Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #1)

by Tamsyn Muir

“A dying woman is the perfect necromancer,” said Ianthe. “I wish I could get rid of that idea. Maybe for the final ten minutes,” said Palamedes. “The technical fact that dying enhances your necromancy is vitiated considerably by the fact that you can’t make any use of it. You might have access to a very personal source of thanergy, but considering your organs are shutting down—” “It’s not possible,” insisted Harrow, words hard and clipped in her mouth. “You seem to know a lot about it. Well, I put it to you: Would it be possible for all the heads of the Seventh House,” said Dulcinea calmly, “adepts of the perfect death—a Seventh House mystic secret, one that’s been ours forever—working all in concert?” “Perhaps initially, but—” “King Undying,” said Silas, primly disgusted. “It was a conspiracy.” “Oh, sit on it,” said Dulcinea. “I know all about you and your house, Master Silas Octakiseron … the Emperor himself never bothered to speak out against beguiling corpsehood, but he did say that siphoning was the most dangerous thing any House had ever thought up, and ought only to be done with the siphoner in cuffs.” “That does not mitigate the penalty for performing a necromantic act of transgression—” “I’ve no interest in meting out the justice of the tome,” said Captain Deuteros, gruffly. “I know that’s the Eighth House’s prerogative. But at the same time, Master Octakiseron, we cannot afford this right now.” “A woman who would be party to this kind of magic,” said Silas, “migh...