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

trusted anyone. “I took Corvalis into my bed.”
    Theodosia grinned and gave a little exclamation of delight.
    “Oh, my dear child,” she said. “It is well past time. And he is very handsome, is he not? A bit more ruthless than I would have preferred for you, but a soft man is no use to anyone…” 
    “It is,” said Halfdan, “certainly a point in his favor. You are not a fool, Caina. I trust your judgment.” A sad smile flickered over his face. “You have made yourself into a weapon in the service of the Ghosts. But that doesn’t mean you should deny yourself what joy you can find.” 
    “But do be careful,” said Theodosia. “The heart has a way of running away with the head.” 
    “I remember,” said Caina, thinking of Alastair Corus. 
    Of how her father had given her mother one last chance…and that last chance had led to his death.  
    “Well,” said Theodosia, “if I am to leave for Malarae on the morrow, I have preparations to make.”
    “As do I,” said Caina. 
    “Go and make them,” said Halfdan. “I am traveling as Basil Callenius, and you will masquerade as my daughter Anna.” He looked at the Plaza. “Oh, and send Corvalis out, will you? I would like a word with him.”

Chapter 3 - A Ghost Nightfighter

    Corvalis Aberon stepped onto the balcony, closing the doors behind him.
    His mind noted took in the details. He saw the crowds going about their business below. Basil Callenius stood with one hand on the railing, his face betraying nothing of his thoughts. He wore a short sword and a dagger at his belt, but Corvalis was certain the Ghost circlemaster had other weapons hidden. 
    His instincts worked out different ways to kill Basil. Best to wait until the conversation had begun, stun him with a blow to the neck, and heave him over the railing…
    With an effort, Corvalis forced aside the thoughts.
    The Kindred had trained him to be an assassin, and even though he had left their brotherhood behind, the skills and mindset they had forced upon him remained. 
    Basil smiled. “I am pleased you decided not to kill me.”
    He was perceptive. Of course, he was a Ghost circlemaster.
    Corvalis shrugged. “Caina would have taken it amiss.” 
    She loved Basil, Corvalis was sure of that. Since the magi had murdered her father, Basil seemed to have become a surrogate father of sorts for her. 
    “Yes, Caina,” said Basil. “Theodosia told an interesting story of how you came to join the Ghosts. How much of it was true?”
    “All of it,” said Corvalis. 
    Basil raised an eyebrow. 
    “You’ve caught me,” said Corvalis. “My father had Claudia turned to stone and sent me to save her so I could infiltrate the Ghosts. But you have unraveled our brilliant scheme.”
    “That,” said Basil, “is not as farfetched as you might think. The Magisterium tried some bold plots in the past. The First Magus would kill every last one of us if he could.”
    Corvalis offered a bleak smile. “He tried to kill me, and I am still here.” 
    Basil said nothing. 
    “What do you want me to say?” said Corvalis. “I am what I am. My father sold me to the Kindred, and they turned me into a killer. I’m good at it.”
    “What changed?” said Basil. “Why join the Ghosts?”
    “Claudia,” said Corvalis. 
    “She asked you to leave the Kindred?” said Basil.
    “Not like that,” said Corvalis. He still remembered it, years later. “We were close as children. We had the same mother, one of the First Magus’s favorite mistresses. When I met Claudia again, I thought our father would have twisted her into a monster. Like he did with me.” He shook his head. “Instead…she had not changed. She wanted to use her powers to help people, to make their lives easier, not to rule over them. Talking to her, telling her about the things I had done, I…”
    “She awoke your conscience,” said Basil.
    “Yes,” said Corvalis. “She saw what the Magisterium really was. What kind of man our father