Scorched by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #7)(59)

Kardanor gave me a sheepish grin. “It’s not my face or form I’m worried about, Miss Baine, but my attire.” He gestured to his shabby clothing. “My house was damaged by the fire, and the few decent outfits I have here in the Palace positively reek of soot and dust, after all the rescue work. The senior mages here are always so elegant, not a hair out of place…” He trailed off as a dreamy look entered his eye, and it wasn’t at all hard for me to guess who he was thinking about. “Anyway, I hear I am to be mentioned in the Chief Mage’s speech, and I would prefer to look less shabby when every eye is on me, however briefly.”

“Wait a minute,” I said slowly, anger building inside me with each word that came out of his mouth. “Are you telling me that you’re living in poverty right now?”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Kardanor said quickly. “My home is still standing, if damaged, which is much better than most Maintown residents can say. But yes, I am just about broke now, because the bank where I keep my account has not yet reopened since the quake.”

“Well, we can’t have that,” I said briskly, standing. “I’ll have Nelia get you fitted today, and arrange for proper evening wear in time for the party. And I will make sure you are compensated for your time and hard work.”

“Oh, I don’t want to trouble you—” Kardanor began, shooting to his feet as I strode past him. “Have I offended you in any way?”

“Of course not.” I opened the door, then turned to smile at him. “I just remembered I have something I need to speak to Iannis about. Nelia will come to your rooms at three with a tailor in tow. We can’t have our favorite architect showing up for the reception in rags.”

I showed Kardanor out of my quarters, then strode off toward the Mages Guild in search of Iannis. By the time I reached the lobby, I was positively fuming. Dira glanced up as I stormed in, a startled look on her face, and asked if everything was all right. Ignoring her, I bulldozed straight through the small crowd milling about the lobby, following the tug from my serapha charm.

The door to the council room opened before I reached it, and the council members spilled into the hallway along with Iannis, Director Chen, and Cirin.

“Miss Baine,” Cirin said, starting at the sight of me. I could tell he was taken aback by my expression, as were Chen and Iannis. “Is everything all right?”

“I need to speak with you three,” I said tersely. “Immediately.”

“Very well,” Iannis said cautiously. “Please excuse us, Councilors.” He stepped past them, and they watched, wide-eyed, as the four of us filed into Iannis’s office.

As soon as the door was shut, I rounded on them. “Do you three realize,” I said in a deceptively calm voice, “that Kardanor, the very man who is responsible for saving thousands of our citizens, and who has worked tirelessly since I first brought him to the Palace to help with the earthquake plans, has not a coin to his name, nor a stitch of clothing beyond what is on his back? And that we have not thought to do anything about it?”

I turned my glare on Director Chen, who had worked with him the closest, and she recoiled. “Mr. Makis is welcome to as much gold as he needs,” she said. “I had no idea he was in such dire straits, or I would have offered him money myself.”

“He would never embarrass himself by asking you,” Iannis said. “He is a proud man, and an idealist—not one seeking material reward. And he fancies you, besides.”

Director Chen’s ivory cheeks turned an interesting shade of pink. “Well, then, how are we to help him if he will not accept our money?”

“We don’t have to give him charity,” I said. “Name him Secretary of Planning and Reconstruction, and give him a proper salary. Magorah knows he’s the most qualified person for the job, and there’s work enough to keep him busy for years to come.”

All three mages looked astonished by this idea, and began talking at once about how unprecedented it was. But Cirin pointed out that it was only custom, not law, that all secretaries be mages, and they agreed there was nobody else more qualified or motivated to take the position than Kardanor.

“He is already doing the job anyway,” Director Chen said. “He’s been going over plans with me to put in a better system that will ensure the building codes are not circumvented or ignored again, and I would be hard-pressed to find someone with more enthusiasm for the task. We may as well give him the title, as Sunaya suggests, and see that he is handsomely compensated for his hard work.”

“I will speak to him about it,” Iannis decided. “And if he is agreeable, I will announce the appointment at the reception.”

“Thank you.” I beamed, pleased with how quickly we’d come to a decision. Kardanor had saved all our asses, and he deserved way more than an honorable mention in Iannis’s speech.

“Should I also confirm Captain Skonel tomorrow night?” Iannis asked me. “I have not had much time to observe him, but he seems quite competent. In times like these, it would be best to have a permanent captain, rather than an acting one.”

“I have no objection to that,” I said. “He worked very hard to prevent looting during the aftermath of the quake. But we need to do a major overhaul on how the Guild is being run. There are some practices I’m not happy with that are causing a lot of discontent amongst the other enforcers.”