Jonathan Moeller - The Ghosts 09 - Ghost in the Surge by Jonathan Moeller Read Free Book Online Page B

cattle led to the butcher’s block.” She laughed. “At least you are making a fight of it. I…”
    The doors to the courtyard swung open, and Ark spotted a woman standing there, gazing down at Tarzain’s corpse with shock. She was tall, with long black hair and blue eyes, her hand lifted to her mouth in surprise.
    Tanya.
    Caina looked at her, at Ark, and then grinned.
    “Arcion?” said Tanya. “What…”
    “Run!” shouted Ark. “Run, now!” 
    Caina sprinted at Tanya, sword and dagger held low. Ark cursed and raced after her. Tanya did not run. She had no reason to run. Caina had saved her life in Marsis, had rescued her from the Moroaica. Why should Tanya fear her liberator?
    So she made no move to defend herself as Caina seized her hair and wrenched her around, her serrated dagger coming to rest at Tanya’s throat.
    “Balarigar!” said Tanya. “What is this? Why…”
    “That’s not her,” said Ark, striding toward them. “That’s some creature wearing her guise.”
    “Oh, very good,” said Caina. “Ah! No further, Champion. No further at all. Another step and I’ll cut her throat.” 
    Ark froze, as did Muravin. He was not far from one of the workbenches. Perhaps they had a crossbow he could use. But Ark saw only shields and javelins within reach. 
    “I thought I had made a misstep,” said Caina. “Can’t use sorcery in front of witnesses. It will spoil the game. And I don’t think I could kill you without using a spell.” Her cruel smile widened, and she pressed the dagger tighter against Tanya’s throat. “But this…this will be more fun by far. You’re going to do exactly what I say, or you’re going to watch your wife bleed to death in front of you.”
    “Arcion,” said Tanya, “don’t listen to her, go…”
    “Shut up,” said Caina, tapping her throat with the dagger. “Let’s play a game, shall we? You, Champion of Marsis. Kill the gladiator, now. Or else I’ll kill your wife.”
    “No,” said Ark. “You’ll kill us all, anyway.”
    Caina laughed. “Perhaps I’ll change my mind. Perhaps I’ll discover the wonders of mercy.” She shrugged her right shoulder, her left arm holding the dagger rocky-steady against Tanya’s windpipe. “Decide. Now.”
    For a moment Ark remembered the final confrontation with Naelon Icaraeus below Black Angel Tower as the renegade lord held a sword to Tanya’s throat. Ark had killed Naelon then, after another Ghost had distracted the renegade with a crossbow bolt. 
    But there was no one here with a bow. Only Ark and Muravin.
    And Tanya, caught in the grasp of the false Caina. 
    A distraction, Ark needed a distraction. 
    And as the thought crossed his mind, Muravin bellowed and charged at Caina.
    Her eyes jerked toward Muravin, and for just a moment, her attention was turned from Ark.
    Ark had one chance to act. He snatched a javelin from the table, the wooden haft smooth and hard against his grip. He had thrown such a weapon hundreds, thousands of times, both training with the Legion and in battle against the foes of the Empire. 
    But he had never thrown a javelin at a foe holding his wife.
    There was no time to hesitate. Ark drew back his arm and flung the javelin with all his strength in a short, tight arc. Caina started to turn from Muravin, but it was too late. The javelin slammed into her right shoulder and burst from her lower back in a crimson spray. 
    The blood did not mar the cloth of her gown.
    Caina screamed, and Tanya kicked backwards with all her strength. Her boot hammered into Caina’s knee, and the smaller woman stumbled, the javelin still jutting from her torso. Tanya wrenched free of Caina’s grip and ran for Ark. 
    Caina grabbed at the door for balance, lips peeled back from her teeth in a snarl. She took a step forward, and Muravin flung his trident. This time the weapon slammed into Caina’s stomach, and she fell backward through the doors.
    Her scream sounded more furious than pained. 
    “Arcion!”