The Ghosts Omnibus One
Page 92
“Give in, child,” murmured Jadriga, her palm pressing against Caina’s forehead. “It will simply be easier that way.”
Caina screamed and screamed, the room blurring as her focus and her thoughts unraveled. She heard Jadriga’s voice thundering inside her skull.
And then another voice.
Lydia’s voice.
No!
Jadriga’s eyes widened in sudden alarm.
Lydia’s shade stood between them, and then the specter plunged into Jadriga’s chest. Jadriga reeled back with a strangled shriek. Her mental presence vanished, and Caina fell to the floor in a heap. She clawed back to her feet, dizzy and reeling from Jadriga’s mental assault.
You killed me!
Jadriga herself staggered back, eyes bulging, face twisted in pain, palms pressed to her temples. She looked as if she was locked in some brutal internal struggle. It was Lydia, Caina realized. Jadriga had lowered her mental defenses to invade Caina’s mind, leaving her vulnerable to Lydia’s attack.
You ruined my mother!
And it was Caina’s last chance.
She reached down, snatched up the bloodstained ghostsilver dagger, and sprang at Jadriga. Jadriga raised her hands to cast a spell, but Lydia had distracted her too much, and Caina was too fast. She crashed into Jadriga, driving her back, her arm pumping and driving the blade into her chest again and again. Blood splashed, and Jadriga fell back, grabbing at a pillar for support, stumbling over the green warding sigils.
You will not hurt her!
Jadriga howled, and thrust out her arm. Power hammered out, caught Caina in the stomach, and flung her to the floor. Jadriga’s eyes blazed, and she lifted her hand, green light crackling around her fingertips.
Behind her, the pit began to boil.
Jadriga frowned, looked to the side. Blood trickled down her arm, falling to the floor. It oozed past the glowing sigils in a steady stream.
Drop by drop, her blood trickled into the pit.
And tentacles of shadow rose from the depths.
Jadriga whirled in alarm, the green fire around her fingers brightening. But it was too late. The shadow-tentacles wrapped around her, pinning her arms to her torso, binding her legs together. Jadriga tried to fight, tried to break free, tried to cast a spell, but it was useless.
The fallen angels were too strong for her, just as Tanya had warned.
Then the tentacles contracted, dragging Jadriga towards the pit. She screamed once, grabbed at the edge of the pit, tumbled over the broken edge, and vanished. Harsh red light flared from the pit’s depths, and the chamber shuddered and groaned.
And then silence. The tentacles vanished, and the sense of malevolence slowly faded. The warding sigils around the pit winked out one by one. Caina climbed to her feet, her body aching, her head pounding, and limped to the edge of the pit.
Deep in its depths, she saw the hellish light, felt the distance presence of a powerful, hateful force. But it was far away.
The fallen angels were secure in their prison.
And Jadriga was with them.
Caina turned away.
Lydia Palaegus stood behind her, no longer sorrowing, a smile lighting her face. Her father stood behind her, hand resting on her shoulder. Other shades stood behind them, hundreds, thousands, filling the chamber. All of them smiling, all of them at peace.
The shades of Jadriga’s victims, Caina realized. The unavenged dead. Or, rather, the newly avenged dead.
Thank you.
“Our deaths have not been in vain,” said Lord Martin Palaegus, his voice thin and wavering. He stooped and picked up his daughter. “Terrible evil has been averted. Millions yet unborn would have suffered, if the Moroaica had opened the great prison.”
“I thought…” said Caina. “I thought you stayed because you had been murdered, because you were unavenged…”
“No,” said Lord Palaegus. “To stop the Moroaica. That is why we stayed. To stop the evil she would have done. And you have stopped her. Thank you.”
“No, thank you,” said Caina, shaking her head. “I would have died here, if not for Lydia. And Jadriga would have twisted me into a creature like her, if not for Lydia. Thank you.” She looked at the thousands of specters with something like awe. “Farewell.”
Farewell.
“Until we meet again,” said Lord Palaegus, “in the green country where strength does not fade and the tree does not wither.”
