Jonathan Moeller - The Ghosts 08 - Ghost in the Mask

by Jonathan Moeller

  “I agree with Lord Martin,” said Kylon, and Jadriga and Sicarion looked at him. “You speak noble-sounding words. But I have seen the results of your deeds. You corrupted Andromache and sent her to her death. You created this…creature Sicarion and sent him to murder your enemies. I imagine any bold new world you create will resemble Sicarion himself…scarred, deformed, and utterly without mercy or scruple.”

  Sicarion laughed. “Such a fine speech.”

  “Andromache made her choices freely,” said Jadriga. “When you were young, when the enemies of your House came for your blood, she was most eager for the power I could impart. It is hardly my doing that she chose the path of destruction.”

  “Is every word upon your forked tongue a lie?” said Kylon. Caina had rarely seen him so angry. “You intended her to be a host for your disciple Scorikhon.”

  “Just,” said Caina, “as you put Ranarius’s spirit into the body of Maena Tulvius?”

  Claudia’s eyes widened, and she stepped away from Maena’s prone form.

  “That’s him?” she whispered. “Ranarius?”

  Maena cackled, flecks of blood flying from her lips. “The expression…when the Defender imprisoned you in the stone…it was…”

  “Enough,” said Jadriga. “Time is fleeting. I offer you a choice. Assist me against Rhames. Or get out of my way. Choose whatever you think best. But if you try to stop me, I will destroy you utterly.”

  “Or we shall stop you,” said Harkus. “The Order of the Venatorii has killed you before.”

  “With the aid of Talekhris,” said the Moroaica.

  Sicarion laughed. “He’s unlikely to be of use for a few days.”

  “But you shall have my aid,” said Kylon.

  “And mine,” said Claudia, flexing her hands to prepare a spell.

  “Then I will simply kill you all,” said the Moroaica, lifting her hands. Green fire blazed to life around her fingers. Sicarion pointed his blades, while Kylon and Martin and Harkus raised their weapons, and Claudia began casting a spell.

  “Caina,” said Corvalis.

  “Actually,” said Caina, striding between the Moroaica and Harkus, “you are going to do none of those things.”

  They stared at her. The shock and dread of the Moroaica’s appearance still churned within her, but Caina’s brain had started working again, and she suspected what was happening.

  “You doubt my power, child of the Ghosts?” said Jadriga, her face ghostly in the glow from her hands.

  “I don’t,” said Caina, looking at Martin, “but if she had wanted us dead, she could have let Rhames kill us. Why bother rescuing us at all, if she knew we would oppose her?”

  They had no answer for that.

  “Because,” said Caina, turning back to Jadriga, “I suspect Rhames is stronger than she is…and she isn’t sure she can defeat him without help.”

  Silence answered her.

  “No,” said Jadriga at last. “I am not sure.”

  Caina was stunned. She had never met a wielder of arcane force more powerful than Jadriga. And if the Moroaica did not think she could defeat Rhames…

  “I studied the arts of the Great Necromancers for centuries,” said Jadriga, “imprisoned in the pharaoh’s tomb, but Rhames learned his arts while he was still a living man. That gives him an advantage I cannot match. If I challenge him, I might prevail, or he might crush me utterly.”

  “How is he still alive…well, Undying?” said Caina. “I thought you would have destroyed him, after what he did to you.”

  She remembered Jadriga screaming in the streets of the long-dead city, remembered her father’s blood pooling upon the gleaming white street.

  “I thought I did as well,” said the Moroaica. “Seven canopic jars he had. Heart, lungs, kidneys, stomach, and liver, and I destroyed all seven. But one must have been a decoy. Just one would have been enough, would have allowed him to inhabit a corpse once more.”

  “And so he came to the Empire,” said Caina, “to rebuild Maat, and to take his vengeance upon you.”

  “Yes,” said the Moroaica. “We have only one advantage, Ghost. Rhames does not know I am here. He thought he only faced my servants and the Ghosts. He thinks his victory is at hand.” She gazed at the dark mass of Caer Magia atop its hill. “Even now he unravels the final wards surrounding the Chamber of Ascension. I must act quickly to stop him.” Her stolen blue eyes turned back to Caina. “Will you aid me, Ghost, or will you hinder me?”

