Ghost Thorns Read Online Free

not refuse the Kindred and live, so of course I agreed. Since I did not wish to be seen delivering the poisons, I hired a courier…and I assumed you tracked him here.” He scratched at his unshaven chin. “But the curious thing…the poisons weren’t actually poison.”
    Caina blinked. “They weren’t?”
    “No. The Kindred wanted me to prepare extract of lionroot. This master magus insisted upon it, apparently. Lionroot is a flower that grows upon the great plains of Anshan. Bright yellow. Completely harmless. Sometimes the slaves use it to flavor their tea.”
    “So you sent an extract of lionroot to Morius Orian every day for a month?” said Caina.
    Halaam nodded. “Perhaps he wished to spice his tea.” 
    “You know better,” said Caina.
    “Well,” said Halaam. He rubbed his face again. “There is one circumstance where lionroot extract can become a deadly poison.”
    “Go on,” said Caina.
    “Mushrooms,” said Halaam. 
    “Mushrooms?” said Caina. “You mean if the extract is sprinkled over mushrooms?”
    “Poured,” said Halaam. “The extract is liquid. And, no. If you pour the lionroot extract into the earth in which the mushrooms grow, the mushrooms will pull it into themselves. Something about the extract turns the mushrooms poisonous.”
    A suspicion came to Caina. “Just how poisonous?”
    “Lethally poisonous,” said Halaam. “Ingesting one of the mushrooms causes the heart to rupture within moments. It used to be a popular method of assassination in Anshan, before the Bostaji killed anyone who attempted it.”
    “Poisoned mushrooms,” said Caina. That made sense, yet it seemed too obvious. If his guests died after eating his food, Morius would come under immediate suspicion for murder. 
    That carrion flower. That was the key. He had lured the guests to see the flower bloom. But why the flower? Any pretext would have served…
    Caina remembered the strange smell from the flower’s roots.
    “Do you have any of the extract on hand?” said Caina.
    “A few vials left,” said Halaam.
    “I wish to smell one,” said Caina. 
    “Why?” said Halaam. “It smells most unpleasant, I am afraid.”
    “No matter,” said Caina. “I wish to smell one.” She turned toward the stairs. “Go down to the shop and…”
    She froze. A dark shape stood at the bottom of the stairs, and she saw the glint of metal as the shape moved.
    A crossbow quarrel.
    “Back!” shouted Caina as Corvalis turned, and she grabbed him and jerked him back.
    An instant later a crossbow bolt shot up the stairs and slammed into the ceiling, quivering.
    Halaam shrieked and stumbled to his feet, eyes wide. “What? Why? Is that…”
    “Is that you, Halaam?” said a rough voice at the base of the stairs. Caina heard the click as the crossbow reloaded. “You have betrayed the Kindred, and you shall die.”
    “But…but how…” said Halaam.
    “That damned candle,” said Caina. Letting Halaam light it had been a mistake. Someone had been watching his window. 
    “I told them nothing!” said Halaam. “At least, nothing they could not have learned from any apothecary! I…”
    “Silence!” said the assassin. “I heard every word, fool. And you are still under suspicion for the incident five years past. You have a gift for wagging your tongue for enemies of the Kindred! Those are Ghost agents with you, I am sure. They can die alongside you.”
    “No!” said Halaam. “Please, have mercy!”
    “You’re a fool, Kindred!” shouted Caina, cutting off Halaam’s pleas.
    Again Caina glimpsed the glint of steel as the assassin shifted aim. Anyone who went down the stairs would catch a crossbow bolt, and a crossbow quarrel to the torso at that range would be almost certainly be lethal.
    “And why is that?” said the assassin.
    “Because there are five of us and one of you,” said Caina.
    The assassin barked a harsh laugh. “Is that so? You lie boldly, Ghost. There are two of you, and the first one of you