Ghost in the Hunt (28 page)

Or so Caina hoped.

If she was wrong at least the immaterial sword would kill her quickly. 

The Huntress slashed through another pillar, and the boards started to tilt beneath Caina. She rolled to her feet, and as she did she snatched up the mattock she had found, its iron head ugly and rough and sharp. She raised the tool over her head, gripping the handle with both hands, dashed to the edge of the loft, and jumped. 

The Huntress’s back was to Caina, but at the last moment she started to turn. Some instinct had warned her, perhaps, or Caina had been louder than she thought.

Caina crashed into her, all her weight and strength driving the mattock. The iron spike plunged into the Huntress’s lower right back with a horrible wet ripping noise, and the impact drove the Huntress from her feet. Caina landed atop her, the handle of the mattock bouncing painfully against her ribs, and rolled to a stop a few feet away. Pain flooded through her, but she forced herself forward, yanking the ghostsilver dagger from its sheath. 

The Huntress had already recovered. The iron spike jutted from her chest, but she had gotten to her knees and raised her right arm to block the dagger.

Caina drove the blade between the bones of the Huntress’s forearm.

The weapon sizzled, growing hot beneath Caina’s fingers, and the Huntress screamed in fury, both the woman’s voice and the snarling howl of the nagataaru. The assassin surged to her feet and kicked, her boot slamming into Caina’s belly. The force of the strike threw her backwards, the dagger’s hilt still clutched in her hand as the blade ripped from the Huntress’s forearm. Caina landed hard against a pile of broken planks, another wave of pain going through her. 

The Huntress tore the mattock from her back with a groan and tossed the weapon aside. She turned, her steel mask hanging askew.

Caina stared at her face, shocked.

“Kalgri?” she whispered.

It was the serving woman from the House of Agabyzus. It was impossible. Caina had seen Kalgri several times a week for months. She was a serving woman, not an assassin, certainly not a creature like the Red Huntress…

Belatedly Caina realized that she might not be the only woman at the House of Agabyzus with a knack for disguise.

“Yes,” murmured Kalgri, sliding her mask away. “Perhaps you should know the truth before you die.”

Caina managed to get to her feet, her chest and back throbbing. “You’re not going to kill Lord Martin.”

Kalgri let out an incredulous laugh. “You think I am here for Martin Dorius?” She rolled her shoulders and winced, the wounds in her back and chest shrinking, smoke rising from the gash in her forearm. “He is of no importance. I am here for you.”

“Me?” said Caina. 

“Caina Amalas,” said Kalgri, grinning like a shark. “The Balarigar. The woman who burned the Widow’s Tower and robbed the Maze. The woman who slew the Moroaica and saved the Empire. The Grand Master wants you dead. Even all the nagataaru want you dead.” She laughed, high and wild and mad. “I look forward to the Grand Master’s expression when he learns the dreaded Balarigar was a woman.” 

“You’ve been following me all this time,” said Caina.

“Yes,” said Kalgri. “I must understand a man in order to kill him. Or a woman. This would have been so much easier if you haven’t stepped out of the way of my arrow at the last minute.”

“You were shooting at me?” said Caina, realizing the depth of her error. It had never once occurred to Caina that she might be the target, never occurred to her that an opponent might have penetrated her disguises. She had always feared it, of course, but she had expected her enemies to strike with overwhelming force, perhaps a squad of Immortals backed up by Kindred assassins and Alchemists. 

She had not expected a lone assassin to stalk her for months, preparing, planning. Samnirdamnus had been right. Caina had indeed failed to understand her enemy.

And her life would likely be the price for her error. 

“Yes,” said Kalgri. “You are clever and dangerous. Shooting you from afar was the best solution. But the direct methods will work just as well.”

She shot forward, and Caina slashed with the ghostsilver dagger. Kalgri caught Caina’s wrist in her left hand and shoved, and the Huntress’s awful strength slammed Caina against one of the remaining pillars. Again the impact stole the breath from Caina’s lungs, stunning her, and she could do nothing but watch as Kalgri lifted her remaining scimitar for the kill. 

Caina had failed. 

At least she had built a new Ghost circle in Istarinmul, so someone else would know of Callatas’s crimes. At least she had warned Martin and Claudia. Perhaps Kalgri would even leave them alone once she had killed Caina. 