  Caina said nothing, her mind racing through the different paths before her.

  Jadriga had aided her in past, but only because it suited her purpose. Caina had no doubt that if Rhames was defeated, the Moroaica would seize the Ascendant Bloodcrystal and destroy anyone who opposed her. She had to be stopped.

  And yet…

  Rhames was a Great Necromancer of Maat. A single scroll of Maatish sorcery had killed Caina’s father and almost slain everyone in Malarae. Andromache’s pursuit of the Maatish sorcery within the Tomb of Scorikhon had almost destroyed Marsis. Mihaela had used it to create her ghastly Forge in the Tower of Study. And Caina knew that the pharaohs of old Maat had commanded vast armies of corpses, held entire nations in slavery, and wreaked sorcerous destruction on a scale that made the Magisterium look like a collection of petulant children.

  And all of those ancient horrors would return if Rhames took the crystal.

  “Yes,” said the Moroaica. “You understand what is at stake.”

  “If we defeat Rhames,” said Caina, “I will find a way to destroy the Ascendant Bloodcrystal.”

  “Stabbing it with your ghostsilver dagger would be sufficient,” said Jadriga. “For all its power, it has little defense against certain forms of attack. But it does not matter. If we defeat Rhames…and his defeat is by no means guaranteed…then we can contest each other.”

  “You are not seriously considering aiding this…this creature?” said Martin.

  “If Rhames takes the bloodcrystal, he will use it at once,” said Caina, the words raw in her throat. “It will kill everyone in Calvarium. And in Caeria Ulterior and the other Caerish provinces. Their corpses will rise as undead servants and Dust Shades, and Rhames will use them to conquer the Empire.”

  Jadriga gave a slow nod. “You understand.”

  “The Ghosts will help you,” said Caina, “and the others, if they give their consent.”

  Kylon nodded, and Lord Martin and Harkus both grumbled assent. They were not happy…but neither was Caina.

  Yet they all saw the threat from Rhames, from the horrors he threatened to wake.

  “Good,” said the Moroaica. “Let us proceed to Caer Magia at once.”

  “But first,” said Caina, “some questions.”

  Jadriga looked almost amused. “Questions? The world is about to burn, and you take time for questions? I am not surprised. Very well. What do you want to know?”

  “Rhames is dead,” said Caina. “How do you kill one of the Undying?”

  “You cannot,” said Jadriga. “He is already dead. You can destroy him, however. He has one canopic jar remaining, holding one of his mummified organs. Find and destroy that jar, and his spirit will no longer be able to maintain a hold on a physical body.”

  “So,” said Caina. “How do we find the jar? Is the damned thing still in Maat?”

  “Almost certainly not,” said Jadriga. “He will keep it nearby. His powers wane if he is too far away from it. Likely he has it on his person, or protected by powerful guardians. In all probability, it is with his seset-kadahn.”

  “The seset-kadahn,” said Caina. “What is he? A living man enhanced by sorcery? Or an undead thing?”

  “It is one of the Undying,” said Jadriga. “The term ‘seset-kadahn’ is Maatish, and merely means ‘swordbearer’ or ‘unwavering guardian’. The Great Necromancers used to create them to act as incorruptible bodyguards of unswerving loyalty. They are faster and stronger than normal men. Steel can harm them, but they regenerate wounds quite qui
ckly, and the creatures are immune to most forms of sorcery. Additionally, the seset-kadahn cannot be destroyed. It can only be destroyed by the destruction of its master.”

  “Then the entire time we are fighting Rhames,” said Caina, “this thing will be trying to kill us.”

  “Correct,” said Jadriga. “However, I will fight Rhames. All of you put together would not stand a chance against him. You shall keep his servants from killing me while I fight him. He has hundreds of his cultists, and he most likely will command the undead of the city to aid him.”

  “Then how can we possibly prevail against such a foe?” said Martin.

  “We find his canopic jar,” said Jadriga, “and destroy it. Perhaps I can destroy it while fighting him. Or one of you shall locate it and destroy it during the fighting. If you have a better plan, Lord Governor, now is the time to suggest it.”

