Jonathan Moeller - The Ghosts 05 - Ghost in the Stone by Jonathan Moeller

Author:Jonathan Moeller [Moeller, Jonathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy - Female Assassin
ISBN: 9781301264506
Publisher: Jonathan Moeller
Published: 2012-10-10T00:00:00+00:00

###

A short time later Caina and Corvalis slipped into Theodosia’s suite at the Inn of the Defender.

“Well,” said Theodosia, looking up from the table as they entered. “I see you’ve found a friend.”

“The opera singer?” said Corvalis, glancing at Caina. “Your circlemaster is Khosrau’s favorite opera singer?”

Theodosia raised an eyebrow. “Does that surprise you?”

Corvalis laughed. “The Magisterium lives in terror of the Ghosts. They see Ghosts in every shadow. Every accident gets blamed on the Ghosts. They think the Ghost circlemasters are lords of the shadows, stealthy assassins who make the Kindred look like bumbling children.” He shook his head. “Instead, the Ghosts of Cyrioch are an opera singer and her pretty maid.”

Theodosia smiled, showing her teeth. “Isn’t that sweet, Marina? He thinks you’re pretty.”

Corvalis glanced at Caina. “Gods. Don’t tell me you’re actually a man.”

“No,” said Caina.

“Nor am I,” said Theodosia, “but you did not call me pretty.”

Corvalis made a sardonic bow. “I apologize, my lady. I was struck dumb by the august majesty of your presence, and my wits scattered and left my tongue adrift. Your beauty is matched only by your venerable wisdom.”

“Venerable?” said Theodosia. “What a dreadful thing to call a woman. But one cannot expect a silver tongue in a Kindred assassin.”

“Former Kindred assassin,” said Corvalis.

“Perhaps,” said Theodosia. “I like young men with fire. But Marina did not bring you here to banter with me, however much we might enjoy it. I assume you are here to offer us something? I do find you handsome, in an austere sort of way, and it would be a dreadful pity if I had to order you killed.”

“Marina proposed an alliance,” said Corvalis. “Ranarius is turning your Ghosts to stone, but he started with my sister. The Kindred are trying to kill your Emperor’s nobles, and I know how the Kindred operate. We can help each other.”

Theodosia looked at Caina.

“I think,” said Caina, “that we can trust him.”

Again Theodosia raised her eyebrow.

“He doesn’t want money or power,” said Caina. “He just wants to save his sister. And he can’t do that by himself. So he needs our help. And he hates the Magisterium more than I do.”

“That must,” said Theodosia, voice quiet, “be a mighty hatred indeed.”

“It is,” said Corvalis.

“All right,” said Theodosia, and she lifted her hands from beneath the table. In them she held a small hand crossbow, the dart’s tip gleaming with poison. Theodosia must have been holding it at Corvalis the entire time.

“I see I owe you my life again,” said Corvalis.

“I suppose it would be beneath the dignity of a woman of my august venerability to kill you myself,” said Theodosia, “but Marina vouched for you, and that is good enough for me. Tell me how you can aid us against the Kindred.”

“They will try to kill Corbould and Khosrau at the hippodrome tomorrow,” said Corvalis. “Three times they sent lower-ranking assassins against you, and three times you stopped them. Tomorrow they will send out higher-ranking assassins.” He smiled. “And I will show you how to stop them.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.