Her skin crawled with the presence of sorcery, and a burst of blue light washed over Kalgri, blue sparks jumping up and down her limbs. The Huntress screamed in pain, her grip on Caina’s arm loosening, and Caina twisted away. Martin and Claudia and Nasser stood in the doors to the barn, flanked by a dozen Imperial Guards. Claudia’s face was a mask of concentration, blue light burning around her fingers as she poured her power into the spell. Kalgri staggered away from Caina, the scimitar weaving a drunken web before her. The wounds on her arm and chest had been shrinking as she taunted Caina, but now they were frozen. In a flash of insight, Caina realized that the Voice was strong enough to fight off Claudia’s banishment spell and strong enough to heal Kalgri’s wounds, but it was not strong enough to do both at the same time.

Caina threw herself forward, ignoring her pain, both hands wrapped around the dagger’s hilt, and slashed with all her strength. Kalgri jerked back at the last moment, her snarls of fury joining those of the Voice, and Caina’s dagger slashed across the Huntress’s ribs and belly. Kalgri screamed again and lashed out, and the back of her hand slammed into Caina’s face and threw her to the floor. Caina hit the ground hard, her head spinning, and saw Nasser and Martin and the Imperial Guards storm into the barn. 

Kalgri sprang into the air, crimson cloak streaming around her, and landed on the half-shattered loft. She staggered, grabbed at the wall to regain her balance, and jumped again, even as Claudia shifted her aim. The strength of the leap drove the Huntress through the thatched roof like an arrow through an apple. A few of the Guards threw their javelins, but the weapons lodged in the roof or bounced harmlessly off the walls.

The Huntress had fled. 

Caina spat a bitter curse and tried to stand. They had come so close to killing the Huntress. But she had escaped, and Kalgri would return once she had time to heal and prepare a new attack. 

Next time they might not be so lucky.

Kalgri. Caina had seen her at the House of Agabyzus for weeks. What a fool Caina had been, blind to what was right in front of her nose…

The barn started to spin around her, and Caina wondered if it would collapse and bury them all.

Then Caina’s legs went out from beneath her. 

She hit the ground and knew no more.

Chapter 16 - Friends and Allies

Dark dreams flickered across Caina’s broken thoughts. 

Halfdan had always said that nightmares were the scars of the mind, and Caina had accumulated a large collection. Her father’s death. Halfdan’s murder. Corvalis’s death in the netherworld, the illusion of the temple of Anubankh burning around them. 

The black wall of the nagataaru rolling across the sky, coming for her. 

Again and again she saw Callatas standing on the ridge overlooking Iramis, raising the Star and burning the city to ashes.

The dead surrounded her. Those she had loved, Corvalis and Halfdan and her father. Those she had defeated, the Moroaica and Maglarion and Kalastus and Andromache and Mihaela and so many others. 

She had defeated so many enemies, but the Red Huntress had been too much for her. 

“The star is the key to the crystal,” they whispered in unison. “The star is the key to the crystal.”

“What does that mean?” said Caina, looking at the ring of her lost friends and defeated foes. “Damn you, what does it mean? Tell me what it means!”

“Your death.”

Caina spun as the Red Huntress appeared out of nothingness, twin scimitars in her fists. 

Kalgri grinned and buried both the blades in Caina’s heart.

Darkness swallowed Caina, and she knew nothing more.

###

Slowly Caina swam back to consciousness.

She realized three things

First, it was morning. There was sunlight in her eyes.

Second, she had a stupendous headache. Every breath hurt a little.

Third, the combination of those two facts meant that she was still alive. 

She sat up, wincing in discomfort, and looked around. She was in a small bedroom off Strabane’s hall, still in her caravan guard disguise and shadow-cloak. That was bad. How many people had seen her? Rumor might well spread that the Balarigar had been seen in the village of Drynemet, and one of Strabane’s folk might try to claim the bounty. Or one of the less scrupulous Imperial Guards might decide to retire early.

The door opened, and Caina sprang to her feet, reaching for her weapons.

But it was only Claudia. 

“Oh,” said Caina, sitting back down. “I think I stood up too fast.”

“You probably did,” said Claudia. “Get that armor off. I need to have a look at you.”

Caina blinked.

“I’m a physician, remember?” said Claudia. “The Huntress gave you a thorough beating.”

“Right,” said Caina, sliding off her shadow-cloak. “I…yes, that’s right. I forgot.”

“She did hit you on the head quite hard,” said Claudia, kneeling besides the bed. 

