###
“I’ll watch you,” said Corvalis.
Claudia took a deep breath, cleared her mind, and closed her eyes. She worked the spell to sense the presence of sorcery, and felt the icy power of the Dust Shades around her, the cold necromancy animating them. They were the echoes of violent death, created through murder, their touch empowered to kill.
And she felt the faint strands of power binding each of them, linking the creatures to the mind commanding their attacks.
Claudia probed the threads, following them back to their source. A web of threads covered the Dust Shades, a web centering…
Her eyes snapped open.
The web centered upon the roof a three-story house across the street. She tightened the focus of her spell, and detected the presence of masking sorcery. Whoever commanded the Dust Shades stood atop the roof of that house, concealed by a spell. Claudia thought she could unravel the spell.
Or could she launch a surprise attack instead?
“Harkus,” she said. “There, on the roof.” The Venator’s silver rod destroyed the Dust Shades by unraveling the spells upon them. Could his rod also dispel the cloaking spell? “Whoever is controlling the shadows is up there, hidden with sorcery.”
Harkus leveled his rod, and Claudia began another spell, summoning all the power she could hold. The pulse of silver light washed over the roof, and the air rippled.
Maena Tulvius appeared atop the house, eyes wide with surprise, a Dustblade in her right hand. Claudia flung her spell, her will and power transformed into a hammer of psychokinetic force strong enough to blast the sorceress from the rooftop. But Maena made a sweeping gesture with her free hand, and Claudia’s attack dissipated.
Maena was stronger and more skilled. But she looked so young. Where had she acquired her power?
###
Caina destroyed another Dust Shade, and the rest of the creatures backed off, moving into a circle.
She saw Maena standing atop the roof of a nearby house, her gown rippling in the wind, a Dustblade clutched in her right hand. The burns on her face had healed. Undoubtedly the Moroaica had taught her how to heal wounds with stolen life energy.
Maena beckoned, and the Dust Shades backed off, moving into a circle around Caina and the others.
“This is your doing?” said Caina, pointing the ghostsilver dagger. “How many people did you kill with those creatures?”
“Oh, several dozen, I imagine,” said Maena. “Maybe even as many as a hundred. The Dust Shades, alas, are quite easy to outrun. But with the proper tools, they’re easy to make. How many more do you think you can fight off?”
“Shouldn’t you be more worried about Anashir?” said Caina.
“Anashir is a fool,” said Maena, “and the Moroaica will deal with him when she is ready. But you, Ghost, you and your pet assassin and his idiot sister…I am going to deal with you.”
“Why?” said Claudia, bewildered. “I never even met you before you came to Calvarium.”
Maena laughed, her green eyes wide. “You still haven’t figured it out? You don’t know who I am? Or what the three of you did to me, how you reduced me to…this?” She waved a hand over herself. “But it doesn’t matter. My revenge will be just as sweet if you die in ignorance. Kill them!”
The mass of Dust Shades surged forward.
###
Kylon drew on the sorcery of water and air and charged into the Dust Shades.
He cut a path through them, the shadows unraveling into frozen dust beneath the touch of his blade. Behind him he heard the others struggling, saw the flashes of light as Claudia cast her spells and Harkus used his enspelled rod. But Kylon drew on his power and jumped, the strength of his water sorcery propelling him into the air.
He struck the house’s second story, catching on to the shutters of a window. Another moment to brace himself, and Kylon jumped off the wall, using all his power over air and water to enhance his leap.
His momentum carried him to the roof, and Maena whirled to face him, her eyes wide with surprise. She slashed with the Dustblade, its bloodcrystal flaring, and Kylon parried. He stepped back, intending to run his sword through her, but Maena thrust her free hand.
Invisible force slammed into him and threw him backwards. He tumbled over the edge of the roof and caught it with his free hand, dangling over the street forty feet below.
###
“Harkus!” said Caina. “Crossbow!”
Harkus raised his crossbow, slamming a bolt into the weapon and drawing back the crank. Kylon held Maena’s full attention, but if Harkus could put a crossbow bolt into sorceress, it would end the battle.