  Martin shook his head.

  “One final question,” said Caina. “How do we keep the Ascendant Bloodcrystal’s aura from killing us the minute we cross the Henge?”

  “Like this,” said Jadriga, lifting her hands.

  Green fire flared around her fingers, and Caina raised her dagger as a pulse of green light erupted from the Moroaica’s fingers. Caina felt the surge of power, some of it sinking into her very bones. The others flinched or stepped back.

  “You are now shielded from the crystal’s aura,” said Jadriga. “The spell will last for one day. I expect the battle will be decided long before that.”

  “Will Rhames not simply dispel the ward?” said Corvalis, looking at his fingers as if he expected them to glow.

  The Moroaica looked at him, and again that hint of affection appeared there. It came and went quickly, but Caina saw it.

  “A good thought,” said Jadriga, “but no. It is not a ward, but a minor alteration to your blood. It cannot be reversed. The Great Necromancers used to cast it upon slaves, to shield them from the effects of their spells.”

  “Charming,” said Corvalis, and the Moroaica looked away.

  “We had better go,” said Caina. “Maena did some damage to the wards around the Chamber of Ascension, and I don’t think it will take Rhames long to unravel the rest.”

  “Yes,” said Jadriga. “But we shall need all the allies we can obtain. Even unreliable ones.”

  She walked across the grass, Sicarion trailing after her like a shadow. The others watched her, but Jadriga paid them no heed.

  She stopped over Maena.

  “Ranarius,” she said.

  “Mistress,” whispered Maena, “I didn’t…I didn’t betray you, I did as you commanded, I…”

  “I know,” said Jadriga. “And I still have need of your skill. Which is why I am doing this.”

  She stooped, placed a hand upon Maena’s forehead, and cast a spell. Green light flared, washing over Maena’s body, and the sorceress threw back her head and screamed. The light faded, and when it cleared Caina saw that the ghastly dagger wound in Maena’s belly had closed.

  Jadriga turned away, and Maena stood.

  “So,” Maena whispered, her eyes moving from Claudia to Caina and back again. “We are all friends now, hmm?”

  “Don’t come near me,” said Claudia.

  Maena smiled. “Why, little Claudia Aberon. Are you surprised that you know who I am? Why not…”

  Corvalis’s sword came to rest at Maena’s throat. “Betray us and I will kill you on the spot. I never got to kill you for what you did to Claudia…but sometimes life offers second chances, eh?”

  Maena glared at him, her eyes like green knives.

  “Ranarius was a prideful and disobedient man,” said Jadriga. “Maena is my loyal and obedient servant. She will do as I command, will she not?”

  Some of the rage drained from Maena’s face, replaced by fear. “Yes, mistress.”

  Sicarion’s rusty laugh cut into Caina’s ears. “Like a good little girl. Perhaps she should get a pat on the head.”

  The rage returned to Maena’s expression.

  “Speaking of disloyalty,” said Corvalis, lowering his sword and facing Sicarion, “why are you still with the Moroaica? All you care about is killing, and Rhames is going to kill a lot of people.”

  Sicarion sneered. “Rhames will bring order. The mistress brings chaos, and in chaos there is more chance for killing. And her great work will kill the world.” He grinned. “That, and Rhames would kill me simply because I have served the mistress for all these centuries.”

  “Are your questions satisfied?” said Jadriga. “Then let us proceed at once.” She took a deep breath, and to her surprise, Caina saw a hint of fear on her features. “Rhames awaits.”

  The Moroaica started towards Caer Magia, Sicarion and Maena trailing her, and Caina and the others followed.

  Chapter 24 - Fury

  Caer Magia’s dark aura washed over Caina the moment she crossed the Henge.

  Its icy fingers reached for her heart, yet this time they did not close around her. Jadriga’s spell had proven effective. Caina felt the aura thundering around her, but it could not harm her.

  And the aura was fluctuating. It pulsed, growing stronger one moment and weaker the next.

  “Jadriga,” said Caina.

  The Moroaica glanced at her, Sicarion a dark shadow at her side.

  “Do you feel that?” said Caina.