Lydia lifted her hand and smiled. The shades wavered, shimmering like mirages caught in the sun. And then they were gone. The chamber was empty and dark, the only light coming from the massive braziers in the walls, and the faint bloody glow in the pit.
It was over. It was finally over. Caina could not remember the last time she had been so tired.
But there was still work to do.
Caina retrieved her mask and cloak, collected her remaining weapons from the floor, and walked to the stone slab. Nicolai lay there, untouched from the fury of the battle. Caina unlocked the collar from his neck and threw it away. Nicolai drew in a shuddering breath and looked up, panic his eyes.
“Mother?” he said. “No! I…I…” He frowned. “You’re not the Moroaica. You’re the man my mother met yesterday.”
“Yes,” said Caina. “The Moroaica is dead. And your mother and father are waiting for you.”
Nicolai’s eyes widened. “But…my father. My father is dead. He died when I was a baby.”
Caina shook her head, too tired to argue, and scooped the child up in her arms. Nicolai made no effort to resist. She carried him out of the pit chamber, past the room of numb-faced slaves. She would return for them soon enough. The corridor’s black walls were now smooth and dark, the green light gone. Ark lay slumped against the wall, Tanya at his side, clutching one of his hands in both of hers.
Tanya scrambled to her feet as Caina approached. Ark tried to stand, failed, and settled for drawing his sword.
“Caina?” said Tanya. Her hands flew to her mouth. “Nicolai?”
“He’s fine,” said Caina, passing the child to Tanya. She sagged to the ground, staring at her son in shock.
“And…and the Moroaica?” said Tanya.
“Dead,” said Caina.
Or close to it, at least.
“I don’t…I don’t…” whispered Tanya. She was crying. “I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it. This…this has to be a dream. You couldn’t have killed the Moroaica…it’s not…it’s not possible…”
“It is,” said Caina. “You have your son and husband back. You’re free.”
Tanya clutched Nicolai and began to sob. Ark dragged himself to their side, caught both his wife and his son in his arms. There were tears on his face, she saw, on that hard, cold face. She had seen him in rage, in pain, in grief.
But she had never seen him cry. Not even once.
“Thank you,” said Ark.
Caina grinned behind her mask, and went to help pry the portcullis open.
Chapter 26 - Reunion
As it happened, it took close to three hours, not one, to hammer an opening in the massive portcullis. In the end Ducas dispatched some men back to the barracks to retrieve hammers and crowbars, and only then did they at last force an opening. The Legionaries swarmed into the corridor, following Hiram’s and Ducas’s shouted orders. More than one of the dead mercenaries had carried rune keys, and the Legionaries set to work freeing the slaves.
“Well?” said Halfdan, when he and Radast came face to face with Caina.
“It’s over,” she said. “Jadriga’s dead. I…caught her off guard, and knocked her into the pit.”
She did not think Halfdan would believe what had really happened.
“Well done,” said Halfdan.
Caina shook her head. “It was…” If it not for Lydia, the fight would have ended in her death, or worse. “It was a close thing.”
“Was the crossbow useful?” said Radast.
“Yes,” said Caina. She smiled. “In fact, I woul
d say it was one of the defining variables of the equation. I’m sorry it was destroyed, though.”
“Ah, well,” said Radast. “It gives me an excuse to build a better one.”
“Basil!” Ark’s voice cut over the hubbub. Ark hobbled towards them, leaning on Tanya, Nicolai following. Ark was smiling.
Caina had not seen that expression very often.
“This is my wife, Tanya, and my son, Nicolai,” said Ark.
“Madame,” said Halfdan. “It is good to finally meet you. You’re quite a hard woman to find, you know.”
Tanya managed to smile. “It wasn’t on purpose, sir.”
Halfdan patted Nicolai’s head. “Fine strong lad. The image of his father.”
“Tribune!”
Caina turned. The Legionaries helped dazed, bewildered slaves down the corridor, leading them to freedom. Four soldiers came forward, dragging two terrified-looking women between them.
Vorena Chlorus and Messana Heliorus.
