He was wrong. The Grand Wazir was useful and nothing more, and Callatas would discard him when the time came.
“Indeed not,” said Callatas.
“We are sure of it, then?” said Erghulan. “Ricimer is dead?”
“He is,” said Callatas. The loss pained him. Ricimer had been a good and faithful servant. He had seen the inherent corruption of Istarinmul, of all forms of civilization, and he had understood the need for a great cleansing, the need for the Apotheosis.
He had understood in a way that a man like Erghulan, a fool reared among the herd of fools that was the Istarish nobility, never would.
“Can we be sure?” said Erghulan. “Many escaped. Perhaps Ricimer was among them.”
“He is dead,” said Callatas. He knew that beyond all doubt because Ricimer’s nagataaru had returned to the netherworld, and Ricimer would not have released the spirit otherwise. Ricimer had been the first volunteer to understand Callatas’s work.
The first of the Apotheosis to come.
Callatas closed his eyes and listened to the voices inside his head for a moment. The loss of the Widow’s Tower was a setback, yes. But not a fatal blow. There were other…
The voices in his head warned of someone drawing near.
A third man approached, lean and dark and balding, his nose a great hawkish beak, his movements efficient.
“Report, Anburj,” said Callatas, opening his eyes, and he felt a flicker of amusement at the surprise on the assassin’s face. Callatas’s inferiors were always intimidated by his ability to know who occupied a room before he entered.
It was one of the many gifts of the nagataaru.
“I have questioned every survivor I could find,” said Anburj of the Kindred. “Many witnessed a dark shape in a shadow-cloak fleeing the Tower before its destruction.”
“The Balarigar,” said Erghulan with a growl.
The voices in Callatas’s head hissed in fury at the name.
“No,” said Callatas. “A nightfighter of the Ghosts in a shadow-cloak. I have dealt with their ilk before. Ricimer did not believe the Ghosts would return to Istarinmul…but the Emperor’s spies are like cockroaches. Kill one, and three more soon arrive.” He pointed at Anburj. “What is the best way to kill cockroaches?”
The assassin’s smile was wolfish. “Why, to burn them out, my lord Alchemist.”
“Precisely,” said Callatas. “My lord Erghulan, I wish the Ghosts found and exterminated. Use the full resources of the Teskilati. Anburj, I want the aid the Kindred family. You shall have whatever gold you require, but hunt down and kill every last Ghost.” His teeth gritted in rage. “Especially the man calling himself the Balarigar.”
Anburj bowed, as did the Grand Wazir. “It shall be done.”
Erghulan returned to his litter, and Anburj to his horse. Callatas remained motionless, staring at the charred rubble.
Yes, it was a setback, but not a serious one. The Widow’s Tower had been the first laboratory to produce wraithblood, but Callatas had a half-dozen others concealed in Istarinmul. In time the loss of production would be recovered. The work would resume.
And the Apotheosis would come.
His fingers tightened around the apple-sized jewel against his chest, its azure glow brightening.
The last time he had used the Star had been a century and a half ago, the day he had burned Iramis and its fool of a Prince for their proud defiance. The fools had not seen the truth of his vision, the necessity of his purpose.
Well, they were paying for it now.
The voices in his head whispered approval.
And soon Callatas would use the Star once more, and he would cleanse the world of civilization and corruption, and a new humanity would arise, noble and pure and strong.
No matter how much of the old humanity he had to kill first.
THE END
Thank you for reading GHOST IN THE COWL. Look for Caina's next adventure, GHOST IN THE MAZE, to appear in 2014. If you liked the book, please consider leaving a review at your ebook site of choice. To receive immediate notification of new releases, sign up for my newsletter, or watch for news on my Facebook page.
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 for free. Mazael's adventures continue in Soul of Tyrants, Soul of Serpents, Soul of Dragons, Soul of Sorcery, Soul of Skulls, and Soul of Swords, along with the short stories The Wandering Knight, The Tournament Knight, and The Dragon's Shadow. Get the first three books bundled together in Demonsouled Omnibus One.
