“No, it isn’t,” said Theodosia. “I’m afraid it has to do with why I am here.”
Caina blinked. “But…what are you doing in Ulkaar?”
“Ah.” Theodosia sighed. “In the last three years, you saved two nations and wed Lord Kylon. I fear my own tale isn’t quite as triumphant.”
“What happened?” said Caina.
“After you were banished and the war with New Kyre concluded, I accompanied the Emperor and the Grand Imperial Opera company back to Malarae,” said Theodosia. “We stopped at Cyrioch and Caer Marist on the way back, and there were already rumors of an uprising in the eastern provinces. You know as well as I do what had happened. The Umbarian Order had kept itself secret and hidden for millennia, a cancer within the Magisterium. But with the day of the golden dead and the war with New Kyre, the Provosts of the Order were convinced that the Empire was about to fall, and the hour had come to seize control. By the time we returned to Malarae, the Umbarians had already begun their offensive in the Saddaic provinces, and they sent a force to Malarae to assassinate the Emperor. Talmania Scorneus commanded that force.”
“I hadn’t heard that,” said Caina.
“It was supposed to be a quiet ambush,” said Theodosia, remembering those dark days. “Talmania wanted to catch the Emperor as he returned to the Imperial Citadel and kill him in the streets. Her nickname, you see, comes from the particular style of necromancy she practices. Her favorite method of interrogation is to kill a man, cut off his head, and remove the flesh to leave just the skull.” Odd that she could speak so calmly of it now. “She then inscribes arcane sigils upon the skull and casts her spell. The skull then speaks of the memories of the living man, anything that she wishes to know.”
“That is a vile form of necromancy,” said Kylon.
“Theodosia,” said Caina, her eyes solemn. She must have figured it out. She was always such a clever girl. “Your sons.”
“Tomard and Niklos,” said Theodosia. “Both were in the civic militia of Malarae.” She took a deep breath. Gods, three years and sometimes the grief still hit her like a hammer. “Niklos had just been promoted to centurion. He was one of the men assigned to guard the Emperor’s route. Talmania needed that information, and…”
A minute later she was crying softly, Caina’s arms around her.
Theodosia straightened up and wiped her eyes. “Just as well this evening’s performance is over. My makeup must be ruined.”
“It is,” said Caina, reaching for the table and handing her a cloth.
Theodosia wiped her eyes and blinked a few times, collecting herself. “You can work out what happened next, I suppose. Talmania ambushed the Emperor, but the Imperial Guard fought long enough for help to arrive from the Citadel. Talmania and the other Umbarians fled Malarae for the eastern provinces. At first, we thought it was just an assassination attempt from rogue magi within the Magisterium, but then the Umbarian Order declared itself and tried to seize Artifel…and, well, I suppose you know the rest.”
“You’re here to avenge Niklos,” said Caina. “That’s why you came to Ulkaar.”
“Quite right,” said Theodosia. “I suppose you think me a foolish old woman.” Caina shook her head. “But Niklos’s wife and children are cared for back in Malarae. And someone must avenge my son. For that matter, Talmania is one of the five Provosts of the Order, and she is one of their most powerful necromancers. You know the Dead Legion? The undead soldiers the Umbarians use?” Caina nodded. “Talmania created the spells to raise them. She also designed those cataphracti monsters they use. Her death would be a heavy blow against the Order.”
“And her death would avenge your son,” said Kylon, who still stood near the door.
Theodosia looked at him. “Yes. Can you understand that, Lord Kylon?”
“Better than I would wish,” said Kylon. He looked older than his age for an instant, the brown eyes staring at shadows from his past.
“Yes, I’m sorry,” said Theodosia. “Lady Thalastre and the Red Huntress. You would understand. You slew the Huntress, did you not?” Kylon nodded. “I set out to do the same. I left the Grand Imperial Opera and started my own theater company. Talmania spends most of her time in Ulkaar or in the field against the Legions near Artifel and Nova Nighmaria. Sooner or later, I hope to catch her and kill her unawares…but, gods, she is a dangerous opponent. She is a powerful sorceress, and has many allies, all of whom fear her too much to betray her. And she is clever as…”
Theodosia almost said that Talmania was as clever as Caina, but she stopped herself in time.
