Talmania leaned forward, her fingers making a little tent beneath her chin, and she stared at him without blinking.
It was an unsettling habit.
But, to be fair, she had many unsettling habits.
Crailov let his gaze wander around the study. The Umbarians had purchased an abandoned mansion in Risiviri and turned it into their base in the city. The Boyar hadn’t exactly approved, but with Umbarian warships blockading his harbor, he didn’t dare refuse. Talmania, as a Provost of the Order, had claimed a high room in the mansion for her study. Shelves lined the walls, stuffed with books and scrolls and peculiar instruments of bronze and glass, interspersed here and there with human skulls.
The Syvashar stood in the corner near the hearth, draped in his simple brown robe. Like the other Temnoti priests, his face was misshapen, a huge glistening black eye in the center of his forehead, antennae jutting from the gray skin. The deep sleeves of his robe concealed the tentacle that had replaced his left arm, though from time to time the edges of other tentacle appeared beneath the hem of his robe near the floor.
At last Crailov met Talmania Scorneus’s cold blue gaze.
She looked so much like Caina that it was unsettling.
Talmania had the same blue eyes, the same thick black hair, the same sharp cheekbones and thin-lipped mouth. Judicious use of the necromantic sciences had preserved her vigor and a relatively youthful appearance, but no one would mistake this woman for young. She was beautiful, yes, but a storm that tore a ship to pieces was also beautiful in its way.
Caina Kardamnos had cold eyes.
Looking at Talmania’s eyes was like staring into an ice-choked graveyard.
At last, she leaned back in her chair. She wore a black coat wrapped tight around her lean frame, and rings of bronze and gold and silver gleamed upon each finger. Every ring had been set with a single bloodcrystal, and Crailov sensed the waiting necromantic force in each ring. She also wore the Amulet of Rasarion Yagar on a leather cord around her slender neck. The Amulet was an iron disk set with an emerald carved in the Iron King’s dragon sigil, the gemstone giving off a pale green light.
“Kill her,” said the Sword into his thoughts. “Draw my blade and kill her now.”
Even for the Sword, that was exceptionally bad advice.
Crailov feared no one. He had carried the Sword of the Iron King for a century and a half, and he was a necromancer with the power to defeat any master magus of the Magisterium and the Umbarian Order.
He certainly didn’t fear Talmania Scorneus.
That said…
Crailov feared no one, but he was not a fool, and only a fool would treat Talmania with anything but the utmost caution.
“Libavya Jordizi is dead,” said Talmania at last.
“Yes,” said Crailov. “I expect payment, of course.”
Talmania nodded towards a leather pouch on the corner of her desk. “There were complications.”
“There are always complications with this sort of task, my lady provost,” said Crailov as he took the pouch.
“Unquestionably,” said Talmania. “However, you experienced complications of a sort that you believe I will find interesting. The indications in your face and posture are obvious. Please proceed with your tale.”
Crailov told her what had happened in Vagraastrad. He did not bother to lie or prevaricate or shade the truth. Somehow, she always knew when someone lied to her, perhaps because she was so observant. She did not interrupt or ask questions. Once or twice she smiled in some private amusement, but she kept listening.
“Well,” said Talmania once he had finished. “Unforeseen consequences. That is always the danger of any decision. Is that not so, Syvashar?”
The high priest of the Temnoti cults stirred. “I did warn you, provost, that using your blood to empower the summoning spell carried a risk.”
“So you did,” said Talmania. “And it seems the spell dropped my hapless nephew into Ulkaar.” She smirked. “Still bitter over the death of his useless wife, it seems. He should have known better than to betray me.”
“Indeed,” said Crailov. “However, if you will forgive my presumption, it is not Sebastian Scorneus that should concern you. The Balarigar is far more dangerous.”
“I concur with Master Crailov,” said the Syvashar. “You recall the Boyar Razdan Nagrach?”
“Unfavorably,” said Talmania. “The strutting little puppy who thought he was a wolf.”
“The Balarigar destroyed him and all his szlachts when she passed through Kostiv,” said the Syvashar.
Talmania blinked three times, and then threw back her head and laughed.
“Did she?” said Talmania at last. “Razdan and his puppies bit off more than they could chew. Well.” She tapped her thin fingers together. “Caina Amalas Tarshahzon Kardamnos. She has been the Order’s enemy for some time now. She was the one who hindered our plans for Istarinmul. She was the one who killed Lord Cassander Nilas. That deprived me of a most useful lieutenant…though I suppose I would have had to kill him eventually when he got too ambitious. The Balarigar who slew Cassander and the Liberator who restored Iramis…and all this time, she was little Laeria’s wayward daughter.” She let out a long breath. “I knew Laeria married some minor noble near Malarae, and I knew she had another child…but that Laeria’s daughter was Caina Kardamnos? No. I never guessed. The designs of fate are indeed curious.”
“She reminds me,” said Crailov, “a great deal of you.”
“Does she, now?” said Talmania in a quiet voice. Crailov wondered if he had gone too far. “Laeria would have been horrified.”
“She carries the Ring of the Iron King,” said the Syvashar. “You must obtain it to work your design for the defeat of the Empire.”
Talmania’s cold smile turned in his direction. “And yours, as I recall.”
