Read Online Ghost in the Storm (The Ghosts) by Jonathan Moeller - Free Book Online
Authors: Jonathan Moeller
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said in a raspy voice. "Though she is in the city. Just not in the Market with these fine fellows."
Kleistheon scowled and reached for his sword, but Andromache's voice cracked like a whip. "Sicarion! Enough."
"As you wish," said the man called Sicarion, bowing his scarred face.
"You know him?" said Kylon, surprised.
"So I do," said Andromache. "As he said, I am not his mistress. But he served well as my emissary to Rezir Shahan. And he will continue to serve me well."
Sicarion bowed. "Because my mistress wished it, good lady."
"I will have instructions for you soon," said Andromache. Her brown eyes fell upon Kylon. "But you, brother. I heard of how you fought upon the quays, how you drove the Legionaries before you. Well done. You are the pillar of House Kardamnos's strength."
"Thank you, sister," Kylon said. For a moment his doubts vanished. She was right. They could do it, they could seize Marsis and hold it before the Emperor's Legions returned to retake the city.
But the nagging doubts returned after a moment.
"Kleistheon," said Andromache. "We must deal with the magi at once. Their chapterhouse stands at the edge of the city's wealthy district, south of the Plaza of the Tower. Order four thousand of our ashtairoi to join Rezir in his attack. The remaining thousand will accompany me to the Magisterium's chapterhouse."
"As you command, High Seat," said Kleistheon. "Who shall have the command?"
"Choose a worthy polemarch," said Andromache.
"What of me?" said Kylon.
"You, brother, shall accompany me to the Magisterium's chapterhouse," said Andromache. Again that ghost of a smile flickered across her face. "I would have no one else to guard my back."
"I am pleased," said Kylon.
"Kleistheon," said Andromache. "Go select a polemarch and gather the ashtairoi, and return swiftly."
"So I shall," said Kleistheon. He bowed once more and departed, leaving Kylon with Andromache and Sicarion.
"Tell me, brother," said Andromache. "What do you think of our most honorable lord emir?"
Kylon hesitated, glancing at Sicarion.
"Do not mind him," said Andromache. "As he said, his loyalty does not belong to Rezir Shahan."
"I don't even like the emir," said Sicarion, and his yellow teeth flashed in a grin. "He smells bad. Too much onion in his diet."
"The man is a snake," said Kylon. "He will turn on us in a moment if we show any hint of weakness. Or if he thinks he can gain advantage over us. I suspect if we succeed in taking Marsis, Rezir will try to seize it for Istarinmul, and bar New Kyre from the port. Or he may rebel entirely from the Padishah, and declare himself king in Marsis."
"You are wise, brother," said Andromache, "for that was my assessment of Rezir Shahan. A most dangerous man."
"Then why have we allied ourselves with him?" said Kylon.
"Because he is a tool, and nothing more," said Andromache. "A tool we shall use to greater ends. Trust me, brother. The fall of Marsis is but the first step. What we do here will raise House Kardamnos to unassailable power, and make New Kyre first among the nations."
Kylon nodded. He still had doubts. But if anyone could fulfill such an audacious vision, it was Andromache, the High Seat of House Kardamnos and Archon of New Kyre.
"Which brings us," said Andromache, turning to Sicarion, "to your task."
Sicarion gazed at her, his mismatched gaze unblinking.
"Find the Moroaica," said Andromache, "and tell her that I have arrived."
Chapter 6 - Hunters
The dead sorceress watched Caina.
Marsis burned around them. Flames leapt from the warehouses, their roofs collapsing in plumes of smoke and cinders. The fires raced through the Plaza of the Tower, devouring the mansions and the temples. Even the Citadel itself stood wreathed in flames, Black Angel Tower wrapped in dark smoke.
Caina stepped toward the dead sorceress. Jadriga wore a simple crimson
Kleistheon scowled and reached for his sword, but Andromache's voice cracked like a whip. "Sicarion! Enough."
"As you wish," said the man called Sicarion, bowing his scarred face.
"You know him?" said Kylon, surprised.
"So I do," said Andromache. "As he said, I am not his mistress. But he served well as my emissary to Rezir Shahan. And he will continue to serve me well."
Sicarion bowed. "Because my mistress wished it, good lady."
"I will have instructions for you soon," said Andromache. Her brown eyes fell upon Kylon. "But you, brother. I heard of how you fought upon the quays, how you drove the Legionaries before you. Well done. You are the pillar of House Kardamnos's strength."
"Thank you, sister," Kylon said. For a moment his doubts vanished. She was right. They could do it, they could seize Marsis and hold it before the Emperor's Legions returned to retake the city.
But the nagging doubts returned after a moment.
"Kleistheon," said Andromache. "We must deal with the magi at once. Their chapterhouse stands at the edge of the city's wealthy district, south of the Plaza of the Tower. Order four thousand of our ashtairoi to join Rezir in his attack. The remaining thousand will accompany me to the Magisterium's chapterhouse."
"As you command, High Seat," said Kleistheon. "Who shall have the command?"
"Choose a worthy polemarch," said Andromache.
"What of me?" said Kylon.
"You, brother, shall accompany me to the Magisterium's chapterhouse," said Andromache. Again that ghost of a smile flickered across her face. "I would have no one else to guard my back."
"I am pleased," said Kylon.
"Kleistheon," said Andromache. "Go select a polemarch and gather the ashtairoi, and return swiftly."
"So I shall," said Kleistheon. He bowed once more and departed, leaving Kylon with Andromache and Sicarion.
"Tell me, brother," said Andromache. "What do you think of our most honorable lord emir?"
Kylon hesitated, glancing at Sicarion.
"Do not mind him," said Andromache. "As he said, his loyalty does not belong to Rezir Shahan."
"I don't even like the emir," said Sicarion, and his yellow teeth flashed in a grin. "He smells bad. Too much onion in his diet."
"The man is a snake," said Kylon. "He will turn on us in a moment if we show any hint of weakness. Or if he thinks he can gain advantage over us. I suspect if we succeed in taking Marsis, Rezir will try to seize it for Istarinmul, and bar New Kyre from the port. Or he may rebel entirely from the Padishah, and declare himself king in Marsis."
"You are wise, brother," said Andromache, "for that was my assessment of Rezir Shahan. A most dangerous man."
"Then why have we allied ourselves with him?" said Kylon.
"Because he is a tool, and nothing more," said Andromache. "A tool we shall use to greater ends. Trust me, brother. The fall of Marsis is but the first step. What we do here will raise House Kardamnos to unassailable power, and make New Kyre first among the nations."
Kylon nodded. He still had doubts. But if anyone could fulfill such an audacious vision, it was Andromache, the High Seat of House Kardamnos and Archon of New Kyre.
"Which brings us," said Andromache, turning to Sicarion, "to your task."
Sicarion gazed at her, his mismatched gaze unblinking.
"Find the Moroaica," said Andromache, "and tell her that I have arrived."
Chapter 6 - Hunters
The dead sorceress watched Caina.
Marsis burned around them. Flames leapt from the warehouses, their roofs collapsing in plumes of smoke and cinders. The fires raced through the Plaza of the Tower, devouring the mansions and the temples. Even the Citadel itself stood wreathed in flames, Black Angel Tower wrapped in dark smoke.
Caina stepped toward the dead sorceress. Jadriga wore a simple crimson
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