The Eyes of God (70 page)

Authors: John Marco

BOOK: The Eyes of God

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“Sit down, my friends,” purred Jazana Carr.

Gilwyn sat down warily, opposite Breck. The old knight picked up the linen napkin at his place setting. The servant behind him plucked it from his fingers, settling it on his lap as he took his chair.

“Thanks,” said Breck awkwardly. He looked across the table at Gilwyn, who was just as confused as his guide.

“There now, isn’t this nice?” said Jazana Carr. She took her seat again, an ornate wooden chair as tall as a throne. Behind her, her own manservant stood at the ready, his neck circled with a diamond choker. He was still as a statue while his mistress spoke. “Rodrik, thank you,” said Jazana with a smile. “You may go now.”

“As you wish, my lady.” Rodrik Varl bowed with a flourish then turned and walked out of the vast chamber, leaving the three strangers alone at the table. Jazana Carr wrapped her jeweled fingers around a crystal goblet, raising it to her guests.

“It’s so good to see you both,” she said as if she’d known them for years. “I don’t get many visitors here. Drink, both of you, please.”

Gilwyn and Breck picked up their goblets, noticing they were already filled. They exchanged wary glances, which Jazana Carr picked up immediately.

“Oh, now you disappoint me,” she pouted. “I assure you, my dears, there’s nothing in those glasses but the sweetest wine.”

Teku chattered a low warning in Gilwyn’s ear.

“Yes, your little friend. Rodrik told me about him.” Jazana Carr leaned across the table for a better look. “I’ve never seen a creature with such coloring before. Is he from Liiria, too?”

“Uh, no ma’am,” said Gilwyn. “
She’s
from Ganjor.”

“A girl!” chirped the warlady. “How wonderful! But you are from Liiria, yes, boy?”

“That’s right,” said Breck. He still hadn’t tasted his wine.

“Well, I am Jazana Carr,” pronounced the woman, “And now you must tell me what you’re hiding.”

Gilwyn lowered his goblet. “Hiding?”

“Your names. Rodrik told me you were a secretive pair, but I must say you’re being awfully rude.” She wrinkled her nose playfully at Teku, then glanced between her visitors. “Well?”

“Forgive us, Jazana Carr,” said Breck. He stood up and bowed. “My name is Breck.”

“Breck?” asked the woman. She lost interest in Teku suddenly. “Just Breck? Nothing more?”

Breck grinned disarmingly. “Just Breck, for now.”

“A man of secrets,” sighed the warlady. “You may sit.” She turned her probing eyes on Gilwyn. “And you, young man—what’s your name?”

“I’m Gilwyn Toms, my lady.” Gilwyn made to stand but Jazana Carr waved him down.

“Don’t get up. I see from that strange boot of yours that you’re a cripple.” Her gaze dropped momentarily to his clubbed hand. “Your hand, too. Pity. You’re a handsome boy.”

Gilwyn bristled. “I assure you, my lady, I’m quite capable of getting around.”

“Yes,” cooed Jazana Carr. “You must be to have come all the way from Liiria.” She sipped languidly at her wine, letting her gaze rest on Breck, her eyes twinkling over the rim of the goblet. Her dainty fingers lowered the glass. “So,
Breck
,” she began, “Rodrik tells me you’re a soldier.”

“That was his supposition, my lady,” replied Breck.

“Rodrik knows a soldier when he sees one. He can be a boor, like all men, but he’s never wrong about such things.”

“He recruits for you, then?” Breck asked.

Jazana Carr replied, “Tell me about yourself.”

“My lady, the boy and I are here on business. We only want to ask—”

“Yes, yes, you’re looking for someone,” interrupted Carr. “I know all that already. We’ll get to it. But first Jazana Carr wants to know about
you
.”

Gilwyn’s jaw tightened at the inquisition. Even as the servants began dishing up the food, his appetite disappeared. Clearly Jazana Carr wanted something, maybe entertainment, maybe something more.

