Ghost in the Throne (Ghost Exile #7) (26 page)

“This complicates matters considerably,” said Nasser in a low voice. He held the Staff in his right hand, still disguised as a spear. Annarah waited next to him, clad in her usual brown dress and headscarf once more, the Seal hidden on a chain around her neck, just as Caina wore her father’s ring beneath her collar. “If the Huntress followed us for months…”

“We have to assume she did,” said Caina. 

“Then she was the one who brought Cassander to Rumarah,” said Nasser. He hesitated. “Mistress Strake, Master Malcolm. I urge you to keep secret what you are about to hear. Our enemies are willing to kill everyone in Istarinmul to learn these secrets.”

“We are Ghosts,” said Malcolm. “We took the oath.” 

Nerina nodded. “The probability that I will reveal any information voluntarily is exactly zero.”

Voluntarily, thought Caina, was the key. If Cassander or Callatas suspected that Nerina knew anything, they would make her tall. 

“Very good,” said Nasser. “We must assume that Cassander Nilas knows about the Staff and Seal as well, and it is possible he has communicated the information to the rest of the Order.”

“He wouldn’t have,” said Caina. “And I don’t think the relics are his main priority right now.” 

“And just how can you know that?” said Morgant.

“Because,” said Caina. “Kalgri didn’t tell him that I am still alive.”

Silence answered that.

“Perhaps she thinks that you are dead,” said Kylon at last.

“No,” said Caina. “She wouldn’t have been fooled. But she didn’t tell Cassander that I’m dead. Else he wouldn’t be shouting it from the rooftops in Istarinmul. He would have gone to Drynemet, killed us all, and then gone to the Grand Wazir to claim his reward.” She shrugged. “Once he has opened the Straits and sent the Umbarian fleet to attack Malarae, he’ll have high standing in the Order. He’ll have leisure to hunt down the relics.” 

“So why didn’t the Huntress tell Cassander that you are dead?” said Morgant.

“I have no idea,” said Caina. “But it would be for the same reason she does anything. So she can kill more people by doing it.”

Maybe Kalgri wanted to see the Empire fall. Perhaps she wanted to revel in the slaughter that would be unleashed if the Umbarian Order seized Malarae and rampaged through the western provinces. Yet as far as Caina knew, Kalgri had never shown any interest in the Empire. 

Did she have something else in mind? 

“Before we proceed,” said Nasser, “I suggest we enter Istarinmul with the circus tomorrow and contact the Ghost circle. We are in dire need of better information.”

“Yes,” said Caina, looking at the walls of Istarinmul. 

She knew that both Kalgri and Cassander Nilas awaited her within the city. 

And Caina did not know if she was strong enough to face them again.

Chapter 14: Still Not Dead

The next morning, the guards at the gate admitted Master Cronmer’s Traveling Circus of Wonders And Marvels to the city of Istarinmul.

After everything that Caina had done to prepare, it was almost anticlimactic. 

A hundred of Erghulan Amirasku’s soldiers manned the gate, backed by a score of Immortals in their skull-masked helmets. Malcolm glared at the Immortals until Caina told him to stop, so he settled for glaring at the ground. The soldiers more or less waved Cronmer and his wagons through. One of the soldiers asked Caina a few bored questions about her background. She started to say that her name was Ciara, that her sister had been married in Cyrioch, but soldier only grunted and waved her through. 

Caina walked into the Anshani Bazaar, and stopped for a moment to look around. The Bazaar was not as crowded as it had been before the destruction of the Inferno, but rows of booths and stalls still filled the vast space. Merchants sold practically every item under the sun here to travelers. The air smelled of spices and cooking food and animal dung. Over the western side of the Bazaar rose the Shahenshah’s Seat, now half-rebuilt, where Caina had fought the Sifter and met with Nasser a score of times. Even though construction hadn’t finished, the inn was thronged with merchants and guards buying food and drink. Under a false name Caina was a part-owner of the Seat, so she supposed she ought to be pleased it was doing well. 

“What is it?” said Kylon in a low voice, hand twitching towards the valikon’s hilt.

“Nothing,” said Caina. “It’s just that…I hate this city. All the slaves, how the Istarish celebrate cruelty. And yet I am so glad to see it again.” 

“Because you thought you were going to die,” said Kylon. “Because you thought you would never see it again.” 

“I suppose so,” said Caina. “I guess Cassander wasn’t the only one to cheat death.”

“He might have cheated it,” said Kylon, his voice hard, “but he won’t get away from it. I’ll make sure of that.”