Kylon stumbled back, dangling over the street. Maena loomed over him, the Dustblade raised to strike. Harkus leveled his crossbow and squeezed the trigger. The bolt slammed into Maena’s belly and shattered in a spray of sparks, destroyed by the power of her warding spell. Yet the force of the impact knocked her back, her eyes wide with surprise.
Kylon heaved himself back to the roof, and Maena screamed and threw out her hands. Force erupted in all directions, ripping hundreds of tiles from the roof and flinging Kylon into the air. He spun head over heels, righted himself, and landed in the street, and Caina sensed the power of water sorcery absorb his fall.
“Perish!” Maena screamed, casting another spell. “All of you, perish…”
A blast of white fire ripped through the street. It passed through Caina, leaving her untouched, but tore a score of Dust Shades to wispy shreds.
Talekhris strode towards them, his expression grim, his tattered coat blowing around him. The silver rod of a Sage gleamed in his hand, and Caina sensed arcane power spiking around him, more and more.
A hint of fear went over Maena’s expression.
“Come, slave of the Moroaica!” said Talekhris. “You could not even defeat these children! Do you think you can face me and live?”
Maena threw the Dustblade into the street and ran. At once the Dust Shades lost their coherence, drifting in different directions. Caina ran forward, her eyes on the Dustblade. If those Dust Shades were not stopped, they might wind up killing half of the population of Calvarium.
Caina came to the Dustblade, the weapon’s bloodcrystal flickering with green light. She dropped to one knee and drove her ghostsilver dagger into the bloodcrystal. The Dustblade loosed a hideous metallic scream. The bloodcrystal crumbled into black ash, and the blade withered like a leaf tossed into a fire.
The Dust Shades rippled and vanished.
Caina let out a long breath and got to her feet, wiping the sweat from her forehead. Kylon shot past her in a blur, and she realized he was in pursuit of Maena.
She turned and saw that Claudia, Corvalis, Komnene, and Harkus were all still alive, thank the gods. Corvalis shook his sword, the last of the yellow flames fading away.
“What the devil did you put on my sword?” he said. “Not that I object. Your timing probably saved our lives. Did you cast a spell on it?”
Komnene chuckled. “I did not. I smeared grease upon the blade and set it aflame. The grease was made from the graveflower, a plant that grows in the Arthagi lands beyond the Imperial Pale. It is useful for treating fevers and delirium, but the Arthagi believe that when burned, it drives away evil spirits.” She tapped her cane against the street. “Apparently, they were correct.”
“Apparently,” said Caina, and Kylon returned from the alley. “Did you catch her?”
Kylon shook his head. “I think she used that masking spell again. If I had Claudia’s help, I could find her, but likely she has fled back to her camp by now. What did you do to her? She seems absolutely determined to see you dead. She hates you…and Corvalis and Claudia, as well.”
“I don’t know,” said Caina in frustration. “I would swear I had never seen her before Calvarium.”
She turned as Talekhris limped closer, his expression grim.
“Sage,” said Harkus with a bow.
“Good timing,” said Caina.
>
Talekhris nodded, his blue eyes fixed on the damaged roof, and rubbed his hand over the stubble on his chin.
“Can you track her?” said Caina.
“Aye,” said Talekhris, “though I can’t strike at her from this distance.” His eyes narrowed. “She’s…fleeing back to her camp, I think.”
Caina nodded. “Good.”
Talekhris raised an eyebrow. “Is it?”
“I hope to assault her camp tonight,” said Caina, “with the help of the Order and of Lord Martin’s militia. And with the help of your sorcery. Maena is powerful, and she has Sicarion with her.” She told him her suspicions of the Ascendant Bloodcrystal, of a Great Necromancer lurking in the hills. “If we kill Maena, likely Anashir and Rhames will come to blows. And then we can destroy the victor while he is weakened, and ensure no one ever claims the crystal.”
“Very well,” said Talekhris. “The men of the Order will assist you, as will I.” He shook his head. “If Maena was desperate enough to launch an attack upon the town, the gods only know what she might attempt next. The sooner we keep her from reaching the Ascendant Bloodcrystal, the better. I will…”
“Hold!”
