Authors: John Marco
The Eyes of God (19 page)
“What?”
Cassandra stood up, stooping, and opened the carriage door.
“Cass, where are you going?”
“To talk to Lukien,” said Cassandra quickly. “I have to speak to him before we reach Koth.”
“No!”
Cassandra hardly heard Jancis’ plea. She was out of the carriage in a second, her boots splashing into the boggy earth. The entire company had come to a halt, and the men were already dismounting. She strained to see toward the head of the column, searching for Lukien, but he was nowhere to be found. Puzzled, she glanced around. The men were all stretching and seeing to their horses. Jancis jumped out of the carriage beside Cassandra.
“I don’t see him,” said Cassandra. “Where’d he go?”
Jancis was relieved. “I don’t know and I don’t care. Now forget about him, will you please?”
Cassandra had no intention of forgoing her plan. She intended to speak to Lukien now, while she still had the courage.
“Stay here,” she ordered, then made her way to the front of the company where a number of Liirian soldiers were caring for their mounts. Noticing her at once, the soldiers stopped working.
“My lady?” asked one of them, a young man named Tomas. “Can I help you?”
Cassandra hesitated. “I’m looking for Lukien,” she said. “Do you know where he is?”
The soldiers glanced at each other. Cassandra tried to look confident.
“He’s just gone off, my lady,” said Tomas, pointing down the road. “He’s gone to scout the way ahead.”
“Well, I must speak to him,” said Cassandra. “It’s important.”
Tomas smiled. “He’ll be back soon, my lady.”
“No, that won’t do. I have to speak to him now.” Cassandra returned Tomas’ smile, heaping on the charm. “Could you take me to him, Tomas?”
“Me? Oh, no, my lady. I don’t think I should. He’ll be back presently.”
“But it’s urgent, Tomas,” said Cassandra. She took a step closer, fluttering her long lashes.
“Please?”
“Please?”
Tomas almost blushed. “I suppose we could ride ahead. He’s only just gone. It shouldn’t be a problem catching up to him.” He gestured to one of the horses. “You can ride, my lady, can’t you?”
Cassandra wasted no time in mounting the horse.
Trager waited until he had watered and fed his horse before checking on the princess. She was a spoiled brat anyway, so he took his time sauntering to her carriage. When he arrived, he found the princess’ handmaid leaning against the vehicle, her face drawn. He took the time to leer at her before she noticed him.
“Handmaid Jancis?” he asked.
The girl jumped at the intrusion.
“Yes?”
“Is your mistress about?” Trager asked. “I’m here to see if she needs anything.”
The maiden blanched. “No.”
“No, she doesn’t need anything, or no, she isn’t around?”
Jancis hesitated. “She’s . . . away.”
“Away? What exactly does that mean, girl?”
“I’m sorry, Lieutenant,” said Jancis, “but she’s gone off after Captain Lukien.”
“What?” blurted Trager. “Why’d she do that?”
The girl shrugged. “To speak to him. She—”
“Fate above, I don’t believe this!”
Trager didn’t spare a moment. He dashed back to his horse, tossed himself onto its back, then raced like the wind after Lukien and the princess. As he galloped past his bewildered men, he sneered, “You stupid brat. I’m supposed to help protect you!”
Ten minutes after riding off, Lukien was satisfied the route was safe. He glanced around at the trees, unnerved by their thickness but convinced that they held no dangers. He drew back the reins, bringing his horse to a stop. Ten yards away, the road disappeared under a pool of murky water. Lukien studied it, gauging its depth, and was sure it was passable. Suddenly nothing could spoil his good mood. Liiria was close now, far closer than it had been for weeks, and he was anxious to make up lost time. He spun his mount around to return to the company—and saw Tomas riding toward him. To Lukien’s shock, the soldier wasn’t alone. Riding a pace behind him was Cassandra, her faced fixed with a peculiar grimace.
“What the . . . ?” Lukien trotted toward them. “Tomas, what’s going on?”
Tomas held up his hands. “Don’t be angry, Lukien,” he said. “I’m only following orders.”
“Orders? Whose orders?”
“Mine,” said Cassandra. She brought her horse up before Tomas’. “It’s not his fault, Captain. I made him take me to you. I have to talk to you.”
