Ghost in the Ring (Ghost Night Book 1)

by Jonathan Moeller

  ###

  Kylon moved, drawing on the sorcery of air for speed.

  The twisted robed creature, the creature that Seb had called a Temnoti, was casting a spell, gathering sorcery to unleash a necromantic strike. The Temnoti was taking its time, confident that it could kill them all before they could respond.

  Evidently, the creature had never dealt with a Kyracian stormdancer before.

  Kylon seized the stone railing and vaulted, the sorcery of water surging through him to strengthen his legs. The Temnoti gaped at him in sudden surprise, and before the creature could react, Kylon brought the valikon down.

  His sword ripped from the creature’s misshapen head to its belly, slicing open its innards, black slime spurting across the ragged brown robe. The Temnoti let out a screeching, rasping cry and collapsed to the floor, the black slime that served as its blood leaking over the broad stairs.

  Kylon stepped back, looking down the stairs, and saw that the Temnoti and their undead guardians had prevailed against the Adamant Guards. A mob of undead rushed towards him, and behind them waited five of the Temnoti. He sensed the presence of their powerful spells, and while he could deal with any number of the undead, he could not fight that many sorcerers at once.

  “Run!” he shouted to the others, looking at the balcony. He caught Caina’s quick nod, and she, Seb, and the girl started running. Kylon sprinted towards the undead, valikon raised, and the Temnoti focused their powers towards him.

  At the last minute, he changed direction and leaped, soaring back towards the balcony. The power of his jump carried him about two-thirds of the way up, but Kylon drew on the sorcery of water, sheathing his left hand in frost. He slapped it against one of the marble pillars, and the frost held him fast, almost as if he had dipped his hand in powerful glue. Kylon heaved himself up, vaulted back over the railing, and landed on the balcony.

  Caina and Seb had slowed to watch him. The girl stared at him in astonishment, mouth hanging open. Evidently, like the Temnoti, she had never seen a Kyracian stormdancer before.

  “Go!” said Kylon in Caerish.

  Caina nodded, grabbed the girl’s shoulder, and urged her forward. The girl spun and ran after Caina, and Kylon hastened after them. With the sorcery of air, he could have outdistanced them, but he stayed close to his wife, watching for any sign of attack from the Temnoti below.

  The undead raced after them on the stairs, the robed Temnoti gliding after their undead servants.

  ###

  The air grew colder against Caina’s face. Ever since arriving in Sigilsoara, she had been breathing the stale, moldering air that filled the castle, but now the air smelled sharp and clear, like the wind on a cold winter’s night.

  Did that mean they were nearing the exit?

  Caina hoped so, because the aura of the castle was pulsing around them. The black veins were throbbing as if the heartbeat within them had quickened. If Caina, Kylon, Sophia, and the black-armored magus were still inside the castle when it plunged back into the netherworld, they were going to die.

  Unfortunately, the undead were keeping pace below them. They had outrun the robed Temnoti, but Caina could feel the creatures in pursuit. Perhaps the Temnoti planned to have their undead slow Caina and the others long enough to bring their sorcery to bear.

  “There!” shouted Sophia, pointing. “There is the way out!”

  At the end of the stairs was a wide gate, and beyond it, Caina saw a snowy forest, the trees bare, the night sky filled with a billion stars and the outline of mountains in the distance. Another set of narrow spiral stairs led from the balcony to the broad steps, but the undead had already reached the gate, dozens of them.

  “We’ll have to fight,” said Kylon. “Seb, follow me over the railing.” The man who bore a disturbing resemblance to Caina’s mother nodded and raised the black sword of battle magus. “Caina, go down the stairs with the girl. Then all four of us will run for the gate.”

  Caina nodded and lifted her right hand, calling her valikon back. Seb blinked at her in surprise and then turned his attention back to Kylon.

  “Go!” said Kylon.

  Her husband seized the railing and vaulted over it, his valikon trailing white fire, and landed among the undead like a thunderbolt, his sword darting back and forth and destroying a half-dozen undead warriors in the blink of an eye. Seb was slower, but Caina saw the glow of his psychokinetic sorcery, and he landed with a clatter of armor, cutting down two of the undead.