“As clever as all the devils of all the hells,” finished Theodosia.
“And she’s my aunt,” said Caina, shaking her head. “She must be the kind of woman my mother would have wanted to be if she had but possessed the sorcerous talent.”
“Yes,” said Theodosia, thinking about the letter in her trunk. “That Scorneus battle magus with you…your half-brother, you said?”
Caina nodded. “Apparently my mother was married before she met my father. He has a twin sister named Calvia someplace, but she’s a freelance thief and isn’t part of the Empire or the Order.”
“You trust Sebastian?” said Theodosia.
Caina considered her answer. “More than I would have thought. When I met him and realized who he was…by the Divine, I was upset.” Theodosia thought it interesting that Caina now swore by the name of the Iramisian god rather than the gods of the Empire. “You know about my mother. I never liked to think about her. I realized that she might have family somewhere, but I didn’t want to meet them. Now I know that she was part of House Scorneus.”
“That doesn’t answer the question,” said Theodosia.
“I suppose it doesn’t,” said Caina. “I think I trust Seb, yes. He stood with us against the mavrokhi at Kostiv.” Many of the rural nobles of northern Ulkaar were comfortable with the mavrokhi, and at least a few of them were mavrokhi themselves. Razdan Nagrach had hardly been unique. “He didn’t have to do it. He could have left, but he didn’t. And…I’m afraid Talmania murdered his wife.”
“Then it seems that Lord Sebastian and I have something in common,” said Theodosia.
“Yes,” said Caina. “I wish you didn’t.”
“What are you going to do now?” said Theodosia.
“I have to get back to Iramis,” said Caina. “I’ve got the Ring of Rasarion Yagar, and Talmania wants it. I think we can all agree that she shouldn’t have it. If we can get it out of Ulkaar and to Iramis, she’ll never be able to claim it.”
“You just missed her, as it happens,” said Theodosia. “She passed through Vagraastrad about two days ago with a retinue of Adamant Guards and Umbarian magi. They were on their way to Risiviri.”
“I thought the Boyar of Risiviri favored the Emperor,” said Caina.
“He does,” said Theodosia, “but Mircea Bravlin has to walk a fine line. Risiviri is the most powerful city in Ulkaar, but he doesn’t have much in the way of military strength yet. If the Umbarians wanted, they could seize all of Ulkaar in a few weeks. The Umbarians killed the Imperial Lord Governor in the first days of the war, and Ulkaar has mostly been neutral territory since. The Boyar has no choice but to allow free passage to the Umbarians. If he doesn’t, he’ll draw their fury.”
Caina frowned. “You know the Boyar?”
Theodosia smiled. “He’s a nice boy. He appreciates my singing. He also knows I’m a Ghost circlemaster, I’m afraid, and I’ve done favors for him in the past. And if he knows you have something Talmania wants, he’ll help you escape from Ulkaar.” Theodosia thought it over. “My company is heading back to Risiviri in two days. We have an engagement to use one of the theaters there for the spring, and I want to check in with my agents in the city. Will you come with us?”
Caina looked at Kylon.
“I think that would be best,” said Kylon. “The four of us are vulnerable on the road. If we’re traveling in a company, it will be harder for the Umbarians or
the Temnoti to find you and the Ring.”
“Agreed,” said Caina. “But I don’t like staying in Vagraastrad an extra two days, and I don’t like that Antonin Crailov knows about us.”
“He’s an extremely dangerous man,” said Theodosia, “but unless he’s hired to kill you or you’ve crossed him, he won’t come after you.”
“But if he happens to talk to Talmania or one of the Umbarians,” said Caina, “and they realize that I have the Ring, they’ll send him after us at once.”
“Then the sooner we get the Ring out of Talmania’s reach, the better,” said Theodosia. “I still intend to see that woman dead, though I realize that might not be possible. But if I cannot kill her, then I would settle for defeating her plans.”
“It’s getting late,” said Kylon. “If there are reveniri loose in the streets at night…”
“There are, I’m afraid,” said Theodosia. She shuddered as she recalled some of the corpses she had seen.
