Free Jonathan Moeller - The Ghosts 06 - Ghost in the Forge by Jonathan Moeller Page B

would allow me to keep your daughters company during our journey to Catekharon?” 
    “Please, Father?” said Caina, putting just the right note of petulant pleading into her voice. “The countryside is ever so dull, and some conversation would be welcome.” And it would give her the opportunity to learn more about Catekharon and the Masked Ones.
    Claudia’s lip crinkled in disgust. 
    “Oh, very well,” said Halfdan, playing along. “Though I certainly do not have the time to chaperone the two of you.”
    “That shouldn’t be a problem,” said Caina, looking at Corvalis. “Cormark will chaperone us. Won’t you, Cormark?”
    Corvalis bowed, his expression grave. “It would be my solemn honor, mistress.”

    ###

    Three days later the column left the grasslands and entered the Red Forest, while the Anshani horsemen rode away to the east.
    “This is the boundary of the Shahenshah’s domain, you see,” said Irzaris, walking alongside his wagons. “The lands east of the Red Forest swear to the Shahenshah. The various petty princelings of the free cities rule the lands west of the Red Forest.”
    Caina nodded, keeping her eyes wide. Irzaris, she suspected, was more attracted to Claudia, but Claudia’s icy disdain for the man never wavered. Caina had found that men of wealth and power enjoyed a woman who hung on their every word…and so she hung on Irzaris’s every word. 
    And learned a number of useful things. 
    “So we are in danger,” said Caina, “of being attacked?”
    She looked around the forest and made a show of shivering. Huge redwood trees, larger than any Caina had ever seen, rose around the road. Some of them stood at least three hundred feet tall. Their roots transformed the ground into a wrinkled mossy sheet, and their vast branches cast patterns of light and shadow across the road. 
    Irzaris laughed. “Not particularly, my dear. The free cities ignore caravans. If they attack too many they will earn the ire of the Emperor or the Shahenshah. Or, worse, of the Assembly of New Kyre. The Emperor and the Shahenshah can only make war upon the princes of the free cities. New Kyre can do far worse to them.”
    “What’s that?” said Caina.
    “Drive them bankrupt,” said Corvalis.
    Irzaris laughed. “Well spoken, Cormark. Master Basil is fortunate to have such a wise man in his service. Perhaps you should check on your master? The women will be safe enough with me.”
    Corvalis shrugged. “I am sorry, Master Khaltep, but Master Basil bade me to guard his daughters until we stopped for the night.”
    “Your vigilance does you credit,” said Irzaris, with only the faintest hint of irritation in his black eyes. He had never stopped trying to get Caina and Claudia alone. He turned to Claudia. “What do you think of the forest?”
    Claudia looked away. “I suppose the trees are large.”
    “Truly,” said Irzaris. “Men come from all nations to marvel at the great redwoods.”
    “Why haven’t they been cut down?” said Caina. “Surely such fine wood would fetch a high price.”
    Irzaris shrugged. “A dozen different cities claim this forest for their own, but I fear the real reason is mere superstition. Men say that spirits guard the forest, and will rise in wrath should any man assail the trees.”
    “I’ve heard Ulkaari men say that demons haunt their forests,” said Corvalis.
    “And I had have heard the most dreadful tales from Szaldic slaves,” said Caina, “of a terrible sorceress called the Moroaica.”
    Irzaris laughed. “Simple superstition, my dear. You mustn’t let the idle words of illiterate slaves trouble you. There’s no such thing as the Moroaica or demons.”
    Caina caught Corvalis’s eyes and saw the amusement there. Baiting Irzaris had become something of a game between them. 
    “I am glad, sir,” said Caina, “that you travel with us. It indeed makes me feel better.”
    “Good,” said Irzaris, looking at Claudia. “Would you like to take a ride into