“When did you meet Torius?” said the Ghost.
“When he came to New Kyre several months ago,” said Kylon. “Torius has been sailing on a regular basis for one of the free cities south of New Kyre. In retrospect, it is clear he has been visiting Catekharon on behalf of his father.”
“Why did he come to New Kyre?” said the Ghost.
“Because,” said Kylon, “he was sailing on a merchant trader from Malarae. Normally we would have stopped and destroyed his ship, since our nations are at war. But Torius negotiated a pact in the First Magus’s name for safe passage to the free cities.”
“He did?” said the Ghost, her expression darkening. “And what did the Assembly receive in exchange?”
“Information about the Imperial fleet,” said Kylon.
“Then Decius Aberon,” said the Ghost, “has betrayed the Empire in pursuit of his own agenda.”
Corvalis shrugged. “You’re surprised? The Magisterium has always regarded itself as the rightful government of the Empire. And my father will do whatever he wants, if he can get away with it.”
“He’ll regret this,” said the Ghost. “So the First Magus sent Torius in secret to Catekharon before the Scholae issued its invitations.” She gazed into her coffee. “Either he already knew about the glypharmor…”
“Or he knows something about its creation,” said Corvalis. “Or he assisted Mihaela with funds and supplies. He’s done that sort of thing before. From time to time he will support a magus’s secret research in hopes of gaining a useful weapon. Remember Ranarius and the Defender?”
“Who is Ranarius?” said Kylon, puzzled.
“He was the preceptor of the Cyrioch chapter of the magi,” said the Ghost, “and one of the Moroaica’s disciples.” Kylon scowled. “But he’s dead. It seems that both Irzaris and Torius might know part of the process to construct glypharmor.”
“But if they do,” said Kylon, “why did the First Magus come at all? Why not simply have Torius bring him the knowledge?”
“Because,” said Corvalis, “my father is a serpent. Torius must only know part of it. If Mihaela gave him the entire…spell, or design, or whatever, the First Magus would kill her to make sure the knowledge did not spread to his foes.”
“Then the First Magus is here,” said the Ghost, “for a negotiation of his own. The others are haggling to buy completed glypharmor, but the First Magus is negotiating in secret for the knowledge of creating the armor.”
“What could he possibly offer Mihaela and Zalandris?” said Kylon.
Corvalis shrugged. “Zalandris probably knows nothing of this. Maybe Mihaela wants money, or power, or legitimacy. If she joined the Magisterium, my father would likely make her one of the high magi, and she would have more power than all but a few men in the Empire.”
“There is power enough in Catekharon,” said Kylon.
“Sorcerous power,” said the Ghost, “not political power. And what is the point of sorcerous power if not to amass political power?”
Kylon disagreed, but he knew not to press the point with her. “Then we must discover what Torius and Irzaris know.”
“We’ll have a devil of a time getting anything out of Torius,” said Corvalis. “He’s not stupid, and he almost finished us tonight. He’ll be on his guard now.”
“Irzaris, then,” said the Ghost. “He’ll be well-guarded, but a merchant’s guards are an easier target than a battle magus.”
“What do you propose?” said Kylon.
Her emotional aura grew icier. “We abduct him and make him talk.”
“Your…friends will have to arrange that,” said Kylon. “I cannot do it. I have a guard of ashtairoi, but if I assault Irzaris, the Scholae will expel the Kyracian embassy from the city. You will need to do it in secret.”
Her smile was chilly. “We’ve had some experience with that.”
“I suspect so,” said Kylon, taking another sip of coffee.
“We shall find out more,” said the Ghost, “and I will make contact once we do.”
Kylon nodded. He did not trust the Empire, and he certainly did not trust the Emperor’s Ghosts. But in a peculiar sort of way, he did trust her. Or, more precisely, he trusted her hatred of sorcery. If there was a way to destroy the glypharmor, she would do it heedless of the cost.
“Very good,” said Kylon, rising. “I will await your message.”
“Kylon,” said the Ghost.
Her tone made him sit back down.
