I wondered how they would react if they knew the High Queen was moving among them.
Tyth waited for me with Exeter at the foot of the bus’s steps, and she beamed when she saw me.
“Nadia!” she said, and she hugged me. I’m not really a hugging kind of person, but Tyth was always so cheerful that I went with it. Though she was (annoyingly) taller than I was, so it was a little awkward to have my nose bounce off her shoulder.
“Hi, Tyth,” I said. “Good to see you, too.”
“I heard you had a rough time,” said Tyth, stepping back.
“Nah,” I said. “Not hard at all. Not compared to what we did that one time. I didn’t even go to another planet or anything.”
“We went to three different worlds,” said Tyth. “Four, if you count Earth. Which I think is technically a world.” She frowned. “Exeter?”
“Earth is technically a world, ma’am,” said Exeter, not looking up from his tablet as he scribbled notes.
“There we go,” said Tyth. “Mr. Exeter is full of useful information. My experience tends to be more, you know, practical.”
“I can relate completely,” I said.
“Her Majesty wants to see you,” said Tyth. “I think she’s happy with how things turned out. Not that I presume to tell her Majesty what to think, or what she thinks about. But you should probably go in and see her. And she has another human in with her.”
“Another human?” I said, and suspicion grew in my mind.
I climbed up the stairs and into the bus. It hadn’t changed since my last visit, with the same long conference table, the chairs lining the walls, and the enormous video monitors. The High Queen stood at the head of the table, wearing her usual silver armor, golden diadem, and red cloak, and I offered a deep bow at once.
Caina Amalas stood halfway around the table, wearing a similar dark suit to the one she had on the day we had met at the House of Agabyzus.
“Your Majesty,” I said. I looked at Caina. “Fellow royal employee.”
“Ah, Nadia Moran,” said Tarlia. “Figured that out, did you?”
“I started having suspicions,” I said. “I mean, private security types are a pretty mercenary lot. They don’t go running around investigating necromancers. Not unless someone pays them a lot of money. I assume your Majesty was the client Caina mentioned?”
“Not quite,” said Tarlia. “Who do you think owns Ghost Securities?”
“I don’t know,” I said.
Tarlia smiled. “I do.”
I blinked. “Your...Majesty owns a private security company?”
“Just because I am the sovereign of Earth and Kalvarion does not mean I cannot engage in commerce,” said the High Queen. “Ruling two worlds is expensive. Ghost Securities turns a consistent profit. It has employees in all fifty states, all the Canadian provinces, and eight of the UK’s major cities.” Her smile widened. “And when I ask, they tell me whatever I wish to know.”
“I...suppose that is very useful, your Majesty,” I said.
“We’ll discuss Congressman Sulzer’s fate in a moment,” said Tarlia. She lifted something from the table, something that glittered in the light. “But first, I have something for you. Do you recognize this?”
It was an empty crystalline vial. It looked familiar. It…
“Wait,” I said. “That’s...that’s Morvilind’s vial, isn’t it? The one he used to store the blood he took from my heart.”
“Yes,” said Tarlia. “He used it to track your location and summon you. I had a better use for it.” She lifted something else. “Take this.”
A golden ring rested in her palm, a golden ring adorned with a glittering red stone. I hesitated, then took the ring, feeling the power of the magic worked into it. A strange thrum went through me as I lifted the ring as if I had recovered a missing piece of myself.
“Your blood crystallized rather nicely into the spell,” said Tarlia. “Put on the ring.”
I obeyed, putting the ring on the third finger of my right hand.
“Caina,” said the High Queen.
Caina smiled and lifted her right hand.
An identical ring rested on her third finger.
“That was always there, wasn’t it?” I said. “I just couldn’t see it.”
“I wish for my shadow agents to recognize each other on sight,” said Tarlia. “That ring is bound to you, and only you can wear it. Only another of my shadow agents can see the ring. The ring will allow me to speak with you from a distance. It will also let you contact me, and you can also conjure an image of my seal to compel obedience from my subjects when necessary. I strongly suggest you only use the seal when necessary. The point of a shadow agent is to remain hidden.”
“Was this a test, your Majesty?” I said. The ring felt warm against my finger. “If I performed well, you would give me the ring and let me into the club?”
“Darling girl,” said Tarlia, “when someone possesses your level of magical power, every day is a test, is it not? Every day is a test for a sovereign. Why should the tasks of my agents be any different?” She gestured at one of the screens, which showed another news report of Congressman Sulzer’s downfall. “And I am pleased with the outcome of your task.”
“We did try to avoid killing him, your Majesty,” I said. “But it was either him or us.”
