Jonathan Moeller - The Ghosts 06 - Ghost in the Forge (28 page)

“Corvalis,” said Caina. She should have been angry, she knew, but she felt only relief, overpowering relief, that he was still alive.

“Gods,” Corvalis said.  “I’m sorry. I should have listened to you. I should have made Claudia listen to you. I,” he blinked several times, a muscle near his eye twitching, “I thought you were dead.”

“Not yet,” said Caina, and despite everything, she felt herself smile. “Not yet.”

Chapter 27 - Choices

The next morning Caina woke up and felt terrible. 

She hobbled to the bathtub, her joints aching, her head pounding. Her skin had turned red from the heat of the molten metal, as if from a bad sunburn, and every step hurt. In a week or so she would start peeling like a coat of cheap paint. 

Still, it was better than being burned alive.

And better than what Mihaela had done to herself. 

The hot water felt glorious against her aching body. For all their folly, at least the Masked Ones knew how to keep their guests in comfort. After, Caina dried off, put on a robe, and limped into the sitting room.

Claudia awaited her there, a tray of food upon the table. 

“Caina,” Claudia said, voice quiet. “How do you feel?”

Caina frowned. “How do you know my real name?”

Claudia’s face grew red. “I’m sorry. I just…I heard Master Basil say it, after I woke up. I’m…I’m sorry if I overstepped.”

“No,” said Caina. “It’s good to pay attention to details. Helps you to avoid mistakes later on.”

Claudia could not meet her eyes. “Like trusting a sorceress who wants to kill you and bind your soul into necromantic armor?”

“Something like that,” said Caina, “yes.” 

“I had the slaves bring breakfast,” said Claudia, “and coffee.”

Caina could smell it. “Thank you. Why don’t you sit down?”

She sat, and after a moment’s hesitation, Claudia sat as well. Caina helped herself to a cup of coffee, and recognized the smell of Shaizid’s work. She gazed into the cup, lost in thought. Shaizid had wept like a child when he had learned of Ardasha’s fate. Still, she had seen the fierce pride in his face. Ardasha had helped defeat Mihaela and shatter the Forge.

And Mihaela would never hurt anyone ever again. 

“You don’t like the coffee?” said Claudia.

Caina blinked, realized that she had forgotten Claudia was there. 

“I was thinking,” said Caina. “The coffee is wonderful.” She took a sip. “A pity they don’t have it in Malarae.”

Claudia nodded, licked her lips. And as angry as Caina had been with her, she felt a moment’s pity. The former magus looked miserable. 

“You should probably get it over with,” said Caina. “Waiting won’t make you feel better.”

“I’m sorry!” said Claudia. “I am so sorry. You were right. You didn’t even know what Mihaela planned, and you were still right.” She blinked, tears in her eyes. “I didn’t listen to you, and I got a lot of people killed.”

“Most of those people would have died anyway,” said Caina. “Mihaela would have acted with or without your help.”

“I know,” said Claudia, “but she had my help. You were right about me.” She wiped a hand across her eyes. “I wanted to use my powers to help people. That’s all I wanted to do, the only reason I aided Mihaela. Instead I helped her create a horror…and if you hadn’t stopped her, it would have been so much worse. Corvalis would have been killed, Mihaela would have turned me into a suit of glypharmor…and I would have to live with my guilt for all eternity.” 

“But that didn’t happen,” said Caina.

“Because of you,” said Claudia. “My folly would have destroyed us. The nations would have burned, and millions would have died, and all because of me…”

“Please shut up,” said Caina.

Claudia blinked. 

“And stop crying,” said Caina. “You don’t have the complexion for it.”

Claudia managed a sniffling laugh. “I don’t, do I?”

“And I understand,” said Caina, “why you did it.”

“Because I am a fool,” said Claudia.

“We are all fools,” said Caina. “Did Corvalis ever tell you why I hate sorcery so much?”

Claudia hesitated. “Not…in full. He said the magi murdered your father…”

“My mother,” said Caina, “was an initiate of the Magisterium, but the high magi expelled her because she wasn’t strong enough. So instead she turned to a renegade necromancer. In exchange for his teachings, she sold me to him. When my father found out, she wiped his mind, much like happened to Mihaela. The necromancer took my blood and in the process left me barren.”

“Oh,” said Claudia in a small voice. “I see why you hate sorcery.”

