Jonathan Moeller - The Ghosts 08 - Ghost in the Mask (28 page)

Caina nodded. “Good.”

Talekhris raised an eyebrow. “Is it?”

“I hope to assault her camp tonight,” said Caina, “with the help of the Order and of Lord Martin’s militia. And with the help of your sorcery. Maena is powerful, and she has Sicarion with her.” She told him her suspicions of the Ascendant Bloodcrystal, of a Great Necromancer lurking in the hills. “If we kill Maena, likely Anashir and Rhames will come to blows. And then we can destroy the victor while he is weakened, and ensure no one ever claims the crystal.” 

“Very well,” said Talekhris. “The men of the Order will assist you, as will I.” He shook his head. “If Maena was desperate enough to launch an attack upon the town, the gods only know what she might attempt next. The sooner we keep her from reaching the Ascendant Bloodcrystal, the better. I will…”

“Hold!”

A column of militiamen marched down the street, spears and shields in hand. Lord Martin Dorius strode at their head, his expression grim beneath his plumed helm. He stopped a few paces away and raised his hand, and the militiamen came to a halt behind him. Most of the men looked terrified.

“Lord Governor,” said Caina.

“Mistress Rania,” said Martin. His eyes turned to Claudia, and his expression softened, though not by very much. “Mistress Claudia.” He looked back at Caina. “We need to have words, the two of us. Immediately.”

Chapter 20 - The Ultimatum

Caina led the way into Komnene’s shop, and Martin followed her.

Claudia walked after them, her heart hammering. She felt faint from the amount of arcane power she had expended during the fight, though her strength was beginning to come back. Martin pulled off his helmet and tucked it under one arm, his expression grim with anger.

“At least a hundred and fifty people are dead,” he said. “Likely more. Those damned shadows or wraiths or whatever they are swarmed through the northern wall. We had no weapons that could touch them. Fortunately, they didn’t seem interested in my militiamen or the townsmen. If anyone got in their way, they killed with a single touch…but they seemed to have a single goal. The shop of Mistress Komnene.”

“I’m sorry,” said Caina. 

“Why?” said Martin, slamming one hand against a table. Claudia jumped a bit at the noise. “Why? One hundred and fifty people, Mistress Rania. What am I to tell their families? That they died in a quarrel between sorcerers?”

Caina’s expression gave away nothing. “I am sorry that those men and women died, Lord Martin. But, yes, that is correct. They died in a quarrel between sorcerers.” 

Martin scowled. “Was this in reprisal for our trick with the plague?”

“Possibly,” said Caina. “We annoyed Maena, and she wants me dead quite badly.” 

“So then I have the Magisterium waging war against a renegade in my province,” said Martin, “and the people under my protection are dying.” 

“Their blood is upon Maena’s hands,” said Caina.

“And yours, magus,” said Martin. “If you had warned me this might happen…”

“I did not know this might happen,” said Caina. “I knew Maena was unstable and reckless, but I did not think she would try anything like this, not when she was so close to her goal. I did not even think she had the power to command Dust Shades, though it should have been obvious in hindsight.”

“Yes, our errors are always obvious in hindsight, are they not?” said Martin. “A hundred and fifty dead. Pity we did not think of a way to prevent that.”

“Yes, it is,” said Caina. “But more people, many more people, are going to die if we do not…”

“What use have you been, Rania Scorneus?” said Martin. “You said you would help me against Maena and Anashir. Instead you have accomplished exactly nothing, and gotten over a hundred people killed in the process.”

“If we do not…”

“Enough,” said Martin, his voice weary. “Rania Scorneus, by my authority as Lord Governor of Caeria Ulterior, I hereby banish you from the province. You and your retainers are to depart Calvarium immediately. If you are found anywhere within Caeria Ulterior after five days, I will have you arrested.”

For a long moment Caina said nothing, and Claudia wondered if she intended to kill the Lord Governor.

“Very well,” said Caina at last. She turned towards the door.

“Wait!” said Claudia. 

Martin looked at her, and Caina stopped.

“Perhaps it is time to tell the truth,” said Claudia.

“I have already told the Lord Governor everything he needs to know, and he has made his decision,” said Caina in the cold voice of Rania, a dangerous glint in her eyes. For a moment Claudia quailed, remembering the near disaster in Catekharon when she had relied upon her own judgment. But those damned Dust Shades had killed too many people, and many more might perish if the Moroaica and Maena took the Ascendant Bloodcrystal.

