Authors: John Marco
The Eyes of God (8 page)
But no, that wasn’t right, either. Lukien knew he couldn’t blame Balak for Akeela’s lovesickness. Balak had been a good father, wise enough not to push his bookish son into a military life. And that wisdom had paid off handsomely for Liiria, because her new king was cultured and committed to peace. That he was starry-eyed was simply an offshoot of his goodness, the very thing that made him special. Lukien sighed, shaking his head. Akeela heard the lament and glanced over at him.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing is wrong,” lied Lukien. “I was merely thinking.”
“Thinking about me?”
Lukien nodded. “That’s right. You’ve given me little else to think about these past three days.”
The young king crossed the balcony to stand beside his champion. It was a huge balcony, just off a conservatory decorated with tall plants and cracked plaster statues. Several bird cages hung nearby, their occupants serenading the two men. The balcony afforded them a flawless view of the city, but Akeela had lost interest in the view.
“I know you don’t approve,” he said. “But at least try to understand.”
“I have tried. And I still can’t understand.”
“Then you haven’t tried hard enough,” said Akeela. He was agitated; his left eyelid twitched slightly. “Look at me, Lukien. I’m not like you. I’m not tall or handsome, and I’m certainly no hero. You’ve always had your pick of women, while I’m still a . . .”
Akeela hesitated, and Lukien was glad that he didn’t say the word.
“It takes more than a strong jaw to win the love of a woman, Akeela,” said Lukien. “You think I’m some great lover because I tell tales about the harlots I’ve been with, but I’m just a braggart. And I leave out the sordid bits, like all the lice-ridden beds I’ve slept in.”
“So?”
“So you can have any woman you want. Not some whore, either, but a good woman, one with breeding.”
Akeela laughed. “One like Cassandra, you mean?”
“No, not like Cassandra. Someone you love. And someone who loves you. Haven’t you wondered why the princess wants to marry you?”
“I know why,” argued Akeela. “For peace.”
“No,” said Lukien ruthlessly. “Because she is a woman and her father wills it, that’s why. And because she has the chance to be a queen. She doesn’t love you, Akeela.”
“Lukien, this is how royal marriages are arranged,” said Akeela. “If my father were alive, he would have made a marriage for me by now anyway, and probably to someone far less beautiful than Cassandra. He would have given me Dralla of Marn or some other girl that looks like a warthog, because he was too stubborn to consider peace with Reec. But why should I be saddled with a girl like Dralla? Why shouldn’t I have Cassandra?”
Lukien groped for a good reason. Cassandra’s beauty wasn’t something to be argued over—it was a fact, like the beauty of a sunrise. And it had captivated Lukien just as it had Akeela. Maybe that was why he was opposed to the marriage. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d been jealous of his royal “brother,” a brother in small talk only.
“Can’t you at least wait?” said Lukien. “Just a little longer? Let’s go back to Liiria. Maybe the familiar air will clear your head.”
“There’s no reason to wait. I’m not going to find a prettier girl, or a better reason to marry. And it would be an insult to King Karis to refuse her. I won’t jeopardize the peace like that.”
“That’s rubbish, Akeela. Karis wants peace as much as you do. More, even. That’s not why you want to marry Cassandra.”
Akeela looked at him, surprised at the outburst. “I thought you would be happy for me,” he said. “You of all people know how lonely I’ve been. Why would you keep this from me, my one chance at a beautiful wife?”
“I . . .” Lukien stumbled over his answer. “I am happy for you, Akeela. I’m just worried.”
“Well, don’t be. I’m a grown man, Lukien, and I don’t need you to protect me anymore.” Akeela turned and looked out over the city. His hands gripped the stone railing of the balcony hard, turning his knuckles white. “I think I’d like to be alone now,” he said.
“I can stay with you,” said Lukien. “She won’t be here for a while yet.”
“Yes, but I need time to think, to consider what I’m going to say.”
“What’s to consider?” said Lukien. “She’s been offered to you, and all you have to do is take her.”