A column of militiamen marched down the street, spears and shields in hand. Lord Martin Dorius strode at their head, his expression grim beneath his plumed helm. He stopped a few paces away and raised his hand, and the militiamen came to a halt behind him. Most of the men looked terrified.
“Lord Governor,” said Caina.
“Mistress Rania,” said Martin. His eyes turned to Claudia, and his expression softened, though not by very much. “Mistress Claudia.” He looked back at Caina. “We need to have words, the two of us. Immediately.”
Chapter 20 - The Ultimatum
Caina led the way into Komnene’s shop, and Martin followed her.
Claudia walked after them, her heart hammering. She felt faint from the amount of arcane power she had expended during the fight, though her strength was beginning to come back. Martin pulled off his helmet and tucked it under one arm, his expression grim with anger.
“At least a hundred and fifty people are dead,” he said. “Likely more. Those damned shadows or wraiths or whatever they are swarmed through the northern wall. We had no weapons that could touch them. Fortunately, they didn’t seem interested in my militiamen or the townsmen. If anyone got in their way, they killed with a single touch…but they seemed to have a single goal. The shop of Mistress Komnene.”
“I’m sorry,” said Caina.
“Why?” said Martin, slamming one hand against a table. Claudia jumped a bit at the noise. “Why? One hundred and fifty people, Mistress Rania. What am I to tell their families? That they died in a quarrel between sorcerers?”
Caina’s expression gave away nothing. “I am sorry that those men and women died, Lord Martin. But, yes, that is correct. They died in a quarrel between sorcerers.”
Martin scowled. “Was this in reprisal for our trick with the plague?”
“Possibly,” said Caina. “We annoyed Maena, and she wants me dead quite badly.”
“So then I have the Magisterium waging war against a renegade in my province,” said Martin, “and the people under my protection are dying.”
“Their blood is upon Maena’s hands,” said Caina.
“And yours, magus,” said Martin. “If you had warned me this might happen…”
“I did not know this might happen,” said Caina. “I knew Maena was unstable and reckless, but I did not think she would try anything like this, not when she was so close to her goal. I did not even think she had the power to command Dust Shades, though it should have been obvious in hindsight.”
“Yes, our errors are always obvious in hindsight, are they not?” said Martin. “A hundred and fifty dead. Pity we did not think of a way to prevent that.”
“Yes, it is,” said Caina. “But more people, many more people, are going to die if we do not…”
“What use have you been, Rania Scorneus?” said Martin. “You said you would help me against Maena and Anashir. Instead you have accomplished exactly nothing, and gotten over a hundred people killed in the process.”
“If we do not…”
“Enough,” said Martin, his voice weary. “Rania Scorneus, by my authority as Lord Governor of Caeria Ulterior, I hereby banish you from the province. You and your retainers are to depart Calvarium immediately. If you are found anywhere within Caeria Ulterior after five days, I will have you arrested.”
For a long moment Caina said nothing, and Claudia wondered if she intended to kill the Lord Governor.
“Very well,” said Caina at last. She turned towards the door.
“Wait!” said Claudia.
Martin looked at her, and Caina stopped.
“Perhaps it is time to tell the truth,” said Claudia.
“I have already told the Lord Governor everything he needs to know, and he has made his decision,” said Caina in the cold voice of Rania, a dangerous glint in her eyes. For a moment Claudia quailed, remembering the near disaster in Catekharon when she had relied upon her own judgment. But those damned Dust Shades had killed too many people, and many more might perish if the Moroaica and Maena took the Ascendant Bloodcrystal.
Claudia did not want any more deaths upon her conscience. And she believed that Martin was a good man, that he would do the right thing.
“She’s not really a magus,” said Claudia before her courage failed. “She’s a Ghost, like I am.” Caina’s eyes narrowed. “Mistress Komnene wrote letters to the high circlemasters in Malarae, asking them for help against the cult of Anubankh and Anashir and Maena.”
Martin blinked. “Is this true?”