  “Come on!” said Caina, and she ran down the twisting stairs, Sophia following her. By the time they reached the bottom of the stairs, Kylon and Seb had cut down a score of undead between them.

  The gate was thirty yards away, the image of the icy forest starting to waver. The currents of power flowing through the castle were growing stronger, pulling Sigilsoara back to the netherworld.

  “Run!” said Caina.

  Kylon and Seb slashed their way free from the undead and sprinted towards the gate. Caina and Sophia followed suit, boots slapping against the broad steps of the grand corridor. The undead pursued, and the image of the forest grew brighter before Caina’s eyes.

  Then, all at once, she plunged through the gate, snow crunching around her feet as the others followed her.

  Caina whirled, valikon in hand, and looked back at Sigilsoara.

  She blinked in astonishment and revulsion at the sight.

  The castle was like something out of a nightmare, a twisted mixture of reality and demented fantasy. It was huge, so vast that it seemed to rise like a mountain, a fantastical pile of towers and keeps and battlements and turrets, its sides adorned with statues of countless winged monsters. It was larger than the Imperial Citadel, larger than the Golden Palace, larger than even the city of Malarae itself, and it was impossible, utterly impossible.

  It was also alive.

  Black veins throbbed through the outer walls and the towers were heavy with those strange growths. Sigilsoara looked like some towering, monstrous creature, like a horror risen out of the lightless depths of the sea to devour humanity. It radiated necromantic force, and through the gates, Caina saw the undead and the Temnoti rushing in pursuit.

  “Here they come!” said Seb, pointing his black sword.

  The necromantic aura surrounding Sigilsoara pulsed, and the towering fortress turned transparent. Caina saw the sorcerous power as Sigilsoara faded back into the netherworld. In a few heartbeats, the castle vanished entirely, with no hint that it had ever been there in the first place.

  Caina stood in a cold forest, snow on the ground around her, mountains rising in the distance. The sun was just rising over those mountains, which meant they were to the east. She looked at the others, saw Sophia wilt with relief, saw Kylon and Seb looking around the forest with watchful eyes.

  For a moment, they stood in silence.

  “Well,” said Seb. “Now what?”

  Chapter 6: Mother’s Indiscretions

  “I think,” said Caina, “that some introductions are in order.”

  Seb returned his black sword to its scabbard, which eased Caina’s tension somewhat. Against the horrors of Sigilsoara, they had all been allies, but now that they had escaped, she feared that Seb might prove hostile.

  “I quite agree, madam,” said Seb. His voice was deep and soft and a little hoarse. “Though I have a suspicion as to who you are.”

  “Oh?” said Caina, glancing at Kylon. “And who I am?”

  Seb gestured to Kylon. “Lord Kylon saved my life when the Adamant Guards cornered me. Quite recently, rumors had come out of Istarinmul about the downfall of the Grand Wazir and the rise of a new Padishah. One of those rumors said that Lord Kylon, Kyracian exile, had wed the notorious Ghost spy Caina Amalas after the ascension of the new Padishah. Of course, all sorts of strange rumors have come out of Istarinmul in the last three months. But given your…enthusiastic greeting of Lord Kylon in the grand corridor, the logical deduction is that you are in fact the Ghost agent known variously as C
aina Amalas or the Balarigar.”

  Caina sighed. So much for concealing her identity.

  “My full name,” she said, “would be Caina Amalas Tarshahzon Kardamnos. The new Padishah adopted me as his sister.”

  Seb raised his eyebrows. Sophia’s eyes went wider.

  “He did,” said Kylon. “I was there.”

  “I see,” said Seb. He offered a bow. “Then permit me to introduce myself, my lady. I am Sebastian Scorneus, a battle magus of the Imperial Magisterium. Until quite recently I was attached to the Legions fighting the Umbarians near Artifel…and then I happened to find myself here.”

  Scorneus? Caina knew that name. It was a noble family prominent in the eastern Empire, though she had never met any of them in person. A few years ago, before the Empire’s war with New Kyre had ended, her old circlemaster Halfdan had instructed Caina to disguise herself as the magus Rania Scorneus, saying that Caina resembled the woman a great deal.

