Ghost in the Hunt by Jonathan Moeller Page A

said Claudia in a quiet voice. “I would speak with this guest alone.”
    “My lady?” said Tylas. He didn’t recognize Caina. The woman had a genius for disguise.
    “All is well,” said Claudia, which was a lie. “Leave us. I must speak with our guest alone.”
    Tylas bowed and led Dromio and the Imperial Guards away, leaving Claudia alone with Caina.
    Caina stepped closer. Her blue eyes seemed colder, deader than Claudia remembered. She had always been lean, but now her face looked almost gaunt, dark circles gathered beneath her eyes. Her black hair had been cut down to stubble, and she could spot the bit of makeup that gave Caina the illusion of a beard shadow.
    For a moment they stared at each other in silence. 
    “You cut your hair,” said Claudia at last.
    Caina nodded. 
    “It really doesn’t suit you,” said Claudia.  
    “It gets hot in Istarinmul,” said Caina. “Helps with the heat. And disguises. You married Martin?”
    “Yes,” said Claudia. “You weren’t invited to the wedding.”
    Caina offered a faint shake of her head. “I would not have been able to attend.”
    “How did you guess?” said Claudia. “Did you make a brilliant deduction from the dust on my boots? Or did you simply look at the ring upon my finger? However can I conceal my secrets from someone like you?”
    More anger leaked into her voice than she would have liked. Caina was the Ghost circlemaster of Istarinmul, which meant Claudia was obliged to obey her. She knew this moment would come, and thought she had been prepared to face it. But one look at Caina and her dead eyes, and all the rage and grief came bubbling out. 
    Caina, Corvalis, and the Sage Talekhris had walked into the rift of golden fire.
    Only Caina had returned. 
    She hadn’t even bothered to bring Corvalis’s body back. 
    “It was hardly a secret,” said Caina. “All of Istarinmul is abuzz with rumors of the new Lord Ambassador and his young wife.” 
    “Rumors and whispers,” said Claudia. “Your stock in trade, I suppose.” 
    She could not fathom what Corvalis had seen in this woman. Yes, Caina was brilliant and brave. But Corvalis had been strong and brave, too. He had deserved better. He had deserved a woman that would love him and care for him. 
    Not the woman that had led him to his death.
    “You are angry,” said Caina. 
    “Angry?” said Claudia. “Me? Whatever reason do I have to be angry with you?” 
    “You must have known that I would come,” said Caina. “The message asked the Ghost circle to aid the new Lord Ambassador in his task.”
    “I didn’t know if you were still alive,” said Claudia. “The Empire is in turmoil, and so is Istarinmul. But we heard the rumors. The Balarigar running amok and waging a war against the slavers. I wondered if it might be you.” 
    “I have,” said Caina, “been busy.”
    “Then you haven’t pushed too far and gotten yourself killed, I see,” said Claudia. 
    “Not yet,” said Caina. 
    They stood in silence for a moment, Claudia struggling to get her temper under control. She wanted to scream at Caina, to grab her collar and shake her, or to hit her over and over against it that cold mask cracked and Caina admitted she was sorry for getting Corvalis killed. Claudia dared not act on the impulse. For one thing, if she tried to hit Caina, the shorter woman would likely manhandle her like a petulant child. 
    More importantly, Martin needed Caina’s help. The Padishah of Istarinmul had every reason to ally with the Umbarian Order against the Empire, even if the Padishah and his nobles did not yet realize it. 
    “How are matters in the Empire?” said Caina at last.
    Claudia raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know? You usually know everything.”
    Caina grimaced. “Not this. The message I received about your arrival was the first and only message I have received. There are rumors, of course. Pyromancy and necromancy, the eastern third of the Empire in chaos…”
    “Yes,”