“Oh, yes, that’s very romantic,” replied Akeela dryly. “Look, don’t try to help me with this, all right? Just let me think.”
Lukien turned to go, angry at being dismissed. But before he took three paces, Akeela called after him.
“Wait, I forgot something.” He wore a sheepish grin. “A favor, actually.”
Lukien scowled. “What?”
“If Cassandra accepts my proposal, I’m going to be leaving for home at once. I want to prepare the castle for the wedding, and I won’t be taking her with me.”
“So?”
“I’ll need someone to look after her, someone to escort her back to Koth for me.” Akeela’s eyes twinkled as if nothing had just happened. “Would you do that for me?”
The question astonished Lukien. A little voice warned him to refuse, but instead he said, “If that’s what you want . . .”
“Yes,” said Akeela. “You’re the only person I trust. Who better to look after her than you?”
Lukien hedged, saying, “She may not like my company. To her I’m still the Bronze Knight.”
“Don’t worry about that; I’ll explain it to her. I want her to have the best, and you’re the best soldier I have. You’ll protect her, I know.” Akeela’s smile was all-forgiving—and terribly naive. “Thank you, Lukien. You’re a good friend.”
Friend. Were they friends, Lukien wondered? At times like this, when Akeela was his most petulant, it was hard to believe they truly loved each other. Giving his king a half-hearted nod, Lukien turned and left the balcony, hoping Princess Cassandra refused her royal escort.
Cassandra moved through the hallways of Castle Hes, floating with anticipation. It was nearly time for her meeting with Akeela, and Jancis had told her that the Liirian was already on the eastern balcony, waiting for her. Because the balcony was very large and studded with statues, Jancis had been able to spy on Akeela quite effectively. Apparently, he had been waiting for her for some time now, first talking with his bodyguard Lukien, then pacing nervously among the statues. According to Jancis, he had even been talking to himself. Cassandra slowed her pace as she neared the balcony, taking the time to smooth down her dress and adjust the braids in her hair. She wore a velvet gown of midnight blue and just the right amount of make-up to highlight her eyes, and she already knew from the way the young king had stared at her that he was attracted to her. He had done a very poor job of hiding his attraction, in fact, but Cassandra was flattered. Soon she might be leaving Hes behind. She would be the first of her sisters to become a queen.
Queen Cassandra. Cassandra tried the title on and liked the way it fit. And she had a thousand questions for the Liirian king. She wanted to know everything about Liiria, about its people and customs, and she wanted to know what her new home, Akeela’s castle, was like. Was it tall, she wondered? She had heard everything in Liiria was tall, so much the opposite of squat and stubby Hes. Supposedly, Liirians were great architects. Their culture had influenced much of the eastern continent. Once, Cassandra had considered that a terrible thing. But now she was about to marry a Liirian, and she hoped they were the most powerful, most renowned nation in the world.
Cassandra paused in the middle of the hallway and looked around. Castle Hes wasn’t spectacular, but it was home and she would miss it, and the realization startled her. She had been too busy planning her escape to appreciate her home, because for too long the castle had simply been a prison. Under her sisters’ shadow and father’s watchful eyes, there had been little freedom here. Now, she would be totally independent, or at least subservient only to Akeela.
“What will that be like, I wonder?” she whispered. She ran her hand along the rough stone of the wall, sliding a finger into the joints between bricks. Karla, the maid who looked after the upstairs rooms, rounded the corner and spotted her.
“My lady?” the maid asked, her round face concerned. “Are you all right?”
Cassandra nodded. “I’m fine, Karla. I’m just . . . thinking.”
“Well, there’s a lot of that about, my lady.” She looked over her shoulder, then whispered, “Your young man’s been very pensive, too.”
“You mean Akeela?”
“Aye, King Akeela. I spotted him near the conservatory.” The maid smiled as if she had a great secret. “He seems lost in thought.”
The princess laughed. Was everyone spying on poor Akeela?
