Chapter 28
Outrageously enough, the Minister and his Secretaries refused to allow me to attend the interrogation.
I wasn’t even allowed to listen outside.
Iannis attempted to argue on my behalf, but the Minister was adamant – I wasn’t supposed to be here anyway, and he’d already extended enough “liberties” by allowing me into the Convention to attend the vote.
Now that he had his position back, Lord Zavian was rapidly reverting to type – the very kind of self-satisfied, rigid high mage that the Resistance wanted to overthrow.
Liberties, my ass, I seethed as the carriage took me back to the hotel. I wanted to take the liberty to punch the Minister right in his supercilious face. But that would probably get Iannis in trouble, so I’d tamped down on my rage and left the building as instructed.
When I got back to the hotel room, there was nobody there – the other delegates must have gone back to their own suite.
Tears sprang to my eyes now that nobody was around to see them, and I blinked rapidly before they started trickling down my cheeks.
It wasn’t fair. I’d rescued Iannis, we’d saved the Minister, and we’d captured Lord Cedris.
I should have been on top of the world, dancing and celebrating and feeling triumphant.
How was I supposed to exist in a world like this?
A world where all sides consistently shunned and belittled me?
How could I stand up for my ideals and fight for what was right, if the powers that be continued to stomp me into the ground every chance they got?
Fuck this, I thought angrily, shoving one of the couches against the wall.
I wasn’t going to languish in this stupid hotel suite feeling sorry for myself.
If I had to stay here and wait for Iannis, the least I could do was make good use of the space.
So I pushed all the living room furniture up against the walls, changed into a tank top and pants, and I did something I hadn’t had a chance to do in a long time.
I trained.
Training wasn’t so much about keeping in shape – my job as an enforcer, not to mention the grueling trip over the past week, did a good enough job at that – but about honing my skills and sharpening my focus.
Nevertheless, I worked through the usual strength and flexibility exercises before moving on to basic punches, kicks, rolls, and stances.
By the time I started on my first form, my bare arms were covered with a light sheen of sweat and most of the stress had drained from my body.
As I glided through the motions, striving for grace rather than power, my troubled thoughts drifted away, and Roanas filled my mind instead.
I could almost picture his tawny lion’s gaze watching me, and the sensation made me ache with sadness and happiness all at once.
I missed him more than words could convey, and there were many times I wished I could hop on my bike and ride over to his house so I could talk my cases over with him.
But even though I couldn’t visit Roanas at his home anymore, I could still draw comfort from my memories of him, and wrap them around myself in times of trouble.
Training was the perfect way to do that – with every kick and punch, every pivot and crouch, I could feel my mentor’s presence and encouragement almost as if he really were here with me.
By the time the door swung open, I was in the middle of my fourth form, so deeply focused that I didn’t even stop. I ducked an imaginary opponent from one end, then spun out of my crouch to crescent kick the one behind me, my foot whipping through the air at inhuman speed.
The sound of my flesh slapping against Iannis’s palm as he caught my foot jarred me from my trance-like state, and I jumped, then lost my balance. Thankfully Iannis let go of my leg and caught me around the waist before I toppled to the floor.
“I see you’ve done some redecorating,” he murmured, his violet eyes sparkling with amusement as he drew me closer.
“Yeah,” I said, my voice a little breathless – and not from the exertion. His chest was nearly touching mine, and the heat from his body felt good against my sweat-slicked skin. “I thought you’d appreciate it if I refrained from adding smashed furniture to your hotel bill.”
“Indeed,” Iannis agreed. He reached up and brushed a damp curl from my forehead. “I apologize for sending you back to the hotel, but I am glad you found an outlet for your frustration.”
“It’s alright.” I licked my lips as his fingers trailed fire across my skin. “I know that despite your ‘I’m all-powerful’ attitude, you can’t control everything.”
Iannis scoffed lightly. “I never said that I was all-powerful.”
“No, but you sure act like it most of the time.” Grinning, I danced out of his reach, not because I didn’t like him touching me but because I liked it a little too much.
Despite the fact that I’d thoroughly enjoyed the kiss he’d given me, I didn’t think it was a good idea to let him do it again after I’d given him an ultimatum.
If he wanted me, he was going to have to make a decision before I’d let him take any more liberties.
I just hoped he decided before I ran out of time.
“So, are you going to tell me about this interrogation?” I asked as I plopped down on one of the couches that I’d shoved against the wall. “I hope it’s not all bad news.”