“There is one other thing,” she said. “Somehow Mihaela used necromancy to create the glypharmor.”
“We think,” added Corvalis, and Kylon sensed a ripple of annoyance in the Ghost’s aura.
But he hardly noticed. Necromancy was a crime in New Kyre, its practitioners executed. And Andromache had wielded it, using the Moroaica’s secret spells to make herself the most powerful Kyracian stormsinger in centuries. With that power, she had become one of the city’s nine Archons.
And that power led her to destruction.
“Necromancy,” repeated Kylon, and he remembered what the Ghost had said about Ranarius. “Then… Mihaela is a disciple of the Moroaica? Like my sister?”
Corvalis blinked in surprise, and Kylon rebuked himself. No one save for Kylon and the Ghost knew the truth. Still, Andromache was already dead. If the rumor spread of necromancy, it would seem like only one more calumny heaped upon a defeated Archon.
“I don’t know,” said the Ghost, frowning. “She might be. Or maybe a student of one of her disciples. But it hardly matters. One of the Sages has been trying to kill the Moroaica for centuries.”
“Unsuccessfully, it seems,” said Kylon.
The Ghost nodded. “But the Scholae refuses to have anything to do with necromancy. A legacy of their history in Maat. If we can prove that Mihaela used necromancy to create the glypharmor…”
“Then the Scholae will kill her for us,” said Kylon.
Again the Ghost nodded.
“But we are not yet sure it is necromantic,” said Corvalis.
Again that ripple of annoyance went through the Ghost’s emotions.
“It makes sense,” said Kylon. “Those hieroglyphs upon the armor are Maatish, and necromancers ruled the Kingdom of the Rising Sun. Old Kyrace warred against them for centuries.”
“And if the First Magus gets his hands on the glypharmor,” said the Ghost, “you might have to face a new form of Maatish necromancy.”
“Then it is better than no one wield the glypharmor at all,” said Kylon, rising once more. “I will await word from you. If you have need of my aid, call upon me.”
He left the coffee house, thinking. He had no doubt that the Ghost could do what she claimed. But he would not leave the fate of New Kyre entirely in her hands.
He would destroy the knowledge of the glypharmor, whatever the cost.
###
Caina finished her coffee. Corvalis noticed that she had developed quite a taste for it since arriving at Catekharon. He preferred wine, though he had to admit that coffee kept the wits sharp.
They left the coffee house and walked back to the Tower of Study, the canals of burning steel filling the night sky with an eerie glow.
“Do you trust him?” said Corvalis.
“Kylon?” said Caina. “Of course not.”
“For a man you do not trust,” said Corvalis, “you told him a great deal.”
“I don’t have to trust him,” said Caina. “I have something better than trust. I understand him. He is a man who will do what he sees as the right thing, even if he does not like it. And he is wise enough to see the danger of the glypharmor. So I trust him to help us destroy it.”
“Even though he is a sorcerer,” said Corvalis.
“Aye,” said Caina.
“But you hate sorcerers,” said Corvalis.
Her expression turned blank. “Sorcery is hardly my favorite thing.”
Corvalis took a deep breath. “So you trust Kylon of House Kardamnos to act as you wi
sh…but you do not trust Claudia.”
“We shouldn’t talk about this here,” said Caina.
Corvalis gestured at the deserted street around them. “No one is around to hear us.”
“No,” said Caina at last, voice quiet. “No, I don’t trust her.”
“Why not?” said Corvalis. “Because she can use sorcery? The stormdancer can use sorcery.”
“Because I understand her,” said Caina.
“What?” said Corvalis, forcing down the anger. “How can you possibly understand her? Have you known her all your life?”
“You haven’t known her all your life,” said Caina. “You were separated for years. And during those years she became a magus.”
“So?” said Corvalis. “How is that any different than a stormdancer?”
“She thinks like a member of the Magisterium,” said Caina. “Kylon thinks like a stormdancer, which means he will do whatever is necessary to defend New Kyre. Claudia thinks like a magus.”