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 for free. Caina's adventures continue in Ghost in the Flames, Ghost in the Blood, Ghost in the Storm, Ghost in the Stone, Ghost in the Forge, Ghost in the Ashes, Ghost in the Mask, and Ghost in the Surge, along with the short stories Ghost Aria, Ghost Claws, Ghost Omens, The Fall of Kyrace, Ghost Thorns, Ghost Undying and Ghost Dagger. Get the first three books bundled together in The Ghosts Omnibus One.
The Ghost Exile Series
Caina A
malas 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, along with the short story Ghost Sword.
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.
And some Adepts of the Conclave are eager to help them.
Read The Testing for free. Rachelis's trials continue in The Assassins, The Blood Shaman, The High Demon, The Burning Child, The Outlaw Adept, The Black Paladin, and The Tomb of Baligant. Read the entire series in The Third Soul Omnibus One and The Third Soul Omnibus Two.
The Frostborn Series
A thousand years ago, the last grandson of Arthur Pendragon led the survivors of Britain through a magical gate to a new world, a world of magic and high elves, of orcs and kobolds and stranger, darker creatures. Now the descendants of the exiles rule a mighty kingdom, peaceful and prosperous under the rule of the High King.
But a shadow threatens to devour the kingdom.
RIDMARK ARBAN was once a Swordbearer, a knight of renown. Now he is a branded outcast, stripped of his sword, and despised as a traitor.
But he alone sees the danger to come. The Frostborn shall return, and unless they are stopped, they will cover all the world in ice and a neverending winter.
CALLIANDE awakens in the darkness, her memories gone, and creatures of terrible power hunting her.
For she alone holds the secret that can save the world…or destroy it utterly.
The secret of the Frostborn.
Read Frostborn: The First Quest, followed by Frostborn: The Gray Knight, Frostborn: The Eightfold Knife, and Frostborn: The Undying Wizard, along with the short stories The Orc's Tale and The Mage's Tale.
The Tower of Endless Worlds
THOMAS WYCLIFFE just wants to finish his dissertation in peace and quiet. So when a man in a black robe appears in his closet, claiming to be the last of the Warlocks, Wycliffe figures it is a bad joke.
But he soon realizes the last of the Warlocks can give him power beyond imagining.
And all it will cost is his soul.
SIMON WESTER needs a job. Badly. So when a rich and powerful Senator offers him employment, he jumps at the chance. Sure, Simon expects to find some corruption, some shady deals.
He doesn't expect to find black magic.
LIAM MASTERE is a Knight of the Sacred Blade, defender of the mortal races. But can swords stand against guns? As bullets and bombs destroy his kingdom, Liam must risk everything to save his homeland's one chance of salvation.
By daring the horrors of the Tower of Endless Worlds…
Read The Tower of Endless Worlds for free. The saga of the Tower continues in A Knight of the Sacred Blade, A Wizard of the White Council, and The Destroyer of Worlds.
About the Author
Standing over six feet tall, Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas.
He has written the DEMONSOULED series of sword-and-sorcery novels, and continues to write THE GHOSTS sequence about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the COMPUTER BEGINNER'S GUIDE series of computer books, and numerous other works.
Visit his website at:
http://www.jonathanmoeller.com
Visit his technology blog at:
http://www.computerbeginnersguides.com
Contact him at:
[email protected]
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Table of Contents
Description
Chapter 1 - Istarinmul
Chapter 2 - The House of Agabyzus
Chapter 3 - The Poet
Chapter 4 - Breaking
Chapter 5 - Writ of Servitude
Chapter 6 - The Circus Master
Chapter 7 - The Master Slaver
Chapter 8 - The Master Alchemist
Chapter 9 - The Locksmith
Chapter 10 - Nightfighter
Chapter 11 - The Slaver’s Brand
Chapter 12 - Liberator
Chapter 13 - A Master Thief
Chapter 14 - Bounties
Chapter 15 - The Widow’s Tower
Chapter 16 - The Desert Maiden
Chapter 17 - Keys
Chapter 18 - Smokeless Flame
Chapter 19 - The Last of the Circle
Chapter 20 - The Mirror of Worlds
Chapter 21 - Hellfire
Chapter 22 - New Circle
Epilogue
Other books by the author
About the Author
Ghost in the Cowl Page 28