Jonathan Moeller - The Ghosts 06 - Ghost in the Forge Read Online Free PDF Page A

over the Emperor’s warships.”
    Caina remembered Kylon well. He had come within a hairsbreadth of killing her, and she had almost slain him. When she had last seen him, he had been crushed by the knowledge that his sister Andromache had been a disciple of the Moroaica, that she had engineered New Kyre’s war with the Empire to seize the power in the Tomb of Scorikhon. She had wondered how Kylon would respond to that betrayal.
    Apparently, he would deal with the guilt by winning the war his sister had started. 
    “That is our task,” said Halfdan. “We will leave tomorrow.”
    Caina saw Halfdan’s plan well enough. They would go south to discover whatever the Masked Ones had in mind…and the journey would also give him an opportunity to test Corvalis and Claudia.
    To see if they truly intended to join the Ghosts. 
    She was sure about Corvalis. But she was not so certain about Claudia. She knew how much the Magisterium hated the Ghosts. Of course, Claudia had spent the last year trapped as a living statue, and claimed that her father had turned against her. But if it was a trick, if Corvalis had only seduced her to get a spy into the Ghosts…
    The thought hurt more than she had expected. 
    No, she could not think like that. 
    “Very well,” said Corvalis. “If I am to work for the Ghosts, I suppose you shall be my Elder.”
    “Gods!” said Halfdan. “Don’t compare me to a Kindred Elder.” He laughed. “Especially after what you did to the Elder of Cyrioch.” 
    Corvalis grinned. “I mean only that I shall follow your commands.” 
    “Smart lad,” said Halfdan.
    “And I, too, shall obey you, Master Basil,” said Claudia.
    “As wise as you are lovely, my dear,” said Halfdan. “Marina, Theodosia. Join me for a moment, please.”
    He walked to the balcony, and Caina and Theodosia followed him. Below them the Plaza of the Defender bustled with activity, the Cyricans in their bright robes moving from shop to shop. Crowds went past the white stone statue of the armored warrior in the center of the square, the statue that gave the Plaza its name. Caina wondered how the Cyricans would react if they knew the elemental spirit that had once inhabited the statue now resided in the flesh of a former slave girl. 
    Halfdan closed the doors behind them.
    “They’ll know,” said Theodosia, “that we’re talking about them.”
    “I hope so,” said Halfdan. “I prefer not to recruit idiots. What do you think?”
    “Corvalis is telling the truth,” said Theodosia. “He put himself through hell to save his sister from Ranarius.” She glanced at Caina. “And he has…other reasons to remain loyal to the Ghosts.”
    “Ranarius,” said Halfdan. “You did well, killing him.”
    “The Defender killed him,” said Caina, “not me.”
    “Regardless,” said Halfdan, “he has been a foe of the Ghosts for years. We are well rid of him. What do you think of the woman?”
    “Claudia?” said Caina. “Corvalis…says she has a good heart.”
    “He would say that,” said Theodosia. “Frankly, I’m not certain what to make of her. She’s kindly, true…but it is a patronizing sort of kindness. She’s arrogant. Her experience with her father has shaken her, but she truly believes that those with arcane talent are a higher order of men, that they have the duty to shepherd and guide the commoners.”
    “And many of the most tyrannical magi,” said Halfdan, “have said the exact same thing. The First Magus would claim as much.”
    “Aye,” said Theodosia. “And Corvalis loves her. He’ll do whatever she asks of him. Including, if necessary, betraying the Ghosts.” 
    “What do you think?” said Halfdan to Caina. “As we’ve often noticed, you have a knack for observing things.”
    “I think that Theodosia is right,” said Caina. She took a deep breath. “And there is something else you should know.” She would not keep it secret from Halfdan and Theodosia. She trusted them more than she