Blade of the Ghosts by Jonathan Moeller

Author:Jonathan Moeller [Moeller, Jonathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Horror, Dark Fantasy, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy, Historical, Myths & Legends, Greek & Roman, caina amalas, the ghosts
Amazon: B0195X1ZCE
Published: 2015-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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The next morning Caina had a plan, so she donned the disguise of a caravan guard and headed for Eastwarden.

“I need to speak with Lord Aetius,” Caina told the bleary-eyed maid who answered the door. “It is urgent. I have a message for his ears alone concerning his father’s death.”

The maid disappeared into Eastwarden’s great hall, and Caina turned to watch the street behind her. It was early enough that few people were awake, though she did see a steady stream of traffic heading for the docks of the riverfront or the harbor of the Bay of Empire. Caina had taken care to make sure no one had followed her to or from the Bloated Maiden, and she was reasonably sure that she had come unobserved to Eastwarden.

Yet the back of her neck still itched. She could not shake the feeling that someone had been following her. Perhaps it was simple paranoia, yet given that she was a Ghost, a little paranoia was healthy.

One of the double doors opened, and Aetius Valdarion stepped out, closing the doors to the great hall behind him. He still wore his dark coat and black trousers, his face unshaven. Caina suspected that he had not slept very well last night.

“Master Sebastian,” said Aetius in a heavy voice. “I see you are still alive.”

“It was a close thing,” said Caina.

“It seems rumormongers now have something else to discuss other than my father’s murder,” said Aetius. “Jurchan’s followers slaughtered each other, and Jurchan himself was slain in his treasure room. The civic militia has sealed off his building, and even the Imperial Guard has gotten involved.”

Caina glanced around. “That’s not quite what happened.”

Aetius folded his arms over his chest. “Well?”

“Your father did kill himself,” said Caina.

Aetius scowled. “No. I refuse to believe that.”

“It wasn’t by choice,” said Caina. “The spell on the Sword of Nicokator compels whoever draws the Sword to fall upon the blade. I think if anyone draws the Sword with his skin touching the weapon…the spell takes control of his limbs and forces its bearer to kill himself.”

Aetius blinked. “Taldrane did tell us not to draw the Sword. How do you know this?”

“Because,” said Caina, “I just watched Jurchan draw the Sword and kill himself with it. He didn’t want to, but the Sword compelled him to do it.”

Aetius stared at her for a while, disbelief and confusion warring upon his face.

“I think,” he said at last, “that I would like you to explain.”

“Jurchan convinced your father to draw the Sword,” said Caina. “He drew the blade, and it forced your father to kill himself. Jurchan then took the Sword to his building and demanded a higher price from Taldrane. I’m not sure of the details, but I think that Taldrane and Jurchan together planned to murder your father, take the Sword, and use it to open the tomb of Nicokator in the Valley of the Emperors. Jurchan was holding out for more money, but Taldrane wasn’t in a negotiating mood. He stormed the building and killed all of Jurchan’s warriors.

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