Claudia did not want any more deaths upon her conscience. And she believed that Martin was a good man, that he would do the right thing. 

“She’s not really a magus,” said Claudia before her courage failed. “She’s a Ghost, like I am.” Caina’s eyes narrowed. “Mistress Komnene wrote letters to the high circlemasters in Malarae, asking them for help against the cult of Anubankh and Anashir and Maena.”

Martin blinked. “Is this true?”

Caina sighed. “It is. I am no more a magus than I am the Emperor.” 

“But the penalty…do you know what the Magisterium does to those who impersonate a magus?” said Martin.

“I’ve heard, yes,” said Caina. “It’s not pleasant.”

“Yet you did it anyway?” said Martin. “Why?”

“Because it is necessary,” said Caina. “You saw what happened today, my lord Martin. Over a hundred and fifty people dead at the hands of the Dust Shades. But it could have been worse, much worse. I told you about the attack in Malarae, and the Dust Shades killed many people in New Kyre.”

Martin nodded. “Which is why Lord Milartes is really here, I suppose.” 

“Yes,” said Caina. “Please don’t have him executed as a spy. He’s been quite helpful. But listen to me. Those attacks in New Kyre and Malarae, the attack here…that is why I came to Calvarium. Do you know what an Ascendant Bloodcrystal is?”

Martin shook his head. “I’m sure I’ve heard but the term, but I am neither a scholar nor a sorcerer.” He snorted. “Nor a Ghost.” 

“It is a weapon of sorcery from the Fourth Empire,” said Caina. “When used, it will kill every man, woman, and child within five hundred miles. That, incidentally, is what happened to Caer Magia. The magi created the weapon, and accidentally destroyed themselves.”

“Which is why death comes to those who enter Caer Magia,” said Martin. “The weapon is still active.”

“You see keenly,” said Caina. “Maena and Anashir both want to claim the weapon for themselves, and a necromancer of great power commands the cultists of Anubankh, dreaming of taking the bloodcrystal and using it to rebuild the Kingdom of the Rising Sun. And that, my lord, is why I have come to Calvarium, and why I lied to you about my identity. People have died, yes. But many more, more than any man could count, will die if Maena or Anashir or the cultists lay hands upon the Ascendant Bloodcrystal.”

“And you came to stop them,” said Martin.

“I didn’t realize what was truly inside Caer Magia, not at first,” said Caina. “But once I did…my lord, I shall be blunt. If you expel Rania Scorneus from the province, I shall simply take a new disguise and remain. The stakes are far too high.”

Martin shrugged. “How could I expel Rania Scorneus, given that she is not really here? I pray that you never met her in the flesh, Ghost. I imagine a magus will not be pleased to have her identity stolen by a spy.”

“The Ghosts and the magi have been enemies for centuries,” said Caina. 

“Indeed.” Martin looked out the ruined door, at the militiamen and the others waiting in the street. “Why are you telling me this? Entrusting me with your secrets?”

Caina gave Claudia a cold look. “I had no wish to tell you any of it.”

Claudia took a deep breath. “Because you are a good man.”

Martin looked away from the street. “What did you say?”

“Because you are a good man,” said Claudia. “I know I am a failure, and I know you think yourself one, but you are wrong. You said Legionaries died because you defied Conn Maraeus’s commands.”

“They did,” said Martin, “and that certainly does not make me a good man.”

“Don’t you see?” said Claudia. “You defied the commands because you thought they were wrong. Not to seize glory for yourself, or to undercut Lord Conn or Lord Corbould. You did what you thought was right, and you accepted the consequences without complaint.”

Martin said nothing. 

Claudia stepped closer. “And here are some of the consequences, my lord. Lord Corbould thought to give you an unimportant position…but it’s not. There is a weapon in Caer Magia that could kill half the world, and it’s about to fall into the hands of someone like Maena Tulvius. Countless people might die, the entire Empire might fall, and those lives are in your hands.”

“You exaggerate,” said Martin.

“She does not,” said Caina. “You saw what a few hundred Dust Shades could do. Imagine a million of them covering the land like a storm. Or everyone living in the Imperial capital dropping dead in the space between two heartbeats. That is within the power of the Ascendant Bloodcrystal.”