  Jadriga nodded. “Rhames is collapsing the final wards.” She turned back to face Caer Magia. “We should hasten.”

  They climbed the slope, drawing closer to the gates of the dead city.

  ###

  Claudia kept near to Corvalis and Martin, but she never took her eyes from Maena.

  The red-haired woman walked close behind the Moroaica. From time to time she looked at Claudia, a smirk on her lips before she turned her head. Maena would not try anything, not with the Moroaica and Sicarion nearby.

  But Maena would try to kill Claudia the moment she thought she could get away with it, or she would try to kill Corvalis in front of her.

  But Claudia would not allow it.

  She had spent years terrified of Ranarius. Her father had used the master magus to chastise his enemies. So she had prepared, teaching herself spells to ward against elementals, preparing to flee Artifel, even the boundaries of the Empire itself.

  And it had all been for nothing. Ranarius had found her and turned her to a statue, and Claudia would have spent eternity as stone if not for Corvalis and Caina.

  And she vowed it would not happen again.

  Oddly, she felt no fear for herself. Well, maybe a little. But she was far more concerned about what might happened to Corvalis. He had saved her, and she would return the favor. She would not let Maena harm him.

  “Claudia Aberon.”

  The Moroaica’s cold voice cut into her thoughts.

  The Moroaica beckoned to her. Claudia hesitated, and glanced at Caina. The Ghost nodded, and Claudia walked to the Moroaica’s side.

  To her relief, both Lord Martin and Corvalis accompanied her. If the Moroaica decided to kill her, they could do nothing to stop her. Yet their presence made her feel better nonetheless.

  “Ranarius,” said the Moroaica. “Join us.”

  Maena sneered, but obeyed with haste. Corvalis and Martin kept their hands upon their sword.

  “I shall require your help,” said the Moroaica. “Both of you.”

  “What do you want?” said Claudia, her eyes moving from the Moroaica to Sicarion to Maena and back again. “I’m not going to become your disciple, if that’s what you want.”

  To her surprise, the Moroaica smiled. “The thought had not crossed my mind. But I will require my full power to confront Rhames. You will need to defend me from attacks.”

  “From Rhames’s attacks, you mean,” said Claudia. “Can’t you just ward yourself?”

  “Not if my attacks are to have sufficient power to penetrate his warding spells,” said the Moroaica. “I dare not divide my power between spells of attack and defense.”


  “If Rhames is so powerful,” said Claudia, “then why do you need my help? I’m not powerful. My abilities with sorcery are only average at best.”

  “Just as your father was a mediocrity,” said Maena with a smile, “so too are you a mediocrity, Claudia Aberon. A fool, useful for nothing. The spells of a master magus will prove far more robust.”

  “The spells of a master magus,” said the Moroaica, “will prove no impediment to the spells of Rhames. From the perspective of a Great Necromancer, there is no practical difference in power between you and Claudia.”

  Maena’s smirk soured.

  “But your defenses will slow his attacks,” said the Moroaica, “giving me the time I need to strike back.”

  Claudia hesitated, looked back at Caina, and saw her nod.

  “All right,” said Claudia.

  “Yes,” said Maena, her eyes glittering. “I look forward to fighting at your side.”

  ###

  Kylon walked in silence behind the others, his senses burning within him.

  He felt the tremendous power of the Ascendant Bloodcrystal, covering the hill in its aura like a cloud of poison. And he sensed potent sorcery crackling around the Moroaica. The ancient sorceress had summoned her full power, sheathing herself in mighty wards. She carried enough power to shatter armies.

  And she still thought it not enough to defeat Rhames.

  What kind of sorcerous might did a Great Necromancer of Maat wield?

  He wanted to kill her. She had corrupted Andromache, had spread centuries of misery around the world, and the gods only knew what else she might do. But Kylon stayed his hand. For one thing, if he attacked her, the Moroaica would crush him like an insect.

  And he needed her help to save Thalastre.

  If Rhames was more powerful than the Moroaica, then Kylon had no chance of entering Caer Magia and retrieving a blue bloodcrystal on his own. Previously his best chance of success had lain with Caina and the Ghosts.