The Eyes of God (41 page)

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Authors: John Marco

BOOK: The Eyes of God
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“No . . .”
“Yes I did.” Akeela’s breathing was shallow. “I killed him, just like a real solider. Just like Lukien.”
Then he began to sob. And in that instant, Cassandra knew she’d been discovered. There was nothing left to confess—her adultery was known. She was sure of it. She reached out for Akeela, putting his head against her chest.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to do this to you.”
Akeela didn’t answer. Cassandra knew he wouldn’t, for there was nothing now to say. Suddenly she remembered her warning to Lukien, how she had begged him not to come to her, sure that their tryst would ruin Akeela.
She had been horribly prophetic that day.
21
 
 
L
ukien sat beneath a tree in Kadar’s garden, slowly eating a handful of dates. He had discovered the place during his first day in Jador, when Kahan Kadar had showed off his royal residence, telling his Liirian guests that the garden, like all of the palace, was theirs to enjoy. Birds with exotic plumage chirped in the trees. Jadori children wrestled on the manicured grass. A blue sky swept above him, perfectly cloudless. Lukien heard a fountain gurgling in the distance and the noise of the city beyond the palace walls, but here in the garden he could not see the pressing streets of Jador. All he could see were green trees and flowers, the vista broken only by the range of brooding mountains in the east.
Kahan Kadar’s palace was a remarkable haven from the bustle of Jador. It had the peace of the desert and the coolness of shade, and it didn’t surprise Lukien at all that Kadar never seemed to leave it. He and the others had been the kahan’s guests for three days now, enjoying his hospitality and the graciousness of his people, and while the palace seemed to be open to everyone, neither Kadar nor any of his underlings ever ventured from its confines. Lukien supposed it was because his wife was pregnant, and that Kadar wanted to be near to tend her. Kahana Jitendra was, in fact,
very
pregnant. To Lukien’s eye, she looked ready to drop at any moment.
He took another date from his palm and bit into it, studying the children in the yard. Since coming to Jador, he had seen a number of Kadar’s children. Many of them were young, like the wrestlers in the garden. But others were much older, easily in their teens and twenties. It was just one more puzzle about the kahan, one more tantalizing hint. Kadar himself looked too young to have fathered them, and there was no way Jitendra could have birthed them. As he ate his date, Lukien pondered Kadar’s true age. Fifty? Sixty, maybe? He didn’t look a day over thirty. Perplexed, Lukien took a sighing breath. The air was sweet with flowers.
Magic
, he told himself.
It’s got to be.
The notion heartened him. Now he could save Cassandra. If she was still alive. And only if he could get the amulet away from the kahan. Worse, they had not been able to locate the second amulet. They had seen Kahana Jitendra twice more since coming to the palace, and never once did she wear any jewelry like Kadar’s. Though Figgis clung to his belief in the second amulet, he could not explain why his precious texts had lied about it being in the kahana’s possession. But time was running out, and they could wait no longer. They had found one of the Eyes of God, and that would be enough to save Cassandra.
To the east, the great, unbroken mountain range ruled the horizon. Lukien studied it as he swallowed his one date and popped another into his mouth. The mountains were just one more of Jador’s riddles. Cahra hadn’t wanted to talk about them, and it seemed that no one in the palace wanted to, either. He had tried to ask Kadar about them, but the kahan had merely smiled and changed the subject, pretending not to understand. Now Cahra’s caravan was gone, probably back to the sands of the desert, and Lukien still had no answers. Lukien smiled, knowing he’d never have the chance to unravel the mountains’ secret. Tonight, if all went well, he would be on his way back to Koth.
He sat alone for a few minutes more, finishing his dates. When he had swallowed the last one, he noticed Trager making his way through the garden. Lukien wiped his hands and leaned back against the tree. The people in the garden smiled at Trager, but the lieutenant ignored them. His dark eyes darted about suspiciously as he stopped to hover over Lukien.
“Where’s Figgis?” he asked.
“He’ll be here. Sit down.”
Trager clucked at the lack of chairs, than sat down on the ground before his captain.
“Well?” Lukien asked, keeping his voice down.
“Nothing. I tried to keep close to the kahana, but she’s been in her chambers a lot, and none of her maidens seem to have the amulet, either.”
“All right,” said Lukien. The bad news wasn’t a surprise. “We tried.”
“We’ve wasted enough time. That waterhead Figgis probably read his texts wrong.”
“That
waterhead
just might have saved the queen,” said Lukien sharply.
“Yes,” drawled Trager. “It’s all about the queen, after all.”
Lukien glanced at him. ”What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Mean? Nothing, Captain. We’re all just worried about the queen, that’s all. I know you’re worried, aren’t you?”
“Of course,” said Lukien. He struggled not to look away. “I’m the queen’s protector, after all.”
“And you do a fine job of looking after her. Really admirable.”
“Trager, if you’ve got something to say. . . .”
Trager’s smile grew. “I think I’ve said it all, Captain.”
Their eyes locked. Lukien could feel Trager’s burning gaze. For a moment he couldn’t speak, terrified that Trager had discovered his affair. But that was impossible.
Wasn’t it?
Suddenly, Trager leaned back against his palms and sighed. “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it? So much nicer here than in Koth. Do you think it ever rains here? It must, I suppose; all these flowers.”
“Trager . . .”
“Don’t worry, Captain.” Trager grinned. “We’ll be leaving soon. You’ll see Cassandra soon enough.”
Lukien groped for a response, but before he could Figgis appeared. The old man approached with a dejected expression.
“Ah, here’s our court jester now,” said Trager. “Come, old man. Sit down before you fall down.”
In the way he had of always ignoring Trager, Figgis said to Lukien, “I’m sorry, Captain. I looked all over.” He lowered himself to the grass, shaking his head. “I just don’t know where it could be.”
“In your imagination, maybe?” Trager suggested.
“I’m not wrong about the other Eye,” Figgis snapped. “The text was very clear. It says that one amulet is worn by the kahan, and the other is worn by his zirhah.”
“His what?” asked Lukien.
“Zirhah. It means wife.”
“Well, Jitendra doesn’t have the other amulet, and we don’t have time to keep looking.” Lukien glanced around, making sure no one could overhear. He whispered, “We have to take Kadar’s amulet tonight.”
Trager nodded. “Yes. Let’s stop wasting time and get home. What’s your plan, Captain?”
“Surprise. I think we’ve already earned Kadar’s trust. I’m sure he doesn’t expect any trouble from us.”
“I’m sure,” said Figgis sourly.
“That means we’ll be able break into Kadar’s chambers without much trouble.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem,” Trager agreed. “The fool doesn’t even guard himself.”
“Because he doesn’t have to,” flared Figgis. “Because this is a peaceful place.”
Trager grinned. “It won’t be so peaceful tonight.”
“No,” said Lukien. “I don’t want anyone hurt. We’ll just slip into Kadar’s chamber, take the amulet from him, and be on our way as fast as we can. Figgis, you’ll need to get the drowa ready for us. Stay with them and wait. As soon as we reach you, be ready to ride.”
Figgis nodded glumly, but said nothing.
“And what if Kadar doesn’t want to give us his precious amulet?” Trager asked. “What do we do with him then, Captain? Ask him nicely?”
“We won’t hurt him,” Lukien insisted. “We’ll force the amulet from him if we have to, but I want no violence. Kadar’s been too good to us for that. Once he sees our weapons and knows our intent, he’ll give it to us.”
“Right. Then as soon as we’re gone he’ll scream like a maniac. Face it, Captain—we have to kill him.”
“No!” Lukien leaned forward angrily. “Now you listen to me, you idiot. Kadar is not to be harmed, not if we can help it. We’ll tie him up and gag him, but we’re not going to hurt him. And we’re certainly not going to kill him, understand?”
Trager looked away. Lukien kicked him.
“Lieutenant, I said do you understand me?”
“I understand,” said Trager through gritted teeth.
“Good. Now be ready tonight. Get the rope from our supplies and bring a dagger and a sword.”
Trager rose and glared down at Lukien. “Am I dismissed now . . .
Sir?”
“Yes,” said Lukien, then watched as Trager stormed off. He watched until Trager left the garden and disappeared into the palace, and when he was gone he cursed and leaned back against the tree. “That son of a bitch,” he muttered. “I wish Akeela had kept him home.”
Figgis didn’t answer. He simply stared off into the distance, completely lost in thought.
“Hey,” said Lukien, snapping his fingers in his face. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I was just thinking,” replied Figgis. “I wish there was some other way to get the amulet.”
“I know, but there isn’t. So stop thinking about it.”
“It’s just that these people are so peaceful. They’ve never harmed anyone, and here we are, ready to steal from them—”
“Shhh, keep your voice down,” Lukien scolded. Then he softened, adding, “I don’t like it any more than you do. I’m not a thief, Figgis. But this was your idea, after all. And we can’t back out now.”
“I don’t want to back out,” said Figgis. “I just wish we didn’t have to hurt these people.”
“We’re not here to hurt these people. We’re here to save Cassandra.”
Figgis smirked. “Oh, yes. Does that make you feel better, Captain?”
“Figgis?”
“Yes?”
“Stop talking, please.”
 
