Jonathan Moeller - The Ghosts 09 - Ghost in the Surge by Jonathan Moeller Page B

And you, Claudia Aberon, since sorcery may come into play, and we will have need of your knowledge. If Caina Amalas attacks, we will need your skills.”
    “I do not believe it is her,” said Ark.
    “Believe what you wish,” said Aeolus. “You may attempt to save her life, if you like, so long as it does not interfere with your duties. But I have placed the warrant of death upon her head. If we find her, she shall die.”

Chapter 6 - Puppets
    Caina lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. 
    She ought to take off her gown and dress for bed, she knew. She had discarded the fur trader’s disguise, and after an hour of bathing and new clothes, she had become Anna Callenius once more, the spoiled, selfish daughter of Basil Callenius, master merchant of the Imperial collegium of jewelers. They would travel under that guise to New Kyre, with Corvalis disguised as Cormark, Basil’s loyal bodyguard and enforcer.
    And there they would try to protect the Emperor and bring an end to the war Andromache and Rezir Shahan had started. 
    Caina sighed and stood. If she fell asleep in her gown she would wrinkle it, and Anna Callenius was not the sort of woman who would go out in public disheveled. With the Emperor’s life in danger and the Moroaica preparing to finish her great work, it seemed like a trivial, petty concern. But Caina needed disguises and aliases to function as a Ghost, which meant keeping the dress unwrinkled. 
    But with Sicarion and Ranarius hunting her, how much longer could she hide behind disguises? 
    She paced to the window. It faced towards the harbor, and she saw the sun disappearing behind the mass of docked ships. Likely Halfdan and Corvalis were at the docks now, making the final arrangements with Maltaer for passage to New Kyre. That made her think of Rasadda, of Kalastus and the pyromancy that had almost burned the city to ashes.
    She had been a Ghost nightfighter for years, had faced and defeated many foes in that time. Yet a Ghost nightfighter had to function in secret, and if Ranarius and Sicarion were coming for her, she was no longer a secret. Perhaps it was time to leave the role of a Ghost nightfighter behind, to become a circlemaster and use the House of Kularus to gather secrets for the Emperor. Caina had thought she was just weary, that she merely wanted to settle down with Corvalis, but if she could no longer function as a nightfighter, then perhaps it was truly time to move on.
    She shook her head and laughed at herself. It seemed futile to worry about the future, given that the Moroaica’s disciples might kill her. Or that the Moroaica herself might kill millions with her great work. 
    But if they survived this, if the Emperor concluded peace with New Kyre and Talekhris had found a way to kill the Moroaica, then Caina would consider her future. She could…
    An angry shout reach her ears.
    Caina turned with a frown, hand straying to the ghostsilver dagger at her belt. The sound of angry voices rose from the common room. Had Halfdan and Corvalis returned? Or had something else happened?
    Caina checked the throwing knives hidden up her sleeves and left her room.
    She stepped onto the balcony overlooking the common room. Merchants and minor nobles sat at the long tables, taking their ease and enjoying Zorgi’s fine food and drink. Or, at least, they would have, had they not been staring at the spectacle by the doors.
    Four men in the gray plate-and-chain armor of the Imperial Legion stood at the door, crimson cloaks hanging from their shoulders, drawn swords in their hands. Zorgi stood before them, red-faced with fury and fear.
    Between the innkeeper and the Legionaries stood a lean man in his early forties, tall and strong and fit. He had gray-streaked black hair and hard gray eyes, and wore fine clothing with a sheathed sword at his belt. He looked a younger version Lord Corbould Maraeus, one of the most powerful lords in the Empire.
    Which meant that this man was Aiodan Maraeus,