Jonathan Moeller - The Ghosts 07 - Ghost in the Ashes Read Online Free PDF Page B

Corvalis.
    “Indeed,” said Halfdan. “What really happened?” 
    “You just assume we were involved?” said Corvalis. 
    Halfdan snorted. “I stopped by the home of Anton Kularus on my way here, and the servants told me that Master Kularus had stepped out with his mistress. Kindly credit me with at least some brains between my ears, my boy.” 
    So Caina told him. She described how they had seen the Immortal, rescued Mahdriva, and helped Muravin escape from Nalazar and the Kindred. 
    “I don’t know what was happening,” said Caina. “My best guess is that Mahdriva is carrying the bastard child of some emir or another, and one of the emir’s wives sent assassins to kill off the threat to her own children.” She shook her head. “But that doesn’t explain why the Immortals came with the Kindred.”
    Halfdan crossed to the windows and gazed down at the foundry’s courtyard. “It doesn’t.”
    “And the timing is suspicious,” said Caina, “since the new Lord Ambassador from Istarinmul is arriving within a week.”
    “It is,” said Halfdan. “Especially since the Lord Ambassador will sue for peace.”
    For a moment silence fell over the sitting room. 
    “For peace?” said Ark.
    “The war against New Kyre is a stalemate,” said Caina. “The Empire cannot defeat them on sea, but the Legions can crush them on land.”
    “Aye,” said Halfdan, “but the war against Istarinmul is different. I doubt the Padishah really wanted it, and Rezir Shahan convinced him that he could win a quick victory in Marsis. Well, Rezir is dead, and the Empire still holds Marsis. Lord Corbould’s eldest son Conn has been leading the Legions south against the armies of Istarinmul, and he has won victory after victory. He has pushed deep into the Argamaz Desert, and the Istarish armies have fallen back to Istarinmul itself. The Padishah’s power comes from his ability to close the Starfall Strait, but Lord Conn is almost close enough to build forts overlooking the Strait itself.”
    “And if he does,” said Caina, “the Padishah will lose a great deal of power.”
    “More likely, the Padishah will find himself with a Kindred dagger between his ribs,” said Halfdan. “The emirs of Istarinmul are a ruthless lot, and do not tolerate weakness in their rulers. The Padishah wants peace, now, before he loses any more prestige.” 
    “Why not finish it?” said Corvalis. “Push on to Istarinmul and take the city itself?”
    Ark shook his head. “The city’s walls are too strong. Every Legionary in the Empire, gathered together, could not take Istarinmul.”
    “And Istarinmul is impossible to besiege in any event,” said Halfdan. “The Padishah could bring a constant supply of fresh soldiers and food from the lands of his southern emirs. Our army would starve before the most wretched slave in Istarinmul felt the slightest pang of hunger. No, better to secure peace now, while the Padishah is willing to deal. And with Istarinmul at peace, the Emperor and the Legions can turn their full attention to New Kyre.” 
    “So the Padishah wants peace,” said Caina. “Who is he sending as his Lord Ambassador? Not Callatas, I hope.” She had met the cold, arrogant Master Alchemist at Catekharon. 
    “No,” said Halfdan. “You remember Rezir Shahan?”
    “Better than I would like,” said Caina.
    “You should, given that you killed him,” said Halfdan.
    “You did?” said Corvalis. “You never mentioned that.”
    “No,” said Caina. She did not like to discuss what had happened in Marsis. “Actually, I lured him into a trap, blew off his hand, set him on fire, cut his throat, and threw his head into a crowd of his soldiers.” Thinking back, it seemed…surreal. As if it had happened to someone else. Yet she hated slavers, and Rezir Shahan had tried to enslave Nicolai and thousands of others.
    And the dramatic way she had killed him had given rise to the legend of the Balarigar, the story so beloved among tavern