The Eyes Of A God - The Eyes of a God Part 65
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The Eyes of a God Part 65

'Something like that," said Minikin. "You see, Gilwyn, the spirits that help us are from a very special people, an ancient race that left the world a long time ago. These people were what you might call magicians and witches. They knew the secrets of summoning."

'Summoning?"

'Calling those from other realms," explained Minikin. "They were called the Akari, and they lived beyond the mountains where Grimhold lies now."

'What happened to them?" asked Gilwyn.

The little woman's smile retuned, albeit faintly. "That's not something you need to know just yet. The important thing for you to know now is that your Akari is with you always, and that she is not going to harm you."

Fascinated, Gilwyn asked the obvious question. "Does she have a name, Minikin?"

'Yes. Her name is Ruana. And when she died she was about twenty years old." Minikin's grin grew sly. "She was very pretty. Still is, in fact."

'What? You mean you can see her?" walked, but her smile never wavered. When she was sure they were far from eavesdroppers, she paused.

'I hope you're not angry with me, Gilwyn," she said. "I know the things I've told you were a shock, but I did what I thought was right. Marking you as one of my Inhumans was the best way to protect you."

'But I didn't need protection," said Gilwyn. He was still confused by all he'd heard. "I grew up in Lionkeep. Nothing would have happened to me there."

Minikin nodded. "You're right, but I couldn't know that. And you have lived a sheltered life. You were fortunate to grow up with people who could protect you. Many like you are not so lucky."

Gilwyn flexed his clubbed hand. He had always known that Akeela's goodness had protected him. "I know," he admitted. "And I don't blame you for marking me. But I'm still not sure what that means. Am I cursed like the amulets?"

'Not at all," said Minikin. She directed him toward one of the garden's stone benches, then sat down beside him. "There's no reason for you to be concerned. Being marked as an Inhuman is not a curse. It simply means you have an Akari looking after you."

The strange word still frightened Gilwyn. "Is that some kind of ghost?"

'In a way. All the Inhumans have Akari. They are like spirit guides. I like to call them angels."

'Angels?" The name surprised Gilwyn. In Luria, some people believed they were creatures of the heavens that looked after people. "So they are good spirts, then?"

'Most certainly. They help us to overcome our maladies. And they protect us, keep us safe from harm. If you had ever been in danger-if you had ever needed a home-your Akari would have spoken to you. She would have told you that Grimhold exists, and that you have a place there."

'She?" blurted Gilwyn. "You mean my Akari's a girl?" 'Not exactly," chuckled Minikin. "But she was a woman once, a very long time ago."

'It's what I do, Gilwyn. I can see and communicate with all the Akari spirits. That's why I'm the Mistress of Grimhold."

Suddenly curious, Gilwyn glanced over his shoulder, but he saw no one there but Trog. The sight of the big man intrigued him. "Minikin, does Trog have an Akari, too?" he asked.

'All the Inhumans have an Akari spirit if they need one, Gilwyn. It's what makes us what we are.

Trog's Akari is named Ozmalius. He helps Trog to hear, even though he's deaf."

Gilwyn looked at Trog, feeling sorry for him. "Was he always deaf?"

'Since birth, yes," said Minikin.

'And mute?"

This time Minikin measured her reply. She got up from the bench and went to her companion, taking his giant hand and stroking it. "Trog isn't a true mute," she said. "Because he could not hear while growing up, he never learned to speak in anything but grunts." She gave Trog's hand a loving squeeze. "I don't know who, but someone couldn't take his noises anymore. They cut out his tongue."

Trog didn't even blink at the story, but Gilwyn was horrified. Minikin turned to him with a sad grimace.

'You see?" she asked. "The rest of the world isn't like Luria. Akeela might be mad, but he made a good place for you in Koth, a far better place than many on the continent have. That is why I marked you, Gilwyn-to spare you the cruelty of the normal human world."

Seeing Trog and Minikin's love for him left Gilwyn sad and confused. His mother had always told him he was as good as anyone else, and Figgis had reaffirmed that belief. But he had always known that a cruel life befell many with deformities. It was only by the grace of the Fate that he had avoided such a life.

Or was it the intervention of Minikin's unseen spirits?

'I don't know what to say," said Gilwyn at last. "Everything you've told me; it's all so strange. I'm not sure I believe it."

'You will believe when we get to Grimhold, Gilwyn," said Minikin. "Once you see the wonders the Inhumans can do, you won't doubt any longer."

'When will I learn to speak with my Akari?" asked Gilwyn eagerly. "I'd like to get to know this Ruana better."

'In time," replied Minikin. "But you'll have to be patient, perhaps more patient than you've ever been before. There is much I need to do when I get back to Grimhold. But when this crisis is over, I will teach you."

Gilwyn didn't hide his disappointment. "But I'd like to learn now. I mean, if she's always with me, can't she at least show herself?"

'It isn't that simple," said Minikin. "Communicating with the Akari isn't like having a talk with a friend.