Tarlia waved a dismissive hand. “Do not worry, Nadia. Perhaps this outcome is even better. Had Sulzer died in a Punishment Day video as I had wished, it might have made a martyr of him to the remaining Rebel cells. This way, though, he was killed by his own ineptitude, unable to control his undead or his allies. Sulzer is not a martyr now. He is a fool. A cautionary tale at best, and a figure of mockery and fun at worst.” Her strange blue eyes glittered. “Perhaps schoolchildren will learn Sulzer’s life as a cautionary tale of the perils of wealth and power.”
“I am glad your Majesty is pleased with the outcome,” I said.
“I am,” said the High Queen. “The two of you have done well.” She smiled. “You have a surprising lot in common. Caina rid me of Baron Maglarion of Canterbury, another of my nobles who had played with powers that should be left alone, and you rid me of Baron Castomyr. And I shall have more work for you soon, darling girl. Until then, take this. Caina?”
Caina crossed to me and passed over a zipped bank deposit bag. I took it and had to tighten my grip because it was heavier than I expected. I unzipped it and blinked in surprise. The bag was full of diamonds and gold coins.
“Some of the proceeds from our seizure of Mr. Sulzer’s various ill-gotten gains,” said Tarlia. “Use them as you see fit. Doing my work is at times expensive.”
“Thank you, your Majesty,” I said.
Caina smiled and shook my hand. “It was good working with you, Nadia.”
“Yeah,” I said. “I hope the next time we don’t get shot at quite so much.”
“You’ll be hearing from me,” said Tarlia. “Rest a few days first.”
I nodded, bowed again, and left the bus with the bag of diamonds and gold coins.
###
Caina watched as Nadia walked away, tucking the bank bag into her coat.
“You’ve worked for me since you were a child,” said Tarlia. “What do you think of our Nadia Moran MacCormac?”
“I think,” said Caina, “that your Majesty was wise to acquire her services. Her abilities are unique.”
“As are yours,” said Tarlia. “Speaking of that, I have another task for you.”
Caina nodded. Truth be told, she was glad to hear that. The work was a distraction from her memories, from her nightmares of Baron Maglarion’s workshop, from the accusation she had seen in Claudia Dorius’s eyes.
“I would be glad of it,” said Caina.
###
The next day I put on a nice dress, did my hair and makeup, and went to the airport to meet Riordan. I waited at the gate, and I grinned as I saw Riordan come off the plane. I ran towards him, and his hard face relaxed in a smile a
s he saw me.
I jumped up and kissed him, and his arm curled around my hips to keep me from falling.
“Hi,” I said. “I missed you.”
“I see that,” said Riordan. “I missed you, too.” We walked hand in hand down the concourse. “Did you stay busy while I was gone?”
I saw a news report about Congressman Sulzer on one of the concourse’s TVs.
“Nadia?” said Riordan. I realized that my attention had drifted.
Was I going to keep secrets from him?
Nope.
“Okay,” I said. “Have I got a story for you.”
THE END
Thank you for reading CLOAK & GHOST: BLOOD RING! Look for Caina's and Nadia's next joint adventure, CLOAK & GHOST: LOST GATE (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=10027), in late 2018. You can read Caina's first solo adventure in CHILD OF THE GHOSTS (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1057), and Nadia's first solo adventure in CLOAK GAMES: THIEF TRAP (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=5969).
***
Other books by the author
The Demonsouled Saga
MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK is a wandering knight, fearless in battle and masterful with a sword.
Yet he has a dark secret. He is Demonsouled, the son of the ancient and cruel Old Demon, and his tainted blood grants him superhuman strength and speed. Yet with the power comes terrible, inhuman rage, and Mazael must struggle to keep the fury from devouring him.
But he dare not turn aside from the strength of his blood, for he will need it to face terrible foes.
The priests of the San-keth plot and scheme in the shadows, pulling lords and kingdoms upon their strings. The serpent priests desire to overthrow the realms of men and enslave humanity. Unless Mazael stops them, they shall force all nations to bow before the serpent god.
The Malrag hordes are coming, vast armies of terrible, inhuman beasts, filled with a lust for cruelty and torment. The Malrags care nothing for conquest or treasure, only slaughter. And the human realms are ripe for the harvest. Only a warrior of Mazael’s power can hope to defeat them.
The Dominiar Order and the Justiciar Order were once noble and respected, dedicated to fighting the powers of dark magic. Now they are corrupt and cynical, and scheme only for power and glory. They will kill anyone who stands in their way.
To defeat these foes, Mazael will need all the strength of his Demonsouled blood.
Yet he faces a far more terrible foe.
For centuries the Old Demon has manipulated kings and lords. Now he shall seize the power of the Demonsouled for himself, and become the a god of torment and tyranny.
Unless Mazael can stop him.
