Chapter 7 #2
“Our objective is to find and shut down the lab in Leniang Port as quickly and quietly as possible,” the Minister said.
“The mission is not without risk, as the Garaians can be very touchy about their sovereignty. Discretion is of the utmost importance—we do not wish to trigger a diplomatic incident, or worse, a war.”
“Certainly not,” Iannis agreed. “A war with Garai would be devastating for both countries. And we want to keep our lucrative trade with them intact.”
“There is another complication,” Toring said, his expression growing serious.
“After learning about the gunrunning problem, the Minister and I sent a team of highly trained and powerful mages into Leniang Port to deal with the matter directly. We did not discover the lab’s existence until we questioned the doctors from Osero, but managed to transmit the information to the team while they were still en route.
” His words were for Director Chen and I, and I kept my face neutral so I would not betray more foreknowledge.
Iannis had already told me about the gunrunning issue, though Toring obviously assumed he wouldn’t have bothered my pretty little head with such details.
“We lost contact with them awhile ago, after they had faithfully reported in every other night with a special long-range magitech device.”
“Where were they when they last reported in?” Chen asked.
“They had just arrived in Leniang Port,” Director Toring said. “We have not heard from them for nearly ten days now, so we can only assume that they have been captured or killed, or that they have betrayed us. The latter seems unlikely—they are experienced operatives, handpicked by myself.”
“Then it’s possible that the lab has been forewarned, and that they might have even relocated now that they know we’re onto them,” I pointed out.
“Yes, unfortunately.” Toring’s face was expressionless, but I sensed this was a sore topic for him. It would be for me, too, if I’d sent in a team only to have my mission backfire so badly.
“I surmise that you have not involved the local or national authorities?” Chen asked, her face lined with tension.
“We considered it, but decided not to involve the Garaian authorities, precisely because the problem is in Leniang port,” the Minister said.
“We fear that the local warlords, who are thoroughly corrupt, would try to get their hands on the disease-causing substances and use them to blackmail everyone else. That, or use them against Garai’s enemies, some of which are our allies.
And if it ever leaked out that those substances were created by scientists from the Northia Federation, our reputation could be damaged irreparably. ”
“I see your point,” Chen said, sounding resigned. “I suppose this is why I was not aware of any of this. But I’m glad to know and will do anything to help. I have family living in that area, and would not want my younger sister or her children endangered.”
“She lives in Leniang City?” Director Toring asked with interest. “Are you close? Will she be willing to help?”
“I have not seen Asu for twenty years, since before she was married,” Chen said. “But Garaian families have strong ties, and I am the elder. She will do what she can.”
“We are counting on those familial ties to help us with our mission,” the Minister said, smiling. “Which is another reason why I am appointing Lord Iannis as the leader of this mission, since you work for him.”
“Thank you, sir,” Iannis said, not sounding the least bit surprised. Had he expected this? He was the logical choice, so I supposed he would have prepared himself for the possibility.
“Minister, with all due respect, I must protest,” Toring said, and the stiffness in his voice made it clear that he had not expected this decision. “I am the Director of Federal Security, after all, and my department provided both the airship and the pilot.”
“That is true,” the Minister acknowledged.
“However, your experience with international affairs is not comparable to that of Lord Iannis and Director Chen. Before Lord Iannis came to Northia, he spent a good bit of time in Garai, amongst other countries. Isn’t that right? ” he asked, turning toward Iannis.
“It is,” Iannis agreed, inclining his head. “I speak the northern dialect quite well, and am familiar with many Garaian customs. However, I have not traveled much in the south, which is where Director Chen’s experience will come in.”
“That is all very well,” Toring interjected, “but what about your young fiancée and apprentice?” His cold gaze flicked briefly toward me, and I clenched my fists beneath the table at the disdain in his eyes.
“I understand you do not wish to be separated from Miss Baine for months—she is, after all, very pretty—but this is not the sort of mission where one takes a lover along.” Noting the dangerous glint in Iannis’s eyes, he hastily amended, “An apprentice, I meant to say.”
“This is not up for debate,” the Minister said firmly, saving me from firing off a scathing response.
How dare that pompous bastard try to shut me out!
And how were we supposed to work together with this oaf?
It was a good thing he hadn’t been put in charge, or I would have refused to go.
Iannis’s fingers found mine beneath the table, and he squeezed my hand—a show of solidarity as well as a warning to hold my temper in check.
“I already put Lord Iannis in charge of the mission, and he is free to bring along whomever he deems essential. If that includes Miss Baine, then so be it.” It was obvious from the Minister’s tone that he wasn’t convinced I was needed either, and I gritted my teeth.
Zavian Graning had made it clear the last time I’d been to Dara that he did not hold me in high regard.
But Iannis made no bones about the fact that he wouldn’t allow the Minister to intimidate or bully me, and it looked like the Minister was taking that to heart.
Whatever, I thought as I finished the last of my meal. The Minister and his Director of Federal Security could think what they wanted. I would use this opportunity to prove them so wrong, they would be begging me for help the next time they needed us to go on another mission.
In the meantime, though, I had to put up with these guys for several weeks, no, months. And, boy, was I not looking forward to that.