You don't just sit down to tea with them. You need to be prepared, and only I can do that for you. And I will when I have time, but not soon." Then she brightened and said, "Ah, but you're forgetting something, aren't you?"

'Huh?"

'The kreel?"

Gilwyn hurried to his feet. "I forgot!" he said, looking around madly. "Which way?"

Minikin held up her hands. "Do not worry, Gilwyn, they won't kill it."

'What? How do you know that?"

'Because I told them not to," said Minikin. She started off again down the garden path. Gilwyn hurried after her. As they left the garden, she said, "You reminded me of something, Gilwyn. Of all people, we Inhumans shouldn't condemn an imperfect creature."

'So they'll save it?" asked Gilwyn anxiously.

'If I say so, yes," replied Minikin. Then she paused again and looked at him. "But hear me well, Gilwyn-killing is an easy thing. Living is much more difficult. If you want to save this kreel, then you will have to look after it. Are you prepared for that?"

'Me? But I don't know the first thing about kreels!" Minikin pointed to Teku, still perched happily onGilwyn's shoulder. "You do fine with monkeys. I think you'll do fine with kreels, too." "But-"

'Do not argue, Gilwyn. Kadar's men will not look after a runt kreel. If you want to save the creature, you'll have to take it to Grimhold with you. So, will you do that?"

Gilwyn needed to think, but it was all happening so quickly. Then an exciting notion occurred to him.

"Will I be able to ride it?" he asked. "I've never been able to ride a horse before, not with this." He held up his twisted hand.

Minikin reached out and wrapped her small fingers around his hand. "A boy with a clubbed hand can do many things, Gilwyn. You will learn that. In Grimhold, we will teach you."

,'arly the next morning Lukien and Gilwyn said a quick goodbye to Baron Glass, then set off for Grimhold before the sun grew too hot. With them was Minikin and the ubiquitous Trog, along with a handful of Kahan Kadar's black-robed guardians. They traveled on drowas through the rocks and hard sand, while Kadar's men rode their enormous lizards. Gilwyn's lizard, who he had already named Emerald because of her glistening skin, traveled behind them, tethered by her snout to the back of Gilwyn's drowa, a brown and hairy beast that he shared with Lukien. Minikin and Trog shared the drowa ahead of them, making an odd looking couple as Minikin leaned back against Trog's enormous chest, almost disappearing there.

The road to Grimhold wasn't really a road at all, just a straight line through the desert toward the red mountains in the distance. The mountains seemed to grow no closer as the sun rose in the sky. Lukien adjusted his dark headdress, trying to block the worst of the sun's rays. His one eye felt blinded by the light, but he found controlling the drowa an easy thing, something he was sure Gilwyn could do alone, even with his bad hand. The boy sat in front of him, his monkey Teku in a small metal cage dangling on the side of the drowa. With his simian friend and new lizard, he reminded Lukien of a Kothan animal act.

But Gilwyn seemed not to notice the absurdity. For some reason, he was enthralled with the idea of reaching Grimhold, and Lukien wondered if Minikin had enchanted him again. Despite her claims to the contrary, Lukien still thought the midget a witch. According to Gilwyn, she had told the boy she could see and control spirits, the souls of the dead, and Lukien had no reason to doubt her claims. After seeing the awful power of the amulets, he doubted very little now.

Yet Lukien did not fear Minikin. There was too much sincerity in the woman to think her dangerous.

She had always kept Gil-wyn's best interests at heart, even when she'd marked him as a baby. And she was a strange and compelling creature. With her white hair and peaked ears, she was unlike anyone Lukien had ever seen before. And if she had a gift for speaking to the dead, it did not mean she was evil.

She was simply different. Lukien thought about this as he bounced across the desert. It intrigued him that the little woman could see spirits. If true, there were those he would like to speak with himself.

He reached down and unhooked a waterskin from the dro-wa's harness. Teku chattered for some, so he unplugged its stopper and poured some through the bars of her cage. The monkey's tiny tongue caught the falling water, happily lapping it up. When she had drunk her fill, Lukien took a swig himself, then thrust out the skin for Gilwyn. Gilwyn turned awkwardly and took the skin in his good hand, taking the time to shoot Emerald the kreel a concerned glance.

'You all right back there?" he shouted to the lizard. The kreel looked straight at him as it loped along the sands. "Minikin told me that they bond with their owners," he said. "Once she gets to know me, I'll be able to ride and control her." An expression of pride flooded Gilwyn's face. "I always wanted to ride.

When I was younger, I used to dream of being a Royal Charger, like my father. But I could never do it, not with a hand and foot like mine."

'Then a kreel suits you well," said Lukien, happy for the boy. "Just take it easy, all right? They look vicious."

'I'll be fine." Gilwyn settled in again confidently on the dro-wa's back. "I just wish we'd get to Grimhold. The heat's killing me."

