Read Online Jonathan Moeller - The Ghosts 07 - Ghost in the Ashes by Jonathan Moeller - Free Book Online

but it’s hard to misinterpret a dagger through the…”
    She blinked. 
    “What is it?” said Corvalis.
    Caina peered at the third-floor balcony, trying not to make it look obvious.
    “What is it?” said Corvalis again, glancing over his shoulder. 
    “I think,” said Caina, “that I just saw Nalazar.” 
    Corvalis whispered a curse. “Should we kill him?”
    “No!” said Caina. “Not here, at least. It would look a bit odd if Anton Kularus started killing patrons at his coffee house.”
    “Perhaps he followed us here,” said Halfdan.
    “No,” said Caina, thinking it over. “He wouldn’t recognize either me or Corvalis. We had our masks on when we fought him. He probably didn’t even realize he was fighting a woman.” A thought came to her, and she laughed out loud. 
    “What?” said Corvalis.
    “Our own reputation works against us,” said Caina. “All men know both coffee and secrets can be bought at the House of Kularus…and so Nalazar came here to find our friends.” She stood. “Wait here. I’ll see who is meeting with him.” 
    “Do as you think best,” said Halfdan. 
    “Slap me,” said Corvalis.
    “Why?” said Caina.
    “If you simply walk after Nalazar, it will look suspicious,” said Corvalis. “But if you storm off to sulk after we’ve had a quarrel, no one will think anything of it.” He grinned. “Sonya Tornesti has a bit of reputation for…tempestuousness.”
    “Good,” said Caina. “I’ve worked hard at that.”
    “Then I can walk after you to apologize,” said Corvalis, “and give you assistance, should you need it.”
    Caina smiled. “Clever man.” 
    She took a deep breath, drew back her arm, and slapped Corvalis as hard as she could manage. His head snapped around, his eyes bulging wide, and he rubbed his jaw, though she saw the amusement in his green eyes. A sudden silence fell over the surrounding tables, and Caina felt every eye on her.
    There was no need for additional histrionics. She lifted her chin into the air with a sniff of contempt, turned, and strode away, making sure her heels clacked loudly against the floor. The murmur of conversation rose again from the floor, and Caina headed for the stairwell. She climbed the stairs to the third level, keeping her expression angry and hurt. 
    But her mind remained cold and focused, and she felt the weight of the throwing knives within her sleeves. 
    The third-floor balcony was crowded with merchants and minor nobles speaking in low voices. No doubt Nalazar preferred a crowd. It made it easier to hide. She swept along the aisle between the rows of booths, chin raised, but her eyes scanned back and forth for Nalazar. 
    She saw him disappearing down the stairs at the other end of the balcony. Caina whispered a curse through clenched lips and started after him, moving as fast as she dared. She wanted to run, but that would draw too much attention. 
    Not that she could have run anyway in these damned boots. 
    Caina descended the back stairs and returned to the main floor just as Nalazar and another man strode through the front doors. Nalazar did not look the part of an assassin. He wore a close-fitting black coat, brown trousers, and gleaming black boots. He looked like a merchant of middling prosperity, perhaps the seneschal of a minor lord. The man with him wore polished chain mail and carried an expensive sword. He looked like an officer from an elite mercenary company. 
    They walked through the doors and strode into the crowds of the Imperial Market. Caina wondered if she should pursue them, but there was no guarantee she could find them again in the crowds. For that matter, her red gown and jewelry would stand out, and they might realize she was following them. 
    That could prove fatal.
    But Caina doubted that Nalazar had realized Muravin and Mahdriva were hidden in the cellar. He had come here for information, seeking clues on where Muravin might have gone…and where better to go than the House