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executed.”
    “Does that trouble you?” said Caina.
    Marcus hesitated. “It…should. More than it does. He was never kind to me. And…he would have killed all those people.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “All those people…if I hadn’t convinced you to help me…”
    “Would you care to sit?” said Caina.
    Marcus nodded and sat, and Corvalis joined them. 
    “Thank you,” said Marcus. “For helping me.”
    “You are welcome,” said Caina.
    “Are you,” he lowered his voice, “are you…Ghosts?”
    Corvalis snorted. “There’s no such thing, my lord. I am merely a coffee merchant.”
    Caina smiled. “And I am merely the coffee merchant’s mistress, frivolous and empty-headed.”
    Marcus snorted. “And I am the Shahenshah of Anshan.”
    “We did you a favor,” said Caina. “Perhaps someday you shall be in a position to repay us.”
    Marcus nodded. “I would be glad of it. Thank you again.” He rose. “Perhaps…perhaps I shall write an epic poem about you.”
    Caina blinked. “What?”
    “The coffee merchant’s mistress,” said Marcus, “showing a smiling face to the world, but spinning intrigues in the shadows, pulling strings and saving lives, never taking the credit…”
    “If you write such a poem about me,” said Caina, “I swear on all the gods that I will have your throat cut and your body dumped in the harbor.”
    Corvalis laughed. 
    “Well, yes,” said Marcus. “I suppose you could not keep your good deeds secret if I published a poem about them.” He bowed. “The gods go with you, Sonya Tornesti and Anton Kularus.”
    He turned and left.
    “You never write poems about me,” said Caina.
    Corvalis laughed again. “I know you too well. You would rather have a book, a cup of coffee, and a nice new sharp dagger.”
    “I’ve grown predictable,” said Caina, rising. Corvalis took her hand and led her across the main floor, and Caina glanced back as Marcus left the House of Kularus. She was pleased that he had been vindicated. Perhaps he would grow into a better man than his father.
    “You look satisfied,” said Corvalis.
    “Why not?” said Caina. “Morius will be beheaded for attempted murder, and he failed to kill anyone. And no one suspects we were involved.”
    “You do like to stay in the shadows, don’t you?” said Corvalis.
    “Yes,” said Caina.
    For they could do good from the shadows…and in the shadows waited the Ghosts.
    THE END
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