Ghost Keeper Read Online Free PDF Page A

recharges them with the stolen life force of his victims. He could replace his damaged flesh with flesh and organs stolen from others. He could move his spirit from body to body. Or he could have his preserved organs in an enspelled canopic jar, and use that as an anchor for his soul until he seizes a new body.”
    “You’ve quite knowledgeable about necromancy,” said Aydin.
    “Everything I know, I’m afraid I learned the hard way,” said Caina. “Do you happen to know which method the Curator uses?”
    “I’m afraid not,” said Aydin. 
    He was lying. She was sure of it. But that was all right. She hadn’t told him the entire truth, either.
    “Well, then,” said Caina. “I want the sword of Morgant the Razor, and you want some other relic. I think that is the basis for a sound business partnership.” 
    “Very well,” said Aydin. “I suggest we hasten. The tour of his relics will occupy the Curator for a few hours, and we can put those hours to good use.”
    Caina nodded and followed him up the stairs.

Chapter 4: Mirrors

    “Wait a minute,” said Caina.
    Aydin stopped. “What is it?”
    They stood at the top of the stairwell. The stairs terminated at a small landing of snowy white marble with a railing of worked iron. Across the landing waited a polished oak door bound in steel, its hinges gleaming.
    “I can pick the lock,” said Aydin.
    Caina stepped before the door and waved a hand over it, and her arm erupted with pins and needles. 
    “Warded,” said Caina, frowning as she concentrated upon the presence of the arcane energies beneath her fingers. “Not sure what type. If you try to pick that lock, I don’t think you’ll enjoy what happens.”
    “You’re a sorceress, then?” said Aydin, his eyes narrowing. “Is that how you know so much about necromancy?”
    “Not quite,” said Caina. “I was injured by a necromantic spell years ago. Ever since then I’ve been able to sense sorcerous forces.”
    “A useful talent,” said Aydin. 
    “On occasion,” said Caina, waving her hand back and forth over the door. “Wait. Two wards. The main one, and then a weaker one. I think…”
    “That the second spell warns the Curator if the ward is broken,” said Aydin.
    “Aye,” said Caina. “Your rod can dispel them.”
    “It can only break one of the spells at a time,” said Aydin. “If I use it on one…”
    “The other one will collapse and alert the Curator,” said Caina. She grinned at him. “Just as well you danced with me, then.”
    “Do you have a dispelling rod as well?” said Aydin.
    “Something almost as good,” said Caina.
    She drew the dagger from her belt, the leaf-shaped blade of ghostsilver flashing. 
    “That’s a ghostsilver weapon,” said Aydin, his eyes widening in his dark face. “Where did you get that?”
    “I’m a thief. I stole it,” said Caina, which was entirely true. “You know what it can do?”
    “It can pierce spells and disrupt wards,” said Aydin, starting to smile. 
    Caina nodded. “I’ll disrupt the ward. Once I do, hit it with the rod.” Aydin nodded and drew his silver rod, pointing it at the door. Caina shifted the dagger to her right hand, holding her left a few inches over the door. She paused for a moment to feel the currents of arcane power following through the wood, then nodded to herself and jabbed the dagger into the door. The tip sank a half-inch into the wood, and at once the weapon’s hilt grew hot as the ghostsilver disrupted the warding spells. She felt the currents of power twitch and writhe, like cables trembling under too much pressure.
    “Now!” said Caina.
    A pulse of silver light washed from Aydin’s rod and sank into the door. The warding spells shivered once more, and then collapsed entirely. Caina tugged her dagger free.
    “It’s done,” said Caina. “You can open the lock.”
    Aydin nodded. “Hold my rod for me.” 
    Caina raised an eyebrow. “Seriously?”
    Aydin blinked, and then laughed. “This