Jonathan Moeller - The Ghosts 06 - Ghost in the Forge Read online

  “If they have such power,” said Caina, “why do they not rule the world?”

  “Apparently they have no interest in it,” said Halfdan. “The Masked Ones study the arcane sciences and little else. They ignore the outside world, but if threatened, they respond with deadly force. Both Old Kyrace and Anshan tried to conquer Catekharon. Both were utterly defeated. The Anshani were defeated so badly that they suffered seventy years of civil war afterward.”

  Something clicked in Caina’s head.

  “That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” said Caina.

  Claudia frowned. “How could you possibly know that? He hasn’t said anything yet!”

  Halfdan lifted a hand. “Go on.”

  “You’re here,” said Caina, “because the Masked Ones have done something to the outside world, something that threatens the Empire. You have too many duties to come this far south otherwise.”

  “You’re right,” said Halfdan. “A few days after you left Malarae, an embassy from Catekharon arrived before the Emperor. We also know the Masked Ones sent embassies to the Shahenshah of Anshan, the Padishah of Istarinmul, the Assembly of New Kyre, and numerous others.”

  “What did the embassies say?” said Theodosia.

  “They said,” said Halfdan, “that the Scholae of Catekharon had created a weapon of sorcery. A weapon so powerful, so potent, that it would grant its bearer dominion over the entire world.”

  “And they demanded that the Empire submit to Catekharon, I suppose?” said Corvalis.

  “Not at all,” said Halfdan. “The embassy said the Masked Ones would sell the weapon to the highest bidder.”

  Silence answered him.

  “That,” said Caina at last, “is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. If they had such a weapon, why would they sell it? Why not use it themselves? Or if they want to be left alone to study sorcery, why not keep the weapon a secret and use it if they are attacked? No one in their right mind would sell it.” She shook her head. “This has to be a trick of some sort.”

  “I agree,” said Halfdan. “But I do not know the nature of the game. And there is the remote possibility that they are telling the truth. That they do indeed possess such a weapon, and are unworldly and foolish enough to sell it.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “All this…and then you are attacked by a Masked One on the street.”

  “A coincidence, perhaps,” said Claudia.

  Caina laughed. “A coincidence means only there is an underlying pattern that we cannot yet see.”

  “Precisely,” said Halfdan. “The Emperor has sent Lord Titus Iconias to act as his ambassador to the Catekhari. Our ships came into the harbor this morning. Tomorrow he will take the Great Western Caravan Road to Catekharon, and we will accompany him.”

  “We?” said Theodosia. “Basil, you know that desert air is dreadful to my skin.”

  “You’re going back to Malarae with Lord Corbould,” said Halfdan. “And you’ll take Nicasia with you. Bringing a girl possessed by an earth elemental into a city full of sorcerers is a poor idea.” He looked at Caina. “You, Corvalis, and Claudia will accompany me to Catekharon, and together we will get to the bottom of this.”

  “Why take me?” said Caina. “I’ve never been to Catekharon, and I don’t know the language.”

  “That hardly matters,” said Halfdan. “Catekhari is a form of Maatish, and the Masked Ones use it as a formal language. Most of the Catekhari speak either Anshani or Kyracian, and you know both of those. But you have a more important skill. You can sense the presence of sorcery, and that will prove invaluable.” He looked at Claudia. “You are a trained magus, and your expertise will be useful.” Claudia nodded, and Halfdan’s gaze shifted to Corvalis. “And if we need someone killed…I suspect you shall be capable.”

  Corvalis nodded.

  “Though if I might ask, Basil,” said Theodosia, “why bother at all? Marina is right. The entire business sounds preposterous.”

  “Because,” said Halfdan, “the Emperor does not want the weapon, if it exists, to fall into the hands of the Kyracians or the Istarish. The war is a stalemate. Right now, the Kyracians cannot defeat the Legions upon land. But neither can we defeat the Kyracians at sea.” He shook his head. “Kylon Shipbreaker has made quite a name for himself.”

  “Kylon?” said Caina. “You mean Kylon of House Kardamnos?”