The princess was resolute. Her forwardness annoyed Lukien.
“My lady, you’re very foolish,” he said sharply. “Coming out alone like this is dangerous.” Then he turned to Tomas, saying, “And what business have you taking her here, away from the others? What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m sorry, Captain,” stammered Tomas. “But she insisted . . .”
“She doesn’t give you orders, soldier. I do!”
The man lowered his eyes in disgrace. He was one of the youngest in the troop, about Cassandra’s age, and he had obviously been influenced by the princess. Though Cassandra’s pretty face was no excuse for stupidity, Lukien understood its power, and so tried to soften his tone.
“All right, no harm done,” he said. “Now turn around, both of you. We’re heading back.”
“What? No . . .” Cassandra protested. “Lukien, I must speak to you privately.”
“We’ll talk back at camp.”
The princess’ expression became earnest. “Now,” she urged. “Please.”
Just as he knew it had beguiled Tomas, Cassandra’s soft voice made Lukien relent. Regrettably, he found her plea irresistible. “All right,” he nodded. “Tomas, give us some privacy, will you?”
The young man said, “Should I ride back to the others?”
“No. Just out of earshot.”
Tomas did as Lukien asked, trotting past him and coming to a stop several yards away, near the flood in the road. Lukien looked at Cassandra and spoke in a whisper.
“My lady, why have you come out here? It’s unseemly for you to come calling after me.”
“I’m sorry,” Cassandra offered. “It didn’t occur to me what others would think.”
“Obviously not,” said Lukien. He shook his head and sighed. “You’re very young, Princess. But not so young as to be so silly. You mustn’t ever come after me like this again, do you understand?”
Cassandra stiffened. “I’m not a child, Captain,” she retorted. “I’m a princess, and soon to be your queen. I will go where I wish, when I wish. And I won’t be ordered about by you. Do
you
understand?”
you
understand?”
Lukien tried to stay calm. “My lady, why are you here?”
“To speak with you alone,” replied Cassandra icily.
“Then speak and let’s be done with it.” Lukien leaned forward and lowered his voice again.” And please, go back to being that lady you were during our ride. I much prefer her to the harpy you’re being now.”
The sharpness vanished from Cassandra’s face. “All right,” she said. “I wanted to come to apologize. I’ve been dreadful to you the past few weeks, ever since you saw my painting. . . .”
“Shhh,” Lukien cautioned. He looked over his shoulder at Tomas. Satisfied the man couldn’t hear them, he said, “Keep your voice down, my lady. I haven’t told anyone about your painting, and I don’t want the world finding out now.”
Cassandra smiled in relief. “I was worried you might have told your men,” she confessed. “Thank you for honoring my privacy.”
To Lukien’s great annoyance he felt himself smiling. “To be honest, I was flattered. Surprised, but flattered.”
“It was wrong of me,” said Cassandra. “I shouldn’t have painted you, with or without your permission. But I don’t want King Akeela finding out about it, you see. You won’t tell him, will you?”
She was dancing around the subject. They both were. Lukien desperately wanted to speak the truth.
“Tell him what, my lady?” he asked. “That I’ve been staring at you across lakes and meadows? That you’ve painted secret portraits of me?” He let his horse take one step closer to her. “Is that what we should keep from him, Princess?”
Cassandra nodded. Her eyes were wide with understanding. “Yes,” she whispered. “And more.”
“What more?” asked Lukien. “What else is there to admit?”
She watched him, unwilling or unable to speak. Yet Lukien could sense the unspoken words. There was affection in her eyes, plain and true. He wanted to hear its confession. Cassandra opened her mouth to speak . . .
“Aiiiieeee!”
The sound was Tomas, screaming. Lukien saw Cassandra’s eyes widen in terror, then turned as a slimy body rose from the flooded road. Already the creature had one arm twisted around Tomas’ leg, dragging him from his horse. The stallion whinnied, bucking and tossing Tomas from its back, sending him crashing into the water.
“God!” cried Lukien. He drew his sword and bolted forward. “Cassandra, stay back!”
The garmy wrapped its arms around its prey. Tomas writhed in its grasp, struggling to lift his mouth from the filthy water. A gurgling scream tore from his throat.