“Thank you, Karla,” said Cassandra, then hurried past her toward the balcony. The balcony where Akeela waited was at the front of the castle, in the southern tower. In less then a minute Cassandra was there, arriving in the vast, rounded conservatory boasting plants and birds from across the continent. One huge birdcage rose up out of the center of the room, reaching the ceiling. Cassandra stalked toward the birdcage, then peered around it to see out to the balcony. The balcony shutters were all open wide, and she noticed Akeela standing outside, sunlight striking his dark hair. He had dressed for their meeting, which pleased Cassandra, and his spotless tunic shimmered with golden trim. For the first time, she got an uninterrupted view of him. She lingered near the birdcage, watching him. A curious canary inside the cage hopped onto a branch beside her face and studied her, then let out a surprisingly loud song. Cassandra stepped back from the cage, startled, just as Akeela heard the commotion and turned around. Their eyes met. Cassandra smiled sheepishly.
“Umm, hello,” she said.
Akeela stood motionless. For a moment he seemed not to recognize her, but then he righted himself by stepping forward, and said, “Princess Cassandra, hello. I . . . uh, you startled me.”
His voice was very light, nervous but melodious. With his sweating forehead and shaking voice, Cassandra thought him sweet-looking.
“Forgive me, my lord,” she offered. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“Frightened? Oh, no, I wasn’t frightened—not at all. The bird surprised me, that’s all.”
The bird continued to sing. Cassandra moved away from the cage, going to the balcony to stand before Akeela. She noticed with satisfaction the way his eyes moved along her body. She took the opportunity to study him as well. He was shorter than he’d seemed at the banquet table, about her height, and despite his fine clothes he didn’t look like a king at all. In fact, he could have easily passed for a squire. His unimposing appearance made her comfortable at once.
“My father said you wanted to speak to me,” said Cassandra. She gave him an encouraging smile. “I was happy to come.”
“Yes, thank you for that,” said Akeela. “I thought it would be best if we could talk alone, without others eavesdropping.”
Instantly Cassandra thought of Jancis, wondering if her friend was somewhere in the conservatory, listening. “No one can hear us out here, my lord.”
Akeela turned toward the city. “Yes, we are rather high up.” He looked over the stone railing, down at the people milling below. “Your father’s castle is beautiful, my lady. As is your city.”
“I’m pleased you think so, my lord.”
The young man heard the uncertainty in her voice. “Don’t you think it’s beautiful?”
“Yes,” replied Cassandra. “Yes, I do.”
“Hmm. I wonder then what you would think of leaving it.” Akeela looked at her hopefully. “Am I making myself plain, my lady?”
Cassandra understood perfectly. “Is this a proposal, my lord?”
“Would you accept if it were?”
“I would. But I don’t understand why you would ask, when I have already been given to you. It is your choice to accept or decline, not mine.”
Akeela said, “I want a wife, not a slave. I want you to enter this marriage willingly, or not at all. I want to hear the words from you.”
“Do women decide such things for themselves in Liiria?” asked Cassandra. Because she was a princess, and her father’s favorite, he had given her a choice. But that wasn’t always the case in Reec. Her country had a long tradition of bartering women away.
“In Liiria people don’t always have choices,” said Akeela. “There are barons and dukes who make decisions for them, who decide where they will work and how much wheat they’ll produce. It’s been that way forever, I think.” He came closer to her. “But I’m going to change that, Cassandra.”
“Are you? How can you?”
“I’m serious,” said Akeela. A strange light came on in his eyes. “I’m going to reform Liiria. I’m going to make it the greatest country on the continent.”
Cassandra grinned. “Ah, you want to be a great king.”
The Liirian shook his head. “No, that’s not it at all. I don’t care about myself or what history will think of me. I care about changing things, the entire social order. Why should a woman marry a man she doesn’t love? And why should a man work a field his whole life, just because a baron says he should? I’m talking about freedom, Cassandra. The ability to do whatever you want. Do you see?”
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