Jonathan Moeller - The Ghosts 09 - Ghost in the Surge (37 page)

“It was over forty years ago,” said Alexius. “The old Emperor was sick, and there was a great deal of upheaval over the choice of his successor. Some of my enemies sent the Kindred after my sister Rhoanna and I, and we fled to a vineyard in Caeria Superior. The owner of the vineyard was a scoundrel, but his young son was a dutiful lad, and Rhoanna charmed him. The owner of the vineyard sold us to the Kindred, but his son warned us and we fled. A few years later the Kindred killed my sister,” the grief of it echoed within him, even all these long years later, “but I was the new Emperor. The son of the vineyard owner came to me, and to repay him for my life, I gave him a place in the Ghosts. Halfdan served me ever since.”

“He told me that, once,” said Caina. “I didn’t think he was telling the truth.” 

“I grieved to hear of his death,” said Alexius, “and I am pleased you dealt out justice to his killer.” 

“You knew him longer than I did,” said Caina.

“I did,” said Alexius. He sighed. “And I trusted him as I trusted no other man. And he trusted you.”

Caina blinked, a glint of tears in her blue eyes. 

“He told me about you often,” said Alexius. “The barren girl who grew up, became a nightfighter, and saved my Empire. We never met before yesterday, Caina daughter of Sebastian, but I know a great deal about you. And I know I owe you a great debt.”

She regarded him in silence for a moment, and he saw the intelligence Halfdan had described in her.

“But you’re going to execute me anyway,” she said.

“I may have no choice,” said Alexius. “Corbould Maraeus is one of the most powerful lords in the Empire, and the Imperial Curia will probably elect one of his sons as my successor once I am dead. Lord Conn, most likely, after his victories in the Argamaz Desert. Yet if I fail to execute you for the murder of his son, Lord Corbould will withdraw his support from my throne. Though he would not do anything so crass as a rebellion.”

“But your rule would be severely weakened,” said Caina, “making civil war a real possibility. And a certainty after you die.”

Alexius nodded. “You understand.”

“Of course, you are the Emperor,” said Caina, “and you could merely pardon me. But it doesn’t work that way, does it?”

Alexius felt himself smile, impressed. She was as clever as Halfdan had said. “It does not. They say the Emperor is the most powerful man in the Empire, but often it does not work that way. I am like a custodian, trying to keep the lords and the merchants and the magi and the provinces from ripping each other apart.”

“Which is why the Ghosts are useful to you,” said Caina, “your unseen hand in keeping order.”

“Such as when you killed the Lord Governor of Rasadda, or exposed Amirzid Asurius,” said Alexius, “before they could cause revolts.” He sighed and rubbed his face. “I am glad you understand. I must do what is necessary to maintain peace in the Empire, no matter how grim. Because if I do not, the cost will be countless innocent lives.” 

“Which is why,” said Caina, “you are going to execute me.” 

She did not sound upset. Merely…indifferent. He could understand why. In the last three weeks, the man she had regarded as a second father and the man she loved had both been killed in front of her. In her current state of mind, she did not care about her own fate.

Alexius had felt that way, more than once. But he was the Emperor of Nighmar, and the burden of the Empire’s peace and security was upon his shoulders. He had no choice but to go forward.

“No,” said Alexius. “Instead, I am going to give you a choice.”

She blinked in surprise. Clearly, she had not expected that.

“First,” said Alexius, “if you wish, I will have you executed. You may have wearied of life, and I will not deny you the final rest, if that is what you wish.”

A flicker of amusement went over her tired face. “Hardly a compelling argument.”

“I thought not,” said Alexius. “I will be blunt. I do not believe you responsible for Aiodan Maraeus’s death, even if your hand dealt the blow. The blame rests with the renegade Ranarius, not with you. But Lord Corbould does not believe that. And Lord Aeolus thinks that you may have been twisted by the magi or the Moroaica, and he believes the safest course is to kill you. So I must take some action against you, which leads to the remaining three choices.”

“Which are?” said Caina.

“Exile from the Empire, and I expel you from the Ghosts,” said Alexis. She nodded without expression. “You could take up residence in New Kyre. Lord Kylon seems most grateful to you, and I am certain he would give you sanctuary.”

“Though that would cost him,” said Caina, “since the Assembly of New Kyre saw me try to kill you.”

“That was Sicarion,” said Alexius.

“If Sicarion convinced Lord Corbould,” said Caina, “I am sure his illusion convinced some of the lords of the Assembly.”

“That leads to the third choice I am able to offer you,” said Alexius.

“Which is?”

“Exile, but you remain in the Ghosts, and are banished to Istarinmul,” said Alexius.

She frowned. “Istarinmul? Why?” 

“The Ghost circle in Istarinmul was destroyed by the Kindred during the war,” said Alexius, “and we need to rebuild it. I would send you alone to Istarinmul, with a sum of money, in whatever disguise you choose to employ. Then you could assemble a new Ghost circle in Istarinmul as you saw fit.”

Caina shook her head. “I’ve never been to Istarinmul. I speak the language, but I know little of the city.”

“The fourth choice is that I fake your death, give you a sum of money, and allow you to go and do as you please,” said Alexius. “To reinvent your life in whatever form you wish, so long as you leave both Malarae and the Ghosts. But,” he considered for a moment, “from what Halfdan told me of you, I think you might find that intolerable. You are a fighter, and would grow restless if idle.”

“I was ready to stop,” said Caina. “I was going to settle down in Malarae with Corvalis, and run the House of Kularus…”

Her voice broke, and she scowled and looked at the ceiling, rubbing at her eyes. 

“But we don’t get what we want, do we?” she said at last. “We never get what we want.”