“I don’t get many visitors from Liiria, you see,” said Jazana Carr. “Most of my men come from Reec or Marn. I’ve only had a handful of Liirian men serve me, and they’ve all been most adequate indeed.” Her perfect pink tongue slid across her lips. “If you are half as good as those men, I could use you,
Breck
.”

“Ah, my lady, now you make yourself clear,” said Breck. “You need another sword against your enemies.”

“Hmm, something like that,” said Carr. “I have many enemies. Some I haven’t even made yet.”

The enigmatic answer troubled Gilwyn. He said, “My lady, I don’t think we can give you what you want. We’re already occupied by our own important business.”

“Hush, child,” said Carr in a lullaby voice. She turned back to Breck. “You, sir, intrigue me. You’re too old and weather-beaten to be one of General Trager’s men, yet you carry yourself like a Royal Charger.” Carefully she studied Breck’s face for signs. A small twitch told her what she wanted to know. “Yes,” she drawled. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

Finally, Breck lifted his wine glass. “My lady sees very clearly.”

“You were a Charger, then? In the old days?”

“Does it matter?”

“Very much,” said Jazana Carr. She seemed immensely pleased by the revelation. “If you are who you say you are, then you’re an enemy of King Akeela.”

“Nay, not an enemy,” said Breck, lowering his glass and scowling. “I’m loyal to Liiria. Whatever happened in the old days is over, and I bear King Akeela no grudges. I left the service of my own volition. Besides. . . .” He looked at Carr suspiciously. “Why would my past interest you?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” said Jazana Carr. “I have need of strong men like yourself, men who know Liiria and have umbrage against King Akeela. Oh, you can deny your feelings all you like. You may lie to me about them, but I know the truth. You see, Sir Breck, I know you better than you think.” Without looking, she reached out and scratched Teku’s head, but her eyes remained locked on Breck. “You’re not the only Liirian ever to pass this way.”

Breck and Gilwyn froze under her stare. Teku purred at the sensation of her long nails.

“You know me?” asked Breck. “How?”

A servant began serving Jazana Carr oysters. The warlady waved him away. “You’re looking for someone, Sir Breck. You’re from Liiria. You used to be a Royal Charger.” Her long fingers ticked off the facts one by one. “I’m not a stupid woman. I can add.”

“Then you know we’re looking for Lukien?” asked Gilwyn.

Jazana Carr chuckled. “I do now.”

“Is he here? Can we speak to him?”

“Easy, Gilwyn,” said Breck. “Let the lady tell her story.”

“Thank you, Sir Breck,” said Jazana Carr. “Yes, the Bronze Knight works for me. He has for many years. In fact, he’s been invaluable. A fabulous fighter, that one. From the first time I laid eyes on him, I knew he was something special.” The warlady sighed. “Great Fate, he was beautiful. So blond, like the sun. He’s not so lovely now, I’m afraid.”

“Is he all right?” asked Breck.

“Oh, yes. Don’t be concerned. I think your friend is quite invincible.”

“He told you about me?”

“He did. He only mentioned you once, a long time ago. He warned me that a man named Breck might come looking for him someday. Knowing he was a Liirian, I made him confess his identity. I’ve kept that secret for years. Around here he’s known as Ryon.”

Confused, Breck glanced at the servants who had just overheard every word.

“Oh, don’t worry about them,” said Carr. “I assure you, if they breathe a word of what they’ve heard, I’ll cut off their stones and make them eat them.”

Gilwyn almost dropped his fork. Jazana Carr laughed delightedly.

“Can we see Lukien?” asked Breck.

“First, a question,” said Carr. “What news do you bring him?”

“I’m sorry, my lady,” said Breck. “I can’t tell you that.”

“Do you mean to take him away from me?”

Breck was silent. The warlady’s expression grew stormy.

“Lukien is very important to me,” she warned. “If you have plans to lure him away, I must know.”

Still Breck said nothing.

“You don’t trust me,” said Carr. “Very well. Then I will tell you this—Lukien is not here, but he will return. He is on his way back from Disa and should return in a few days.”

“And you’ll let us speak to him then?” asked Gilwyn.

