Marked by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #4)(7)

“Even if I wanted to help you,” Captain Galling growled, “I can’t. Most of the enforcers hate the mages even more now, and they want nothing to do with this war.” Exhaustion entered his deep voice. “Besides, the apothecaries have been shut down, and I have no access to the medicine that my wife so desperately needs. I’m not interested in resuming my office while she is suffering.”

“What if I could cure your wife?” Iannis asked softly. “Would you be more inclined to help us then?”

There was a long pause. “You can do that?” Captain Galling asked, and there was no mistaking the surprise in his voice. “Don’t you think I have already tried everything? I was told repeatedly that such an advanced liver disease was beyond the skill of magic healers.”

“As it happens, I’m one of the most talented healers in the country,” Iannis admitted without a hint of hubris. To him, he was simply stating a fact, not bragging. “There are very few maladies I can’t heal, but because I am unable to heal everyone, I do not advertise that fact.”

“Well, it would have been nice if you’d offered before now,” Captain Galling grumbled. “My wife has been suffering for years.”

“I did not know,” Iannis said. “But I am more than happy to help her now.”

There was another long pause. At last, Captain Galling grunted. “Very well. I’ll help you. I don’t like the way the Resistance is dealing with things anyway. So much unnecessary chaos and destruction does not bode well for us, and if they should actually seize power…” He trailed off. “I’ll help you,” he said again, more firmly.

“Excellent.”

I listened as they hashed out the details further. Captain Galling grudgingly agreed to haul the enforcers back in line, getting them to police the looting and withdraw their support from the Resistance. In exchange, Iannis promised to release a public apology for all the wrongful arrests, and to double the bounties for looters, rapists, murderers, and other miscreants while the crisis lasted.

“I believe we’re done here for now,” Iannis said at last, followed by the sounds of chairs scraping back from tables. “Make the arrangements to have your wife transported to the Palace without delay. Director Chen, please find two mages to go with her as an escort. I would hate for something to happen to Mrs. Galling along the way.”

“Yes, sir,” Director Chen acknowledged.

The door opened, and I hastily deposited myself into one of Director Chen’s visitors’ chairs, wincing as the carved dragons dug into my back. I didn’t want her to know I had been eavesdropping, even though I doubted I’d heard anything all that confidential aside from the bit about Galling’s wife. And even if I had, Director Chen knew she could trust me. Or so I hoped.

A few minutes later, the door to Director Chen’s office opened, and the woman herself walked in. Her waterfall of fine, dark hair was pulled up into a high bun secured with ivory chopsticks, and the robe she wore today was emerald-green silk, with tiny, golden petals scattered across the fabric.

Her almond-shaped eyes widened as she caught sight of me. “Miss Baine. Who let you into my office?”

“I let myself in,” I said casually, looping my left leg over the chair’s arm as I twisted to face her. It creaked under the unorthodox distribution of my weight, and predictably, Director Chen’s eyes flashed, though her impassive expression did not otherwise change, and I bit back a tight smile. If she was going to force me to sit in such a shitty chair, then I was going to abuse the hell out of it.

“I believe that when a door is locked, it’s a signal that the occupant does not wish for others to ‘let themselves in’,” she said stiffly, gliding around the cherry-wood desk to sit in her own high-backed and much more comfortable leather chair.

I shrugged. “The sign in the hall said to report to you for special assignment, so here I am. Give me an assignment.”

Director Chen took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “Simple enough. Your assignment is to stay out of the way.”

I straightened in my chair. “Excuse me?” I couldn’t be hearing that right. “You want me to sit back and do nothing?”

“I didn’t say that,” Director Chen said tersely. “You are free to join the enforcers in their efforts to restore order in the city, or help any of the secretaries, since we are badly understaffed. But I need you to stay away from Lord Iannis.”

I nearly toppled out of my chair at that. “Why?” I spluttered. “Have you forgotten that I am his apprentice? He’s supposed to give me direction! I almost lost him, Director Chen, and I’m the one who found him. Until my magical training is complete, I’m not leaving his side.”

Director Chen sighed. “I am grateful you recovered Lord Iannis safely, and I’ll even apologize for not taking you along on the rescue mission, as you had requested. But I am now thinking of Lord Iannis’s best interests, as you should be too. Rumors are spreading throughout the city that the two of you are lovers, and they will only be exacerbated the more often you two are seen together in public.”

“T-that’s ridiculous,” I sputtered, heat rising to my cheeks. “We’re not lovers.” Kisses don’t count, I reminded myself firmly. Sure, they’d been some of the hottest, most erotic kisses I’d ever experienced, but they were still kisses. No actual lovemaking had ensued. Yet.