Ghost in the Talisman by Jonathan Moeller

Author:Jonathan Moeller [Moeller, Jonathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub

11

The Necromancer

An argument broke out at the gate to Sigilsoara.

“You should bring me with you,” said Ilona. “You may need my help.”

Caina and the others stood in the vaulted hall where they had fought the pack of mavrokhi spirits, the Mirror of Worlds shimmering on the far wall. Through it, she could just glimpse one of the corridors of Sigilsoara, the wall webbed in a network of black veins.

“We are just going to take three,” said Caina. “Myself, Kylon, and Calvia. Kylon and Calvia will have the shadow-cloaks, and I have the Mask of Mirrors.”

“But you won’t need to give your pyrikon to Nadezhda,” said Ilona. “She already has her own.” She struck the end of her staff against the floor, and it shrank down into a bracelet, coiling around her right wrist. “My pyrikon can conceal me from detection from the undead and any mavrokhi spirits.”

“You won’t be able to cast any spells without giving yourself away,” said Caina.

Ilona shrugged. “If it comes to a fight, then you will need the help of my spells anyway.”

“I should come,” said Seb at once.

“You’re just saying that because…” started Morgant.

“Because I’m sleeping with Ilona, yes, yes, I know, you’ve said some variant of that many times,” said Seb. “But you all heard the Cataphract. Nadezhda has her own pyrikon, which means that you can give your pyrikon to me. It will conceal my presence, and I can accompany you to Sigilsoara.”

Caina let out a long breath and recalculated the odds in her head. She would enter Sigilsoara, protected by the Mask of Mirrors and her nature as a valikarion. Kylon would wear her shadow-cloak, and Calvia the cloak that Kalgri had worn to her final battle. If Ilona came along, she could use her pyrikon to hide from detection.

But if Seb accompanied them…

“No, I think you should stay here,” said Caina. She kept speaking before Seb could object. “Otherwise, Morgant and Sophia will have to hold this gate alone. Two swordsmen are harder to overwhelm than just one.”

“We haven’t seen any creatures in the Tower of the Cataphract save for the mavrokhi that came through this portal,” said Seb.

“Just because we haven’t seen them doesn’t mean that they aren’t here,” said Caina. “The Tower’s huge, and we’ve only seen a small portion of it. The Cataphract didn’t seal all the Mirrors of Worlds within his Tower. He couldn’t, otherwise the spells powering the Tower would fail, and the entire place would collapse on our heads. You’re a battle magus, Seb, and Morgant and Sophia will have a much better chance of holding here with your help. It will do us no good to return with Nadezhda and the Dagger only to walk into a band of phobomorphic spirits.”

Seb shook his head and looked at Ilona.

“You know that she is right, my love,” said Ilona, voice quiet.

“I know,” said Seb. “That’s why it’s so vexing.” He let out a long sigh. “Very well, sister. I will stay here and make sure the gate is open for your return.

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