Ghost Wounds, Episode 13a
(A tie, so a coin toss decided the vote.)
You decide to set the house on fire and escape through the catacombs.
But Rycurgus doesn’t need to know that.
“All right,” you say, putting the right amount of exhausted fear into your voice. “All right, I’ll…I’ll come down. Just don’t hurt the others.”
Even in the darkness, you see Rycurgus smirk. “Yes, I’m sure you’re surrendering, and this isn’t one of the Ghost Countess’s cunning tricks.” He lifts his voice. “Kill everyone in the house! Kill them now!”
“What?” bellows Rhazion, outrage on his face. “I am a master magus of the Imperial Magisterium, not some criminal! You simply cannot kill me without an appeal before…”
Rycurgus laughs. “And make especially sure to that fat mouthy one!”
Rhazion looks thunderously affronted.
Then the mercenaries and the two battle magi charge for the door. Rycurgus leaps into the air, and as he does, he becomes a wraith of smoke and mist, his momentum carrying him upward almost as if he had wings. Then he passes through the wall of Rhazion’s study, blurring into material form, his sword and dagger flying. Ark and Moresti lunge at him with their broadswords, but Rycurgus laughs at them, flickering in and out of wraith form.
Then you feel a surge of sorcery, see Rhazion thrust out his hand. Invisible forces picks up Rycurgus and flings him against the wall with bone-shattering force. Or it would have, if Rycurgus had not gone wraith again, tumbling harmlessly through the wall.
“Fat, indeed!” says Rhazion. “I’ll…”
“Shut up and run!” you say. “The escape tunnel!”
You sprint down the stairs to the entry hall, the others following, and grab an amphora of lamp oil from the hallway. You feel another arcane surge as one of the battle magi blast open the front door, and the mercenaries storm inside, shields up, swords drawn back.
You fling the amphora of oil upon the floor, seize a candelabra from the wall, and throw it after the oil.
The results are rather explosively impressive. The mercenaries reel back from the raging flames, blocking the path of the battle magi.
“My house!” says Rhazion. “You set fire to my house!”
“Damn it,” you say, “I told you to shut up and run!”
Rhazion bellows in frustration, and races towards the cellar. The cellar is well-stocked with wine casks, and Rhazion hastens past them to press hidden switch in the floor. Part of the wall swings open to reveal a spiral stairwell sinking into the earth.
“This leads down to the catacombs,” says Rhazion, “specifically, to the Icaraean Cenotaphs. From there…”
“I suggest, master magus,” says Noraster, “that we vacate the premises before the house falls around our head…”
Rhazion grunts in annoyance, but you start down the stairs, and everyone else follows. You make sure to shut the door behind you. Between the fire and the door, that should stop the mercenaries and the battle magi.
It won’t stop Rycurgus, though.
The stairs end in a gloomy vaulted chamber, dim-lit by blue light thrown from enspelled glass spheres. Stone sarcophagi rest in niches in the brick walls. Noraster, Moresti, Ark, and Rhazion wait for you.
Rhazion is not happy.
“She burned down my house!” says Rhazion.
Ark bursts out laughing, which is so out of character that you stare at him in alarm.
“In the six years I’ve known the Countess,” says Ark, “she has burned down five inns, six warehouses, two mansions, three brothels, and a wharf. And those are the only ones I know about.”
For a moment you feel almost sheepish – you’ve never told Lucan about most of those. “The wharf was an accident.”
Rhazion shakes his head. “Countess, you saved my daughter’s life, for which I am forever grateful, but you are nevertheless a madwoman.”
“Undoubtedly,” you say, “but we can discuss that later. We need to get to the Emperor before Croanna does.”
Fortunately, you know the catacombs of Malarae quite well…and you know a secret way into the Imperial Citadel.
However, you need to get there first, and the catacombs aren’t safe. There are three ways to get to the Imperial Citadel through the catacombs from here, which means you have a choice of perils. The first is through the Tombs of the Magi, dangerous due to the ancient wards sealing the crypts. The second is through the Legionaries’ Mausoleum, well-known as a haunt of thieves and smugglers. The third is through the Crypt of the Emperor Taerinus…and people who venture into the Crypt tend to disappear. Forever.
Lastly, there is the problem of Rycurgus. He might go to warn Croanna of your escape – or he might pursue you down here. Rock walls won’t slow him down, after all. But between your ghostsilver dagger, and Rhazion’s sorcery…you might be able to set an unpleasant surprise for him.
On the other hand, Rycurgus has your measure, he knows about the ghostsilver dagger, he knows about Rhazion, he has his wraith-bracelet, and he’s an extremely capable swordsman. He just might kill you all, if he catches you.
“Well, Countess,” says Rhazion, “what shall we burn down now?”
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