“Lukien . . . !”
Lukien rushed toward him, bolting past his frightened horse, desperate to find the garmy in the water. All he could see was parts of Tomas wrapped in reptilian flesh, tossing and splashing as he fought to get free. Beneath him, Lukien’s horse shuddered, refusing to go into the water. Lukien leapt from its back and waded in—then saw the other garmy fall from the trees.
It was on him too quickly, knocking the breath from his lungs and the sword from his hand. For a moment he saw its inhuman face, hissing, then tumbled backward into the muck, the creature’s arms flailing after him. He felt the powerful limbs seize him, heard the gnashing of teeth again his armor, but he was suddenly blind and realized he was underwater, his face buried in the mud. A cold appendage snaked around his neck; the garmy’s tail. Lukien panicked, found a strength born of terror, and exploded upward with a shout.
“No!”
The garmy fell backward, its tail still coiled around Lukien’s throat. The appendage pulled, dragging Lukien after it. He dug desperately into his belt, finding his dagger. As he fell forward he plunged the weapon down. The blow stunned the monster. Lukien drove the blade with all his weight, puncturing the scaly hide and releasing a spray of stinking blood. He was suddenly a savage, a berserker, and the beast bellowed as he thrust the dagger again and again, stabbing it repeatedly. In the distance he heard Cassandra’s voice, calling to him. He heard Tomas gurgling nearby, screaming for help. And then he heard another voice, familiar yet surprising.
“Tomas! Hold on!”
A black stallion splashed into the flooded road, madly flailing its hooves. Atop the steed was Trager. The lieutenant’s face was furious. His blade sprang from its scabbard as he searched the foaming water. Lukien saw it as if in a dream. His own fight was almost over. The garmy’s tail slipped slowly from his neck. Now it was the garmy that was desperate to flee. It twisted its wounded body and began crawling away, slashing its spiked tail at Lukien’s face. Lukien grabbed hold of the tail and jerked the creature backward.
“Come here, you bitch!” he spat.
The monster’s face turned and snapped at him. He punched his dagger forward, sending it through the garmy’s open mouth. The creature cried in agony, tumbled backward into the mud, then lay there twitching and dying. As Lukien turned to help Tomas, he watched Trager dive from his horse, falling against the last garmy. The creature had risen against its new adversary, bringing up its head and arms even as Tomas dangled from its tail. The young man’s face was purple. He wasn’t moving. Trager’s sword slashed, slicing the garmy’s shoulder. The creature’s arms flew at him, raking his armor with its powerful nails. Exhausted, Lukien stumbled forward, his dagger still in hand. The garmy noticed him and let down its guard—a fatal mistake against the skilled Trager. The lieutenant saw the opening and lunged, burying his sword in the monster’s chest. The garmy’s shrill scream tore through the forest. Its arms flailed, its tail slackened, and its yellow eyes dimmed as it collapsed. As he fell from the creature’s grasp, Tomas collapsed beside it.
“Tomas!” Lukien cried.
Trager was already over the man, lifting him from the mud. It was plain that Tomas was dead. His head lolled back in Trager’s arms, lifeless. Lukien stopped mid-step, dropped his dagger, and let out an anguished moan.
“Oh, no,” he sighed. “Don’t tell me he’s gone.”
Cassandra brought her horse to the edge of the water. She looked at the corpse in Trager’s arms. Her face contorted with sorrow.
“It’s my fault,” she whispered. “Fate forgive me.”
“No.” Lukien looked squarely at Trager. “It’s not your fault, my lady. It’s the fault of this incompetent fool!”
“What?” Trager blurted. “Captain, I tried to save you!”
Other books
Lord of Temptation by Lorraine Heath
On the riverside of promise by Vasileios Kalampakas
The Earl's Design of Love: The Stenwick Siblings by Morganna Mayfair, Kirsten Osbourne
Rhyn's Redemption by Lizzy Ford
Illusions by Richard Bach
I Shot You Babe by Leslie Langtry
Saviour: A Devil's Spawn MC Novel (Savior Book 3) by Thomas, Natasha
After Mind by Wolf, Spencer
Meri by Bohnhoff, Maya Kaathryn
