Ghost in the Hunt

by Moeller, Jonathan

  Callatas, Grand Master of the College of Alchemists, awaited him.

  He was short, clad in a gold-trimmed white robe and turban, a glowing blue crystal the size of a man’s fist hanging from a chain around his neck. His face had the gauntness of the ascetic, his shoulders stooped from much study. A close-cropped gray beard shaded his jaw, and his gray eyes were cold and hard and flat as a steel blade.

  A flicker of fear went through Cassander as he sensed the old man’s arcane aura. He had thought Callatas a fool, a complacent old sluggard like Decius Aberon or the other high magi that had sided with the Empire instead of the Order. Yet Cassander sensed tremendous power around Callatas, stronger than any power he had ever sensed. Stronger, even, that the Provosts of the Order, perhaps even the High Provost herself.

  Callatas could crush him in a moment.

  “Leave us,” said Callatas in Istarish. “Ensure that we are not disturbed.”

  The Immortals bowed and withdrew, leaving Cassander alone with the Grand Master.

  “To expedite this discussion,” said Callatas in flawless High Nighmarian, “if you lie to me I will kill you where you stand, and wait for the Order to dispatch another ambassador. Am I understood?”

  Cassander considered saying something charming or glib, but one look at the old man’s humorless face put the idea out of his head.

  “Yes,” said Cassander.

  “Good,” said Callatas. “So. Erghulan tells me that the Balarigar is a woman?”

  Of all the things that Callatas might have wanted to discuss, Cassander hadn’t expected this. “She is. Caina Amalas. From what the Order discovered of her, she was once the daughter of a minor nobleman. One of the Moroaica’s disciples killed her family, and the Ghosts took her in and trained her as a nightfighter.”

  “The Ghosts,” muttered Callatas with loathing. “Theatricality and deception. Such nonsense. Yet nonsense with a powerful effect upon the ignorant rabble.”

  “This business of the ‘Balarigar’ seems to have begun in Marsis,” said Cassander. “She slew Rezir Shahan in front of his soldiers and freed a number of slaves, most of whom were Szaldic. The tale seems to have grown from the barbaric superstitions they inherited from their ancestors.”

  “Rezir should have listened to me,” muttered Callatas. “Much disruption to my plans could have been averted.”

  “Given that the emir lost his life in Marsis,” said Cassander, “I expect he would agree with you.”

  “Tell me,” said Callatas. “What do you think?”

  Cassander blinked. “Of what, Grand Master?”

  “Of all of this,” said Callatas, waving his hand at the city spread out below them. “Of laws and nations and civilizations. Are they not corrupt and futile? We deny our true nature. Humanity’s true nature, our very essence, is that of a killer. Of a predator. Yet we seek to bind it with laws and customs, chain it with walls and empires. Is that not folly? Should we not seek to perfect the only thing perfectible about ourselves? To embrace our true natures, to cast aside the rotting edifice of civilization?” His gray eyes bored into Cassander. “What do you think?”

  Cassander thought that sounded like nonsense, like the Grand Master had spent too much time listening to the addled ravings of imbecilic philosophers. But that hardly seemed like a diplomatic thing to say. The ancient sorcerer had commanded him to speak the truth, and lying to him seemed like a very poor idea.

  “I think,” said Cassander at last, “that the world is in chaos. I think that humanity is weak and divided, and requires a strong leader to bring order and prosperity. And I think that the Umbarian magi are the men to bring the world to order.”

  Callatas sneered. “A blind answer. I thought as much. Yet you may have your uses, Cassander Nilas.”

  The old man closed his eyes and tilted his head to the side, and Cassander’s unease grew. He had the distinct impression that Callatas was listening to a voice inside his head. Which either meant that the old man was insane or that he was talking with a spirit of the netherworld, a creature like that which had given the Huntress her powers.

  Of course, one possibility did not rule out the other.

  The thought of all that power joined to a mind like Callatas’s was a most disturbing thought.