  But as she looked at Sebastian, at his familiar features, Caina started to feel uneasy.

  Just why had Caina resembled Rania Scorneus a great deal?

  “How did you happen to find yourself in Sigilsoara, Master Sebastian?” said Caina.

  Seb laughed a little. “Alas, I fear I am not a master magus, but a simple battle magus. But in answer to your question, I was returning from a raid on the Umbarian positions near Artifel. A black vortex of shadow fell over me, and when it cleared, I found myself in Sigilsoara.”

  “I see,” said Caina.

  “As I have said, I have heard of you before, I confess,” said Seb.

  “Nothing complimentary, I assume,” said Caina.

  Seb hesitated. “Not particularly, no. But I never dreamed you were part of the family.”

  “The family?” said Caina.

  Seb gestured at his face, and then at Caina. “It is fairly obvious that we are related in some capacity.”

  “It could be a coincidence,” said Caina.

  “But a highly improbable one,” said Seb. “What was your father’s name, if I might inquire?”

  Caina hesitated. Secrecy was an old, old habit with her. Secrets were like armor.

  And yet…

  “My father’s name was Sebastian Amalas,” said Caina. “A Nighmarian noble from the Bay of Empire.”

  Seb let out a quiet, tired laugh. “And I am willing to hazard a guess as to your mother’s name.”

  “Go on,” said Caina.

  “Was your mother named Laeria Scorneus?”

  Kylon gave her a sharp look.

  Caina blinked, keeping the surprise from her face. “My mother was named Laeria, yes.” She had known that her mother must have had family somewhere, but Caina had never bothered to find them. Caina had never bothered because she hated her mother as profoundly as she had ever hated anyone. Even after all the horrors and tyrants and mad sorcerers she had seen, Caina still hated her mother more than anyone else.

  “Ah,” said Sebastian. “Well, my mother was named Laeria Scorneus. At the age of sixteen, after she was expelled from the Imperial Magisterium for insufficient skill, she married a brother of the Magisterium. My twin sister and I were the result. However, their marriage was an unhappy one, and Laeria left him for a noble of the western Empire. Evidently, she believed that he would obtain sufficient standing to force the Magisterium to take her back. She disappeared into obscurity, and the family never found out what happened to her. My sister and I were raised by our Aunt Talmania,” his mouth twisted a little at that name, “and by our Aunt Ariadne.”

  Caina stared at him, keeping the shock from her expression. She wanted to shout a denial at him, but the cold part of her mind, the part trained by the Ghosts and tempered by bitter experience, pointed out that his story rang true, that it matched what she knew of Laeria Amalas.

  Or Laeria Scorneus Amalas, as it happened.

  “Then, Lady Caina,” said Sophia, looking back and forth in bewilderment, “does that mean he is your…your brother?”

  “Half-brother, it would seem,” said Seb. He smiled a little. “I confess you look a great deal like a Scorneus woman, my lady.”

  “And what are Scorneus women known for?” said Caina. Her voice sounded odd in her ears.

  “Beauty,” said Seb, “black hair, blue eyes, and both remarkable intellect and equally remarkable ruthlessness. My mother…our mother was the youngest of seven sisters, and she was the only one who did not become a powerful magus, whether of the Magisterium or the Umbarians.”

  Six sisters? Did that mean there were six more women like Laeria Amalas loose in the world?

  Caina looked at Seb, and for a wild instant, she wanted to punch him.

  She forced back the emotion, shocked by the intensity of her own reaction. Seb had done nothing to her, and he had helped Kylon in Sigilsoara. Yet the knowledge that her mother had a family, a large and powerful family, disturbed Caina. It was irrational, but the thought of other people with her mother’s blood enraged her.

  Though in hindsight, it was not at all surprising that Laeria Amalas had neglected to tell Caina's father.

  Caina closed her eyes, trying to calm herself, annoyed that the news had affected her so profoundly.

  She opened her eyes to see the others watching her. Kylon stepped closer and took her hand, and she squeezed his fingers.

  “Is he telling the truth?” said Caina.

  “Ah,” said Seb. “One cannot lie to a Kyracian stormdancer.”

  “That’s just a myth,” said Kylon, “but…I think he’s telling the truth, Caina. And the Umbarians were trying to kill him when I found him.”

