Ghost Wounds, Episode 12a

“What does Croanna want?” you say. “What is her plan?”

“I don’t know,” says Ark. “She didn’t talk to me, save to give me instructions. But there was another man with her, looked like an assassin. He had another one of her enspelled bracelets – it let him become insubstantial.”

“Rycurgus, no doubt,” says Noraster.

“I heard them talking, before they sent me away,” says Ark. “Croanna said she has a list of people she plans to kill once she takes control. High lords, nobles, magistrates, Legion commanders.”

“Takes control?” you say. You stare at the discarded bronze bracelet for a moment. “Ark. This mind-controlling bracelet, this…mindreaver, she called it. Did you see any others?”

“Aye,” says Ark. “There were a dozen other men with her and this Rycurgus fellow. All of them had mindreavers on their wrists, and they were under her control. And she had an entire chest full of the things. Hundreds, at least.”

Things start to fall together in your head. “Did they say where they were going? And did they say anything about the Lord Ambassador from Catekharon?”

Ark gives you a strange look. “How did you know? Croanna said it was time for the Lord Ambassador to fulfill his end of the bargain.”

“The Lord Ambassador was going to meet with the Emperor tonight,” you say. “In fact, that was at least three or four hours ago, and…”

And then it clicks.

“Oh, damn it,” you say.

“What?” say Ark, Noraster, and Rhazion in unison.

“She’s going to put one of those mindreavers on the Emperor,” you say. “And the lords, and the high magi, and the magistrates…and anyone else of sufficient power she can catch.”

“That’s…that’s madness,” says Rhazion. “She could never get away with such a thing…”

“She could,” says Ark, voice quiet. “You don’t understand, master magus. Once the mindreaver is on your wrist…you’ll do whatever Croanna asks of you. Cut out your own eyes, perhaps.” He takes a deep breath. “Or kill the woman who saved your wife and son from slavers. You’ll do horrible things, and you won’t be able to stop yourself.”

“We’ve got to get to the Emperor, now,” you say.

Noraster grunts, walks across the room. A pair of doors open onto a balcony overlooking the street, and he peers through them.

“Countess,” says Ark. “Lord Lucan…”

“You saw him?” you say. “He’s dead, isn’t he?”

The question slips out before you can stop yourself. The very notion fills your chest with ice, and you are amazed that your voice is so very calm.

But considering what else Croanna might do to him, perhaps death would be better…

“I don’t know,” says Ark. “That’s how I got pulled into this. I saw Lord Lucan leave the Inn of the Golden Milestone with Croanna and Rycurgus. They took him into an alley, and he dropped a piece of paper.” He gestures at the note, still in your hand. “I thought it seemed strange, so I went into the alley. Croanna was waiting for me, and had the mindreaver on my wrist before I could react. You know the rest.”

“What about his wife?” you say. Ark gives you a puzzled look – he knows Lucan’s wife has been dead for ten years. “A small woman, with pale blond hair.”

“I saw no one like that,” says Ark. “And I did not see Lord Lucan again, Countess. He may well still be alive.”

But there’s no conviction in his voice. He knows better. And so do you.

“Countess!” says Noraster. “We may have a problem.”

You frown, cross to his side, and peer out the balcony doors.

There’s a crowd in the street below Rhazion’s house. At least fifty men, all of them armed and armored. Mercenaries, you think, and to judge from the quality of their weapons, good ones, too.

Rycurgus stands at their head, sword ready in his hand, the ebony bracelet still on his wrist. Besides him wait two men covered in black plate armor, heavy maces in their hands. Red-trimmed black cloaks stream from their armored shoulders, and even looking at them, you feel the crawling presence of sorcery.

Battle magi, magi trained to use their sorcery to enhance their combat prowess. You’ve gone up against battle magi before. It’s never gone well.

Rycurgus looks up, sees you, and his handsome face splits into a brilliant smile.

“Well, well, the Ghost Countess herself!” he says. “You know, I had no idea that was you, underneath that disguise! I rather drastically underestimated you.”

“People do that,” you say, watching him for any sign of an attack.

“But I never make the same mistake twice,” says Rycurgus. His smile never wavers, but you see in his eyes that he is very much looking forward to killing you. “Fifty veteran mercenaries and two battle magi might be a bit excessive to deal with one barren harlot of a woman, but considering your reputation, one cannot be too careful.”

“Niall Anabas,” you say, and Rycurgus scowls at the mention of his real name, “I’m still not impressed.”

“Then I’ll make this simple for you,” snarls Rycurgus. “Come out, alone, and we’ll let your companions go. Everyone knows the Ghost Countess cares so much about her precious hirelings. Otherwise I’ll kill them in front of you first, and only then kill you.”

You say nothing.

“They’ve probably got the house surrounded,” says Ark, his voice low.

“Is there a quick way out of here?” Noraster murmurs to Rhazion.

“I have an escape tunnel to the catacombs,” says Rhazion. “But there’s no need. I am a master magus of the Imperial Magisterium, and I know both those battle magi. They are sworn to obey. Let me talk with them, and we’ll deal with these interlopers.”

“I suggest we escape over the rooftops,” says Noraster. “The houses in this part of Malarae are close together, and we can evade the mercenaries easily.”

“Well, Countess?” says Rycurgus.

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.