  “I know what you want,” said Callatas at last, opening his eyes. “The Order sent you here to bring Istarinmul into the war and to kill the Balarigar if possible.”

  “I admit that this is so,” said Cassander.

  “And you also wish,” said Callatas, “to find and claim the Staff of Iramis and the Seal of Iramis for yourself, to raise your rank among the magi of the Order.”

  “I…yes,” said Cassander, remembering the old Alchemist’s threat.

  “I will give you what you want,” said Callatas. “The Staff and Seal are mine, of course, even if you could find them. But I will command Erghulan and the Padishah to aid the Empire. We will open the Starfall Straits to Umbarian warships, and we shall even send troops to aid you.”

  “I know you require slaves for your work with wraithblood,” said Cassander, though he still could not fathom why Callatas went to the trouble of making it at all, “and we shall be happy to supply you with as many as you require…”

  “Slaves are irrelevant,” said Callatas. “I have made almost as much wraithblood as I require, and if necessary, I will declare martial law and have the Immortals herd freeborn citizens into my wraithblood laboratories. Secrecy will soon be of no use to me. No, I do not require slaves or armies. If you want Istarinmul’s aid in your war against the Empire, you are going to do one thing for me.”

  “The Balarigar,” said Cassander. “Caina Amalas.”

  “Find her and kill her,” said Callatas.

  “That was you, wasn’t it?” said Cassander, understanding at last. “That fool Erghulan thought I sent the Huntress after Martin, but killing him in public would achieve nothing. I wanted the Silent Hunters to make Martin’s death look like an accident. But the Balarigar was at the Court of the Fountain that night, wasn’t she? You sent the Huntress after her. Lord Martin was just in the way.”

  “Alas,” said Callatas. “I thought the Huntress would prove the Balarigar’s equal. She only failed me once before. But no matter. The Huntress’s failure is your opportunity. Find the Balarigar and kill her. Do not capture her, do not question her, do not play games with her. Simply kill her as quickly as possible. Kill her, and you shall have Istarinmul’s aid in the war.”

  “It shall be done,” said Cassander, thinking of the methods at his disposal. The Umbarian Order had many deadly servants. He thought of one of the boxes he had brought with him to Istarinmul.

  Perhaps the thing in the box would kill Caina Amalas.

  It would be hungry, after all.

  “Go,” said Callatas, turning back to the windows. “Return to me when you are successful.”

  Cassander bowed and departed the Grand Master’s palace. His mission to Istarinmul would soon be a success.

  All he had to do was kill Caina Amalas, and then the Empire would fall.

  THE END

  Thank you for reading GHOST IN THE HUNT. Look for Caina's next adventure, GHOST IN THE RAZOR, to appear in early 2015. If you liked the book, please consider leaving a review at your ebook site of choice. To receive immediate notification of new releases, sign up for my newsletter, or watch for news on my Facebook page.

  Other books by the author

  The Demonsouled Saga

  MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK is a wandering knight, fearless in battle and masterful with a sword.

  Yet he has a dark secret. He is Demonsouled, the son of the ancient and cruel Old Demon, and his tainted blood grants him superhuman strength and speed. Yet with the power comes terrible, inhuman rage, and Mazael must struggle to keep the fury from devouring him.

  But he dare not turn aside from the strength of his blood, for he will need it to face terrible foes.

  The priests of the San-keth plot and scheme i
n the shadows, pulling lords and kingdoms upon their strings. The serpent priests desire to overthrow the realms of men and enslave humanity. Unless Mazael stops them, they shall force all nations to bow before the serpent god.

  The Malrag hordes are coming, vast armies of terrible, inhuman beasts, filled with a lust for cruelty and torment. The Malrags care nothing for conquest or treasure, only slaughter. And the human realms are ripe for the harvest. Only a warrior of Mazael’s power can hope to defeat them.