Read Demonsouled (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=880) for free. Mazael's adventures continue in Soul of Tyrants (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=911), Soul of Serpents (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1287), Soul of Dragons (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1727), Soul of Sorcery (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1845), Soul of Skulls (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=2808), and Soul of Swords (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=3599), along with the short stories The Wandering Knight (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=3073), The Tournament Knight (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=3677), and The Dragon's Shadow (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=2635). Get the first three books bundled together in Demonsouled Omnibus One (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4442).
The Ghosts Series
Once CAINA AMALAS was the shy daughter of a minor nobleman, content to spend her days in her father’s library.
Then sorcery and murder and her mother’s treachery tore her life apart.
Now she is a nightfighter of the Ghosts, an elite agent of the spies and assassins of the Emperor of Nighmar. She is a master of disguise and infiltration, of stealth and the shadows.
And she will need all those skills to defend the Empire and stay alive.
Corrupt lords scheme and plot in the shadows, desiring to pull down the Emperor and rule the Empire for their own profit and glory. Slave traders lurk on the fringes of the Empire, ready to seize unwary commoners and sell them into servitude in distant lands. Yet both slave traders and cruel lords must beware the Ghosts.
The Magisterium, the Imperial brotherhood of sorcerers, believe themselves the rightful masters of the Empire. With their arcane sciences, they plan to overthrow the Empire and enslave the commoners, ruling all of mankind for their own benefit. Only the Ghosts stand in the path of their sinister plans.
And the Moroaica, the ancient sorceress of legend and terror, waits in the shadows, preparing to launch a war upon the gods themselves. She will make the gods pay for the suffering of mankind...even if she must destroy the world to do it.
Caina Amalas of the Ghosts opposes these mighty enemies, but the cost might be more than she can bear.
Read Child of the Ghosts (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1057) for free. Caina's adventures continue in Ghost in the Flames (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1265), Ghost in the Blood (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1383), Ghost in the Storm (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1931), Ghost in the Stone (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=2520), Ghost in the Forge (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=3181), Ghost in the Ashes (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=3932), Ghost in the Mask (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4231), and Ghost in the Surge (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4637), along with the short stories Ghost Aria (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=3243), Ghost Claws (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=3930), Ghost Omens (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4235), The Fall of Kyrace (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4258), Ghost Thorns (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4639), Ghost Undying (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4662), Ghost Light (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=5653), and Ghost Dagger (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=2371), and the prequel novels Blade of the Ghosts (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=6220) and Champion of the Ghosts (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=6304). Get the first three books bundled together in The Ghosts Omnibus One (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4484).
The Ghost Exile Series
Caina Amalas was a nightfighter of the Ghosts, the spies and assassins of the Emperor of Nighmar, and through her boldness and cunning saved the Empire and the world from sorcerous annihilation.
But the victory cost her everything.
Now she is exiled and alone in the city of Istarinmul, far from her home and friends. Yet a centuries-old darkness now stirs in Istarinmul, eager to devour the city and the world itself.
And Caina is the only one that stands in its way...
Read Ghost in the Cowl (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4903), Ghost in the Maze (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=5090), Ghost in the Hunt (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=5244), Ghost in the Razor (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=5553), Ghost in the Inferno (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=5759), Ghost in the Seal (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=5924), Ghost in the Throne (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=6145), Ghost in the Pact (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=6629), and Ghost in the Winds (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=6694) along with the short stories Ghost Sword (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4911), Ghost Price (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=5105), Ghost Relics (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=5265), Ghost Keeper (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=5481), Ghost Nails (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=5504), Ghost Lock (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=5776), Ghost Arts (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=5937), Ghost Vigil (http://www.jonathanmoell
er.com/writer/?page_id=6153), Ghost Mimic (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=6648), and Ghost Vessel (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=7028), and read the combined short stories in Exile of the Ghosts (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=7936).
The Ghost Night Series
Caina Amalas was once a deadly Ghost nightfighter, a spy and agent of the Emperor of Nighmar. Now she only wishes to live quietly with her husband.
But civil war grips the Empire, and Caina's skills are needed against the cruel sorcerers of the malevolent Umbarian Order.
And Caina has a dangerous connection to the Umbarians.
For Caina's mother had many deadly secrets, secrets that might yet kill Caina herself...
Read Ghost in the Ring (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=7928) and Ghost in the Glass (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=7954).
The Third Soul
RACHAELIS MORULAN is an Initiate of the Conclave, the powerful order of mighty mages. But to become a full Adept of the Conclave, she must first survive the Testing. Those who survive the Testing never speak of the trials they endured.
Those who fail the Testing are never seen again.
And now the Magisters of the Conclave have come to take Rachaelis to undertake the Testing. And there she shall face perils to both her body and her sanity.
And creatures that yearn to devour her soul.
If Rachaelis survives the Testing, she will face even more dangerous foes. The demons of the astral world watch the world of mortal men, desiring to rule it for themselves.
Cloak & Ghost: Blood Ring Page 13