Minikin had said it was a full day's ride to Grimhold, and neither of them had been anxious to face the desert again. Back in Jador, Thorin had been relieved to be spared the misery of the ride. He had wished Lukien good fortune on his mission, though. And his own mission was far more dire. Soon Akeela's army would come across the desert, maybe in as soon as a week. Though Thorin had told Lukien not to worryabout him, his own fears were evident. But he had also seemed eager to help Kadar, and that pleased Lukien. Thorin was a good man and a great tactician. If anyone could help Kadar, it was Baron Glass.

After traveling for several hours, the Jadori men called for a rest. They were in a wide canyon with shallow sloping walls of red rock and hard earth that made walking easier. As they dismounted, the Jadori broke out food and water, instructing the others to do the same. Lukien helped Gilwyn down from their mount, then got out their own food as the boy quickly freed Teku from her cage. The monkey hurried to her perch on Gilwyn's shoulder. Lukien tossed them both some dates from their packs, which Teku quickly devoured. As the monkey ate, Gilwyn went to Emerald and petted her scaly snout, cooing to the creature like a kitten as he undid her harness. Lukien was about to stop Gilwyn, but was quickly fascinated by the boy's easy manner with the lizard. When he unlooped the harness, Emerald did not run.

She simply stared at him with her cool eyes, as if communicating some primal thanks.

'The boy has a way with the kreel," said an unexpected voice. Lukien turned to see Minikin smiling at him. She had a wedge of bread in her hand. Some distance behind her, the giant Trog was rummaging through their packs and gobbling up the food.

'Yes," said Lukien. "It seems so."

Minikin drifted closer. "Why don't you bring some food and sit with me a moment?" She pointed toward an outcropping in the rocks. "We can sit there, in the shade."

Lukien hesitated, but the woman's expression encouraged trust. He found himself some bread and dried meat and followed her toward the rocks, where a great ledge overhung the canyon wall like a swollen lip. There she sat down, smoothing her long coat along her backside. The amulet around her neck looked enormous against her small figure. It glowed in the strong light, but her colorful coat was surprisingly muted. She waved Lukien closer, urging him to sit down next to her. Together they ate their food, enjoying the shade as they watched Gilwyn in the distance.

'So," said Lukien, "Gilwyn says you talk to spirits."

Minikin laughed. "You are very direct, Sir Lukien. Is that what concerns you about me?"

'I'm not sure what you mean."

'You have been watching me all morning. I've felt your eyes on my back. You don't trust me. Or perhaps you fear me; I can't tell which, and I prefer not to crawl around your mind to look for the answers."

'What? You're a mind-reader, too?"

Minikin smiled. "Only when I have to be."

Lukien didn't know whether or not to believe her. "You're different, that's for sure," he said. He chewed on his bread, wondering how not to offend the little woman. "To be honest, I've never met anyone like you, or your man Trog. And you have to admit, you are a rather odd pair."

'I admit only that we are strange to you," replied Minikin. "You don't know the ways of the people here, or their beliefs. You're a Lurian, and Lurians have many disparate beliefs. Perhaps you believe in the Fate?"

'I don't believe in anything, really," said Lukien.

'Ah, yet you believe in the power of the amulets. You must."

'Yes," Lukien admitted. "Because I've seen their work. But I don't believe that there's a great god named Vala." He regarded her. "Is that what you believe?"

Minikin was evasive. "The peoples of Jador and Ganjor say there is a god that is supreme over all others. Many people in the world believe this. Even some in Luria believe in a one great god. In Jador and Ganjor, they call him Vala."

'You're not answering me. I want to know if you believe in Vala."

'I believe in this," said Minikin, lifting her amulet on its chain. "I believe in the Akari, because they speak to me. And it was the Jadori who first called the amulets , not I."

'So they named the amulets after something that they understood?"

'Precisely," said Minikin. "Kadar and his people worship Vala, and I have no reason to question them.

The Akari believed in Vala, too, at least some of them. But they have never told me what it's really like on the other side, or if Vala truly exists." The cryptic answer didn't satisfy Lukien. "Tell me about the Akari. Gilwyn told me that you can see them, even though they're dead."

'That's right."

'So you do see spirits?"

Minikin grinned. "You are asking two questions."

'What do you mean?"

'You don't just want to know if I can see spirits, Sir Lukien. You want to know if I can see spirits around you."

Lukien flushed in embarrassment. "Yes, all right. I mean, if you can see the dead..."

'Let me put you at ease, then. I can see only the spirits that aid my people, the spirits of the Akari.

They have chosen to speak through me and make themselves visible. But I can't see other spirits."

The revelation deflated Lukien.

'You wanted to know if I could see Queen Cassandra," said Minikin gently. "I'm sorry, I cannot. But that doesn't mean she isn't with you, Sir Lukien."

Lukien tried to smile. "No, of course. It was a stupid idea anyway." Eager to change the subject, he said, "So what about these people, the Akari? You told Gilwyn they knew magic. Is that so?"

'I told Gilwyn that they knew the secrets of summoning," corrected Minikin, "and that they could commune with the spirits of their ancestors. In a sense, they could do what you would call magical things.

Some of them were very powerful."

'So what happened to them?"

Minikin became pensive. "That's a long story, and not very pleasant."