The Eyes Of A God - The Eyes of a God Part 78
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The Eyes of a God Part 78

'Akeela, tell me!"

'Take him to the cellars," said Akeela. Then, "I will think on what you've told me, Lukien." 'What?" erupted Trager. He stopped shoving Lukien and glowered. "Akeela, don't listen to his lies!

You've come all this way. Don't turn back now."

'Should we kill good people, Will?" asked Akeela.

'They have your amulets!" said Trager. He pointed at Lukien. "And they've harbored this scoundrel!

Good people? Freaks, Akeela. Enemies!"

Akeela thought for a moment, his mind shredded by the two arguments. Desperate to be alone, he waved at Trager to go. "Take him," he ordered. "And leave me alone."

Trager grunted unhappily, then opened the doors of the throne room. Two soldiers were waiting there. Immediately he barked at them to take hold of Lukien. Akeela watched as they dragged the knight from the chamber. When they had all gone he slumped down into the ornate throne. The meeting had rattled him. He heard Lukien's voice over and over in his head, speaking of Cassandra. Suddenly he was desperate for a drink.

No, he corrected himself. Not just one drink.

Tonight he wanted to get horribly drunk. Without the help of alcohol, he knew he'd never be able to face the dawn.

.fter a full day's ride, Gilwyn finally reached Jador at dusk. The city gleamed across the sands, beckoning him forward like a beacon in the ebbing sunlight. He was exhausted, but he still had enough water in his pouches for a celebratory drink. He undid one of the water skins from Emerald's harness and took a long, satisfying drink. He was proud of the journey they'd made, and conveyed this pride to the kreel with his mind. The reptilian response was like a silent purring in his brain. They had snuck out of Grimhold without incident, and no one had followed. Gilwyn didn't know if Minikin had discovered he was gone, though he supposed she had by now. It didn't matter. He had reached Jador. Simply by pointing the kreel's nose east and telling her to find "home," she had sprinted across the desert almost nonstop. And though Gilwyn could feel her exhaustion, he could also tell that she was eager to go on, to finish the journey they had started together.

But they couldn't go on. Just in sight of their destination, Gilwyn got down from her back.

'That's it," he told the creature, patting her long neck. You can't go any further with me."

The reptile's eyes blinked at him in confusion. He smiled sadly at her.

'You have to wait for me here," he explained. "I can't risk losing you, Emerald. The Lurians might kill you on sight. And if I do make it out again, I'll need you to take me back to Grimhold."

Emerald replied with a silent, almost human apprehension. Gilwyn knew she objected to the word if.

'All right, when I make it out," he told her. "Either way, I'll need you here." He looked back the way they'd come. There were some hills in the distance with dry, scraggly shrubs. "There." He directed the kreel's attention toward the hills. "If you wait there for me you won't be seen. And it's getting dark. You'll be safe."

If Emerald were human she would have shaken her head. She looked toward the city.

'No," said Gilwyn, "it's not that far. I can make it even with my bad foot." Gently he stroked the creature's neck. "I'll take water with me. I'll be fine."

His reassurance hardly assuaged the kreel, but Emerald lowered her head submissively.

'Good," said Gilwyn. "Now go. I'll be back as soon as I can." He tied the waterskin to his belt, then turned toward Jador. The dark was coming quickly-he would have to hurry. He took a few steps then turn back to see Emerald dutifully watching after him. "Go!" he shouted. "I mean it!"

