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

really is. She decided to abandon the Magisterium and leave the Empire, and convinced me to go with her.”
    “And to punish you,” said Basil, “your father had Ranarius turn your sister to stone.”
    “Aye,” said Corvalis. “Then he tried to have me killed. I had to go into hiding for a year.”
    “Where, I assume,” said Basil, “you acquired those useful tattoos. How did you get them, by the way? The Ulkaari witchfinders are notoriously secretive.”
    “I helped them track down a demon,” said Corvalis. “Once I had the tattoos, I stole Claudia from the Magisterium’s motherhouse in Artifel, pursued Ranarius to Cyrioch…and you know the rest.”
    “Indeed,” said Basil. 
    He fell silent, his fingers tapping on the railing.
    “As much as I enjoy suspense,” said Corvalis, “are you going to kill me?”
    “What? No.” Basil laughed. “You’re twenty years my junior and a trained Kindred assassin. I doubt I could kill you.”
    “Nevertheless,” said Corvalis, “if you want me dead, I suspect it will happen.” 
    “True,” said Basil without rancor. “But that may not be necessary.”
    “May?” said Corvalis.
    “You will make an excellent Ghost nightfighter,” said Basil. “The Ghosts always have need of talent, and finding a man of your skills is a boon. We have no end of work for you, and we can keep you near Caina. Which, I think, you will prefer.”
    Corvalis gave a cautious nod. “But I suspect there is a caveat.”
    “Indeed,” said Basil. “What do you want?”
    Corvalis blinked. “I don’t understand.”
    “You were content to be a killer,” said Basil. “Then Claudia awoke your conscience, and you devoted yourself to saving her. A remarkable feat – not many cross the First Magus and live to tell of it. But you saved her. So what now? What do you want?”
    Corvalis opened his mouth to answer…and found that he did not really know. 
    Revenge, perhaps? He had dreamed of killing his father for years. But while he would not pass up the chance to kill Decius Aberon, he knew he could not live on revenge alone. Not forever.
    So what then? He could hardly open up a tavern or go into trade. Did he want wealth and power? He could win them easily enough, but the thought bored him. But he did like fighting. The Kindred had given him skills, and as much as he loathed the Kindred, he enjoyed using those skills, enjoyed the challenge. Before he had used his skills to kill the enemies of the Magisterium. Then he had seen how Caina used her wits and skills to save Cyrioch from destruction.
    The thought of using his skills for a good end…yes, he wanted that very much. 
    And he wanted Caina.
    Perhaps he could have both. 
    “I want,” said Corvalis at last, “to make the Magisterium howl.”
    “Ah,” said Basil. “Revenge, then.”
    “But only a little,” said Corvalis. “This is a peculiar thing to admit, but Caina has shown me the work the Ghosts do. I find I can support it with an enthusiasm I never had for the Kindred.”
    “Not so strange,” said Basil. “I have seen it before. You are a fighter, Corvalis, and a man can be a fighter for a bad cause or a good cause. And a man who has fought in a bad cause can be pleasantly surprised how much he enjoys fighting for a good cause.”
    “I suppose you are right,” said Corvalis.
    “I am,” said Basil. “Will your sister accept that?”
    “Claudia?” said Corvalis. “She sees her sorcery as a gift, not a right. She wants to use it to help people. She convinced me to turn my back on the Magisterium, once she understood the sort of man my father was.”
    “Will she do what is necessary?” said Basil. “Will she use her power to protect and defend, whatever the cost?”
    “I think so,” said Corvalis. “Though I hope it will not come to that. I am a killer, Basil Callenius, but she is not. I have never seen her use her spells in anger.” He shrugged. “I think she would be hard-pressed to harm a mouse. If not,