“Then better we are behind closed doors before sundown,” said Kylon.
“I quite agree, Lord Kylon,” said Theodosia. “But before we do, I have to give Caina something.”
Caina blinked. “What is it?”
Theodosia took a deep breath. “I am afraid that Halfdan left you a letter.”
Chapter 6: Warnings
Seb was sure that he had met Ilona somewhere before.
He just couldn’t place her.
Caina and Kylon had disappeared with Theodosia into the back rooms of the theater. Seb took that as a good sign. Based on Caina’s reactions, Seb deduced that Theodosia was likely a person of some authority among the Ghosts. Most probably the Ghosts had circles of agents within Ulkaar, and Theodosia could call upon their aid. That would make it easier to escape from Ulkaar with the Ring before Talmania could claim it.
Nor did Seb mind sitting on the bench and waiting with Sophia and Teodor. It was warmer in the theater than in the street, which was a welcome relief after walking to the Old City and back. Sophia was too polite and too nervous to offend anyone, and Teodor remained lost within the ruin of his mind, which was a tragedy, but did mean he wouldn’t make any trouble.
Seb had been a battle magus of the Imperial Magisterium long enough to appreciate a chance for rest when it came his way.
Yet he could not shake the feeling that he had met Ilona before.
“Have you been with mistress Theodosia’s company long, madam?” said Seb.
Ilona’s dark eyes turned to him. She was, he had to admit, a striking woman, with long dark hair and black eyes that flashed as they looked back and forth. The necessity of wearing heavy clothing against the cold concealed her figure (a lamentable fact of life during an Ulkaari winter), but from the way she moved Seb could tell that she was fit and strong.
“Since she started the company in Risiviri two and a half years ago, Lord Sebastian,” said Ilona. She smiled. “I was a dancer for the theater there, and the mistress began assembling her company. The theater owners in Risiviri are all lecherous old jackals, and so I was glad to work for Theodosia instead.”
Seb smiled back. “I don’t recall telling you my name, madam.”
Her smile widened. “Indeed, you did not, Lord Sebastian Scorneus. But I am afraid that you are far too notorious a man to travel anonymously in Ulkaar.”
“Oh?” said Seb. “I was unaware of my notoriety.”
“Well.” Ilona pushed her hair away from her right temple and folded her arms over her chest. “You have the Scorneus look to you, my lord. When Lady Caina came into the theater, she scared me half to death. I thought she was Talmania Scorneus at first, and no one in their right mind wants to meet Talmania Skull-speaker. But once I calmed down, I thought it through. The mistress wouldn’t be friends with Lady Caina if she was part of the Umbarian Order…and even here we have heard the tales of the Balarigar. Talmania Scorneus wants you dead and has a bounty on your head, so it was a logical conclusion that you were Sebastian Scorneus.”
Seb raised an eyebrow. “Are all actresses so logical?” Theodosia was plainly a Ghost circlemaster, and Seb wondered if Ilona was a Ghost herself.
“No,” said Ilona, “but I’m not an actress. Well, not anymore. I help the mistress with her work.” She laughed. “And I’ll have you know that actresses are not at all logical. If someone says a sour word about their hair or criticizes their skirt, it’s a crisis. Even the mistress – after a performance, she is prone to the blackest depressions, though she always snaps out of it.”
“I confess I find that thought quite unnerving,” said Sophia. “Standing in front of a crowd and acting or singing…brr! I couldn’t do it.”
“I used to sing before a crowd, but I quite enjoyed giving it up,” said Ilona. She smiled and sat next to Sophia. “What’s your name, dear?”
“Sophia Zomanek,” said Sophia.
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” said Ilona. She gestured towards the stage, and as she did, her left sleeve pulled back far enough that Seb saw the bracelet she wore. It was an ugly, gaudy piece of stage jewelry, cheap metal painted to look like silver and adorned with glass gems. Seb wondered why such an attractive woman wore such an ugly piece of jewelry. Perhaps it had sentimental value.