  “I did not intend to upset you,” said Seb. “I fear I am quite used to finding family in unexpected places. There are Scorneus cousins in half the cities of the eastern Empire.” He paused. “I suspect your relationship with Laeria was not a pleasant one.”

  Caina laughed a little. “No. No, it wasn’t.”

  “If it is a comfort,” said Seb, “I grew up detesting the woman. She abandoned us and left us to the tender care of Talmania Scorneus, who raised us to be weapons.” He hesitated. “Laeria is…not still alive, is she?”

  “No,” said Caina, remembering the poker from the fireplace, the sound that Laeria’s head had made when it bounced off her father’s desk. “She’s been dead for fourteen years. Nearly fifteen, now”

  “I see,” said Seb. She wondered how much he had deduced about her. Like Caina herself, he seemed to have a gift for it.

  “I suggest,” said Kylon, “that we focus first on the matter of survival. We are alone in a strange country without supplies, and if we don’t take action, we shall either starve or freeze to death.”

  “Yes,” said Caina, grateful for the suggestion. “Yes, that is a good idea.”

  “Agreed, Lord Kylon,” said Seb. “As to the matter of survival, I think we ought to first try to figure out how we got here and why. That black vortex brought all of us here…”

  “It didn’t, sir,” said Sophia. “Not me. I was lost in the woods and seeking shelter,” she gave the surrounding trees a wary glance, “and I ran into the gate of Sigilsoara to get away…to get away from some wolves.” That was a lie. Caina was sure of it. “Once I realized where I was, I tried to flee, but it was too late. The Temnoti and their undead would have killed me if not for Lady Caina.”

  “Forgive me!” said Seb. He offered a polite bow to Sophia. “We have not been introduced, madam. I am Sebastian Scorneus of the Imperial Magisterium, and I am delighted and pleased to make your acquaintance.”

  Sophia blinked, and she smiled a little. “My name is Sophia Zomanek of Kostiv, and I am pleased to meet you, sir.”

  “So,” said Seb, “of the four of us, three were brought to Sigilsoara by that vortex. Some sort of summoning spell, I would expect.”

  “Agreed,” said Caina.

  “But why the three of us?” said Seb. He gestured at Caina. “If you and I are indeed half-siblings, that would explain it. The common lin
k of blood. Though why Lord Kylon might be included, I don’t know.”

  Caina sighed. “I do. We were…close at the time.”

  Seb frowned. “Close?”

  “It was our wedding night,” said Caina.

  “Ah,” said Seb.

  “Wedding night?” said Sophia, puzzled. “What has that got to do with…” Then her eyes went wide as she understood, and her face turned a bright shade of red.

  And again, Caina saw that flicker of fear on Sophia’s expression.

  “I am less concerned about how we were brought here than why,” said Caina.

  Kylon frowned. “The sorcery of Sigilsoara? I have never seen anything like it. Or the Umbarians, maybe? I didn’t see any Umbarian magi in the fortress, but with the Adamant Guards, there had to have been Umbarian magi nearby.”

  “I did talk to one Umbarian inside Sigilsoara,” said Caina.

  “Really?” said Seb, surprised. “Did you happen to catch his name?”

  “Morett,” said Caina.

  Seb let out a long breath. “A necromancer of particular skill. And a close confidant of Aunt Talmania, I am afraid.”

  “Talmania is an Umbarian?” said Caina.

  “Not only is she an Umbarian,” said Seb, “she is one of the five Provosts who govern the Order.” He hesitated. “And my oldest aunt, Rania Scorneus, is the High Provost of the Umbarians.”

  “Oh.” That was just lovely. Not only did Caina have relatives from her mother’s family, but they were also high-ranking Umbarian magi.

  “Do you have any idea what Morett was doing in Sigilsoara?” said Seb.

  “I think,” said Caina, “he was looking for something. Some relic, some artifact of the Iron King.”

  Seb frowned. “I suppose he was trapped in Sigilsoara when it returned to the netherworld, the poor fool. I wonder if he found what he was looking for.”

  “I can say firsthand that he did not,” said Caina, remembering the iron ring with the emerald seal in her pocket.