Ghost in the Storm (The Ghosts) (43 page)
Read Ghost in the Storm (The Ghosts) Online
Authors: Jonathan Moeller
“We can talk freely,” said Halfdan. “The assassin is dead?”
“Aye,” said Caina. “A Kindred assassin, and I caught him just before he put an arrow into Lord Corbould’s throat. I tried to take him alive, but I had to kill him.”
“Don’t fret about it,” said Halfdan. “The Kindred assassin families are far too well organized to let the man who does the killing know who actually paid for it.”
“But that’s the important question, isn’t it?” said Caina. “Who hired the Kindred to kill Lord Corbould?”
“A very good question,” said Halfdan. “You are clever, my dear. What is the answer?”
Caina sighed, leaned against the wall, and thought it over.
“The Kindred are not cheap,” said Caina, “so it would have to be a powerful lord, someone within the Magisterium, or a wealthy merchant. But most of the nobles support the war against Istarinmul and New Kyre. The Magisterium hates the stormsingers of New Kyre and the Alchemists in Istarinmul, so they would not turn against Corbould, even though he dislikes the magi. And why would the merchant collegia hire the Kindred to kill him? They’ll make a fortune feeding and clothing the Legions. Was it a personal grudge? Or…”
Her eyes widened.
“Cyrica,” she said.
“You understand,” said Halfdan.
“The Cyrican provinces are the only place in the Empire where slavery is still legal,” said Caina. “Part of the treaty that ended the War of the Fourth Empire. You told me that the Emperor is sending Lord Corbould to Cyrica, to make sure the Cyricans don't revolt.”
“Very good,” said Halfdan. “What I didn’t tell you is that both the Istarish and the Kyracians sent embassies to Cyrica, asking the Cyricans to join them against the Empire.”
“And half the Cyrican nobles would, if given the chance,” said Caina. She felt her lip curl in contempt. “If the Cyricans swore to the Padishah or the Assembly of New Kyre, they wouldn’t need to worry about the Ghosts freeing their slaves.” She thought for a moment. “So Lord Governor Armizid Asurius paid the Kindred to kill Lord Corbould?”
“His father, more likely,” said Halfdan.
Caina frowned. “I thought Armizid was Lord Governor of Cyrica.”
“He is,” said Halfdan, “but only because his father doesn’t want to bother with the work of holding an actual magistracy. Lord Khosrau Asurius was once good friends with Haeron Icaraeus. After Haeron died in that incident with Maglarion, Khosrau Asurius has gained most of Haeron's old supporters. Khosrau also owns half the land in Cyrica, and the Cyrican nobles respect him. If he wants to leave the Empire, they will follow. Lord Corbould is paying a visit to Lord Governor Armizid…but the real negotiations will take place when Corbould talks to Khosrau.”
“And if Khosrau assassinates Corbould during the negotiations,” said Caina, “then the Emperor will blame him, and the Cyrican nobles will have no choice but to join Istarinmul.”
“You grasp the problem,” said Halfdan. “The war is a stalemate right now. Our fleet cannot stand against the Kyracians, but the Istarish cannot defeat the Legions. If the Cyricans join the enemies of the Empire, that situation could change rather quickly.”
“And you are telling me this,” said Caina, “because you want me to do something about it.”
"Aye," said Halfdan. "Lord Corbould is leaving Malarae for Cyrica Urbana in a week. I would like you to accompany him."
Caina nodded. "How should I disguise myself? As Countess Marianna Nereide?"
"No," said Halfdan. "Unmarried young noblewomen go on tours of the Empire...but they rarely visit the Shining City of Cyrica. No, you will disguise yourself as Marina, the maid of the leading lady of the Grand Imperial Opera."
Caina blinked. "Theodosia is going to Cyrica?"
"So she is," said Halfdan. "To prove his hospitality, Lord Khosrau will hold a series of celebrations and festivals in Corbould's honor. And to show his own generosity, Lord Corbould will bring the finest entertainments from the Imperial capital at his own expense. Chariot-racing teams from the Imperial Hippodrome, for one. And the Cyrican nobles are mad for Nighmarian opera, so Lord Corbould will also pay to bring the Grand Imperial Opera to the Shining City."
"And our task," said Caina, "will be to keep Lord Corbould alive."
Halfdan nodded. "Corbould Maraeus is arrogant, rigid, and utterly inflexible. Yet he is the most powerful lord in the Empire and a strong supporter of the Emperor. And if anyone can convince Lord Khosrau to stay with the Empire, Lord Corbould can. Yet if he is assassinated, it will be an utter disaster...and Cyrica will break away from the Empire."
"Then," said Caina, "we shall have to make certain that Lord Corbould is not assassinated."
"Aye," said Halfdan. " I also want you to find who paid for his death. The Kindred do not come cheap, and someone with a great deal of money paid for Corbould to die." His voice dropped. "And if you find the man who hired the Kindred, Theodosia will pass word to the Ghost circle in Cyrioch...and he will never be seen again."
Caina gave a slow nod.
The Ghosts of the Empire, the eyes and ears of the Emperor, were not above assassinating treasonous nobles and magistrates. With Theodosia, Caina had helped bring about the downfall of Lord Macrinius, who had kidnapped people to sell as slaves. She had killed Anastius Nicephorus, the Lord Governor of Rasadda, whose greed and corruption had almost driven the Saddai to revolt. She had helped kill Agria Palaegus, who had plotted with Jadriga to free the imprisoned demons below Black Angel Tower...
Caina closed her eyes.
So much death.
That assassin in the Praetorian Basilica. She hadn't meant to kill him, but she had, and she had killed him without the slightest flicker of hesitation or regret. True, he would have murdered Lord Corbould. But once she would have regretted his death.
Now she felt nothing at all.
How hard and cold she had become.
"Caina?" said Halfdan, his rough voice gentle. "Is anything amiss?"
"No," said Caina, opening her eyes. "I'm fine."
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About the Author
Standing over six feet tall, Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas.
He has written the DEMONSOULED series of sword-and-sorcery novels, and continues to write THE GHOSTS sequence about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the COMPUTER BEGINNER'S GUIDE series of computer books, and numerous other works.
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http://www.jonathanmoeller.com
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http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/screed
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Table of Contents
Chapter 3 - The Fall of the Great Market
Chapter 9 - Disciple of the Moroaica
Chapter 12 - A Stormsinger's Wrath
Chapter 15 - The Price of Power
Chapter 22 - I Am A Blacksmith
Chapter 25 - The Fall of the Citadel
Chapter 27 - The Tomb of Scorikhon
Chapter 28 - The Promise of the Moroaica
Chapter 29 - The Champion of Marsis