could be as long as two months.” She reached into her satchel and drew out an envelope. “If I haven’t returned in three months, open this and follow the directions inside.” She had given a similar note to Agabyzus. If Caina died while trying to enter the Inferno, Damla and Agabyzus would go to Martin Dorius and Claudia Aberon Dorius. Together, they would choose a new circlemaster and try to find a way to stop Callatas and his Apotheosis.
Damla started at the envelope. “And if you do not return…then I am to assume that you have been killed?”
“Yes,” said Caina.
“Is there nothing I can do to help?” said Damla.
“Not with this, no,” said Caina. She would have gone to the Inferno alone, if she could have managed it, but there was no way she could rescue Annarah without help. “If the circle needs your help with anything, Agabyzus will contact you. Otherwise…do what you have always done. Run the House of Agabyzus, sell coffee, and keep an eye out for anything unusual.”
“I shall,” said Damla. “May the Living Flame go with you, for all you have done for my family.”
“Thank you,” said Caina.
Damla sighed and slid the envelope across the table.
“There’s something wrong, isn’t there?” said Caina.
“Well,” said Damla, “no, not precisely.”
“You should tell me,” said Caina. “If it’s something I can help with, I could…”
“It’s not that,” said Damla.
“Or if you saw something unusual,” said Caina. “Anything at all, no matter how insignificant. The smallest thing can be a sign of something dangerous.”
Damla let out a long breath. “It is…not my business, I fear.”
“Damla,” said Caina. “After all we’ve been through together…you can tell me.” Dread started to churn inside her. What had happened? Had Damla drawn the attention of the Brotherhood or of the Teskilati? Caina could not imagine how, but if Callatas or the Teskilati thought Damla was in any way linked with the Balarigar, they would not hesitate to kill her and burn the House of Agabyzus to the ground.
“Very well,” said Damla, taking a deep breath.
Caina braced herself.
“Who was that man you kissed?” said Damla.
Caina blinked. Her brain caught up with her surprise. She had walked with Kylon to the door of the House of Agabyzus, and then on pure impulse she had kissed his cheek before entering the coffee house. After all, it had helped maintain the disguise. Of course, the coffee house’s shutters had been open, and Damla had seen.
“Ah,” said Caina at last.
“Is he…” said Damla, her voice trailing off as she tried to find the correct phrasing.
“He’s a friend,” said Caina.
“Another Ghost,” said Damla.
“No, he’s not a Ghost,” said Caina. “We knew each other from before I came to Istarinmul.” She sighed. “An assassin murdered his wife and he was banished from his homeland, and he ended up here. We met again by chance a few months ago, and he has been helping me ever since.”
“I see,” said Damla. “Forgive me, but I was sure that you were…ah, together.”
Caina sighed. “Everyone says that. Do you mind if I ask why?”
“You…looked so happy when you kissed him,” said Damla. “You looked so happy that I didn’t recognize you.”
“Ah,” said Caina.
Damla hesitated again.
“Come on,” said Caina with a laugh. “You can be honest with me.”
“This man,” said Damla, “this Kyracian…”
“Call him the Exile,” said Caina. It was the title Kylon had given to other Ghosts in their work over the last few months.
“The Exile,” said Damla. “How well do you know him?”
“Quite well,” said Caina. “He tried to kill me in Marsis.”
Damla’s eyes widened.
“We made peace,” said Caina. “He helped me with some business in the free cities after that. Then I helped him save his wife when she was poisoned. He helped to stop the golden dead.”
“Is he your friend?” said Damla.
“Yes,” said Caina.
“Do you trust him?”
“Yes.”
“Then,” said Damla, “why do you not seduce him?”
Caina said nothing, staring into her coffee.
“Forgive me if it is none of my business,” said Damla. “I am becoming a meddlesome old woman.”
“No,” said Caina. “I keep telling you that you’re not that old. And you’ve earned the right to be honest with me.”
“So why do you not seduce him?” said Damla. “Or let him seduce you? He is a friend and you trust him, and you are clearly drawn to him. I may not be as clever as you, but I am not blind, either.”
“It wouldn’t be a good idea,” said Caina.
“Why not?” said Damla.
“Because we’re in too much danger,” said Caina. “We both could be