“As a matter of fact, it’s not.” Iannis sat down on the opposite end of the couch, twisting his body sideways to face me and leaning an arm on top of the white upholstery. “Lord Cedris doesn’t know who the Benefactor is.”
I turned my head to scowl at him. “I thought you had good news.”
“He doesn’t know who the Benefactor is, but he admitted that someone did contact him about a month before the Convention with blackmail photographs of a rather sordid nature,” Iannis continued blithely.
“Professionally taken, too. This person would only communicate to him via post and parcel, but they basically promised him the position of Minister if he followed their instructions, and threatened to expose his indiscretions if he balked. If those photos had been published, Cedris would have had to resign from office and face trial by the Convention.”
“Huh.” I pressed my lips together as I absorbed that information. “Does that mean we’re supposed to forgive him or something?”
“Certainly not. He should have come to the Minister immediately with a full confession, and would have gotten off with a much lighter penalty. Instead he’s guilty of treason for his dealings with the Benefactor, since it’s clear his actions were benefitting the Resistance.
He knew about the planned attack on my dirigible, which is why he was so displeased when I arrived at the Convention after all.
The Benefactor must have reckoned that my presence would make it harder for Cedris to swing the vote, so they tried to eliminate me to ensure he would get the position.
Secretary Brung was being blackmailed for different reasons, and was told that the Minister would fall ill several days before any symptoms appeared.
It was between the two of them that they were able to isolate the Minister so effectively. ”
“By Magorah.” I shook my head at that. “If one of the Secretaries is capable of being blackmailed, then the Benefactor probably blackmailed or bribed additional delegates to help swing the vote.”
“I agree.” Iannis nodded. “Those who strongly campaigned on Cedris’s behalf are being rounded up and interrogated as well, since unsurprisingly none of them are coming forward.
The Minister is putting together a special task force to track down the Benefactor and eradicate the Resistance, and he’s asked me to be part of it. ”
I jerked. “And are you?”
“Of course.” Iannis frowned at my reaction. “How could I not? The Federation will never be safe until this madness is stopped.”
“I know, I know, it’s just that…” I scraped my hands through my hair and tried to figure out how to say this.
“What is it?” Iannis’s tone softened.
I lifted my gaze to his again. “It’s just that I know the Minister isn’t going to want me anywhere near this task force, and you’re going to be so busy there’s no way you’re going to have time to train me.” A lump formed in my throat.
“Ah, but that’s where you are wrong.” Iannis smiled.
“I told the Minister in no uncertain terms that you’ve been invaluable in uncovering all these conspiracies, and that if he wanted me on the task force you would be working with me.
” The smile turned into a smirk. “He said that since you’re my apprentice I can do whatever I want, but of course that was just his way of saving face while agreeing. ”
I laughed a little at the twinkle in his eye. “How clever of you.”
“Indeed.” His face grew serious again. “But whether or not he agreed, I already made a promise to you that I wouldn’t neglect your training again, Sunaya.
I will reduce your apprenticeship duties at the Mages Guild so that you have more time to focus on spellcasting and other lessons.
I suspect we will need the extra time as members of this new task force in any case. ”
“No kidding.” I bit my lip as another thought occurred to me. “Did Cedris or Brung say how the Minister caught the disease in the first place?”
“The Benefactor was in charge of the arrangements, so I assume he somehow made it happen. I just don’t understand how such a thing is possible without magic.” Iannis frowned.
“Perhaps that is why nobody else caught it from the Minister, if it’s supposed to be so contagious.
” My mind was spinning with the implications.
If the Benefactor could target specific enemies with common ailments, what prevented him from spreading some plague that killed only mages, or worse, only shifters?
“If I asked Noria or Elnos, I’m pretty sure they’d say it’s the power of human science and give me some fancy term or something that I can’t pronounce.
” I smiled a little, but my heart sank as I remembered the turmoil I’d left behind in Solantha.
Would Noria still be there, or had she run off to join the fight by now?
I hated the thought of us becoming enemies.
Was there any way I could warn her about the task force, without at the same time being disloyal to Iannis or helping the Resistance?
I needed to convince Rylan to get out as well, although I doubted he’d want to talk to me after learning I’d used his name to infiltrate a Resistance camp.
“You should pack your things,” Iannis said as he rose. “We’ll be leaving for Solantha in the evening.”
“Alright,” I said dully. I hopped off the couch and headed back to my own room, my heart heavy. Even though I’d accomplished what I’d set out to do here in Dara, I was dreading the idea of going home.