Ghost Dagger by Jonathan Moeller

Author:Jonathan Moeller
Language: eng
Format: mobi, azw3, epub
Tags: Fantasy
Publisher: Jonathan Moeller
Published: 2012-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7 - Disposal

Caina awoke with a splitting headache.

She was lying on her side, her hands behind her back, ankles pressed together. She turned her head, the cold stone of the floor scraping against her cheek, and saw shelves of dusty jars and boxes.

She was still in the storeroom. Caina tried to stand, but felt rough, scratchy rope around her wrists. Looking down, she saw rope tied around her boots, binding her ankles together. She remembered searching for the dagger, remembered Helena slamming that pad over her face...

Helena.

Caina twisted around, saw the noblewoman staring at her.

Helena held that strange silver dagger in her right hand.

"You're awake," said Helena. She smiled. "That potion I stole from Tormalus’s baggage proved effective, didn’t it? Though now I have to decide what to do with you."

Caina licked her dry lips. Helena hadn't gagged at her. If she shouted...

"If you want to scream, do it," said Helena, pointing at the door. "That's two inches thick, and all the servants fled, remember? Scream all you want, but no one will hear."

"So you're going to kill me," said Caina, "the way you killed Tormalus and Maelana."

She needed to dig for information. And though her ankles were bound, she could still swing her legs. If she lured Helena close enough…

Helena scowled. "Those were accidents!"

"So you accidentally made the blood pour out their ears?" said Caina.

"Yes," muttered Helena, staring at the silver dagger. "I was justified, though. I thought it would work the way that Tormalus said it would."

"And how did Tormalus say it would work?" said Caina.

"He thought our workmen had found the tomb of the Master of Dreams," said Helena. "The Saddai Ashbringers practiced pyromancy, but some of them indulged in...other arcane sciences. Specifically, oneiromancy. Sorcery to manipulate dreams."

"And what good would that do you?" said Caina. "You wanted to give Reorn bad dreams?"

Helena gave her a chilly smile. "Of a sort. A skilled oneiromancer could use dreams to plant commands in the mind of a victim. A way to control a man without him ever realizing it."

"So you were trying to control Tormalus and Maelana?" said Caina. "Why? What would you...ah, I understand."

"You understand nothing," said Helena.

"You were going to use the dagger to make them kill Reorn," said Caina. "To command them to murder your husband."

"I just want to go home!" said Helena, face flushed with rage. "I hate this place! I hate Reorn. I hate this leaky, drafty ruin of a hall. And I hate the Disali. I cannot stand the jabbering of their stupid language, their uncouth customs, their vile bitter wine. And they stink! Gods, they all stink!"

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