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

him. 
    “Did Zorgi tell you anything useful?” said Caina.
    “Some things,” said Halfdan, looking over the rooms. “People are frightened. There are all sorts of rumors about slave traders in the city, but nothing substantial. He thinks he might arrange an invitation for us to one of Lady Palaegus’s parties.” 
    “Palaegus?” said Caina. “One of the names in Icaraeus’s ledger.”
    “Aye,” said Halfdan. “We’ll go, drink her wine, laugh at her witticisms, and have a look around. And if I see anything I don’t like, she’ll regret it sorely.” 
    “What happened to Zorgi?” said Caina. 
    Halfdan’s voice was quiet. “Noticed that, did you?”
    “Noticed what?” said Ark. “He seemed much as I remember.” 
    Halfdan shook his head. “He’s aged too quickly, and he walks like a man in pain. He’s suffered some sort of blow.”
    “I think,” said Caina, “that one of his children died.”
    Halfdan and Ark stared at her.
    “All those horseshoes,” said Caina. “I saw Katerine nailing up some more. They must have lost a child. Now Katerine is nailing up charms against the Moroaica to...fight her grief, I suppose.”
    “Zorgi did have a new son the last time I was here,” said Halfdan. “Cheerful lad. Four or five years old at the most. Gods, that’s a hard blow. Cruel enough when they die in childbirth, or in the first week. But after they’ve grown a bit…that’s the cruelest of all.”  
    That, at least, was a pain that Caina would never know. Though it was a mercy she could have done without.
    “What now?” said Caina.
    “The day’s almost done,” said Halfdan. “Tomorrow I’ll see about that invitation to Lady Palaegus’s ball.” His voice dropped. “And we’ll make contact with the local Ghost circle. In the meantime…Zorgi sets an excellent table. I suggest we make use of it.” 

    ###

    Master Zorgi did, indeed, set an excellent table. Halfdan pronounced the wine excellent, though Caina thought it tasted like any other wine. Though the food was superb. Caina had eaten jerky and vegetables on the road for weeks, and it had been a long time since she had eaten so well. She listened as the other guests, mostly merchants, talked about trade routes and tariffs and inventories and other matters. A few complained about the slave raids, but did not seem too concerned. 
    When you had enough money, Caina supposed, tragedy was something that happened to other people.
    “I can tell you were in the Legions, Arlann,” said Zorgi, as Ark sopped up some gravy with a heel of bread. “You eat like a soldier.”
    “If there’s food,” said Ark, “better eat it now. There might be none tomorrow.” 
    “Master Zorgi,” said Caina, “your table is superb.”
    The innkeeper gave her a wide smile. “Ah, my Katerine, she is a queen among cooks, no?”
    “Truly,” said Caina. “Give her my compliments, please.”
    “Of course,” said Zorgi, a shadow crossing his face. 

    ###

    Afterwards Caina retired to their rooms and made liberal use of the bath. It was glorious. The water was hot, and Caina soaked for a long time, letting the heat work its way into her limbs. She rinsed the grease from her hair and scrubbed the sweat and grime of the road from her limbs. 
    Languid from the bath and the food, she dressed for bed. Perhaps she was tired enough that no dreams would come.

    ###

    The faint sound of weeping awoke her. 
    Caina rolled to her feet in a smooth motion, snatching the dagger from beneath her pillow. Her bedroom was empty, moonlight spilling across the carpets. A salt-scented breeze blew through the open shutters, accompanied by the faint sound of crying.
    She crossed to the windows and looked down.
    Katerine wandered through the Inn’s gardens, weeping, arms wrapped tight around herself, her face twisted with anguish and sorrow. 
    A dark shape crossed the garden, and Caina saw Zorgi hurry to his wife. He took her hands, speaking to her in low, urgent tones.