Ghost Mimic (6 page)

Then she saw me and broke free from Turlagon’s stunned men, who made no effort to stop her. 

All five of us fled into the alley and retreated to the House of Agabyzus.

Chapter 6: Mimicry

I expected reprisals. I expected the Teskilati to descend upon the House of Agabyzus in wrath, or for Turlagon to show up and threaten to bring a lawsuit against me. 

Yet none of that happened.

“Turlagon has fled the city,” Caina told me over coffee a few days later, dressed once again as the courier Marius. Her current costume was a far cry from the beautiful young noblewoman who had taunted Sankar and wept before Turlagon. “The fire that destroyed the Scratched Penny was obviously started by Hellfire, so I think even Turlagon managed to figure out that the Teskilati were after him. He left the city within an hour of the fire, and is likely on his way to Tanzir Shahan and the rebels.” 

“What about the Teskilati?” I said. The House was as busy as usual, and in a few moments I would need to get to work. But as important as the House was, there were more important things. The lives of my sons, for one.

And my work with the Ghosts had helped me preserve both their lives and the House. 

“They have not shown a scrap of interest in the House of Agabyzus,” said Caina. “Most of the Teskilati in the Scratched Penny were killed in the explosion.” Once that would have inspired guilt, but not any longer. “I think our gambit worked. The Teskilati will assume that their agents at the Scratched Penny made a botch of their task and blew themselves up.”

I shuddered. “If I never see Hellfire again, I shall be quite content.” 

“I agree wholeheartedly,” said Caina. 

I considered in silence for a moment. 

“Did you plan it all out from the beginning?” I said.

“I’m sorry?” said Caina.

“Pretending to be me,” I said.

Caina laughed. “Did I do a good impersonation?”

“Not in the least,” I said, and she laughed again. “Was that planned?”

“Not at all,” said Caina. “I told you the entire plan in Nerina’s workshop. Pretending to be you was improvised. It worked well, though.”

“You could have been killed,” I said.

“Maybe,” said Caina. “But I thought it would work out, and it did.” 

“Is it hard to cry on cue like that?” I said.

“Not particularly,” said Caina. “I just have to think of something sad, and that usually does the trick.”

“You must have a lot of sadness, then,” I said. 

I meant it in jest, but Caina only smiled a little, and I regretted it.

“We all do, I think,” said Caina. “Damla, thank you. I could not have done this without your help.”

“No thanks are necessary, and I should thank you,” I said. “If you had not helped, Sankar would have burned down the House of Agabyzus and killed everyone here.” 

“He was right about one thing, though,” said Caina.

“What?”

“A civil war is coming,” said Caina. Her eyes met mine. “It would be best to be prepared. To have supplies of food and drink laid away. And money, if necessary to flee the city.” 

I hesitated, then nodded. I did not like to think of such things, but I knew that preparations were necessary. I was a Ghost, as was Caina, and I would do my duty, just as she did.

In that, I could indeed mimic her. 

THE END

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