Ghost in the Pact Read Online Free PDF

him, but so far he had not betrayed them.
    So far.
    “At Drynemet,” said Kylon, frowning, “he told me that Nasser and Annarah had a secret between them, something no one else in the world knew, and he hadn’t been able to figure out what it was.” 
    “That makes sense,” said Caina, though she wondered what it was. “Nasser and Annarah are the last two living Iramisians. And Callatas, I suppose, but he destroyed Iramis. Maybe…”
    “They had an affair?” said Kylon.
    Caina blinked, incredulous. “What? Annarah? And Nasser? She’s mourning for her husband, and you saw Nasser with the statue of his wife in the Desert of Candles.”
    Kylon shook his head. “You’re right. That was a foolish thought. It was the sort of thing Morgant would have said.” He looked appalled. “I hope the man is not wearing off on me,”
    Caina gave him an incredulous look, and then burst out laughing. 
    “No,” she said. “No, you’re nothing like Morgant. You’re as good as he is in a fight, maybe better…”
    “High praise,” said Kylon. 
    “But other than that,” said Caina, “you’re nothing like Morgant.” She felt herself smile. “I wouldn’t want to be with Morgant. Just you.”
    Kylon smiled back at her, and Caina felt something squeeze her heart. 
    It had been a long time since she had felt like this. The Moroaica had killed Corvalis, and his death had ripped Caina apart. In the aftermath Caina had almost destroyed herself. She had not turned to drink (except for her first night in Istarinmul), but she had taken greater and greater risks in her battle against Callatas and his wraithblood, risks that almost certainly would have led to her death. It had taken Claudia to point that out, and Caina had been more careful after that. 
    Then Kylon of House Kardamnos had walked back into her life, and she had lost her heart to him. 
    “You know,” said Caina. “That valikon.”
    “What about it?” said Kylon. 
    “The Emissary of the Living Flame gave it to me at Silent Ash Temple,” said Caina. “She said that I was its custodian, that I would know who I should give it to. I just…never thought it would be you. I never thought I would see you again, and then…there you were.”
    “You were surprised?” said Kylon. “I was just as surprised.”
    They stood in silence for a little while. 
    “Have you ever thought,” said Caina, “what we might do after?”
    “After?” said Kylon. 
    “After this,” said Caina. “If we’re successful. If we stop Callatas, maybe even kill him. What would we do then?”
    Kylon shrugged. “I have not given it any thought. I have been living day to day since…”
    Caina nodded. She knew what he meant. He had given no thought to the future since Kalgri had murdered Thalastre and her unborn child. 
    “Then we met again, and your purpose seemed good to me, so here I am,” said Kylon. “As to what happens if we are victorious…no, I have not given it any thought.” 
    “I did,” said Caina in a soft voice. “Once. Before…the day of the golden dead, before I was exiled here. I thought I would stop doing this kind of thing. That I would settle down in Malarae with Corvalis, run the House of Kularus and sell coffee. I never thought I would end up here.”
    “Neither did I,” said Kylon, “but we haven’t ended yet, either of us.”
    “Yes, you’re right,” said Caina. “Forgive me. I am rambling.” 
    “The waiting is the hardest part,” said Kylon.
    “Waiting for what?” said Caina.
    “The battle,” said Kylon. “Waiting for a battle that you know you cannot avoid.”
    “I suppose,” said Caina. “And wondering where the hell Morgant went.” She rubbed her face, blinking. “Still, you’re right. There’s nothing to do but wait.” She laughed a little. “I wish I had brought a book to read. Or I could try to roll some dice in the common room.”
    “You’d start that riot we keep worrying about,” said Kylon.
    “Aye,” said