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

said anything yet!” 
    Halfdan lifted a hand. “Go on.”
    “You’re here,” said Caina, “because the Masked Ones have done something to the outside world, something that threatens the Empire. You have too many duties to come this far south otherwise.” 
    “You’re right,” said Halfdan. “A few days after you left Malarae, an embassy from Catekharon arrived before the Emperor. We also know the Masked Ones sent embassies to the Shahenshah of Anshan, the Padishah of Istarinmul, the Assembly of New Kyre, and numerous others.”
    “What did the embassies say?” said Theodosia.
    “They said,” said Halfdan, “that the Scholae of Catekharon had created a weapon of sorcery. A weapon so powerful, so potent, that it would grant its bearer dominion over the entire world.”
    “And they demanded that the Empire submit to Catekharon, I suppose?” said Corvalis.
    “Not at all,” said Halfdan. “The embassy said the Masked Ones would sell the weapon to the highest bidder.” 
    Silence answered him.
    “That,” said Caina at last, “is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. If they had such a weapon, why would they sell it? Why not use it themselves? Or if they want to be left alone to study sorcery, why not keep the weapon a secret and use it if they are attacked? No one in their right mind would sell it.” She shook her head. “This has to be a trick of some sort.” 
    “I agree,” said Halfdan. “But I do not know the nature of the game. And there is the remote possibility that they are telling the truth. That they do indeed possess such a weapon, and are unworldly and foolish enough to sell it.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “All this…and then you are attacked by a Masked One on the street.”
    “A coincidence, perhaps,” said Claudia.
    Caina laughed. “A coincidence means only there is an underlying pattern that we cannot yet see.”  
    “Precisely,” said Halfdan. “The Emperor has sent Lord Titus Iconias to act as his ambassador to the Catekhari. Our ships came into the harbor this morning. Tomorrow he will take the Great Western Caravan Road to Catekharon, and we will accompany him.”
    “We?” said Theodosia. “Basil, you know that desert air is dreadful to my skin.” 
    “You’re going back to Malarae with Lord Corbould,” said Halfdan. “And you’ll take Nicasia with you. Bringing a girl possessed by an earth elemental into a city full of sorcerers is a poor idea.” He looked at Caina. “You, Corvalis, and Claudia will accompany me to Catekharon, and together we will get to the bottom of this.” 
    “Why take me?” said Caina. “I’ve never been to Catekharon, and I don’t know the language.”
    “That hardly matters,” said Halfdan. “Catekhari is a form of Maatish, and the Masked Ones use it as a formal language. Most of the Catekhari speak either Anshani or Kyracian, and you know both of those. But you have a more important skill. You can sense the presence of sorcery, and that will prove invaluable.” He looked at Claudia. “You are a trained magus, and your expertise will be useful.” Claudia nodded, and Halfdan’s gaze shifted to Corvalis. “And if we need someone killed…I suspect you shall be capable.”
    Corvalis nodded.
    “Though if I might ask, Basil,” said Theodosia, “why bother at all? Marina is right. The entire business sounds preposterous.” 
    “Because,” said Halfdan, “the Emperor does not want the weapon, if it exists, to fall into the hands of the Kyracians or the Istarish. The war is a stalemate. Right now, the Kyracians cannot defeat the Legions upon land. But neither can we defeat the Kyracians at sea.” He shook his head. “Kylon Shipbreaker has made quite a name for himself.”
    “Kylon?” said Caina. “You mean Kylon of House Kardamnos?”
    “Aye,” said Halfdan. “You’ve met, I recall? The Assembly and Archons of New Kyre named him thalarchon of their western fleet. He’s won victory over victory