“Sometimes not,” said Alexius. “What I want is to pardon you and give you a title at my court, for you saved both my Empire and the world. But since that is not within my power, I instead offer you these four choices. Death, exile, a Ghost circle, or a new life and identity in whatever shape you wish. Which will you choose?”

“The star is the key to the crystal,” said Caina. “Do you know what that means?”

“I fear not,” said Alexius, puzzled. “Is it from a poem? A song, perhaps?”

“I know not,” said Caina. 

“A matter for another time, then,” said Alexius. “A more immediate matter. Which do you choose?”

She bowed her head for a moment, and then told him.

Chapter 27 - Closed Circle

The next day, the Imperial Guards walked Caina to the vast harbor of New Kyre, to where the merchant ship waited to take her to Istarinmul. 

Her head and heart felt as if they were full of broken glass shards, ready to cut at the slightest touch. She wanted to lie down and sleep forever. She wanted Corvalis, she wanted to hear Halfdan launch into one of his interminable lectures about wine. 

Instead she walked between the Imperial Guards, her pack swaying against her back. She wore again the disguise of a caravan guard, a wandering mercenary traveling to Istarinmul in search of his fortune.

And when she arrived…then she would see.

Her mind whispered that it was not too late, that she could return to the Emperor and ask for death. She had looked into the gate to the realm beyond, and she knew that Corvalis and Halfdan and all the others awaited her beyond the threshold.

But she was not ready to lie down and die just yet. 

They reached the quay, the massive statues of the ashtairoi rising in the distance, and Caina blinked in surprise.

A crowd awaited her.

“My dear girl,” said Theodosia, “did you really think you could sneak off unnoticed?”

Caina made herself smile. “I had little choice in the matter.” 

And then, despite herself, she smiled in truth.

Ark stood next to Theodosia, and so did Kylon and Thalastre. Lord Martin waited next to Ark, solemn in the black coat of a Nighmarian nobleman.

“This isn’t just,” said Ark. “I owe Lord Corbould a great deal, but this is not justice.”

“It is necessary,” said Caina. “Perhaps it is for the best. I did kill Aiodan Maraeus, even if he was possessed at the time.” 

Ark growled. “You saved my wife. You save my son, twice. And if not for you, those damned living corpses would have filled the world.”

“Corvalis and the Sage,” said Caina, “deserve most of the credit.”

“You helped save my life,” said Thalastre.

“And you helped not save just the Empire, but New Kyre as well,” said Kylon. “If you ever need a refuge, Caina Amalas, House Kardamnos shall always welcome you with open arms.”

“Thank you,” said Caina. 

“And I saw what you did in Caer Magia and Calvarium,” said Martin. “I am a loyal subject of our Emperor…but this is unjust.”

“Do not blame him,” said Caina. “He only does what is necessary.” She hesitated. “Claudia. Did…”

“She would not come,” said Martin. He sighed. “She is distraught…and I fear she blames you for the death of Corvalis.”

“Perhaps she should,” said Caina. “Ark. Theodosia. Look after Shaizid and the House of Kularus while I am…gone, will you? Shaizid is a good manager, but I fear…”

“They shall be,” said Ark, “under the protection of the Champion of Marsis.”

Theodosia smiled. “And it shall be known that the leading lady of the Grand Imperial Opera favors the House of Kularus with her patronage.” 

Caina said farewell once more and boarded the ship. It pulled away from the city, and Caina watched New Kyre recede in the distance. The city was safe, and the war was over. The Moroaica was dead at last, her spirit freed from the chains of necromancy and madness Rhames had laid upon her so long ago, and no more would she wreak havoc and destruction in the name of revenge.

The Empire had been saved.

And it only had cost Caina everything.

She watched the land recede, her eyes burning with tears.

Then she shoved away from the rail and walked to the prow to see what lay before her.

Epilogue

The Surge stood atop the Pyramid of Storm, watching as the slaves rebuilt her Sanctuary. They all kept a good distance from her.

“The star is the key to the crystal,” she whispered, watching the storm of the world with her second sight. 

When the Moroaica had come to the Sanctuary, the shadows of the world had converged on two paths – destruction or salvation. 

But now the Moroaica was no more, and the shadows of the future had taken a different path.

“The star is the key to the enslaved,” she murmured. The slaves glanced at each other uneasily, but kept working. “The star is the key to the blight. The star is the key to ruin. The star is the key to demons.”

And if she closed her eyes, she saw the Balarigar holding the star in her right hand, ruin in her wake.

“Mistress?” said one of her priestesses. “You speak of the Balarigar?”

“Yes,” said the Surge, gazing at the young woman. “Pray for her. For through the choice she made after the fall of the Moroaica, the fate of many lives now rest in her hands.”

For Surge foresaw that the Balarigar would carry the star, and the star was the key to the crystal.

And to far worse things.

THE END

Thank you for reading GHOST IN THE SURGE. Look for Caina’s next adventure, GHOST IN THE COWL, to appear in spring of 2014. If you liked the book, please consider leaving a review at your ebook site of choice. To receive immediate notification of new releases, 
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The Demonsouled Saga

MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK is a wandering knight, fearless in battle and masterful with a sword. 

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The Dominiar Order and the Justiciar Order were once noble and respected, dedicated to fighting the powers of dark magic. Now they are corrupt and cynical, and scheme only for power and glory. They will kill anyone who stands in their way.

To defeat these foes, Mazael will need all the strength of his Demonsouled blood.

Yet he faces a far more terrible foe.

For centuries the Old Demon has manipulated kings and lords. Now he shall seize the power of the Demonsouled for himself, and become the a god of torment and tyranny.

Unless Mazael can stop him.

Read 
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