“What do you want done with them, sir?” said one of the soldiers.
“We’ve…we’ve done nothing wrong!” said Vorena. “Nothing, I swear, nothing…”
“I saw you,” said Caina.
Vorena flinched.
“I saw you drive the dagger into your son’s heart,” said Caina. “I saw you drink his blood and use it to work your sorcery.”
“You don’t understand,” whispered Vorena. “I only wanted to be strong. I only wanted to be free. I…”
“Lady Vorena Chlorus and Lady Messana Heliorus,” said Hiram. “In the name of the Emperor, I charge you with supporting a traitor to the Empire,” he glanced at Icaraeus’s withered remains, “kidnapping and purchasing slaves, and the practice of illegal sorcery. The penalty for such crimes is usually death.”
Messana began to weep.
“Keep them in the barracks,” said Ducas.
The Legionaries dragged the protesting noblewomen away. More slaves came out, led by the Legionaries, and Caina spotted Peter. He wandered down the corridor, eyes wide and frightened.
“I’ll meet you back at the warehouse,” said Caina.
Halfdan nodded and turned to Ducas. Caina walked to Peter and put her gloved hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her, blinking.
“You came back,” he said.
“I said I would,” said Caina. “Let’s get you home.”
###
A few hours later she stood in the garden outside Zorgi’s Inn. Caina circled the Inn, found Zorgi’s window, and pounded on it with a knife handle. After a few moments the shutters rattled open.
“What?” roared Zorgi, sticking his head into the night. “The common room is still open! You can…oh, Ghost. I am sorry. Did…did you find out anything else…”
Caina pointed. “See for yourself.”
Zorgi frowned, squinting into the darkness. Peter came forward, staring at his father. Zorgi’s jaw fell open, his eyes bulging.
“Peter?” said Zorgi.
“Papa?” said Peter.
Zorgi roared in delight and sprang out the window with such force that he almost bowled Caina over. He caught up his son in his arms, laughing with delight. Katerine appeared at the window at moment later, her face going blank with shock. She went out the window, and would have fallen had Caina not caught her elbow. Katerine tore free and raced to her husband and son, laughing and weeping.
“Thank you!” said Zorgi. “Thank you, Ghost! Thank you…Ghost?”
But Caina had already withdrawn into the shadows.
###
The next morning Basil Callenius, his daughter Anna, and his bodyguard Arlann (recently rejoined by his wife and son) returned to Zorgi’s Inn. Basil explained away their unexpected absence by citing the demands of business. A rather distracted Zorgi and Katerine let the story pass without comment. It seemed that their missing son had returned last night, and the city was in an uproar of the arrest of several wealthy noblewomen. While Basil offered hearty congratulations to Zorgi and Katerine, Caina slipped upstairs. She drew herself a bath, washed away the grime, blood, and sweat, and slept for the better part of three days.
There were no dreams, only sleep.
When she awoke, she was alone. Every muscle and joint ached from the battering she had taken, but she moved slowly through her forms until her limbs loosened up. She was thankful that Jadriga had been stopped, that Tanya and Nicolai and Ark had found each other again, that Zorgi and Katerine had found their son, that so many slaves had been freed out of the prisons below Black Angel Tower.
Thankful that she was still alive.
Thankful that she had not been twisted into a creature like Jadriga
Afterwards, she took another hot bath, wrapped herself in a robe, and wandered into the sitting room. No one was around. No doubt Halfdan had more than enough to keep him busy. Some bread and cheese and sausage lay on the table, along with wine, and Caina realized that she was ravenous. She sat down and ate with a will.
Nothing like escaping certain death to whet the appetite.
The door opened, and Caina reached for the throwing knives strapped to her forearm. But it was only Tanya, wearing a new blue dress.
“You’re awake,” said Tanya. “Halfdan thought you might sleep for a week.”
“I thought I might,” said Caina, washing a mouthful of sausage down with some wine.
Tanya hesitated.
“What is it?” said Caina.
“You really are a woman,” said Tanya. “I couldn’t believe it. Even your voice sounds different now.”