  The Dominiar Order and the Justiciar Order were once noble and respected, dedicated to fighting the powers of dark magic. Now they are corrupt and cynical, and scheme only for power and glory. They will kill anyone who stands in their way.

  To defeat these foes, Mazael will need all the strength of his Demonsouled blood.

  Yet he faces a far more terrible foe.

  For centuries the Old Demon has manipulated kings and lords. Now he shall seize the power of the Demonsouled for himself, and become the a god of torment and tyranny.

  Unless Mazael can stop him.

  Read Demonsouled for free. Mazael's adventures continue in Soul of Tyrants, Soul of Serpents, Soul of Dragons, Soul of Sorcery, Soul of Skulls, and Soul of Swords, along with the short stories The Wandering Knight, The Tournament Knight, and The Dragon's Shadow. Get the first three books bundled together in Demonsouled Omnibus One.

  The Ghosts Series

  Once CAINA AMALAS was the shy daughter of a minor nobleman, content to spend her days in her father’s library.

  Then sorcery and murder and her mother’s treachery tore her life apart.

  Now she is a nightfighter of the Ghosts, an elite agent of the spies and assassins of the Emperor of Nighmar. She is a master of disguise and infiltration, of stealth and the shadows.

  And she will need all those skills to defend the Empire and stay alive.

  Corrupt lords scheme and plot in the shadows, desiring to pull down the Emperor and rule the Empire for their own profit and glory. Slave traders lurk on the fringes of the Empire, ready to seize unwary commoners and sell them into servitude in distant lands. Yet both slave traders and cruel lords must beware the Ghosts.

  The Magisterium, the Imperial brotherhood of sorcerers, believe themselves the rightful masters of the Empire. With their arcane sciences, they plan to overthrow the Empire and enslave the commoners, ruling all of mankind for their own benefit. Only the Ghosts stand in the path of their sinister plans.

  And the Moroaica, the ancient sorceress of legend and terror, waits in the shadows, preparing to launch a war upon the gods themselves. She will make the gods pay for the suffering of mankind...even if she must destroy the world to do it.

  Caina Amalas of the Ghosts opposes these mighty enemies, but the cost might be more than she can bear.

  Read Child of the Ghosts for free. Caina's adventures continue in Ghost in the Flames, Ghost in the Blood, Ghost in the Storm, Ghost in the Stone, Ghost in the Forge, Ghost in the Ashes, Ghost in the Mask, and Ghost in the Surge, along with the short stories Ghost Aria, Ghost Claws, Ghost Omens, The Fall of Kyrace, Ghost Thorns, Ghost Undying and Ghost Dagger. Get the first three books bundled together in The Ghosts Omnibus One.

  The Ghost Exile Series

  Caina Amalas was a nightfighter of the Ghosts, the spies and assassins of the Emperor of Nighmar, and through her boldness and cunning saved the Empire and the world from sorcerous annihilation.

  But the victory cost her everything.

  Now she is exiled and alone in the city of Istarinmul, far from her home and friends. Yet a centuries-old darkness now stirs in Istarinmul, eager to devour the city and the world itself.

  And Caina is the only one that stands in its way...

  Read Ghost in the Cowl, Ghost in the Maze, and Ghost in the Hunt, along with the short stories Ghost Sword, Ghost Price, and Ghost Relics

  The Third Soul

  RACHAELIS MORULAN is an Initiate of the Conclave, the powerful order of mighty mages. But to become a full Adept of the Conclave, she must first survive the Testing. Those who survive the Testing never speak of the trials they endured.

  Those who fail the Testing are never seen again.

  And now the Magisters of the Conclave have come to take Rachaelis to undertake the Testing. And there she shall face perils to both her body and her sanity.

  And creatures that yearn to devour her soul.

  If Rachaelis survives the Testing, she will face even more dangerous foes. The demons of the astral world watch the world of mortal men, desiring to rule it for themselves.

  And some Adepts of the Conclave are eager to help them.