Emerald turned and walked toward the hills. Gilwyn smiled. She was a fine kreel, and he had begun to understand the often talked about bond between a soldier and his horse. Like Teku, Emerald had already become a friend. He was already missing both of them, but he turned back toward the city and walked slowly toward it, his bad foot sinking awkwardly into the sand with each step. Jador quickly took shape in the darkening sky. Gilwyn immediately noticed the palace near the edge of the city; if that's where Lukien was, he would find him quickly. But then he noticed other structures as well, things he'd never seen before. He squinted across the last stretch of desert, trying to make out the shapes. They were crosses. Curious, he continued toward them. A minute later came the grisly revelation. There were men on the crosses. Dead men. Gilwyn stopped in his tracks, his feet frozen, his heart pounding in hischest. He stared at the crucified figures, shocked yet unable to look away. They were ghastly, motionless and bloated, their heads lolling forward in death. Buz zards and other birds picked at their faces, feasting on the soft flesh. A wave of nausea overcame Gilwyn. He sunk down to his knees, thinking he might vomit. Quickly he undid the waterskin from his belt and took a drink, trying to steady himself. Suddenly his idea to save Lukien seemed doomed. He stared at the city, wondering if he should go on, or if one of the gruesome figures hanging from the crosses was Lukien himself. But no, he didn't think so. From the looks of their black garb they were Jadori warriors, probably the last of the city's defenders.

'King Akeela," he whispered softly. "How could you?"

It didn't seem possible that the man who'd built Luria's great library could do something so horrid.

Not Akeela, not a man who so loved books and learning. It was incomprehensible to Gilwyn, and he refused to believe it. He recalled his brief encounter with General Trager, and all the terrible things Lukien had said about him.

'It's Trager," he said to himself. "It has to be."

His resolve strengthened, he got to his feet. He had come for Lukien and he wouldn't retreat, no matter how many frightful warnings Trager hung in the streets. So he trudged forward, blocking the crosses from his mind and heading straight toward Kadar's usurped palace. He was almost at the outskirts of the city when a voice made him jump.

'Toms!"

Gilwyn let out a surprised cry, spinning to see who was behind him. Ten feet before him was a black-robed figure on a large kreel. Gilwyn panicked, not knowing who it was until the man unwrapped his headpiece, revealing his bone-white face.

'Ghost!"

Ghost rode angrily toward him. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

'How'd you find me?" asked Gilwyn.

'I've been camped outside the city, waiting till dark," said Ghost. "Now answer my question."

'I've come to help Lukien," declared Gilwyn firmly.

Ghost got down from his kreel and towered over the boy. "And just what do you think I'm here for, the view? Does Minikin know you're here? No, of course she doesn't. You came out here on your own, didn't you?" He looked around. "How did you get here?"

'Well, I didn't walk," snapped Gilwyn. "Obviously I took a kreel, like you did. She's in those hills a little way back."

'Good. Then you can just go on back there and ride home to Grimhold." Ghost took his arm and shoved him toward the hills. "Move."

Gilwyn angrily shook off his grip. "I'm not going anywhere. I've come to help Lukien and I'm not leaving without him."

'You can't help Lukien, you stubborn fool! Didn't you hear what Minikin said?"

'Shhh!" urged Gilwyn. Quickly he glanced toward the city, afraid someone would hear. "Keep your voice down."

'I will, just as soon as you stop arguing with me," said Ghost. Now that the sun was down he kept his face exposed to the air. Remarkably, his expression softened. "I know you want to help your friend, but there's nothing you can do. You don't have my abilities and you're..." He paused. "Well, you know."

'You mean I'm deformed, is that it?" asked Gilwyn. "Well don't go looking in any mirrors, friend."

'I didn't mean-"

'I know what you meant," said Gilwyn angrily. "You think just because I have a clubbed hand and foot that I can't do anything. Well, I got all the way out here on my own, didn't I? By the Fate, I've come all the way from Luria! I can take care of myself. And I can help Lukien."

Ghost sighed and looked toward the city. "Someone's going to see us," he muttered.

'That's right," said Gilwyn. "And if they see you arguing with me then your plan is finished."

'So what are you saying, that you want to get caught?" asked Ghost. He frowned. "Just what do you expect to do here? Walk right in and demand they release your friend?"

'Something like that," said Gilwyn. He hadn't really thought about it much, but seeing the grisly crosseshad given him an idea. "I'm going to see King Akeela. I'm going to plead for Lu-kien's life."

Ghost laughed, covering his mouth to keep the sound from carrying through the empty streets. "Oh, yes," he chortled. "That's a great plan. Brilliant! What makes you think that madman Akeela will even listen to you?"

