AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We have a plan. That plan hinges on the Wraiths’ participation.”
“A plan that relies on luck and a chronicler who taught himself magic while no one was looking. Forgive us for wanting to take proper stock of the situation.”
“Told you,” Nadia said to Kary.
“To do that, you need to establish contact with our base. We need to be talking together at least,” Kary argued.
“We’ve always done without your input.”
“All right, you need to stop this right away,” Nadia said. She was still a little tired and didn’t want to stand surrounded by her former fellow Wraiths. She could understand their lack of trust. They’d trusted her on the surface, sure, because they’d all been striving to escape that place. But here, down in the city proper, the situation was more confusing and chaotic. They’d missed out on over a month of Kassemyr’s reign, suffering their own tormented version of it elsewhere.
“You can’t go back to how things were,” she told Terys. “You’re not in the Cube and we’re not in the Palace.”
“We?” Terys raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, we. You dismissed me. And the Queen and Phantom offered me something else. It is done. We don’t have time for that either. And you,” she hurried to add before Kary could interrupt, “need to give them some time. Not four days, mind you,” she gave Terys a pointed look, “but a few hours. Those hours are best spent listening to the Ghosts. Our goal is the same, but we need you.”
A buzz sounded behind Nadia and she noticed Terys’ attention move away from her before she turned herself. A figure had entered the room, a woman if Nadia were to judge by build. She wore a beige long coat with a wide hood that covered her face but allowed her to see. She was flanked on all sides by four people, who, despite their light gray and brown clothing, left no doubt of who they were. Ghosts. Disguised, but armed and carrying themselves with self-assurance only seen in the Cube or the Royal Palace. At normal times, at least. Nadia and Kary, of course, recognized the four, including Marika, who stood next to the cloaked woman. Special mission indeed.
“You should listen to her.”
Nadia lowered her brows. She recognized the voice before the face of Queen Isona appeared as the woman pulled her hood back. Her long hair had been fastened above her neck in a tight knot, and she wore simple clothes underneath the coat. Like Victoria, she didn’t want to draw attention outside. Coming here was a risk in itself.
“Ma’am,” Terys said, and every Wraith stopped talking. None of them bowed. No Wraith or Ghost ever did. They were below her in rank but were never treated as underlings. No regent could afford that. They had learned early on to always have both guards on their side.
“It’s good to see you’re safe,” the Blade Wraith told the Queen.
Isona smiled, but it was strained despite its genuine nature. “I’m glad to see all of you are, too.” She sought Nadia in the crowd. “You did well, Sentinel. Thank you.” Then she addressed everyone. “Where is Blade Sarker?”
“Dead Ma’am,” Terys said. “I’m the new Blade. Terys.”
“You’ve been chosen, then?”
The surrounding specters nodded.
“Very well. But not by me.” She smiled wider, but there was a certain twist to it now. Nadia had learned early on not to underestimate this woman. She was perceptive, shrewd, and kind.
“I have no wish to meddle in Wraith business, though,” she went on. “But we need your help now. Sentinel Nadia is right. You can no longer separate like you normally do. Right now we have to face the greatest threat Agartha has seen in centuries. And that chronicler, by the way, has managed what none of us could in a short time. We will use poison and hope the hybrids are subdued long enough for us to end them.”
Nadia took a step back and looked at Kary, who nodded. She wasn’t needed with the Queen speaking his case better than anyone. Besides, her secrets were no longer that. Soon enough, the Wraiths would hear about her child, and then who the father was. That would cause more upset than anything. Nadia was glad to leave that with the Queen and whichever liaisons she chose to handle communication with the Wraiths. Nadia shared a quick nod with Marika and then headed out.
It was daylight outside, the sky above showing no hint of the thick layer of clouds Nadia had witnessed a day ago. She hurried to make her way back to Harmiston’s apartment, avoiding guards and people alike. It had become second nature by now, to sneak past houses and high-rises and make use of every shadow and feature on street level to hide.
She made sure not to be followed and was recognized by sight by the Ghosts, who watched that apartment day and night. She was due for guard duty herself tomorrow. For the moment, though, she went inside and entered the apartment, only to see a group of Ghosts draw their swords at the sound of a loud bang when she closed the door behind her with a soft click.
“I am sostupid!” came Harmiston’s voice from further inside. Nadia shared a confused look with the other Ghosts.
“So stupid!”
A second later, Victoria appeared. “I think you need to see this, guys,” she said and then smiled at Nadia when she noticed her. “You too.”
They all followed her through to the neighboring apartment and into Harmiston’s makeshift lab. He was walking around the bomb, which was still empty, running his hands through his hair, making it stand on end.
“Harm?” Nadia said.
He glanced up at her and grinned. “I can’t believe how stupid I was.”
“You look like that is a good thing for some reason.”