“She doesn’t think like the other magi,” said Corvalis. “She wants to use her sorcery to help people.”
“That is the problem,” said Caina.
“That she wants to help people?” said Corvalis. “Would you prefer her to act like Ranarius, ready to destroy half the Empire to make herself stronger?”
“No,” said Caina.
“Then what’s wrong with using her sorcery to help people?” said Corvalis.
“Because she believes it gives her the right to rule over people,” said Caina.
Corvalis opened his mouth to argue, and found that he did not have an answer.
“She wants to use her powers to help,” said Caina. “I believe that, I truly do. But she thinks the power gives her the right to help. Even if the people she is helping do not seek her aid. Even if they do not want her help. That is not very different than ruling over people. Your father would say he is acting for the good of the Empire…”
Corvalis glared at her. “Claudia is nothing like my father!”
“She is,” said Caina, not flinching away from him, “whether you like it or not. I’d wager Decius Aberon says he acts for the good of the Empire, doesn’t he? That the Empire would be better served with the magi ruling, rather than the Emperor and the Imperial Curia. That the commoners and nobles would be happier if they heeded their sorcerous betters. I would wager your father even believes that himself. But that’s not what he’s really doing, is it? He’s increasing his own power and authority, all in the name of the good of the Empire. What he did to you, selling you to the Kindred…he did it because he claims to use his powers to help people.”
“She is not like my father,” said Corvalis, his hands curling into fists.
“Not yet,” said Caina, “but that’s how it will start. She’ll want to use her power to help people. Then she’ll help them whether they want it or not. After that, she’ll use her power to force them to act as she thinks they should, all for their own good. And then she’ll need more power to help more people, and she’ll be no different than any other magus.”
“She left the Magisterium,” said Corvalis.
“But she still acts like a magus,” said Caina. “She’s not convinced the glypharmor is a bad idea. And she’s always ruled you.”
Corvalis laughed. “What are you talking about? She spent over a year imprisoned as a statue. Hardly a way to rule over me.”
“You only left the Kindred,” said Caina, “because of her. She decided to leave the Magisterium because of what you showed her, and she convinced you to go along with her. And when she joined the Ghosts, you came with her. I doubt she’s ever questioned that you will do whatever she wants, because she has sorcery and you…”
“Enough!” said Corvalis. “She was the only one who cared about me for my entire life! I doubt you would understand. Your entire family was slain, and…”
He regretted the words as soon as they came out of his mouth, and he stopped himself. But it was too late. Caina’s eyes widened, and for an instant he saw the pain flash across her face.
Then her expression returned to the cool, distant mask.
“You’re right,” she said. “I don’t understand. We should return to the Tower of Study. Master Basil will want to know what we’ve learned…”
“I should not,” said Corvalis, “have said that.”
Caina stopped, looked back at him, and closed her eyes.
“No,” she said, voice soft. “You shouldn’t have.” She looked at him. “But…perhaps I have been too critical of her. Maybe…maybe not every sorcerer would turn into a power-mad tyrant at the first opportunity.” He heard the doubt in her voice. “Perhaps it would have been better if she stayed with Theodosia. I suspect…I suspect working undercover is not Claudia’s strength.”
“Gods, no,” said Corvalis. “She would have hated the fun we just had.”
“Fun?” said Caina.
Corvalis shrugged. “How often do you get to burn down a building?”
She lifted an eyebrow. “More often than you might think.” She took a deep breath. “I do think it is noble. How much you risked to save her.”
“Thank you,” said Corvalis. “I know you have your reasons to hate sorcery as much as you do. Gods know I’m not fond of it either. But Claudia is not a monster. Nor will she become one. I swear it.”
“If you say so,” said Caina, “then I will trust you on it.”
“Because you understand me?” said Corvalis.
“Yes,” said Caina, “but because I do trust you.”
They walked back to the Tower of Study together.
Chapter 16 - Subterfuges
The embassies gathered for dinner in the Hall of Assembly as guests of the Scholae.
