My ghost lungs gasped for air as I materialized once more. I was fainter than my previous incarnations; I could see through my ghostly fingers to the bones of fog beneath.
He spoke to me in his soundless voice: It seems I have need of you after all, Blood-Ghost.
I looked down at my body, on the verge of tears from the joy of seeing myself again. As a thought-fog, my emotions are muted; now that I once more felt ephemeral blood pulsing in my veins, I was terrified at the thought of having the knife cleaned once more.
Obey me, and I will see that the knife is never bare of blood.
“What would you have me do?” I asked.
The king’s men are a dangerous lot. While the boy is no longer a threat, I cannot read the mind of Lord Tower while he wears his armor. Were he the only one immune to my powers, I would have few fears. But the Whisper’s thoughts are dim; the harder I concentrate on them, the fainter they become.
“Is she a ghost?”
Doubtful. Your thoughts are clear to me. Blade may know her true nature but I’ve yet to find her origins among his thoughts. What worries me even more is the Deceiver. His mind is unlike anything I’ve encountered. His true thoughts are buried beneath veils of hallucinations. I risk my very sanity probing him.
“What am I supposed to do about this?”
You will be my spy. In your phantom form, you aren’t tethered as tightly to the knife. You may wander, listening in on conversations I will not be privy to. Have a care, however. Should Father Ver suspect your presence, he has the power to banish you forever to the spirit world.
I furrowed my brow, confused. “Aren’t I already in the spirit world?”
Obviously not. You are a spirit in the material world.
Actually, that was kind of obvious. But, if there was a spirit world, what was it like? Why hadn’t I gone there?
I will help you reach the spirit world at the proper time should you assist me.
“Maybe I don’t want to go. I’d rather stay here. I’ll help you only if you promise to let me speak to Infidel.”
A fair bargain. I will grant this if you serve me well. Have a care, however. You may desire to speak to the woman, but the feeling may not be mutual. The living seldom wish to be confronted by the dead.
I clenched my jaw as I thought over his offer. If I refused to cooperate, he could just wipe the blood from the blade, and banish me once more. But, while he had the power, perhaps, to grant me what I wanted, I had to wonder what, exactly, he wanted, beyond my immediate services as a spy. Aside from a desire to kill Greatshadow, I knew nothing of his plans or purpose.
Relic’s eyes glimmered. You are wise to be suspicious of me, Blood-Ghost. Yet, my motives are simple. I hate Greatshadow with every fiber of my being. The world can hold no joy for me as long as he lives. Tower would sacrifice his soul. I would sacrifice this, and more, for the pleasure of watching Greatshadow die.
“And then what?” I asked. “You take his treasure?”
Relic gave a low, soft chuckle that chilled my vaporous guts. Then, my dear Blood-Ghost, I take the world.
CHAPTER TEN
That evening, everyone dined on hardtack and dried beef; I would have expected an expedition backed by a king to have food fit for one, but apparently all the funds had gone into buying glorystones and Goons. Tower still had his helmet on as Blade handed him his rations. I waited for him to pull off his helmet to eat, but instead he retreated into his tent.
“Guess he’s too good to eat with us,” Aurora said as she sat cross-legged on the ground by the Three Goons.
“I heard he never takes off that tin can because his face is covered with scars,” said Reeker.
“Boo hoo hoo,” No-Face answered. For once I didn’t need any translation.
Relic came over to the circle of mercenaries. “Perhaps he has other reasons for hiding his face. Most warriors, in my experience, are eager to show off their battle scars.”
“It ain’t battle scars,” said Reeker. “According to what I heard, about fifteen years ago on his wedding day, one of Tower’s enemies launched a sneak attack. Half the chapel got knocked down by a catapult and a fire broke out. Tower kept running back into the conflagration, saving the lives of a dozen people even though he was getting all burnt up himself. But he never pulled out the one person he was searching for: his bride. Now, when he sees his scars, he thinks of her.”
“A tragic tale,” said Relic.
“A stupid tale,” said Reeker. “Ain’t no dame worth risking your life for. They’re like stray cats; one gets killed, two more show up the next day.”
“Tower must not have felt that way,” said Menagerie. “My sources say he’s still unmarried.”
“Maybe that’s just proof he sees things my way now,” said Reeker.
“Mubuh huh duug guh buhn uf,” said No-Face.
“Maybe we should stop gossiping about the man who’s paying our wages,” said Menagerie. “Don’t forget they have an invisible spy.”
Infidel was several yards away from the ring of dining Goons. She was standing with her back to the others, looking into the shadows of the cave. I moved in front of her and waved my ephemeral hand before her eyes, though I knew it was futile. Her face was completely blank, with no hint of a reaction to Reeker’s tale. Save for the occasional blink, she really looked like nothing more than a statue.
The following morning, Tower announced his decision: “Relic and his War Doll can join the expedition. We’ll use the War Doll chiefly to carry gear. Aurora will also have pack duty as punishment for revealing our location.”
Reeker raised his hand. “We’re going to hike to the dragon’s lair? The caldera’s, like, fifty miles away. Can’t you fly us?”
Tower shook his head. “The Gloryhammer glows most brightly when I’m in the air. Flying low over the ocean in midday wasn’t a problem, since the glare of the sun upon the waves masks the weapon’s radiance. Short bursts of flight to help us over obstacles are probably safe, but I don’t dare risk making a dozen long trips back and forth over the jungle canopy. Greatshadow would surely spot us.”
“So he spots us and comes down to kill us,” said Reeker. “We fight him on the slopes instead of in the volcano. What’s the big deal?”
Ivory Blade nodded toward Lord Tower. “If I may?”
Tower nodded back.
“First,” said Blade, “Our mission is more than to simply kill the dragon’s body. We must also slay his spirit, and forever sever his intelligence from the element of fire. This can only be done in his lair. Second, you’re being paid to do what we tell you to, not to question our commander’s decisions before we even leave the base.”
Reeker looked as if he were going to say something back, until he spotted Menagerie glaring at him. He crossed his arms, and gave a subservient nod.
Aurora apparently was undeterred from asking questions. “What will happen to the boy? He still needs medical attention.”
Numinous was sitting near the main tent, gazing toward Lord Tower with a look that bordered on hatred. He’d been furious when he’d been told earlier that he was no longer taking part in the mission. Gone was the placid, supremely confident Golden Child of the day before. In his place was an ill-tempered ten-year-old boy who’d always gotten his way until now. I felt sympathy for the kid. Every day of his life until today, he’d been surrounded by adults who treated him like he was the salvation of the world. Now, the adults had decided he was nobody important. That can’t be easy to swallow.
Tower said, “Numinous may not be the Omega Reader, but he is still exceptionally educated and trained. Despite his injuries, he’s able to fend for himself until we return. He can use this time alone to reflect on whether life in the priesthood will suit his future, or perhaps a more martial life as a knight will be his calling. When this mission is over, I will ensure that his education continues for a new, more suitable, role.”