“I don’t see why I should,” said Jazana Carr petulantly. “Here I’ve offered you this sumptuous meal, told you the truth about your friend, yet you treat me like rubbish. You Liirians; always so damnably secretive.”

“Forgive us, Jazana Carr, please,” said Breck. “We mean no offense. You have indeed been gracious, and we’re in your debt. But the news I bring Lukien is for him alone. We cannot tell you or anyone else.”

“Is it about Liiria?” pressed Carr. “About your king, perhaps?”

Breck sighed. “My lady, you may question me all night and day, but I won’t tell you what you want to know. And if you have designs on Liiria, then you best keep them to yourself.”

Jazana Carr grinned. “Discovered.”

Gilwyn sat up in alarm. “Designs on Liiria? You mean to attack, my lady?”

“Oooh, someday. . . .” Jazana Carr smacked her lips as if eating a confection. “Wouldn’t that be grand? The greatest jewel on the continent!”

“But you can’t,” Gilwyn protested. “I mean, how can you?”

“Why else do you think she wanted to see us, Gilwyn?” said Breck. He was remarkably casual, swirling the wine he still hadn’t tasted. “She doesn’t just need swords against King Lorn. She needs insiders against Liiria. What did I tell you earlier, do you remember?”

Gilwyn had to think for a moment. “You said that all mercenaries are scum.”

At last Breck drank from his goblet, toasting, “Exactly.”

The insult riled Jazana Carr. She said, “You may think what you wish of me, Sir Breck. You may mistake my ambition for treachery. But I have made a life out of fighting. I started with nothing, one small diamond mine. From that I built an empire, one that even your King Akeela cannot match. While that addle-brained whelp’s been spending his money like piss, I’ve been amassing my riches. And waiting.”

“You’re indeed impressive, Jazana Carr. And I take it you have King Lorn on the run, too.”

“Do not patronize me, sir,” she spat. “I have spent my life in the shadows of men like you. Because I am a woman you think me weak, not to be taken seriously. I am like a whore to you, because I crave success. Well, let me tell you something. I can buy anything I wish. See these men that serve me? Dogs, all of them. I throw them meat and they beg for more. Even your precious Lukien. They are the whores, sir, not I.”

“Lukien is no whore,” said Breck. His voice held a dangerous edge. “If he has become one, then surely you are to blame.”

“Whores,” said Carr again. “Like all the men that serve me.” She gestured to the lute player. “Like that useless musician. I call a tune, he plays it. Why? For money. Men are the whores of the world, Sir Breck. Every last one of them is for sale.”

Breck placed his napkin on the table and rose to his feet. “Since Lukien isn’t here, I think we’d better go.”

“I have not dismissed you!” thundered Carr. “You will sit until I have said my piece!”

Gilwyn didn’t move. Nor did Breck, who remained standing. Jazana Carr fought to compose herself, putting her hands to her cheeks.

“You see?” she said. “You see how men madden me? Well, to business, then. Sir Breck, you wish to speak to my servant Lukien. And I wish men to serve me, men who are talented with weapons and have knowledge of Liiria. So we can barter, yes?”

“No, my lady,” replied Breck. “I’m not looking for employment.”

Jazana Carr took a diamond ring from her finger and tossed it into Breck’s plate. “There,” she spat, “a first payment. A single gem worth twice whatever rat hole you call a house. The first of many payments if you join me.”

Breck didn’t even glance at the diamond. “I have a family back in Liiria. I’m not for sale.”

“Liar. All men are for sale. Their love is like a rainstorm, here one moment, gone the next. Do not profess love for a wife over your love of money. I have seen how much love means to men, how they buy and sell it.”

“Nevertheless,” said Breck, picking up the diamond and tossing it back at the woman, “it is true.”

This enraged Jazana Carr. She stood up and glared at Gilwyn.

“That monkey. How much?”

“What?” stammered Gilwyn.

“How much for your wretched little pet?”

“I’m sorry, my lady, but Teku’s not a pet. She’s a friend.”

“Friend?” shrieked Carr. “Are you mad? It’s not even human!”

“Still, Teku is a friend. She helps me. She fetches things for me that I can’t reach with my bad hand.”