'Because I know him," argued Gilwyn. "I know what he was like before all this madness happened to him. If I can just get him to listenGhost abruptly turned his back. "Go home," he said as he mounted his kreel. "Go back to Grimhold where it's safe."

'I won't!" Gilwyn shouted.

'Quiet!"

'I don't care who hears me, Ghost," Gilwyn warned. "If I'm captured they'll just take me to Akeela."

'Or kill you," said Ghost.

Gilwyn shrugged. "Maybe. But if they find you with me then you'll die too."

'Great Fate almighty," groaned the albino. "What do you want from me?"

'I want you to come with me," said Gilwyn. "Make yourself so people can't see you, then follow me.

I'll get you into the palace. Then maybe we'll both be able to free Lukien."

To Gilwyn's surprise Ghost considered the plan. His gray eyes narrowed in thought. "I'll admit, I don't really have a way of getting inside the palace," he said. "But I won't be able to help you. Once you're inside, you're on your own. If I have to save both of you- 'Don't worry about me," said Gilwyn. "Just stay with me. Let me try to talk to Akeela if I can. At least I'll be able to find out where they're keeping Lukien."

'Sure," said Ghost with a laugh, "as they take you down into the dungeon, that's where I'll find Lukien!"

Gilwyn had to admit that was a risk, but it was one worth taking. "If I can just get to see Akeela," he said hopefully. "Maybe I can convince him to let Lukien go."

'You're a fool to think so," said Ghost. Then he smiled and added, "But you're brave, I'll give you that.

Start walking, Gilwyn Toms. I'll be with you."

'Will I be able to see you?" Gilwyn asked.

'Probably. It depends on how much you concentrate. But don't worry-I won't leave you, not unless I must." Ghost got down from his kreel again, then patted the creature's rump as he directed it toward the hills. He turned back to Gilwyn with a mischievous grin and gestured toward the waiting palace. "After you."

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Gilwyn proceeded into the city. He moved cautiously, trying to quell his fear as he looked down the narrow avenues. The streets of Jador were deserted, the homes and shops closed up tight. With evening came the moonlight and a few candles in the windows, though most were shuttered and lifeless. There was very little sound, only the stray voices of Lurian soldiers, carrying endlessly through the echoing streets. Once proud and beautiful, Jador was now a silent, somber place, and even the palace seemed to be mourning. Gilwyn could see it clearly on the edge of the city, surrounded by its lovely gardens and mosaic statues. The first soldiers came into view, milling around gardens without care. Gilwyn braced himself.

'Ghost," he whispered, "are you with me?"

The answer was as faint as a breeze, heard mostly by the mind rather than the ears. "Behind you. Not far."

Gilwyn turned to search for the Inhuman, but saw no one. He paused, concentrating, then detected flashes of the albino against the nearest building. Ghost was smiling.

'Go on," he urged quietly. "I'm with you."

'All right," said Gilwyn. His nervousness spiked as he entered the grounds of the palace, passing a wall of high, well-manicured hedges, the outer ring of the garden. Ahead of them, a foursome of Lurian soldiers, all Royal Chargers from the look of them, were carousing in the garden, stretching out on the ornate stone benches and laughing. So lost were they in their good humor that they did not see Gilwyn until he was almost upon them. Once again that nagging yen to turn and run came over Gilwyn, but before he could decide one of the men glanced over at him, looked away as if nothing was interesting, thenlooked back with his mouth agape. The soldier sprang to his feet. Terrified, Gilwyn nonetheless stood his ground.

'You there," the soldier called. He seemed more shocked than angry. "What are you doing here, boy?"

The foursome all got to their feet and headed toward him. Gilwyn held his breath, then heard Ghost's reassuring voice in his head.

I'm right here, said the voice. I've got my knife and I won't let anything happen to you.

Gilwyn found the comment only a little reassuring. Though the soldiers didn't draw their weapons, they quickly encircled him.