  Read The Testing for free. Rachelis's trials continue in The Assassins, The Blood Shaman, The High Demon, The Burning Child, The Outlaw Adept, The Black Paladin, and The Tomb of Baligant. Read the entire series in The Third Soul Omnibus One and The Third Soul Omnibus Two.

  The Frostborn Series

  A thousand years ago, the last grandson of Arthur Pendragon led the survivors of Britain through a magical gate to a new world, a world of magic and high elves, of orcs and kobolds and stranger, darker creatures. Now the descendants of the exiles rule a mighty kingdom, peaceful and prosperous under the rule of the High King.

  But a shadow threatens to devour the kingdom.

  RIDMARK ARBAN was once a Swordbearer, a knight of renown. Now he is a branded outcast, stripped of his sword, and despised as a traitor.

  But he alone sees the danger to come. The Frostborn shall return, and unless they are stopped, they will cover all the world in ice and a neverending winter.

  CALLIANDE awakens in the darkness, her memories gone, and creatures of terrible power hunting her.

  For she alone holds the secret that can save the world…or destroy it utterly.

  The secret of the Frostborn.

  Read Frostborn: The First Quest, followed by Frostborn: The Gray Knight, Frostborn: The Eightfold Knife, Frostborn: The Undying Wizard, Frostborn: The Master Thief , and Frostborn: The Iron Tower along with the short stories The Orc's Tale, The Mage's Tale, The Thief's Tale and The Assassin's Tale.

  The Tower of Endless Worlds

  THOMAS WYCLIFFE just wants to finish his dissertation in peace and quiet. So when a man in a black robe appears in his closet, claiming to be the last of the Warlocks, Wycliffe figures it is a bad joke.

  But he soon realizes the last of the Warlocks can give him power beyond imagining.

  And all it will cost is his soul.

  SIMON WESTER needs a job. Badly. So when a rich and powerful Senator offers him employment, he jumps at the chance. Sure, Simon expects to find some corruption, some shady deals.

  He doesn't expect to find black magic.

  LIAM MASTERE is a Knight of the Sacred Blade, defender of the mortal races. But can swords stand against guns? As bullets and bombs destroy his kingdom, Liam must risk everything to save his homeland's one chance of salvation.

  By daring the horrors of the Tower of Endless Worlds…

  Read The Tower of Endless Worlds for free. The saga of the Tower continues in A Knight of the Sacred Blade, A Wizard of the White Council, and The Destroyer of Worlds.

  About the Author

  Standing over six feet tall, Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas.

  He has written the DEMONSOULED series of sword-and-sorcery novels, and continues to write THE GHOSTS sequence about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the COMPUTER BEGINNER'S GUIDE series of computer books, and numerous other works.

  Visit his website at:

  http://www.jonathanmoeller.com

  Visit his technology blog at:

  http://www.computerbeginnersguides.com

  Contact him at:

  jmcontact@jonathanmoeller.com

  You can sign up for his email newsletter here, or watch for news on his Facebook page.


  Table of Contents

  Description

  Chapter 1 - Shadow Knives

  Chapter 2 - Voices

  Chapter 3 - Thieves

  Chapter 4 - The Lord Ambassador’s Wife

  Chapter 5 - The Umbarian Order

  Chapter 6 - Poems

  Chapter 7 - Embassies

  Chapter 8 - Huntress

  Chapter 9 - Masks

  Chapter 10 - Refuge

  Chapter 11 - Pilgrims

  Chapter 12 - The Old Religion

  Chapter 13 - The Headman

  Chapter 14 - Confessions

  Chapter 15 - Balarigar

  Chapter 16 - Friends and Allies

  Chapter 17 - Silent Ash Temple

  Chapter 18 - Promises

  Chapter 19 - At The End

  Chapter 20 - Huntress and Prey

  Chapter 21 - Wider Circles

  Chapter 22 - The Loremaster

  Epilogue

  Other books by the author

  About the Author