Free Ghost in the Hunt by Jonathan Moeller Page B

Grand Wazir Erghulan have covered up his death and are ruling Istarinmul in his name.” From what she had seen of both the Grand Master and the Grand Wazir, Caina would not put it past them. 
    “Then who shall we meet?” said Martin.
    “Most likely Erghulan Amirasku, the Grand Wazir,” said Caina. “The real power in Istarinmul is Callatas, the Grand Master of the College of Alchemists. He is an evil man, but that might be your biggest advantage.”
    “Why?” said Martin.
    “He doesn’t want war,” said Caina, “so he can focus upon his Apotheosis and the production of wraithblood.” She looked at them both. “What I am about to tell you will put you in danger. If Callatas has the slightest notion that you know the truth, he will likely have you killed.”
    “What truth is that?” said Martin.
    “This is about the wraithblood, isn’t it?” said Claudia. “The things you were telling me.”
    Caina hesitated. “I started to tell Claudia before you arrived. You saw the wraithblood addicts on the streets?” Martin nodded. “Callatas makes the wraithblood from the blood of murdered slaves. He has murdered tens of thousands of slaves over the last six or seven years and created wraithblood from their deaths, which he then distributes among the population of Istarinmul.”
    “But why go to such expense and effort?” said Martin. “The wraithblood addicts are harmless, confused men and women.” 
    “He is working on something,” said Caina. “Something he calls the Apotheosis. I don’t know what it is. But he has a pact with the nagataaru.”
    “I’ve heard that word before,” said Claudia. “My father mentioned it during his discussions with Ranarius. Some kind of spirit…”
    “A kingdom of malevolent spirits from the netherworld,” said Caina. “Most of the spirits of the netherworld have no interest in mortals. The nagataaru are different. They regard mortals as prey, can feast upon pain and torment to make themselves stronger. I don’t know why Callatas has a pact with them, or what he intends to achieve. But I have seen his wraithblood laboratories. He is preparing a sorcerous catastrophe on the level of the golden dead. He has to be stopped.”
    Martin and Claudia shared a look.
    “That explains the rumors,” said Martin.
    “What rumors?” said Caina.
    “About the Balarigar,” said Martin. “You have caused more disruption than you know. Istarinmul is the center of the slave trade for a dozen nations, and the slave traders of Istarinmul are living in fear. After your exploits in Marsis and New Kyre, there were already rumors of the Balarigar circulating throughout the Empire. Now rumor claims the slave traders of Istarinmul are terrified of the Balarigar. Consequently the price of slaves has trebled or even quadrupled in every nation that permits slavery.”
    “Good,” said Caina with more heat than she intended. She hated slave traders, and her experiences with Istarinmul’s Brotherhood had only hardened her feelings. “But that is only a pleasant side benefit. Without a steady stream of slaves to murder, Callatas cannot create new wraithblood. He cannot work his Apotheosis without a steady supply of wraithblood.”
    “The Umbarians deal in slaves,” said Martin. “As you might expect, they have reinstituted slavery in the provinces they rule. Anything that weakens the Slavers’ Brotherhood of Istarinmul is to the Empire’s advantage, but we have more immediate concerns. It seems I will meet with the Grand Wazir, but I must persuade this villain Callatas to stay out of the war. How shall I do that?”
    “Callatas does not want another war,” said Caina. “He wants stability and order so he can work his Apotheosis without interruption. He wanted to avoid the first war with the Empire for precisely that reason, but Rezir Shahan had enough prestige to persuade the nobles otherwise. If you can give him enough reasons to stay out of the war, he will do so.”
    “Of