  “Aye,” said Halfdan. “You’ve met, I recall? The Assembly and Archons of New Kyre named him thalarchon of their western fleet. He’s won victory over victory over the Emperor’s warships.”

  Caina remembered Kylon well. He had come within a hairsbreadth of killing her, and she had almost slain him. When she had last seen him, he had been crushed by the knowledge that his sister Andromache had been a disciple of the Moroaica, that she had engineered New Kyre’s war with the Empire to seize the power in the Tomb of Scorikhon. She had wondered how Kylon would respond to that betrayal.

  Apparently, he would deal with the guilt by winning the war his sister had started.

  “That is our task,” said Halfdan. “We will leave tomorrow.”

  Caina saw Halfdan’s plan well enough. They would go south to discover whatever the Masked Ones had in mind…and the journey would also give him an opportunity to test Corvalis and Claudia.

  To see if they truly intended to join the Ghosts.

  She was sure about Corvalis. But she was not so certain about Claudia. She knew how much the Magisterium hated the Ghosts. Of course, Claudia had spent the last year trapped as a living statue, and claimed that her father had turned against her. But if it was a trick, if Corvalis had only seduced her to get a spy into the Ghosts…

  The thought hurt more than she had expected.

  No, she could not think like that.

  “Very well,” said Corvalis. “If I am to work for the Ghosts, I suppose you shall be my Elder.”

  “Gods!” said Halfdan. “Don’t compare me to a Kindred Elder.” He laughed. “Especially after what you did to the Elder of Cyrioch.”

  Corvalis grinned. “I mean only that I shall follow your commands.”

  “Smart lad,” said Halfdan.

  “And I, too, shall obey you, Master Basil,” said Claudia.

  “As wise as you are lovely, my dear,” said Halfdan. “Marina, Theodosia. Join me for a moment, please.”

  He walked to the balcony, and Caina and Theodosia followed him. Below them the Plaza of the Defender bustled with activity, the Cyricans in their bright robes moving from shop to shop. Crowds went past the white stone statue of the armored warrior in the center of the square, the statue that gave the Plaza its name. Caina wondered how the Cyricans would react if they knew the elemental spirit that had once inhabited the statue now resided in the flesh of a former slave girl.

  Halfdan closed the doors behind them.

  “They’ll know,” said Theodosia, “that we’re talking about them.”

  “I hope so,” said Halfdan. “I prefer not to recruit idiots. What do you think?”

  “Corvalis is telling the truth,” said Theodosia. “He put himself through hell to save his sister from Ranarius.” She glanced at Caina. “And he has…other reasons to remain loyal to the Ghosts.”

  “Ranarius,” said Halfdan. “You did well, killing him.”

  “The Defender killed him,” said Caina, “not me.”

  “Regardless,” said Halfdan, “he has been a foe of the Ghosts for years. We are well rid of him. What do you think of the woman?”

  “Claudia?” said Caina. “Corvalis…says she has a good heart.”

  “He would say that,” said Theodosia. “Frankly, I’m not certain what to make of her. She’s kindly, true…but it is a patronizing sort of kindness. She’s arrogant. Her experience with her father has shaken her, but she truly believes that those with arcane talent are a higher order of men, that they have the duty to shepherd and guide the commoners.”

  “And many of the most tyrannical magi,” said Halfdan, “have said the exac
t same thing. The First Magus would claim as much.”

  “Aye,” said Theodosia. “And Corvalis loves her. He’ll do whatever she asks of him. Including, if necessary, betraying the Ghosts.”

  “What do you think?” said Halfdan to Caina. “As we’ve often noticed, you have a knack for observing things.”

  “I think that Theodosia is right,” said Caina. She took a deep breath. “And there is something else you should know.” She would not keep it secret from Halfdan and Theodosia. She trusted them more than she trusted anyone. “I took Corvalis into my bed.”

  Theodosia grinned and gave a little exclamation of delight.

  “Oh, my dear child,” she said. “It is well past time. And he is very handsome, is he not? A bit more ruthless than I would have preferred for you, but a soft man is no use to anyone…”

  “It is,” said Halfdan, “certainly a point in his favor. You are not a fool, Caina. I trust your judgment.” A sad smile flickered over his face. “You have made yourself into a weapon in the service of the Ghosts. But that doesn’t mean you should deny yourself what joy you can find.”

