Free Ghost in the Blood (The Ghosts) by Jonathan Moeller Page A

mourning dress…yet it had been cut to leave her arms and cleavage bare, and it was too tight. 
    Somehow she gave Caina the impression of overripe fruit that had just started to turn. 
    “Ducas, you wicked man,” said Agria, as Ducas kissed her on the cheek. “I thought you weren’t going to come. My parties are dreadfully dull unless you attend.”
    “Dear Agria,” said Ducas. “I wouldn’t miss your ball for the world. How else shall I feast my eyes upon your radiant beauty?”
    Agria laughed. “Ever the flatterer. And you’ve brought guests?”
    “So I have,” said Ducas. “This is a friend of mine, Master Basil Callenius, a master merchant of the Imperial Collegium of Jewelers.”
    “My lady, an honor,” said Halfdan, kissing her hand.
    “Why, Ducas!” said Agria. “You’ve brought me a present, haven’t you? You know how I love beautiful things.” She turned to Halfdan. “A noble lady must keep up appearances. If your merchandise is good, master merchant, then perhaps I shall honor you with my patronage.”
    Halfdan bowed again. “My lady is too kind.” 
    Agria’s face lit up as she saw Caina. “And who is this?”
    “May I present my daughter, Anna?” said Halfdan. Caina gripped her skirts and did a deep curtsy, appropriate for a merchant’s daughter meeting a lady of high lineage. 
    “Why, aren’t you a darling thing?” said Agria. “What do you think of Marsis, my dear? Not quite as beautiful as the Imperial capital?”  
    “Perhaps not,” said Caina. “But not nearly so crowded.”
    “Your father brought you here to find a husband, didn’t he?” said Agria. She made a show of lowering her voice. “Just between you and me, child, men are useless. Marry one for the money.” Her lip curled. “They aren’t good for anything else.”
    “Well, my lady,” said Caina. Something clicked in her mind, and she had a sudden insight on how to win Agria’s trust. “Maybe they’re good for two things. I would like a husband with a good strong sword, after all.”
    Agria let out a delighted little laugh. “True, true! Alas that the combination is so rare.” She put a hand on Caina’s bare shoulder, the palm cool and dry. “We shall be the best of friends, I am sure. I always enjoy the company of witty ladies.” 
    “I should be honored, my lady,” said Caina. 
    “Now, off you go,” said Agria. “I have other guests to greet.” She took no notice of Ark. No doubt she considered him part of the scenery. 
    The great marble hall of Agria’s mansion blazed with light. Three iron chandeliers hung from the ceiling, each fitted with hundreds of miniature versions of the Magisterium’s glowing glass spheres. Guests in silk and fur and damask and armor moved through the hall, laughing and chatting and flirting. Musicians played in the corners, filling the air with soft music. Servants hurried to and fro, bearing trays of food and drink. All of them looked well-fed and healthy, if somewhat harried. 
    None of them looked like slaves. 
    “Quite a woman, Lady Agria,” said Halfdan. 
    “Gods have mercy,” said Ducas. “This entire party probably cost a hundred times my tribune’s wages.”
    “Why is she in black?” said Caina. “It looked like a mourning dress, if…”
    “If whores wore mourning dresses, you mean?” said Ducas. “Her husband died…five years past. Along with her daughter. Some kind of plague, I think. The priests forbade a public funeral, lest the contagion spread.”
    Halfdan glanced at Lady Agria, who stood laughing with the guests. “So she drowns her pain in revels.”
    All at once, Agria reminded Caina of her mother. 
    Perhaps Agria was glad to be rid of her husband and daughter. Caina felt a little chill settle in her stomach. Her mother had murdered her father and come within a hair’s breadth of murdering her. Had she succeeded, Caina had no doubt that her mother would have reveled the way Lady Agria reveled now. 
    “What do you think,