“Yes, I noticed,” said Caina, tossing aside her armor and pulling off her tunic. Every movement hurt. Which was not surprising, since her chest and belly were a mass of ugly bruises. “My mask. The others…”

“Don’t worry,” said Claudia, scowling as she considered Caina’s torso. She tapped Caina’s side, and Caina winced. “Martin and Tylas themselves carried you in here.”

“Nasser,” said Caina. She remembered the peculiar blue light that had shone from his torn glove. “He…”

“He’s fine,” said Claudia. “He’s in better shape than you are.” She pressed her hand to Caina’s right side. “Deep breath. Then let it out slowly.”

Caina obeyed. It hurt.

“Well, you don’t have any broken ribs,” said Claudia. “That’s good. But you’re going to be very sore for quite some time.”

“It won’t be the first time,” said Caina. “How many died?”

“No one, actually,” said Claudia. “Only the Silent Hunters. Some women inhaled the smoke and had a bad time of it, as did some of the men putting out the flames. But none of Strabane’s people died, and none of ours. All because you acted swiftly.”

“Not swiftly enough,” said Caina, retrieving her tunic. “Kalgri got away.”

“Kalgri?” said Claudia.

“Her name,” said Caina. “The Huntress’s name. At least the name she used. She has been following me for months, masquerading as a serving woman at a coffee house I frequent. Gods, I was a blind fool. I never even suspected her.” 

“For months, you say?” said Claudia. “Then she has been planning to kill Martin for that long? But that doesn’t make sense. Martin did not even receive the appointment as Lord Ambassador until a month past…”

Caina let out a bitter laugh. “The Huntress wasn’t after him. She was never after Martin. Your husband just was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Huntress was there to kill me.”

“You?” said Claudia. “Why?”

“Callatas,” said Caina. “Callatas sent her to kill the Balarigar. I’m sorry. I should have realized it sooner.”

“You’re not infallible,” said Claudia. “Much as you like to think otherwise. We need to talk to Martin.”

“In a moment,” said Caina, getting to her feet with a grunt. “First I need to have a walk around the village, make sure no more Silent Hunters are hiding here.” She took a deep breath, trying to ignore the pain as she picked up her armor. Gods, but she was sore. “Then we can decide what to do.” 

###

An hour later Claudia stood on the terrace behind the hall. 

There had been no sign of any other Silent Hunters. Caina leaned against the wall, dark circles beneath her bloodshot blue eyes. The livid bruise across the right side of her jaw made her look even grimmer than usual. Nasser stood near Martin, and Laertes and Tylas waited with their respective masters. Strabane stood in the center, his thick arms folded over his massive chest.

“So this demon-possessed woman was here for you?” said Strabane.

“I fear so,” said Caina. “It seems that when we robbed Callatas, I pushed him too far, so he sent the Huntress to kill me.” She looked at Strabane. “I am sorry I brought this evil upon you.” 

Strabane shrugged. “No one was killed, save for the Silent Hunters. Some houses were burned, but houses can be rebuilt. And I did break into the Maze with you, Ciaran. Perhaps something like the Huntress would have come for me sooner or later anyway.” He scowled and spat over the edge of the terrace. “All those damned demon-things in Callatas’s Maze. Pah! Perhaps it is no longer possible to be safe.”

“Wisely spoken, my friend,” said Nasser. “Alas, we have the misfortune to live in interesting times.” 

“Nor was Kalgri coming for you,” said Caina, looking at Martin and Claudia. “If I had not accompanied you to the Golden Palace, you would have been in no danger. None of those men would have died.”

“And you might be dead yourself,” said Claudia, “if we had not been there to help you.” Much as Caina wanted to blame herself for the Huntress’s depredations, Claudia had no wish to let her do it. The blood of the Huntress’s victims was upon the Huntress’s hands. 

“For that matter,” said Martin, “Cassander might have tried to harm Claudia even without the Huntress’s disruption. It now seems clear that Cassander must be colluding with the Huntress.”

“I suspect, my lord ambassador,” said Nasser, “that Cassander Nilas and the Red Huntress are merely allies of convenience. We know that Cassander did not send the Huntress after you, or even after the Balarigar. I suspect Cassander saw the Huntress’s prowess and decide to assist her. From what you have told me, the Provosts of the Umbarian Order hold the death of the Balarigar as one of their goals.”