpower shortage in the Mages Quarter. Mages were having trouble coping with the menial chores that were usually delegated to human servants. Some of the apprentice mages were helping out with cooking and cleaning and bitterly grumbling about it, but the better-trained ones had been drafted to set wards and taking care of other tasks related to defense. Everyone agreed that this could not go on for much longer.

“We have been lucky with our food supplies thus far in the Mages Quarter,” the Finance Secretary said, “but I fear we’ve only enough for a few more days until we run out.”

“That should be sufficient,” Iannis assured him. “The situation will be resolved by then. The Resistance is beginning to lose ground now that we’ve captured some of their higher-ranking officers. The loss of leadership is affecting their morale, as well as the fact that they have not been able to get the entire population on their side, as they apparently hoped for. The enforcers returning to their jobs are also making a difference, and as mentioned earlier, Miss Baine and Fenris have made some strides in the investigation of the Benefactor’s identity.” He inclined his head at me, and I kept my face blank, determined not to light up like a silly schoolgirl at his acknowledgement. But I did nod back – it would be rude not to respond to the praise.

The discussion moved on, and though the mages were still deeply unsettled by the unexpected emergency, they seemed to be happy with Iannis’s leadership, and confident they would triumph now that he was back.

An aide sidled in and whispered in Iannis’s ear. Despite the distance, my sharp ears caught the words “Minister” and “emergency.”

“Please excuse me,” Iannis said, “I have an urgent matter to attend to. Director Chen will continue to chair the meeting in my stead.” His eyes met mine for the briefest of moments before he swept from the room, and I fought against a smile as I caught just a hint of warmth in them.

“Let’s resume,” Director Chen said in her clear, smooth voice as the door shut in Iannis’s wake. “Are there any other suggestions for dealing with the Resistance, or pertinent information that has not been voiced yet?”