  “But do be careful,” said Theodosia. “The heart has a way of running away with the head.”

  “I remember,” said Caina, thinking of Alastair Corus.

  Of how her father had given her mother one last chance…and that last chance had led to his death.

  “Well,” said Theodosia, “if I am to leave for Malarae on the morrow, I have preparations to make.”

  “As do I,” said Caina.

  “Go and make them,” said Halfdan. “I am traveling as Basil Callenius, and you will masquerade as my daughter Anna.” He looked at the Plaza. “Oh, and send Corvalis out, will you? I would like a word with him.”

  Chapter 3 - A Ghost Nightfighter

  Corvalis Aberon stepped onto the balcony, closing the doors behind him.

  His mind noted took in the details. He saw the crowds going about their business below. Basil Callenius stood with one hand on the railing, his face betraying nothing of his thoughts. He wore a short sword and a dagger at his belt, but Corvalis was certain the Ghost circlemaster had other weapons hidden.

  His instincts worked out different ways to kill Basil. Best to wait until the conversation had begun, stun him with a blow to the neck, and heave him over the railing…

  With an effort, Corvalis forced aside the thoughts.

  The Kindred had trained him to be an assassin, and even though he had left their brotherhood behind, the skills and mindset they had forced upon him remained.

  Basil smiled. “I am pleased you decided not to kill me.”

  He was perceptive. Of course, he was a Ghost circlemaster.

  Corvalis shrugged. “Caina would have taken it amiss.”

  She loved Basil, Corvalis was sure of that. Since the magi had murdered her father, Basil seemed to have become a surrogate father of sorts for her.

  “Yes, Caina,” said Basil. “Theodosia told an interesting story of how you came to join the Ghosts. How much of it was true?”

  “All of it,” said Corvalis.

  Basil raised an eyebrow.

  “You’ve caught me,” said Corvalis. “My father had Claudia turned to stone and sent me to save her so I could infiltrate the Ghosts. But you have unraveled our brilliant scheme.”

  “That,” said Basil, “is not as farfetched as you might think. The Magisterium tried some bold plots in the past. The First Magus would kill every last one of us if he could.”

  Corvalis offered a bleak smile. “He tried to kill me, and I am still here.”

  Basil said nothing.

  “What do you want me to say?” said Corvalis. “I am what I am. My father sold me to the Kindred, and they turned me into a killer. I’m good at it.”

  “What changed?” said Basil. “Why join the Ghosts?”

  “Claudia,” said Corvalis.

  “She asked you to leave the Kindred?” said Basil.

  “Not like that,” said Corvalis. He still remembered it, years later. “We were close as children. We had the same mother, one of the First Magus’s favorite mistresses. When I met Claudia again, I thought our father would have twisted her into a monster. Like he did with me.” He shook his head. “Instead…she had not changed. She wanted to use her powers to help people, to make their lives easier, not to rule over them. Talking to her, telling her about the things I had done, I…”

  “She awoke your conscience,” said Basil.

  “Yes,” said Corvalis. “She saw what the Magisterium really was. What kind of man our father really is. She decided to abandon the Magisterium and leave the Empire, and convinced me to go with her.”

  “And to punish you,” said Basil, “your father had Ranarius turn your sister to stone.”

  “Aye,” said Corvalis. “Then he tried to have me killed. I had to go into hiding for a year.”

  “Where, I assume,” said Basil, “you acquired those useful tattoos. How did you get them, by the way? The Ulkaari witchfinders are notoriously secretive.”

  “I helped them track down a demon,” said Corvalis. “Once I had the tattoos, I stole Claudia from the Magisterium’s motherhouse in Artifel, pursued Ranarius to Cyrioch…and you know the rest.”

  “Indeed,” said Basil.

  He fell silent, his fingers tapping on the railing.

  “As much as I enjoy suspense,” said Corvalis, “are you going to kill me?”

  “What? No.” Basil laughed. “You’re twenty years my junior and a trained Kindred assassin. I doubt I could kill you.”

