Ghost in the Hunt (40 page)

“Tell me,” said Callatas. “What do you think?”

Cassander blinked. “Of what, Grand Master?”

“Of all of this,” said Callatas, waving his hand at the city spread out below them. “Of laws and nations and civilizations. Are they not corrupt and futile? We deny our true nature. Humanity’s true nature, our very essence, is that of a killer. Of a predator. Yet we seek to bind it with laws and customs, chain it with walls and empires. Is that not folly? Should we not seek to perfect the only thing perfectible about ourselves? To embrace our true natures, to cast aside the rotting edifice of civilization?” His gray eyes bored into Cassander. “What do you think?”

Cassander thought that sounded like nonsense, like the Grand Master had spent too much time listening to the addled ravings of imbecilic philosophers. But that hardly seemed like a diplomatic thing to say. The ancient sorcerer had commanded him to speak the truth, and lying to him seemed like a very poor idea.

“I think,” said Cassander at last, “that the world is in chaos. I think that humanity is weak and divided, and requires a strong leader to bring order and prosperity. And I think that the Umbarian magi are the men to bring the world to order.”

Callatas sneered. “A blind answer. I thought as much. Yet you may have your uses, Cassander Nilas.”

The old man closed his eyes and tilted his head to the side, and Cassander’s unease grew. He had the distinct impression that Callatas was listening to a voice inside his head. Which either meant that the old man was insane or that he was talking with a spirit of the netherworld, a creature like that which had given the Huntress her powers.

Of course, one possibility did not rule out the other.

The thought of all that power joined to a mind like Callatas’s was a most disturbing thought.

“I know what you want,” said Callatas at last, opening his eyes. “The Order sent you here to bring Istarinmul into the war and to kill the Balarigar if possible.”

“I admit that this is so,” said Cassander.

“And you also wish,” said Callatas, “to find and claim the Staff of Iramis and the Seal of Iramis for yourself, to raise your rank among the magi of the Order.”

“I…yes,” said Cassander, remembering the old Alchemist’s threat.

“I will give you what you want,” said Callatas. “The Staff and Seal are mine, of course, even if you could find them. But I will command Erghulan and the Padishah to aid the Empire. We will open the Starfall Straits to Umbarian warships, and we shall even send troops to aid you.”

“I know you require slaves for your work with wraithblood,” said Cassander, though he still could not fathom why Callatas went to the trouble of making it at all, “and we shall be happy to supply you with as many as you require…”

“Slaves are irrelevant,” said Callatas. “I have made almost as much wraithblood as I require, and if necessary, I will declare martial law and have the Immortals herd freeborn citizens into my wraithblood laboratories. Secrecy will soon be of no use to me. No, I do not require slaves or armies. If you want Istarinmul’s aid in your war against the Empire, you are going to do one thing for me.”

“The Balarigar,” said Cassander. “Caina Amalas.”

“Find her and kill her,” said Callatas.

“That was you, wasn’t it?” said Cassander, understanding at last. “That fool Erghulan thought I sent the Huntress after Martin, but killing him in public would achieve nothing. I wanted the Silent Hunters to make Martin’s death look like an accident. But the Balarigar was at the Court of the Fountain that night, wasn’t she? You sent the Huntress after her. Lord Martin was just in the way.”

“Alas,” said Callatas. “I thought the Huntress would prove the Balarigar’s equal. She only failed me once before. But no matter. The Huntress’s failure is your opportunity. Find the Balarigar and kill her. Do not capture her, do not question her, do not play games with her. Simply kill her as quickly as possible. Kill her, and you shall have Istarinmul’s aid in the war.”

“It shall be done,” said Cassander, thinking of the methods at his disposal. The Umbarian Order had many deadly servants. He thought of one of the boxes he had brought with him to Istarinmul.

Perhaps the thing in the box would kill Caina Amalas.

It would be hungry, after all.

“Go,” said Callatas, turning back to the windows. “Return to me when you are successful.”

Cassander bowed and departed the Grand Master’s palace. His mission to Istarinmul would soon be a success.

All he had to do was kill Caina Amalas, and then the Empire would fall.

THE END

Thank you for reading GHOST IN THE HUNT. Look for Caina's next adventure, GHOST IN THE RAZOR, to appear in early 2015. If you liked the book, please consider leaving a review at your ebook site of choice. To receive immediate notification of new releases,
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About the Author

Standing over six feet tall, Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas.