The Eyes Of A God - The Eyes of a God Part 56
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The Eyes of a God Part 56

'Is that how you lost your eye?"

Lukien toyed with one of the campfire sticks, picking it up and studying its burning tip. He didn't like talking about his missing eye, and wished Cassandra would stop fussing over it. "A Norvan blade did this to me," he said casually. "Nothing really to talk about. It hurt for a few weeks, but now I hardly feel anything."

Again Cassandra seemed sad. "I'm sorry about what happened to you, Lukien. I would have stopped Akeela if I could have, but he wouldn't listen to me. He won't even let anyone speak your name."

Lukien plunged the branch into the flames. Even after all these years, Akeela's rancor toward him still hurt. "Baron Glass is very grateful to you, Cassandra. You were able to save him, at least."

'Can you believe the luck?" crowed Gilwyn. "We left Lion-keep right under his nose!" Lukien was too nervous to see the humor of it. When the coat was on Cassandra, he directed her back toward the fire. "Here, warm yourself. I'll get the other clothes for you."

But before he could turn, Cassandra snatched his hand, pulling him back. "Wait," she said, smiling.

"Let me look at you."

'My lady, I really think you should hurry," said Gilwyn. "It'll be light soon. Once they discover you're gone- 'I've waited sixteen years for this moment, Gilwyn Toms," interrupted Cassandra gently. "I won't be rushed." She patted the ground next to her. "Sit with me, Lukien. There's so much we need to say to each other."

After all these years, the thought of being alone with Cassandra was too tempting to ignore. Lukien gave Gilwyn a little nod. "There's time yet before we have to set out. Why don't you go keep a lookout, Gilwyn. If anyone comes near, let us know."

Gilwyn gave a sly smile. "Right."

He shuffled off with Teku on his shoulder, soon disappearing into the mist. Once again there was only the sound of the fire and Cassandra's gentle breath. She took Lukien's hand again, pulling him down beside her. Her expression was inscrutable. Lukien longed to know what she was thinking. There was a surprising ease between them, as if no time had passed at all.

'Gilwyn told me about Norvor," she said softly. "And about Baron Glass."

'Good," said Lukien, relieved. "Then you know we're heading to meet with him?"

'At Breck's farm. Yes, I know." Cassandra shifted closer to him. The warmth of the fire mingled with the warmth of her skin. It was the most marvelous sensation Lukien had felt in years.

'I'm not what you expected, I know," said Lukien. "I know I've changed. But life in Norvor is hard, Cassandra. I've had to fight to stay alive."

'Fighting is what you are best at, Lukien. It always has been."

Lukien nodded. "Perhaps. But I'm older now, slower. Great Fate, look at me-I look like your father now!"

kill us, then maybe the desert will. Or maybe the Jadori. Are you sure you want to warn them of Akeela?"

'I must," said Cassandra. "I can't let them be massacred."

'Don't expect them to look kindly on us. Even if we reach them, they may remember me. And they'll want their amulet back. Have you considered that?"

Cassandra lowered her eyes. "Yes."

'You'll die without it, you know."

'Perhaps. Perhaps not. If Grimhold exists, then they had enough magic to make this amulet. Maybe they have some other means to help me."

'Not likely," said Lukien.

'No," Cassandra admitted, "but I have no choice. I can't live like this. To be honest, I'm hoping that Akeela calls off his invasion. Once he knows I'm gone, maybe he won't bother searching for the other Eye."

'I wish that were true, but I can't believe it. Akeela will hound us relentlessly. And he's got a taste for Grimhold now. He's not going to stop. Even if he doesn't go there himself, he'll send Trager to Jador."

'Then you see why I must warn them, Lukien." Cassandra pulled the coat tighter around her shoulders, staring fretfully into the fire. "I've stolen enough life. I won't let the Jadori be massacred because of me. We must go to Jador. And if you won't go with me, then I'll go myself."

'Brave," said Lukien with a smile. "But I can't let you do that."

She looked at him. "What do you mean?"

'You're not going to Jador, Cassandra. I'm going, with Glass. You're going to Marn."

'What...?"

'I'll ride to Jador to tell them what's coming, but you're not going with me." Lukien gripped her hand firmly. "I won't let you die, Cassandra. I won't let you give back the amulet."

'Lukien, I must. No matter what else happens, I can't live like this. Look at you. You said yourselfhow you've aged. Am I to go on forever, without you, losing everyone I care about?"

'If you remove the Eye you'll die, Cassandra."

'I kept him from being executed, that's all," said Cassandra. "You're really the one that saved him, Lukien. Is that why he came back with you? Because he owes you?"

'Pretty much," said Lukien. He knew now was not the time to tell Cassandra anything more. She was still married to Akeela, after all, and talk of his overthrow would surely upset her. "He's a good man. He never deserved what Akeela did to him."

'I know," sighed Cassandra. "But Akeela's not well. None of us can really blame him for the things he does."

'Hmm, I'm not so sure I'm ready to forgive so easily, Cassandra. I blame Akeela, and so does Thorin." Then Lukien softened, asking, "How is Akeela?"

'Oh, how can I answer that? He's demented. He's been so for years now, but he gets worse as he gets older."

The concern in her voice surprised Lukien. "You're sad for him."

'I am. I know you hate him, Lukien, and I suppose you have reason. But he's been kind to me, mostly. And I can still remember what he used to be like, before... well, you know."

There was a long pause between them. For a moment, Lukien recalled what Akeela had been like, how good and generous he'd been. He missed his old friend sometimes. The truth was, he had never been able to hate Akeela.

'You have no idea what it's like to see a good man deteriorate so," said Cassandra. "And the worst part is that he still loves me. Can you imagine that? After all these years?"

'Why not?" said Lukien with a grin. "I still love you."

'No," said Cassandra. "You love me like a man should love a woman. But Akeela's love is terrible.

It's maddened him. It's turned him into a murderer." She looked at Lukien earnestly. "Gilwyn told you what he's planned, hasn't he?"

'He plans to go to Grimhold for the other Eye," said Lukien. "Yes, he told me."

'Not just Grimhold, Lukien. Jador. And when he gets to Jador he plans on massacring them if they don't help him find the Eye. That's not Akeela the Good, not the man we knew."

'True," agreed Lukien. "But have no illusions, Cassandra-what you're planning is dangerous. If Akeela doesn't find and 'Sixteen years, Lukien. A long time."

'Not long enough to forget the death of a wife," said Lukien. "You weren't there, Cassandra. You didn't hear Kadar. If I live to be a hundred, I'll never forget the sound of his cries. So you see? I have to go back. You don't owe the Jadori anything. I do."

'We will go together, then," said Cassandra. "I won't leave you to them alone."

'I won't be alone. Thorin will be with me."

'Thorin Glass is an old man, Lukien. Whereas I-"

'No, Cassandra," Lukien begged. "Don't argue with me, please. We've talked about this, Thorin and I. You'll be safe in Marn. No one there knows you, and we'll come back for you as soon as we can."

'And if you don't return?" asked Cassandra.

Lukien shrugged. "If I don't return, I'll die knowing that you're safe. Now please, no more talk of this."

He smiled at her, trying desperately to change the subject. "It's been so long, I want to enjoy this. And Gilwyn's right, you know. There isn't much time before we have to leave. In fact, you should be getting dressed. I've brought good clothes for riding. Food, too."

'Yes, all right," Cassandra agreed. "Will you fetch the clothes for me? It's nice by the fire."

They both rose, Cassandra standing by the fire, Lukien going to the horse. He expected Cassandra to disrobe and wanted to give her privacy, but she called to him a moment later. Lukien turned. She was blinking, confused. Her arms were spread and her eyes dropped down toward her legs. There, in the space between her thighs, a bloom of crimson stained her nightgown.

'Lukien...?"

Cassandra's breathing grew erratic. The bloody stain spread like ink down her legs. She groaned, softly at first, reaching for her stomach. 'Lukien!"

Lukien hurried toward her, catching her just as her knees buckled. Her skin turned deathly white as an anguished cry leapt from her throat. The blood was spreading; Lukien felt it warm against him.

'What's happening?" she gasped. She clutched her stomach, 'We don't know that. Perhaps my sickness is cured and it's no longer growing. Perhaps- 'No," snapped Lukien. "The Eye has kept you alive and you must stay alive! I won't let you risk yourself, not even for a thousand Jadori. I'll go to Jador myself and tell them about Akeela. You will stay behind, Cassandra, and you will live!"

His voice carried through the dark orchard. Stunned by the outburst, Cassandra reared back. She did not seem frightened by him, though.

'Why would you do this thing?" she asked. "Why would you risk yourself for the Jadori?"

It was the question Lukien had long dreaded. He knew now that no one had ever told her how the Eye had really been won.

'Cassandra, I owe the Jadori a debt."

Cassandra squeezed his hand. "Tell me."

'It's difficult. It happened so long ago, but it still haunts me sometimes." Glancing away, Lukien distracted himself by studying the flames. In their orange glow he saw the face of Kahana Jitendra.

"When we took the Eye of God from Jador, something happened," he began. "Kahan Kadar, their ruler... he welcomed us into his palace. He treated us like royal guests. But the Eye was his, you see."

'You stole it from him," said Cassandra. "I know that, Lukien."

'No, we didn't just steal it," said Lukien. "We killed for it. ,'

killed. I killed Radar's wife."

There was no sound from Cassandra. Lukien couldn't bring himself to look at her.

'She was in Kadar's bed the night we went to steal the Eye," he continued. "I thought Kadar was in that bed, but it was Jitendra. She screamed, Kadar burst in on us, and I accidentally stabbed her. And the worst part..." He drew a breath, hardly able to go on. "The worst part was she was pregnant."

Lukien braced himself for Cassandra's reaction. To his surprise she reached out and brushed the hair from his forehead.

'My sweet Lukien," she said softly.

'Sweet to you, perhaps, Cassandra, but not to the Jadori. To them I'm a monster."

'Cassandra, don't do this to me."

There was no answer.

Lukien knelt with Cassandra in his arms, her head bobbing lifeless on his shoulder. The red light of the amulet went out like a candle.

slipping from Lukien's embrace and buckling to her knees. Back and forth she rocked, screaming, Lukien stood over her, confused and terrified. And then he saw the amulet beneath Cassandra's gown, burning a hot and furious red. Cassandra, shaking, looked down at the thing. "The curse..."

Lukien felt panic rising. He knelt down beside Cassandra, watching in horror as her flesh curdled to a milky white. Her body spasmed as he held her. Cassandra's hands clutched at his cape, clawing at him for help.

'What's wrong, what's wrong?" asked Lukien desperately.

'Cassandra..."

She couldn't answer. Her wide eyes looked at him a moment, then shut tight as pain wracked her anew. A strangled cry rose up from her throat, loosed with a fountain of blood. The blood sprayed across Lukien's face.

'The cancer," she gurgled. "I feel it!"

Lukien wrapped her in his arms, bathed in her blood, hoping to somehow stem its tide. She was choking, bleeding from her mouth and thighs and barely able to speak. Beneath her gown the Eye of God shone with wrathful light. Cassandra's fingers crawled toward it, resting on its shining surface. Lukien barely heard her throttled words. "I'm... dying..." "You can't die, Cassandra, you can't!"

But she was, and Lukien knew it. They had broken the Eye's power. They had, though it seemedimpossible. Cassandra pulled at the amulet's chain.

'Return... it," she gasped. Weakly she collapsed into Lukien, choking up blood. A giant spasm shook her body. She wailed in his ear, crying for help.

'Tell me what to do," he pleaded. "Tell me and I'll help you!" But Cassandra was beyond words now.

There was no more warmth from her body; her skin lost its hue. Even her shaking subsided. A final, violent spasm rippled into smaller ones, slower, slower... And stopped. "Cassandra?" In the moonlight of the orchard, Lukien's voice was small.

,'irross the orchard, Gilwyn was relaxing when he heard the scream. He had found a clearing a respectable distance from Lukien and Cassandra, one with a good view of Koth and anyone that might venture into the orchard after them. With Teku on his shoulder, Gilwyn was sitting against a tree, feeling wonderfully satisfied. But the scream he heard shattered his calm.

He bolted upright at the sound, then knew it had come from the camp. Lukien? He sprinted forward as quickly as his bad foot allowed, gripped by terror. The scream was unholy, an ongoing, anguished wail. Teku's tiny hands clung tightly to his coat as he hurried toward it. The light of the campfire cut through the fog. Next to it was Lukien, on his knees. The knight was rocking Cassandra in his arms.

Gilwyn halted. Cassandra wasn't moving.

'Fate above..."

The shocking scene weakened his knees. Blood soaked Cassandra's face and gown as though she'd been butchered. The stench of her blood hung heavy in the orchard. Lukien was weeping, hacking up great sobs as he clung to Cassandra's lifeless body. Unable to move, Gilwyn simply stared, horrified at the grisly scene and Lukien's inhuman cries.

'Lukien, what happened?"

Remarkably, Lukien heard his query. The Bronze Knight turned his tear-streaked face toward Gilwyn.

'You told me it was a hoax!" he snarled. "You promised me!"