  “Nevertheless,” said Corvalis, “if you want me dead, I suspect it will happen.”

  “True,” said Basil without rancor. “But that may not be necessary.”

  “May?” said Corvalis.

  “You will make an excellent Ghost nightfighter,” said Basil. “The Ghosts always have need of talent, and finding a man of your skills is a boon. We have no end of work for you, and we can keep you near Caina. Which, I think, you will prefer.”

  Corvalis gave a cautious nod. “But I suspect there is a caveat.”

  “Indeed,” said Basil. “What do you want?”

  Corvalis blinked. “I don’t understand.”

  “You were content to be a killer,” said Basil. “Then Claudia awoke your conscience, and you devoted yourself to saving her. A remarkable feat – not many cross the First Magus and live to tell of it. But you saved her. So what now? What do you want?”

  Corvalis opened his mouth to answer…and found that he did not really know.

  Revenge, perhaps? He had dreamed of killing his father for years. But while he would not pass up the chance to kill Decius Aberon, he knew he could not live on revenge alone. Not forever.

  So what then? He could hardly open up a tavern or go into trade. Did he want wealth and power? He could win them easily enough, but the thought bored him. But he did like fighting. The Kindred had given him skills, and as much as he loathed the Kindred, he enjoyed using those skills, enjoyed the challenge. Before he had used his skills to kill the enemies of the Magisterium. Then he had seen how Caina used her wits and skills to save Cyrioch from destruction.

  The thought of using his skills for a good end…yes, he wanted that very much.

  And he wanted Caina.

  Perhaps he could have both.

  “I want,” said Corvalis at last, “to make the Magisterium howl.”

  “Ah,” said Basil. “Revenge, then.”

  “But only a little,” said Corvalis. “This is a peculiar thing to admit, but Caina has shown me the work the Ghosts do. I find I can support it with an enthusiasm I never had for the Kindred.”

  “Not so strange,” said Basil. “I have seen it before. You are a fighter, Corvalis, and a man can be a fighter for a bad cause or a good cause. And a man who has fought in a bad cause can be pleasantly surprised how much he enjoys fighting for a good cause.”

  “I suppose you are right,” said Corvalis.

  “I am,” s
aid Basil. “Will your sister accept that?”

  “Claudia?” said Corvalis. “She sees her sorcery as a gift, not a right. She wants to use it to help people. She convinced me to turn my back on the Magisterium, once she understood the sort of man my father was.”

  “Will she do what is necessary?” said Basil. “Will she use her power to protect and defend, whatever the cost?”

  “I think so,” said Corvalis. “Though I hope it will not come to that. I am a killer, Basil Callenius, but she is not. I have never seen her use her spells in anger.” He shrugged. “I think she would be hard-pressed to harm a mouse. If not, Ranarius and the Defender would not have overpowered her so easily.”

  “As I thought. Thank you, Corvalis,” said Basil. “Lord Titus Iconias is traveling south in a caravan tomorrow, and we shall leave with him. I think we will disguise you as Cormark, a Caerish mercenary working for me as a guard.”

  “A master merchant of the jewelers’ collegium requires guards,” said Corvalis. “I can pull off the masquerade easily enough.”

  “Good,” said Basil. “Equip yourself with whatever you shall need. If you need any coin, Theodosia will provide it.”

  He gazed into the Plaza, towards the Palace of Splendors atop the white bulk of the Stone.

  “That’s all?” said Corvalis.

  “Did you expect something else?” said Basil, raising an eyebrow.

  “In all candor, yes,” said Corvalis. “Caina trusts you as much as anyone…and I cannot image you would be pleased that she took a former Kindred assassin into her bed.”

  Basil shrugged. “Caina is no fool. Young women can be swept away in a tide of emotion, true…but I do not think she is one of them. Frankly, I am more relieved than anything else. There has been great pain in her life, and her mood has been…grim since the attack on Marsis. And it is a point in your favor that she would choose you.”

  “Thank you,” said Corvalis. “So this isn’t the conversation where you promise to cut off my head if I hurt her in any way?”