This time, the Catekhari served their guests in a peculiar fashion. Rather than offer tables and chairs, slaves circulated through the crowds, bearing trays of wine and coffee. Caina helped herself to coffee, while Halfdan took a flute of wine. Other slaves followed, carrying trays of unusual foods. Fish crusted with bread crumbs, popular in New Kyre. Goat meat fried on skewers, a favorite of the Anshani nobility. Dates crusted with sugar from Istarinmul, and bread fried in olive oil from Malarae.
"A peculiar custom," said Corvalis, popping a sugared date into his mouth.
"I read that it was Maatish in origin," said Claudia, again wearing a green gown of elaborate design. Caina wondered how much Halfdan spent on clothes to maintain their various disguises. "The pharaohs held dinners like this, serving foods from the various lands conquered by the Kingdom of the Rising Sun."
"To display their dominance?" said Caina.
Claudia blinked. Perhaps she had expected Caina to lecture her. "Ah...yes. The foods were brought as tribute to the pharaoh."
"Or perhaps he simply liked dates," said Corvalis, eating another.
"Unlikely," said Claudia. "The Kingdom of the Rising Sun never reached north of what is now southern Anshan, and..."
Caina listened to Claudia's history lesson with one ear and looked at the guests. The various embassies stood in small, defensive knots, the lords and sorcerers staying close to their various retainers. She saw Yaramzod the Black speaking in a low voice to the Arsakan, saw Kylon talking with another stormdancer. Only the merchants circulated freely. Which had been the entire point of inviting merchants along with the ambassadors.
That, and turning a profit.
Khaltep Irzaris approached, clad in a fine tunic of spotless white linen.
"Master Basil," said Irzaris with a polite bow. "I trust business has gone well?"
"Indeed it has, Master Khaltep," said Halfdan with a bow of equal depth. "It seems there are a great many jewelers in Catekharon with a need for raw gemstones."
"Yes," said Irzaris. "They make a fine profit selling the Sages cut gems for their enspelled artifacts...and you, in turn, can make a fine profit by supplying them with uncut stones."
"And you, I suppose," said Halfdan, "have made a profit of your own. With your r
ed steel used in the production of such a...prominent artifact."
He looked across the Hall to the central chamber where Mihaela had stood with her suit of glypharmor. There was no trace of her now. Caina supposed she was busy producing more of the damned things.
"I have," said Irzaris. "The greatest profit of my career, Master Basil." He sighed and took a sip of wine. "All these years traveling from one end of the world to another, selling baubles only for a few coppers of profit, and all this time, I never realized the secret."
"What secret is that?" said Halfdan with a laugh. “I am not adverse to profit myself."
"Power," said Irzaris. "Find those who will one day have power, and supply their needs. You see, it is rather difficult to acquire power without the proper materials, and I can supply the proper materials."
"I would not have expected," said Halfdan, "a Seeker to possess power."
“Mihaela?" said Irzaris. "Not yet, my friend, not yet...but she will."
"It sounds like you are quite besotted," said Halfdan.
Irzaris snorted. "Mihaela? No, she is wed to her work. But she is set to rise high...and she will remember her loyal friends. And when that happens, I will be one of the most prominent men in the free cities, perhaps in the world." He smiled at Claudia, bowed over her hand, and planted a kiss upon her fingers. "Though, alas, wealth and power are hollow if a man has to enjoy them alone."
Claudia attempted to smile, though it looked more like a cringe. "You are...very flattering, sir."
"And very direct," said Caina, and Claudia shot her a grateful a look.
Irzaris gave her a condescending smile. "Fortune favors the bold, my dear."
"Though I do wonder," said Caina, "why a woman would wish to marry a man who made such dreadful weapons."
Irzaris grinned. "Money, of course. Men crave beauty...but women desire security, do they not? Safety and security and comfort, and a strong man can provide all three."
"You speak truly, Master Khaltep," said Halfdan. "I can see some profitable business between us. Why don't we...ah, daughter." He put a hand on Caina's shoulder. "There's a slave with some more bread. Why don't you bring him over here?"
The Ghosts Omnibus: The Kyracian War Page 79