Sometime past midnight, Lukien awoke. Trager was standing over his bed. Lukien’s eyes opened to the soft glow of candlelight on Trager’s face. The lieutenant wore his gaka, with his head dress pulled down around his chin. When he noticed Lukien awaken he said two simple words.
“It’s time.”
Lukien sat up and took a breath, letting his booted feet dangle off the silky bed. He too was already dressed. His sword belt waited nearby. He looked toward the keyhole-shaped window and saw the pale moon outside, lighting the distant mountains, and for a moment he wondered how long he had slept. Trager put the candle down on a nearby table and picked up Lukien’s sword belt.
“Here.”
“What time is it?” Lukien asked. He stood and took his weapon from Trager, lifting his gaka to belt it around his waist.
“It will be dawn in three hours,” whispered Trager. “I’ve scouted out the halls around Kadar’s quarters. They’re empty.”
Lukien noticed a bag dangling off Trager’s sash. “That the rope?”
“Yes. And a cloth to gag him.”
“Good. What about Figgis?”
“He’s already down with the drowa, waiting for us near the gate. I told him to keep to the shadows. Far as I could tell, there wasn’t anyone else around. The whole palace is asleep, Captain.”
It took a moment for the words to come clear in Lukien’s mind, but when they did he smiled grimly. Trager had done a surprisingly good job of arranging things. For the first time since leaving Koth, Lukien was glad he’d come. He went to the basin by his bed, splashed his face with rosewater, then ran his fingers through his hair. There wasn’t much time, but he was nervous and unsure. After days of planning, it had come down to a simple act of pilferage, and he was irritated that Akeela had reduced him to a thief. Behind him, he felt Trager’s impatient eyes.

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