She said she had been a dancer. Maybe she had danced while wearing nothing but that bracelet…
Seb blinked, surprised at the thought. Not that he had any wish to live the rest of his life as a monk. But after Talmania had murdered Katrina, the thought of finding another woman only left him sad.
But where had he met Ilona before?
Seb lapsed into silence and puzzled over it as Sophia and Ilona talked.
###
“A letter from Halfdan?” said Caina, astonished.
Conflicting emotions stormed through her head. Halfdan had been murdered in front of her in Marsis, killed by the Moroaica’s assassin Sicarion. It had been quick and sudden. That was a small mercy, at least. Sicarion would have been capable of torturing Halfdan to death, but the twisted assassin had killed Halfdan simply to get at Caina.
But both Sicarion and the Moroaica had been dead for years.
“Yes,” said Theodosia. She crossed to a wooden chest resting at the foot of the wall, unlocked it, and lifted the lid. “He gave it to me before you departed for Marsis with him, just before the day of the golden dead and the end of the war with New Kyre.”
“Yes,” said Caina in a quiet voice. “I remember. We went to Varia Province. The Ghosts thought that Lord Governor Nisias Druzen was dealing with slaves. But it wasn’t him. His magus advisor had been possessed by the spirit of one of the Moroaica’s disciples, and…”
She fell silent. It had only been three years ago, but it felt like an eternity. So much had happened since then, and so many things had changed. She felt Kylon’s hand settle on her shoulder, and she reached up and grasped it, grateful for his presence.
“Well,” said Theodosia, lifting a sealed scroll from the chest and closing it, “you know this is a dangerous business. Halfdan had things he wanted to tell you, but he knew that he might die before he could have the chance. So, he left this letter with me to give to you if he was killed. I tried to give it to you in New Kyre, but the Imperial Guard wouldn’t let me. I thought about hiring a ship to come to Istarinmul to give it to you, but when we returned to Malarae…well, I’ve told you what happened, and the civil war began.”
“Do you know what it says?” said Caina.
Theodosia shook her head. “He said it was for you. I’ve never read it.”
Caina took the scroll, the paper heavy and thick against her fingers. It was expensive, the kind of paper used by the scribes of the Imperial Library itself for recording the annals of the Empire. A seal of blue wax held the scroll shut, marked with no sigil.
Something about the scroll sent a flicker of dread through her.
“Did he say what it was about?” said Caina.
“No,” said Theodosia. “Only…he mentioned it was about your family
, and that I was to give it to you if he was killed.”
“Do you want to read it alone?” said Kylon.
Caina hesitated. Part of her wanted to fling the scroll into the hearth and watch it burn to ashes. She had lived the first twenty-five years of her life without knowing that her mother had a large and powerful family, and Caina would have preferred to go to her grave without that knowledge. Another part of her wanted to rip open the scroll and read it at once. Halfdan had left a final message for her? He had been murdered so swiftly that there hadn’t been a chance to say farewell.
And without Halfdan, without the things that he had taught her, Caina would have died long ago. Or if she had escaped from Maglarion’s lair without finding him, the Divine only knew what dark path her life would have taken. Most likely the Istarish slavers would have found and sold her, or she would have turned to thievery or prostitution to survive.
And if Halfdan had not taken an angry, terrified orphan girl and turned her into a Ghost nightfighter, there would have been no one to stop Maglarion from destroying Malarae. No one to stop the Moroaica and the day of the golden dead, no one to stop Callatas and the Apotheosis.
“No,” said Caina at last. “No, I would like us to read it together. You are my husband, Kylon. I want no secrets from you. And without the things you taught me, Theodosia, I doubt I could have survived long enough to read this letter.”
“As you wish,” said Kylon, stepping to her left side. Theodosia circled around the stool and stood to her right.
“I suppose when you married me,” said Caina, staring at the scroll, “you thought you didn’t have to worry about my relatives.”
“Well, Seb is a reliable man in a fight,” said Kylon. “And not all your family will be people like your mother and Talmania Scorneus.”
“No,” said Caina, though her heart screamed in warning. She wanted nothing to do with her mother’s memory or her mother’s family. But Seb had shown himself worthy of trust.
Ghost in the Glass Page 9