'Who are you, boy?" they demanded. One of them stared hard at Gilwyn, then gasped when he noticed Gilwyn's hand and boot. "You're the boy from the library!" Quickly he grabbed hold of Gilwyn's arm, shaking him. "You're Gilwyn Toms, aren't you?"

'Yes," said Gilwyn shakily. "I've come to talk- The soldiers drew their blades. "Where are the others?" they demanded. They quickly scanned the garden and beyond.

'I'm alone," Gilwyn insisted, sure now that they couldn't see Ghost. Nor in his fear could he. "I've come to talk to King Akeela."

'What?" The man holding him pulled him into the garden. "What are you talking about? You bring a message?"

Thinking fast, Gilwyn said, "Yes, a message. I have word from Grimhold."

'What word?" asked one of them. He put the tip of his blade to Gilwyn's chest. "Speak it."

'I can't." Gilwyn put up his hands pleadingly. "I can only tell my message to the king."

'You've come for the Bronze Knight, haven't you?" the men pressed.

'No! Lukien came on his own, to give himself up. I bring a message from the Mistress of Grimhold herself, I swear!"

Ask them if Lukien still lives, came Ghost's voice suddenly. Find out where he is.

The voice was like an annoying fly buzzing in Gilwyn's head. "Please," he told the guards, "I'm not armed. I'm just a messenger. If you could take me to see the king."

Lukien!

Shut up! Gilwyn cried silently. He smiled nervously at the guards. "You can look for yourselves," he said, "but you'll see that I'm not lying to you. There's nobody with me."

'We'll do that," sneered the man with the sword. He snapped his fingers at two of his comrades, ordering them to check the area. "I'll take care of the boy."

'You'd better take me to Akeela," Gilwyn warned. "I have important news for him. If he finds out you've delayed it he won't be happy."

The man thought for a moment, then nodded. "I don't see the harm in telling him you're here. But if you're lying..." He pushed on the sword until its point bit through Gilwyn's shirt and cut the skin. "I'll peel you like a grape." Then he sheathed his sword and walked off, ordering the remaining soldier to bring Gilwyn along. Relieved, Gilwyn stumbled after them as quickly as he could. His foot ached but he kept on, keeping pace with the soldiers as they left the garden and entered the palace. There, more soldiers were on patrol, though most of them were hardly at attention. When they saw Gilwyn they forgot their tasks and peppered their companions with questions. The men leading Gilwyn said they were taking him to the king and asked where Akeela was.

'In his chamber," one of them replied. He pointed down the hall toward a polished marble staircase.

His chamber? wondered Gilwyn. Certainly they meant Ka-dar's, which he already knew was in a tower of the palace. The soldiers led him toward the stairs. Halfway up the marble walkway, a grim figure blocked their way. The soldiers stopped abruptly.

'My lord," said the lead man in a panic. He and his companion bowed. Gilwyn looked up into the confused face of a man he'd never seen, yet whose identity he knew instantly. The man stared back at him.

'Charger?" asked the man. "Who is that boy?" The soldier replied, "My lord, I'm sorry to disturb you. We found this boy in the garden. He claims to have a message for you from Grimhold."

Gilwyn was nearly speechless. King Akeela was an awesome sight, the very epitome of madness with his twisted features and rumpled garb. He clung to the wall of the staircase, his nails digging between the bricks to keep from falling. His eyes glowed an itchy red.

'King Akeela," said Gilwyn. He brushed past the soldiers and took a cautious step upward. "My lord, do you know who I am?"

The king's eyes tried to focus. "I don't know you."

His voice was badly slurred. Gilwyn tried to smile, knowing this was his only chance. "My lord, my name is Gilwyn Toms. My mother was Beith Toms. She worked for you in Lionkeep for years." He held out his clubbed hand for Akeela to see. "You sent me to work in the library, remember?"

Akeela drifted down the stairs until he faced Gilwyn. There he studied him, his heavily alcoholed breath striking Gilwyn's face. "I remember," he said softly. "Yes, the library boy. The cripple."