Caina sighed. “It is. I am no more a magus than I am the Emperor.”
“But the penalty…do you know what the Magisterium does to those who impersonate a magus?” said Martin.
“I’ve heard, yes,” said Caina. “It’s not pleasant.”
“Yet you did it anyway?” said Martin. “Why?”
“Because it is necessary,” said Caina. “You saw what happened today, my lord Martin. Over a hundred and fifty people dead at the hands of the Dust Shades. But it could have been worse, much worse. I told you about the attack in Malarae, and the Dust Shades killed many people in New Kyre.”
Martin nodded. “Which is why Lord Milartes is really here, I suppose.”
“Yes,” said Caina. “Please don’t have him executed as a spy. He’s been quite helpful. But listen to me. Those attacks in New Kyre and Malarae, the attack here…that is why I came to Calvarium. Do you know what an Ascendant Bloodcrystal is?”
Martin shook his head. “I’m sure I’ve heard but the term, but I am neither a scholar nor a sorcerer.” He snorted. “Nor a Ghost.”
“It is a weapon of sorcery from the Fourth Empire,” said Caina. “When used, it will kill every man, woman, and child within five hundred miles. That, incidentally, is what happened to Caer Magia. The magi created the weapon, and accidentally destroyed themselves.”
“Which is why death comes to those who enter Caer Magia,” said Martin. “The weapon is still active.”
“You see keenly,” said Caina. “Maena and Anashir both want to claim the weapon for themselves, and a necromancer of great power commands the cultists of Anubankh, dreaming of taking the bloodcrystal and using it to rebuild the Kingdom of the Rising Sun. And that, my lord, is why I have come to Calvarium, and why I lied to you about my identity. People have died, yes. But many more, more than any man could count, will die if Maena or Anashir or the cultists lay hands upon the Ascendant Bloodcrystal.”
“And you came to stop them,” said Martin.
“I didn’t realize what was truly inside Caer Magia, not at first,” said Caina. “But once I did…my lord, I shall be blunt. If you expel Rania Scorneus from the province, I shall simply take a new disguise and remain. The stakes are far too high.”
Martin shrugged. “How could I expel Rania Scorneus, given that she is
not really here? I pray that you never met her in the flesh, Ghost. I imagine a magus will not be pleased to have her identity stolen by a spy.”
“The Ghosts and the magi have been enemies for centuries,” said Caina.
“Indeed.” Martin looked out the ruined door, at the militiamen and the others waiting in the street. “Why are you telling me this? Entrusting me with your secrets?”
Caina gave Claudia a cold look. “I had no wish to tell you any of it.”
Claudia took a deep breath. “Because you are a good man.”
Martin looked away from the street. “What did you say?”
“Because you are a good man,” said Claudia. “I know I am a failure, and I know you think yourself one, but you are wrong. You said Legionaries died because you defied Conn Maraeus’s commands.”
“They did,” said Martin, “and that certainly does not make me a good man.”
“Don’t you see?” said Claudia. “You defied the commands because you thought they were wrong. Not to seize glory for yourself, or to undercut Lord Conn or Lord Corbould. You did what you thought was right, and you accepted the consequences without complaint.”
Martin said nothing.
Claudia stepped closer. “And here are some of the consequences, my lord. Lord Corbould thought to give you an unimportant position…but it’s not. There is a weapon in Caer Magia that could kill half the world, and it’s about to fall into the hands of someone like Maena Tulvius. Countless people might die, the entire Empire might fall, and those lives are in your hands.”
“You exaggerate,” said Martin.
“She does not,” said Caina. “You saw what a few hundred Dust Shades could do. Imagine a million of them covering the land like a storm. Or everyone living in the Imperial capital dropping dead in the space between two heartbeats. That is within the power of the Ascendant Bloodcrystal.”
“My lord,” said Claudia, “I know you are an honorable man. I know you will not turn from your responsibilities, even when those responsibilities are thrust unfairly upon you. And right now, you find yourself with the lives of the entire Empire in your hands.”
Jonathan Moeller - The Ghosts 08 - Ghost in the Mask Page 22