Caina nodded. “And if I could kill them all, I would.” She took a deep breath. “If Mihaela had come to me and said she had some weapon, some device that allowed her to kill every single magus in the Empire at once…I would have used it. I would have used it without hesitation. At least you were trying to save lives by forcing peace between the Empire and Istarinmul and New Kyre.” Caina shrugged. “So I understand the temptation. But I hate sorcery, so Mihaela’s offer was not an enticing one. But for you…you wanted to use your spells to help people, to make their lives better. I can see how resisting Mihaela’s offer would have been difficult.”

“I believed her,” said Claudia. “I thought she wanted to use her sorcery to aid mankind, not to rule over it.” She frowned. “But that was what you meant, wasn’t it? I wanted to help people, not to rule them. But by enslaving the sorcerers and forcing them to rule as I wish, I would have been using my power to rule over people.” 

Caina nodded. 

“Gods,” said Claudia. “That is a hard thing to learn about oneself. That I could be a monster. That I almost made myself into a monster.”

“You were right about one thing,” said Caina. “You do a have a responsibility to use your power well. Just…not in the way you thought.” 

“Do you think Basil will have me killed?” said Claudia. “He was…most angry.”

“No,” said Caina. “I won’t kill you, either. Crippling the Magisterium has always been one of the goals of the Ghosts. You just went about it…a little too enthusiastically. But I doubt Basil will use you in the field again. He’ll probably set you up with a false identity and consult you when the Ghosts need your knowledge of sorcery.”

Claudia shuddered. “Good. I had hoped to prove myself on this trip, but…I suppose I did, didn’t I? Just not in the way I wanted. I still wish to be of use to the Ghosts. But, gods, if I can settle in Malarae and never leave again, I think I shall die content. I have seen quite enough of Catekharon.”

“As have I,” said Caina. 

“Thank you,” said Claudia. “For…forgiving me. I am not sure I would have the strength to do so in your place.”

Caina shrugged. “You’re Corvalis’s sister. He loves you.”

“And you,” said Claudia, “love him.”

“Yes,” said Caina. She could not give him children, but she suspected that did not matter to a man like Corvalis. 

“Even though he sided with me against you?” said Claudia.

“He did what he thought was right,” said Caina. “I don’t think I could respect a man too craven to stand up to me. He loves you, too. You have…something of a prior claim.” 

Claudia nodded. “Thank you again.”

“You can repay me,” said Caina, finishing the coffee and getting to her feet, “by helping me get dressed. The ambassadors will be gathering soon, and I’m curious what Zalandris has to say to them.”

“Of course,” said Claudia. “Though I fear I shall never get the knack of the hairpins you use.”

“There’s no time like the present.”

###

Kylon of House Kardamnos stood in the Hall of Assembly, Alcios at this right hand, Cimon at his left, a ring of ashtairoi around him. The other ambassadors stood surrounded by their guards, and Kylon could not blame them, given what had happened in the Hall.

Though their anger was not aimed at each other but at the Speaker of the Scholae. 

“The Scholae is grieved that harm has come to guests under our protection,” said Zalandris. “Therefore for every man who was slain, we shall pay a dual indemnity, one to his family, and another to his monarch.”

“Given the grievous insult you offered the Shahenshah of Anshan,” said Arsakan, “you should count yourself fortunate that you do not face the Shahenshah’s army.”

Kylon snorted at Arsakan’s bluster. Zalandris had taken the blame for the disaster, but the Shahenshah’s armies had no chance against Catekharon’s arcane defenses. 

“Indeed,” said Zalandris. “Mihaela was a rogue who acted without the permission of the Scholae. Yet she was my Seeker, and the responsibility is mine. Therefore we offer this indemnity, and as further compensation, the lifting of all trade tariffs for your respective nations for the term of twenty-five years.”

“That,” said the First Magus, “is inadequate.”

Decius Aberon stepped away his guards, glaring at Zalandris. Lord Titus’s embassy stood some distance away, surrounded by Imperial Guards. Kylon spotted the Ghost standing in the rear with Basil Callenius and Corvalis, her face unreadable as she regarded her lover’s father. 

“Your idiot student launched an attack upon the Imperial Magisterium,” said the First Magus.

“Oh, give it up, Decius,” said Lord Titus. “The woman was clearly a renegade. Lives have been lost, yes, but Mihaela would have butchered the Sages alongside the rest of us.”

The First Magus sneered. “The lives of your underlings might be worthless, my Lord Titus, but the blood of a magus is worth that a thousand lesser men.” He leveled a thick finger at Zalandris. “I demand that you surrender all of Mihaela’s research and tools to the custody of the Magisterium…”

“No,” said Zalandris. “Mihaela’s tools and research were abominations, violations of the Scholae’s laws. All her research shall be destroyed, as shall any remaining fragments of the glypharmor and her earlier versions of the Forge.”

