Jonathan Moeller Novel Excerpt Tuesday: GHOST IN THE STORM

Since the audiobook version came out last week, this week’s Jonathan Moeller Novel Excerpt Tuesday is from GHOST IN THE STORM.

I have to admit that of the first four GHOSTS books, this is my favorite. The excerpt below turns out to be an important conversation both for Caina’s current predicament and for the rest of the series.

GHOST IN THE STORM is available in ebook at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon CA, Amazon AU, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play, and Smashwords. , and also available in audiobook at Audible, Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon AU, and iTunes.

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“We have succeeded so far,” said Kylon.

“But it might not last,” said Caina. “You could seize a city the size of Marsis with ten thousand men, but to hold it? The other Legions are north of Marsis, but they will return soon enough. And even if you fend them off, do you think the Emperor and the Imperial Curia will give up? They will send a great army to reclaim Marsis. And once they do, they will not stop there. The Emperor will want revenge for what happened here. New Kyre and Istarinmul are strong – but do you think they can stand against the gathered Legions of the Empire?”

Kylon said nothing.

“You’ve started a war,” said Caina. “For what? Marsis? New Kyre is the best port on the western sea. Holding Marsis would gain you nothing. For slaves? You could buy all the slaves you needed in Istarinmul. For plunder? Surely there are richer prizes closer to home. What do you hope to gain from this attack?”

Still Kylon said nothing.

“The Tomb of Scorikhon,” said Caina. “That’s it, isn’t it?”

Kylon sighed.

“Andromache wants whatever power the necromancers of the Red Circle left behind,” said Caina. “So she started a war to get it. I don’t know what she promised Rezir Shahan. Probably Marsis, and as much land as he could carve out of the western Empire. But she’s going to abandon him, isn’t she? Once she has what she wants.”

“She has…considered such,” said Kylon.

“So,” said Caina. “Andromache convinced Rezir to join her in attacking Marsis. She knows the attack might fail, and even if it succeeds, you’ll have a hard time holding on to your conquests. But Andromache doesn’t care, because she only wants the power in the Tomb of Scorikhon. Once she has it, she intends to leave Rezir and Marsis to their fates. She is willing to slaughter thousands just to increase her arcane power. Have I got it right?”

Kylon gave a slow, hesitant nod.

“And does that sound,” said Caina, “like the behavior of a necromancer?”

A shudder went through Kylon, so violent that he almost cut Caina’s throat even as her dagger scraped against his neck.

“She cannot be,” said Kylon, his voice a hoarse whisper. “She saved our family. She saved me. House Kardamnos would have been ripped apart by our enemies, had she not become High Seat. Necromancy is against the laws of both Old Kyrace and the gods themselves. It is an abomination. She could not do such a thing. She could not.”

“I saw her do it,” said Caina.

“You lie,” said Kylon, but there was no heat to his words.

“You must have your doubts,” said Caina. “Else you would dismiss them out of hand. Yet you’ve listened.”

“Because you have a dagger to my throat,” said Kylon, “and your story is a lie.”

“But you’re not sure,” said Caina.

“How do you know?” said Kylon. “Can you use sorcery to read my emotions? Or to hear my thoughts?”

“No,” said Caina, “but if you were sure, you would have laughed at me. You wouldn’t have gotten angry. Men who are secure in their beliefs laugh at challenges. They do not grow angry.”

-JM