Jonathan Moeller - The Ghosts 08 - Ghost in the Mask by Jonathan Moeller Read Free Book Online

madam. I saw many battlefield injuries in the Argamaz, and you did good work.”
    “My lord is too kind,” said Claudia. “I fear you may have seen wounds far more dire than broken legs.”
    “I did,” said Martin, his gray eyes growing more distant for a moment, “but a broken leg can cripple a man for life, if it is not set properly. And I would not wish that upon my men, or the wives and children who depend upon their pay.” 
    Again his diligence struck her. The Lord Governorship of Calvarium was beneath him, yet he approached it with diligence nonetheless. But Claudia had duties of her own. She was a Ghost…and they needed to find out what was happening below the Henge.
    “Do you think it will be a battle, my lord?” said Claudia. “Between Lady Maena and Anashir’s men?”
    It was an impertinent question for a physician’s apprentice to ask a Lord Governor, but Martin answered nonetheless.
    “It well might,” said Martin. “Lady Maena is bad enough. She claims to seek ancestral relics of House Tulvius, lost in the Seventh Battle of Calvarium. Never mind that only fools dig near Caer Magia. But Anashir…an Anshani occultist digging near the wreck of Caer Magia? He claims to have letters from the Emperor permitting him to dig for Anshani artifacts, but I am certain he seeks a sorcerous relic of Caer Magia. I would consult with Oberon Ryther, my magus advisor, but the man is useless.”
    “I wouldn’t know of such things,” said Claudia, which was a lie. Her father had spoken of Oberon Ryther, had considered the man a useless fool…which was how he had ended up at Calvarium.
    But Martin continued speaking. 
    “The Emperor and the honorable Lord Corbould might wish to make allies of the Shahenshah in Anshan, but surely that cannot extend to allowing Anshani occultists free reign inside the Empire. And that is assuming the worshippers of Anubankh do not raise the Caerish provinces in revolt against the Emperor.”
    “A revolt?” said Claudia, shocked. “The Caerish lands have been loyal to the Emperor since the time of the Second Empire. Surely…surely they would not revolt?”
    Martin shrugged. “Such things have happened before. Recently, even. The Saddaic provinces almost revolted two years past. But the corrupt Lord Governor died suddenly, and the provinces quieted. Rumor says the Ghosts assassinated the Lord Governor to stave off a rebellion.”
    Suddenly Claudia wondered where Caina Amalas had been two years ago.
    “But hopefully we can calm the situation before it comes to that,” said Martin. “I have written to the Lord Governor in Caeria Superior to ask for troops. If I can sweep the hills of these cultists, it will do much to calm the mood of the province.” He shook his head. “But I should not trouble you with all of this.” 
    “I do not mind,” said Claudia. “In fact, I am honored that you would speak with me.” She took a deep breath. “And if I may risk impertinence…I have seen met many Lord Governors, my lord, and few could match your diligence.”
    She expected him to brush off the compliment, or to acknowledge it with a nod, but he seemed grateful. “Thank you, madam. You do me more kindness than I deserve. I fear a diligent Lord Governor would do a better job of keeping his province in order.”
    Claudia smiled at him. “Such judgments are beyond a simple physician’s apprentice.”
    “I wonder at that,” said Martin.
    “My lord?” said Claudia, hiding her alarm. Had she realized that she was a Ghost? Or, worse, had she realized that Komnene was a circlemaster?
    “You speak High Nighmarian like a noblewoman,” said Martin, “and you know far more about the Empire’s history and politics than I would expect in a physician’s apprentice.”
    Claudia shrugged. “If you must know, my lord…I am the bastard daughter of a nobleman of Artifel.” That much was true, at least. “He…thought to wed me to one his allies, but I displeased him grievously. He