Ghost Rage, Episode 24a – Vote Now!

“I suppose,” says Rhazion, blinking up at you, “that you’re going to kill me now, when I’m too weak to stop you.”

You say nothing. The Black Wolves are too far away to stop you, or to even notice; you could make it look like he cut his throat on the broken glass during the fight.

“Father?” says Amania.

“The Ghost Countess has no mercy for the magi, or for their servants,” says Rhazion. “That is well known. And…I’ve made mistakes. Maybe I deserve it.” He lifts his chin. “Just…do it quickly.”

Lucan is staring at you.

“The Ghosts helped you,” you tell Rhazion at last. “Remember that when the Ghosts ask for your help.”

Rhazion looks astonished. “You…want me to spy for you? I don’t know how much use I’d be. The First Magus will almost certainly demote me from preceptor, since I failed to kill you, and…”

“Would you rather,” you say, “that I killed you?”

Rhazion snorts. “Certainly not.” He closes his eyes, and leans back against the wall. “I accept.”

Under Rhazion’s orders, the Black Wolves clean up the corpses of the slain militiamen, and gather up Korthion, who is dying from the cracked skull Lucan gave him. You pay Moresti (double rate, for fighting dead men), and send him on his way. Rhazion and Amania depart with the Black Wolves, and it is almost dawn when you find yourself standing alone in the rubble with Lucan.

“Thank you for your help,” you tell him.

Lucan smiles. “A pleasure, as always. Rhazion was only a fool, and misguided. Korthion, though…if he was willing to murder a child, and all those militiamen, to please the First Magus…I’ve seen his sort before. I won’t lose any sleep when he dies.” He hesitates. “I am surprised that you spared Rhazion, though.”

You roll your eyes. “Perhaps I merely wished to avoid another lecture from you.”

Lucan shakes his head. “I don’t think that’s it.”

You shrug. “Isn’t it obvious? A spy within the Magisterium will be useful. Maybe it will help keep things like this from happening in the future.”

“A good reason, certainly,” says Lucan, “but that’s not the real one.”

“Oh? Then enlighten me. What was my real reason?”

“You told me the magi killed your father in front of you,” says Lucan, stepping closer to you, “and you didn’t have it in you to do the same thing to Amania.”

You open your mouth a few times to respond, but say nothing.

“Everyone,” he says, “calls you the ‘Ghost Countess’, thinks of you as a hard and merciless killer. You even believe it yourself. But I think you have more of a conscience, and more of a heart, then you let on.”

“You think so?” you say at last.

“I do,” he says.

“Perhaps you are blind,” you say, voice thick, “and are only seeing what you wish to see.”

“Caina,” he says, and you realize that it’s been a very long time since anyone dared to call you by your given name, “you are very clever, more than anyone else I have ever met, but in this I see more clearly than you.”

He steps closer, and you realize that he’s going to kiss you.

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