“It is a useful trick,” said Caina, shifting into the rasping tones she used while masked. “Maybe I can teach it to you.” She gestured at the food. “Care to join me?”
Tanya hesitated again, then nodded, and sat down. She looked nervous, and Caina realized what this was about.
She did her very best not to laugh.
“How are you?” said Caina.
“Overwhelmed,” said Tanya. “I never thought I would see Arcion again. I never even thought I would see the sun again, or feel the wind on my face. I thought I would see my son die. I owe you everything.” She reached across the table and seized Caina’s hands. “Thank you.”
“It wasn’t just me,” said Caina. “Halfdan and the other Ghosts helped. And Ark never stopped looking for you. Never.” She frowned. “Where is Ark? With that leg wound, he ought to be in bed.”
“Halfdan went with Tribune Hiram…well, Lord Palaegus now, I should say,” said Tanya. “Arcion went with them, and he took Nicolai to see the city. Five years we’ve been in here, and he’s never seen the city.”
Caina nodded, took another bite.
“And I think you are too modest,” said Tanya. “Arcion has told me so much about you. He says he never would have found us if not for you. That you were cleverer than the devils themselves, that you were the bravest man or woman he had ever met. That you saved thousands of people in Rasadda, and that you saved thousands more here, and…and you saved his life…”
“And so you came here,” said Caina, “to find out if Ark and I ever slept together.” Tanya flinched. “Except you feel grateful to me, so you can’t quite work up the nerve to ask.”
Tanya sighed. “Arcion said that you can see things others can’t.”
“This wasn’t hard,” said Caina. “Well? Do you want to know?”
Tanya looked away, her pale cheeks reddening. “You are our deliverer. We owe you everything. I am ashamed even to ask.” She looked back. “But…did you?”
Caina laughed. “Ark loves you, Tanya. He joined the Ghosts only to find you. You might have noticed that you and I look somewhat alike, at least superficially, and he hated me for it when we first met, because I reminded him of you, and that hurt him. I do love Ark. He is my brother, not by shared blood but by the blood we have shed together, both our own and our enemies. But, no. We never slept together.”
“I feel foolish even for asking,” said Tanya. “Will you forgive me?”
Tanya blinked in surprise, and a delighted smile spread across her face. “I never had a sister.” Her smile faded. “Can I ask you another question?”
Caina reached for a piece of cheese and nodded.
“How did you defeat the Moroaica?” said Tanya. “I heard what you told Halfdan, that you surprised her and knocked her into the pit. But I couldn’t have happened that way. She was too strong. I saw her use her powers for years. Even if you surprised her, you couldn’t have killed her.”
“I had help,” said Caina. “When I escaped from the caverns, I met the shade of Lydia Palaegus.”
Tanya shivered. “Agria’s daughter?”
Caina nodded. “She entered my mind, guided me from the caverns. When I fought Jadriga, Lydia stopped her from enslaving my mind.”
“Why did her shade linger?” said Tanya. “For vengeance?”
“No,” said Caina. “To stop Jadriga. To keep others from suffering what she had suffered.” She sighed. “I wish that I had met her in the flesh. She was a…valiant girl.”
“She didn’t stay for vengeance upon her mother?” said Tanya.
“She forgave her mother,” said Caina.
Tanya blinked in astonishment. “She forgave her mother?”
“I know,” said Caina. “Did Ark tell you why I became a Ghost?”
“A…a little bit,” said Tanya. “He said something about your mother.”
“If Lydia could forgive her mother,” said Caina, voice quiet, “then maybe I could learn to forgive mine. One day.”
###
Later that day the door opened, and the new Lord Palaegus entered the room.
Caina rose, smiled, and did a curtsy. “My lord.”
“Please,” said Hiram with a grimace. “That grates upon me. And I suppose we are brother and sister now, at least in the brotherhood of the Ghosts. And in the Ghosts, you outrank me.” He smiled. “Though I shall never get used to the sight of you in proper women’s clothes. I shall always think of you as a specter draped in shadow.”