Masque of Death (Kormak Book Nine) (The Kormak Saga 9) Read Free Page A

girl entered. She was pale-skinned, and her face was rouged. She studied him with an open invitation in her dark eyes. Kormak noticed her pupils were extremely dilated, a side-effect of wyrmspike, among other narcotics he was familiar with.
    “Yes?” Kormak said.
    “The majordomo sent me to ask if you required anything. ”
    “Not at the moment.”
    “He also told me to say that you would be very welcome at the ball below. Your companions have already said they would attend.”
    “Then I suppose I had better do similarly.”
    She placed a small domino mask she carried on a silver platter in front of him. “Masks are required for all the guests. The majordomo regrets that he does not have the time to provide you with a full costume.”
    “That will not be necessary.” Kormak donned the mask and left the room. He was keen to observe the court of the Governor and see what he could learn. If everyone was as intoxicated as Aurin was, there might never be a better time to ask questions concerning the thing he had been sent to find.

Chapter Two
    K ormak strode down the stairs and passed couples stealing hand in hand into side rooms. Several of them invited him to join them. He politely declined. Rhiana and Zamara stood in the library, sipping wine. They too wore small domino masks but were otherwise dressed as they had come.
    “This place is a disgrace,” said Zamara quietly. “I could take the whole city with a company of marines.”
    Rhiana laughed. “If you could convince your crew to fight. They might just join in the party.”
    “Speaking of marines, where are they?” Kormak asked.
    “They are dismissed. They’ve been a long time at sea. Terves and half a score of hardy men are within call. The rest have been dispatched to find their own amusement.”
    “You’d better hope they don’t decide to take the city on their own.”
    “Hush, Guardian, don’t even joke about such a thing. It is entirely within the realms of possibility.”
    “I thought you Sunlanders were supposed to be so moral,” said Rhiana.
    “It seems the tropical sun does something even to the most disciplined of people,” said Zamara.
    “I would say it is more likely the mushroom wine. It contains wyrmspike and a cocktail of subtle narcotics,” said Kormak.
    “It makes my tongue tingle,” said Rhiana.
    “I am having it mixed with water,” said Zamara. “I don’t want to be too hungover when I speak with the Governor tomorrow.”
    “I think he will be hungover enough for the two of you,” said Kormak.
    “I do not doubt it. It’s no wonder this place is like it is with a man like that in charge.”
    “I don’t think you were seeing him at his best, Admiral,” said Rhiana. Her voice was slightly slurred. The wine was starting to get to her.
    “You might want to slow down,” said Kormak. “That is a strange and powerful vintage.”
    “It is certainly delicious,” said Rhiana.
    “And possibly addictive,” said Kormak.
    “You always have to be such a spoilsport about everything,” she said. “Don’t you ever relax?”
    “No.”
    “And always so honest too. It must be tiring being you sometimes.”
    Zamara stared at her. “I am starting to see a pattern here.”
    Kormak said, “The wyrmspike in the wine makes some susceptible souls argumentative.”
    “Who are you calling argumentative,” said Rhiana. “And susceptible?”
    “No one,” said Kormak. “It was an observation.”
    “Oh it was an observation, was it? Aren’t we special?”
    “I am going to question some of the guests.”
    “A Guardian is always on duty,” said Zamara. “I shall keep Captain Rhiana company.”
    “That might be a good idea.”
    “There’s no need to be so sarcastic,” said Rhiana.
    Kormak strode out into the garden. Music played. A bard stood by the fountain singing part of the Tale of Anwin, a ballad concerning the fate of one of the heroes of the Sunlands who fell in love with an Old One. The man’s voice was high and