Ghost in the Blood (The Ghosts) by Jonathan Moeller Read Free Book Online Page A

Business, you understand.”
    “If you wish, Father,” said Caina. 
    Zorgi smiled and pointed. “You shall have my finest suite, of course, At the top of the stairs, the corner rooms. A splendid view of the harbor and the lighthouse fortresses. Separate bedrooms for yourself and your daughter, and even a cot for Arlann.”
    “Truly, I have fallen into the lap of luxury,” said Ark.
    Zorgi roared with laughter and turned to Halfdan. Caina followed the porters up the stairs. She noticed that every single door had a horseshoe nailed into the lintel, with fresh flowers pinned beneath the metal. Hadn’t Ark said that the Szalds put up the charm only after the birth of a new child? Either the Inn had a lot of newborn children…
    …or someone was afraid to lose the children they already had.
    The suite was magnificent. The windows had a grand view of the harbor, of the endless ships moving back and forth through the water. The sitting room opened into two separate bedrooms. One room held a stone tub, with water piped up from below, much to Caina’s delight. She crossed to the windows and tested the shutters. They opened quite easily, and she thought of the rope and grapnel hidden in the chests.
    That would come in handy.
    “Mistress,” said one of the porters, panting, “where do you wish these chests?”
    “Just leave them on the floor, by the table,” said Caina. “I’ll attend to them later.”
    The porters grunted, piled the chests, and left. Caina returned to the balcony, watched Halfdan and Zorgi speaking to each other.
    “She will be most interested in meeting you,” said Zorgi. “The noble lady wears a different gown to every engagement, and so of course must wear different jewels. You shall turn quite a profit, my friend.” 
    “Then I should like to meet her,” said Halfdan. “As soon as possible.”
    “I will see if I can arrange something,” said Zorgi. “Her steward likes to dine here some nights. And your fair daughter…eh? Many young lords flock to Lady Palaegus’s balls.”
    Caina blinked. Palaegus. That had been one of the names in Icaraeus’s ledger. 
    “I think she would like that,” said Halfdan.
    Caina walked back into the suite, leaving Halfdan to pump the innkeeper for information. 
    She stopped in surprise.
    A woman in a black dress emerged from one of the bedrooms, a hammer in one hand. Thin and pale, she looked about Zorgi’s age, and had  signs of strain around her eyes and mouth. She stopped when she saw Caina, and her eyes went wide.
    “Pardon,” said Caina. “I didn’t know you were here.”
    The woman nodded. She looked…frightened.  For a moment Caina thought the woman was a thief, and then the truth came to her.
    “You’re Zorgi’s wife, aren’t you?” said Caina. “Katerine.”
    “I am, mistress,” said the woman, speaking Caerish with a thick Szaldic accent. 
    “You were putting up those charms,” said Caina, pointing at the hammer. “Why?”
    “I put up the charms over your windows, mistress,” said Katerine. A trembling little smile appeared on her face. “Keep the bad things out. I mean no harm. Please do not be angry.”
    “I didn’t mean to startle you,” said Caina. 
    “Thank you, mistress,” said Katerine. “I must go about my work now.” She hurried to the door.
    “Wait,” said Caina.
    Katerine froze, her face stricken.
    “Your Inn is a lovely place,” said Caina. 
    “Thank you, mistress.” She fled before Caina could say anything else. 
    Katerine had been frightened of something, and that bothered Caina. Anna Callenius was not supposed to scare anyone. Had Katerine deduced something of Caina’s true purpose? But that seemed unlikely. Perhaps wealthy women simply unnerved her. It could not be an easy life, waiting upon proud merchants and their demanding wives and daughters. 
    She looked at the iron horseshoes nailed to the doorframes, thinking. 
    Halfdan came into the room, followed by Ark, and shut the door behind