“I know,” said Caina, a flicker of guilt going through her. Cassander Nilas, Malik Rolukhan, and Kalgri had arranged for the death of Kylon’s wife. In her shock over Cassander’s survival, she had forgotten that. “But…that’s how I’m different from Cassander.”

“Oh?” 

“Cassander didn’t have someone to save him,” said Caina, meeting his eyes. 

For a moment they looked at each other. The recollection of last night flashed through her mind, and she smiled at the memory. Gods, but her moods had been veering back and forth lately. 

Coming within a hair’s breadth of death seemed to have that effect. 

“Well,” said Kylon at last. He stepped closer and offered her his arm. “You have another difference from Cassander.”

“What’s that?” said Caina, threading her arm through his.

“You look nothing like him.”

Caina burst out laughing. “Such high praise, sir, such high praise. Since the Kyracian champion defeated Natalia of the Nine Knives, I suppose it is only fair that he can take her on a walk to see some friends.” 

“The Kyracian champion,” said Kylon, “in his anachronistic and inaccurate armor, would be glad to do so.”

“We should say farewell to Cronmer first,” said Caina. “I want to stay on good terms with him. Never know when we might need his help again.” 

Kylon nodded, and Caina walked through the crowd of the circus and its wagons, past the bickering carpenters and acrobats. She caught a flash of Vardo’s red coat, and the man’s face turned as crimson as his coat before he ducked behind a wagon. Caina tried not to laugh. For a man who never hesitated to use an innuendo, she seemed ready to die of embarrassment. Or maybe he was just afraid of Kylon. 

She found Cronmer and Tiri at the head of the column, both of them arguing, while their eldest son Tozun calmly directed traffic, Timost hovering at his side.

“Master Cronmer!” said Caina, and Cronmer and Tiri looked up. “I fear this is where we must part ways.” 

“A pity, my dear,” said Cronmer. “Natalia of the Nine Knives was brilliant. Natalia of the Nine Knives combined with a Kyracian champion…ah, that was splendid! I have rarely heard the crowd cheer so. You are welcome to rejoin us at any time. A pity family business takes precedence.”

Tiri pointed at Kylon. “Look after her, young man.”

Kylon inclined his head. “I’ll do my best.”

“If you come to your senses and decide to rejoin the circus,” said Cronmer, “you can find us at the Inn of the Crescent Moon in the Cyrican Quarter.”

“I remember,” said Caina. “We met there the first time. Isn’t that a little expensive for the entire circus?”

Cronmer grinned behind his bushy mustache. “Not when the hakim of the Bazaar is footing the bill! Our performance was so popular that it has boosted his prestige, and so he has commissioned the circus to stay for another week.”

“May the cheers be loud and the coins abundant,” said Caina. 

She left Cronmer and Tiri to resume their argument while Tozun did most of the work, and rejoined Nasser and Annarah and the others. They had taken shelter near the gate, out of the stream of traffic. Morgant looked calm and relaxed, but his pale eyes never stopped roving over the crowds, and his hands were never far from his sword belt. 

“We need to take the relics someplace safe,” said Caina.

“One of your safe houses?” said Annarah.

“No,” said Caina. “Kalgri followed me for months. She would know them all. No, it would have to be someplace I visited before I came to the Huntress’s attention.”

“Before we robbed the Maze, then,” said Nasser. 

“Aye,” said Caina, and the answer came to her. “The Gilded Throne. Can you still get rooms there?” 

“Easily,” said Nasser. “The owner still owes me a favor or three.”

“The Gilded Throne?” said Kylon.

“An inn located in the Masters’ Quarter,” said Caina. “Istarinmul’s finest inn.”

Laertes grunted. “The most expensive, too. Good wine, though.”

“Since it is the place where minor princelings stay when visiting the city,” said Morgant, “I imagine the Teskilati keep close watch over it.”

“They do,” said Caina, “but I’m less worried about the Teskilati and more concerned about the Huntress and Cassander, but the last time I visited the Gilded Throne I had not yet come to Kalgri’s attention and Cassander hadn’t arrived in Istarinmul. They won’t think to look for me there…and more importantly, they won’t think to look for the Staff and the Seal there.” 

“A logical plan,” said Nasser. “I can think of nothing better. Though your plan has one flaw.”

Caina frowned. “What is it?”

“What will you be doing?” said Annarah. “I hope you are not thinking of making yourself bait for the Huntress or for Cassander. If…”

“You do,” said Nasser, “have a habit of trying to sacrifice yourself.” 

“No, nothing like that,” said Caina. “I need to check in with the Ghost circle, and let them know I’m still alive. They might well have news for us. I’ll rejoin you at the Gilded Throne after sundown.”

“I’ll go with you,” said Kylon.

“Of course you will,” said Morgant. 

Nasser’s white smile flashed across a face. “He is the logical choice. Caina remains the Huntress’s chief target. So long as Lord Kylon carries the valikon with him, the Huntress will hesitate before attacking.”

“What about us?” said Nerina.

“You and Malcolm should go back to your shop,” said Caina. “I assume you were contacted once Cassander proclaimed my death?” Both Nerina and Malcolm nodded. “You should have protocols for getting in touch with the rest of the circle. Use them, and let them know I am not dead. Once we know what Cassander is planning, we can get ready to counter it and get the relics on a ship as soon as possible.” 

“I suggest we move at once,” said Nasser.

“Wait,” said Nerina.

“What is it?” said Caina. 

Nerina swallowed, blinking her pale eyes. “I have to talk to you. Alone.” 

Caina nodded. “Of course.” 

“Let’s go,” said Nasser. “Mistress Strake, Master Malcolm, a pleasure to see you both again. I am most pleased to see that you are still alive.”

Malcolm grunted and clapped Nasser on the shoulder. “And you, Glasshand. Thought you all were heading to your deaths when you left the city.” 

“We came regrettably close to proving you correct a few times,” said Nasser, beckoning. Morgant, Annarah, and Laertes moved after him.

“Suppose the old skeleton in the black coat helped keep you alive, eh?” said Malcolm.

Morgant gave him a cold smile. “You’re dangerously direct, Master Malcolm.”

“A magus damaged my mind when I was a child,” said Malcolm. “What is your excuse?”

Morgant laughed at that, and Caina moved off to the side with Nerina. Kylon watched them, as did Malcolm, but they were far enough away that they would not overhear. 

“What is it?” said Caina. “What’s wrong?” 

Nerina took a deep breath. “Is your name really Caina Amalas?” 

“Yes,” said Caina. “Please don’t tell me I wronged your father and now you have to take vengeance.” 

Nerina let out a hiccupping little laugh. “No, no. I detested my father. If you had wronged him, to balance the equation I would have to repay you. I…am very glad you are still alive. I have cried three times in the last seven years. When I thought Malcolm was dead, when we found him against in the Inferno…and when Malcolm told me about the Umbarian proclamation.” 

“Nerina Strake,” said Caina. For a moment she was too touched to say anything. “Thank you. You’ve stuck with me through some very dangerous times.” 

“I…calculate that you went into something even more dangerous than the Inferno,” said Nerina. “Something bad happened to you, didn’t it?” 

Caina swallowed. “How did you know?”

“Your shadow,” said Nerina. “The one I can see around you.”

Caina’s throat went a little drier. “The…wraithblood shadow, you mean?”

She did not know why, but wraithblood addicts saw a shadow around her. Caina had no idea what the shadow was, and she had not been able to find anyone who knew. Even with the eyes of the valikarion, she had not been able to see the shadow, and neither Kylon nor Claudia nor Annarah had been able to detect it with their spells.

Yet it was there. Wraithblood addicts recoiled with fear when they looked at her, screaming in horror at the shadow. The ones so far gone in their addiction that they had lost their sanity started babbling in fear. Nerina was sane, or mostly sane, yet she could see the shadow nonetheless.

“Yes,” said Nerina. “It…has changed.” 

“What do you see?” said Caina. “How has it changed?”

“It…is difficult to express in precise mathematical terms,” said Nerina.

“Please try,” said Caina.

“It has gotten…thicker, somehow, and wider,” said Nerina. “Darker, too. The angle…you know how a man stands before a fire, and the length, angle, and depth of his shadow will depend upon his precise location in relation to the fire?” Caina nodded. “It’s like…you’re closer to the fire.” Nerina made a frustrated sound. “I cannot express it more precisely. That is what the shadow resembles. Like you are standing in front of a fire, and you have moved several yards closer to it.” 

“I see,” said Caina, trying to make sense of the statement. She had assumed the shadow had something to do with her sensitivity to sorcery, that the wraithblood addicts had somehow been able to see it. Of course, now that she knew what Callatas intended with his Apotheosis, it made more sense. Wraithblood addiction destroyed the mind’s natural resistance to possession, and Callatas intended to use the Staff and the Seal of Iramis to summon and bind thousands of nagataaru, housing them in the bodies of the wraithblood addicts he had created.