“My lord,” said Claudia, “I know you are an honorable man. I know you will not turn from your responsibilities, even when those responsibilities are thrust unfairly upon you. And right now, you find yourself with the lives of the entire Empire in your hands.”

Martin sighed and gazed at the ceiling.

“You think too highly of me, Claudia Aberon,” said Martin. “Too highly by far. But I would not wish to disappoint you.” He turned to Caina. “I assume you have some sort of plan? The Ghosts usually do.”

Claudia felt some of the tension in her belly loosen. Martin would not turn his back upon them.

“Yes,” said Caina. “Tonight, we are going to assault Maena’s camp. She is the closest one to retrieving the bloodcrystal. My hope is that by removing her, Anashir and the cultists will turn on each other. Then we can fall upon the victor and keep anyone from taking the crystal.”

“And the attack upon Calvarium demands retribution,” said Martin. “I assume you want my help?”

“If you are willing to grant it,” said Caina. 

“I am,” said Martin. “If Lady Maena is responsible for the deaths in Calvarium, then she must be brought to account. We shall give her once chance to surrender and face the magistrate. If she refuses, we shall regard her as an outlaw and fugitive from justice…and act accordingly.” 

“Thank you,” said Caina. 

“You have a way to counter her sorcery, I trust?” said Martin. “If she can command so many Dust Shades, she is clearly a powerful sorceress. I have a magus assigned to Calvarium, a man named Oberon Ryther, but he is utterly useless. The man barricaded himself in his room when the alarm went out.”

“I have some sorcery,” said Claudia, “though I am no match for Maena. I am willing to help fight.”

She hated fighting, hated seeing men suffer and die in combat. Caina and Corvalis were hard and strong, capable of dealing with the stress. Claudia just wanted to find a corner and cry after a fight. Or perhaps Caina and Corvalis did, too, and were just better at hiding it.

“And we have other aid,” said Caina. “Maena is a disciple of a more powerful sorceress called the Moroaica, and the Moroaica has many enemies. They will help counter her sorcery.”

“So be it,” said Martin. “I will summon the town’s militia, and we will gather at the northern gate by sundown.”

Caina nodded. “I will have our allies join us there.”

“Very good,” said Martin. He looked at Claudia. “I hope, my lady, that your confidence in me is well-founded…as if your confidence in the Ghosts.”

He walked out of the ruined door, pulling his helmet back on. A barked order later, the column of militiamen marched off, leaving Corvalis and Komnene and the others alone in the street.

Claudia licked her lips and looked at Caina. She expected the other woman to fly into a rage, but Caina only stared out the door, her expression distant. It was odd, Claudia mused. Caina was at least three or four years younger, but Claudia was terrified of her. 

She suspected that Caina had led a far harder life than hers. At least until recently, anyway.

“If you’re going to kill me,” said Claudia, “please don’t let Corvalis know about it.”

“I think he likes you,” said Caina. 

Of everything she might have said, Claudia had not expected that.

“What?” she said at last.

“He likes you,” said Caina. “Else he wouldn’t have listened to you. All that talk about being a good man, about duty and responsibility and the Empire…if I had said it, he would have ignored me. But he likes you, and coming from you, he’s more susceptible to such persuasion.”

Claudia’s fear melted into anger. “Susceptible?” She stepped forward, pointing. “That wasn’t just talk! It was the truth! He is a good man, and he doesn’t deserve to have this thrust upon him. I know you might be able to lie at will, but I can’t! Martin Dorius is an honorable man, and I meant every word!”

She saw Corvalis staring at her in alarm, and part of Claudia’s mind screamed that she had gone too far, that she had finally annoyed Caina too much. 

But Caina only grinned.

“Exactly,” said Caina. “That’s why he listened to you. No lie can ever be as effective as the truth.”

Claudia blinked in surprise. “Then…you’re not angry that I told him who you really are?”

“I am,” said Caina, “but how I feel is less important than the results we obtain. Right now we need Martin’s help against Maena. And if we live through this mess, he may be a helpful ally to the Ghosts in the future. Some lords openly support our work, and others offer aid in secret.”

“Oh,” said Claudia, relieved. She had expected rage from the younger woman.

“Claudia,” said Caina. “I know you’ve made errors in judgment in the past. But don’t let it paralyze you. I’ve made mistakes, grievous ones. Maybe someday I’ll tell you how I lost Nicolai to the Istarish slavers for two days. Or about Alastair Corus.”