“Do you think to trifle with the wrath of the Magisterium?” said the First Magus. “Do…”

“Be silent!” thundered Zalandris, and for the first time Kylon saw anger on the ancient Sage’s face. “Your own son, Torius Aberon, aided Mihaela in her crimes, and I have no doubt that you conspired with her! I will say this plainly. The wrong is the Scholae’s, and we offer recompense for our folly. But Mikaela’s vile work will never see the light of day. And should that not be enough for you, should you wish to contest your wrongs by force of arms…then come and attack Catekharon. And you will see that the Scholae does not lack the means to defend itself.”

Kylon’s sorcerous senses felt the sheer arcane power crackling around the enraged Sage, and the First Magus took a prudent step back. 

“I think,” said Lord Titus into the silence, “that the Lord Speaker’s offer is most acceptable.”

The other ambassadors and sorcerers rumbled their assents, and the First Magus stalked to his guards.

“So be it,” said Zalandris. “Speak with the seneschals, my lords, and they shall arrange the details of your payments.”

He walked from the Hall of Assembly without another word. 

“Well,” said Alcios, “that was entertaining.”

“Indeed,” said Kylon. “And we can be certain that the Empire will never use glypharmor against New Kyre.”

He turned his head and saw the Ghost standing alone, watching him. 

“A moment, my lords,” said Kylon, and he walked to join her. 

“My lord stormdancer,” said the Ghost in a quiet voice. “I am pleased that you survived the fighting.”

“As I am,” said Kylon. “Though I would have been more pleased if I could have taken Sicarion’s head.”

“Someday,” said the Ghost. “He won’t always be able to escape.” 

“Tell me,” said Kylon, remembering his conversation with Corvalis. “Is your name truly Caina?”

A corner of her mouth curled. “You can call me that, if you wish.” 

“Again you have saved us,” said Kylon. “Mihaela would have become as vile as Scorikhon himself, had she succeeded.” 

The Ghost shrugged. “I had help. The soul bound within that armor, Kylon…she was pleased to revenge herself on Mihaela.” 

Kylon shook his head. “The Sages should have executed her.”

Again she shrugged. “Why bother? Her mind is destroyed. She cannot feed herself, or dress herself, or even wipe the drool from her chin. She’ll live for decades like that, trapped inside her own body, just as she trapped her victims within the glypharmor. I think that a fitting punishment.” 

“You are wise, Ghost,” said Kylon. “It is unfortunate that we must be enemies.”

“Maybe the Emperor and the Archons can be persuaded to make peace,” said the Ghost, “once they learned how Kylon Shipbreaker fought to save the embassies of a dozen nations, including the Empire’s, from a horrid enslavement.” 

“Perhaps,” said Kylon. “Until then…this is the Imperial custom, yes?” He bowed over her hand and placed a light kiss upon her fingers. “Until then, may the gods of storm and sea shield you from their wrath, Caina of the Ghosts.” 

She nodded. “And you, Kylon of House Kardamnos.” 

Kylon released her hand and walked away. She was indeed a formidable foe, but someday her luck would run out. Sooner or later, she would push too far, and some enemy would kill her at last.

But Kylon would not be that enemy.

“My lord thalarchon?” said Alcios as he rejoined the ashtairoi.

“It is past time,” said Kylon, “that we returned home.”

The war with the Empire awaited.

###

Corvalis stood with Basil and Zalandris as Talekhris walked in a slow circle around Caina.

They stood in Talekhris’s workroom in the Tower of Study, the chamber filled with books and scrolls and peculiar oddities. Talekhris himself looked terrible, his blue eyes sunken, his skin grayish, his hands trembling. 

Though considering that Sicarion had stabbed him through the heart, he looked excellent.

“Gone,” said Talekhris. “She is gone.”

Caina frowned. “You’re sure?”

“I am,” said Talekhris. “The spirit of the Moroaica has departed.” He frowned. “And I do not sense her presence.”

“Then perhaps she is slain,” said Zalandris, putting his hand on Talekhris’s shoulder, “and you can rest from your labors at last.”

“How long does it take her to claim control of another body?” said Caina.

“Usually the process is instantaneous,” said Talekhris. “And certainly there are enough women with arcane talent in the Tower for her to claim one. And yet…and yet I do not feel her presence anywhere.” 

“Then maybe, lord Sage,” said Basil, “she is truly dead.”

“No, I think not,” said Talekhris. “Perhaps her spirit has fled to somewhere beyond the reach of my senses. I will resume my pursuit. We have dueled each other over the centuries, but one day I will find her and put an end to her crimes.”