The Syvashar bowed. “The priests of the Temnoti live but to serve.”
“Of course you do,” said Talmania, her attention turning back to Crailov. “What are her weak points?”
“There are not many,” said Crailov. “She is clever and ruthless when necessary. Her biggest weaknesses are the fact that she still has a conscience and loves her husband, but Kylon Shipbreaker is as dangerous as she is.”
“Yes, I suppose a Kyracian stormdancer with a valikon would be a formidable foe,” said Talmania.
“Cazmar Vagastru learned that the hard way,” said Crailov.
Talmania said nothing for about a minute, her brow furrowed as she stared at something inside her head that only she could see.
“I think it is time that I met my long-lost niece,” said Talmania. “And then you are going to kill her and bring me the Ring.”
“Am I?” said Crailov.
“The payment will be ample,” said Talmania. “And I have some…additional information that might help us.”
She reached for something on the floor, picked it up, and set it on the desk.
Crailov felt a chill.
It was a human skull, the bone carved with dozens of arcane sigils that gave off a pale green glow.
This was Talmania’s particular skill, the spell that had earned her the nickname of Talmania Skull-speaker (though never within her earshot). Somehow Talmania had found a way to use a skull to draw forth the memories of the skull’s deceased owner. Crailov had no idea how it worked. He knew that the living left echoes in the netherworld, imprints that could be called forth. She had figured out how to use a skull as the locus point to call forth those memories.
Which meant if she found a man’s skull, she could learn everything he had known in life. Or if she killed a man and took his skull. Talmania was not squeamish.
“Do you know whose skull this is?” said Talmania.
“I would be surprised if I did,” said Crailov.
“Have you heard of a creature called the Moroaica?” said Talmania.
“That I have,” said Crailov. “She was supposed to be a legendary demon of the Szaldic na
tion. She turned out to be a real necromancer of great power, and Caina Kardamnos slew her in New Kyre on the day of the golden dead.”
“The Moroaica had several disciples,” said Talmania. “You have heard, no doubt, that Cassander Nilas was interested in the relics of lost Iramis. One of the Moroaica’s disciples was interested in the relics of the Iron King and spent some time searching for them in Ulkaar. Which is why I acquired his skull at considerable expense, and which is also how I found the Amulet.” She tapped the top of the skull with a finger. “And this particular disciple intersected the life of the Balarigar in a most interesting way. Wake!”
The sigils carved into the skull flickered and began to glow. Crailov felt a twinge of unease. He had killed more people than he could remember, but even so, seeing a man’s memories spread out like words upon the pages of a book was still unsettling.
“Identify yourself,” said Talmania.
A dry, grandfatherly voice came from the skull. “In life, I was the necromancer Maglarion, a disciple of the Moroaica, and I almost became a god.”
“You will tell me all about the woman who killed you,” said Talmania. “Tell me about the woman you knew as Caina Amalas.”
THE END
Thank you for reading GHOST IN THE RING. Look for Caina's next adventure, GHOST IN THE AMULET, to appear in summer 2018.
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 in 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, Ghost Light, and Ghost Dagger, and the prequel novels Blade of the Ghosts and Champion of the Ghosts. 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, Ghost in the Hunt, Ghost in the Razor, Ghost in the Inferno, Ghost in the Seal, Ghost in the Throne, Ghost in the Pact, and Ghost in the Winds along with the short stories Ghost Sword, Ghost Price, Ghost Relics, Ghost Keeper, Ghost Nails, Ghost Lock, Ghost Arts, Ghost Vigil, Ghost Mimic, and Ghost Vessel, and read the combined short stories in Exile of the Ghosts.
The Ghost Night Series
Caina Amalas was once a deadly Ghost nightfighter, a spy and agent of the Emperor of Nighmar. Now she only wishes to live quietly with her husband.
But civil war grips the Empire, and Caina's skills are needed against the cruel sorcerers of the malevolent Umbarian Order.
And Caina has a dangerous connection to the Umbarians.
For Caina's mother had many deadly secrets, secrets that might yet kill Caina herself...
Read Ghost in the Ring and Ghost in the Glass.
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, Frostborn: The Iron Tower, Frostborn: The Dark Warden, Frostborn: The Gorgon Spirit, Frostborn: The Broken Mage, Frostborn: The World Gate, Frostborn: The High Lords, Frostborn: The False King, Frostborn: The Dwarven Prince, Frostborn: Excalibur, Frostborn: The Dragon Knight, and Frostborn: The Shadow Prison, and the prequel novels Frostborn: The Knight Quests and Frostborn: The Bone Quest along with the short stories The Orc's Tale, The Mage's Tale, The Thief's Tale, The Assassin's Tale, The Paladins's Tale, The Knight's Tale, The Soldier's Tale, and The Soldier's Tale. Read the first three books combined in Frostborn Omnibus One.
Sevenfold Sword
Ridmark Arban is the Shield Knight, the defender of the realm of Andomhaim.
The realm is at peace after a long and terrible war, but dark powers threaten other lands.
And when a mad elven wizard comes to the High King's court, Ridmark finds himself fighting not only for his own life, but for the lives of his family.
Ghost in the Glass Page 29
