"The Eyes Of A God" - читать интересную книгу автора (Marco John)

'Nothing's wrong," answered Lukien, struggling to be civil. The last month with Trager had been unbearable. "I was just thinking."
V^assandra sat inside her carriage, absently watching the world through her dingy window. Though Jancis was with her she felt completely alone, just as she had for weeks. The carriage rocked from side to side as it rolled along the muddy roads, slowly pulled forward by a team of horses. The horses had been white when they'd left Hes, splendid looking beasts to herald her arrival in L№ria. Now they were mud covered, like everything else, and they matched Cassandra's mood perfectly. For days now she had been stuck inside the carriage, only taking breaks when her escorts did, or when she needed to relieve herself. The vehicle's claustrophobic walls were driving her mad. Jancis, who constantly occupied herself with knitting, made small talk as they traveled, daydreaming about Koth and King Akeela, and what it would be like for Cassandra to be queen. But Cassandra hardly thought about those things anymore. As it had for weeks now, her mind turned to Lukien.
She had embarrassed herself with the knight, and now could barely face him. She remembered with horrible clarity his expression when he'd seen the painting, and though Jancis had asked him not to tell anyone about it, Cassandra didn't trust him. She fretted that he had bragged to his comrades about the incident. Worse, she wondered what he might tell Akeela. And though she had desperately wanted to talk to Lukien, to apologize and beg his silence, she could not, for being around him stole her voice. She feared him. Worse, she feared she loved him. She kept reminding herself that Akeela was a good man, and how fortunate she was to have been chosen by him. Any of her sisters would have willingly traded places with her. But the love she had hoped to feel for Akeela had yet to take root, constantly stunted by her infatuation with Lukien.
Have I ever loved? she wondered as she watched the trees pass by her window. Do I even know what love is?
She loved her father, but this was different. When she looked at LukienЧor when he looked at herЧshe felt peculiar, and the feeling was wonderful. None of the boys in Castle Hes had ever stirred such emotion in her, and she knew that was because they were simply boys, while Lukien was a man. He was accomplished and strong, and his skin bore the scars of a life hard-lived. In a matter of weeks he had taken over her mind. That was love, surely.
'I don't know," she whispered.
Jancis looked up from her knitting, eyeing her friend suspiciously. "What's that?"
Cassandra didn't reply. She merely stared out the window. Jancis laid her knitting aside and leaned forward.
'You've been very pensive lately," she remarked. "Are you feeling all right?"
It was the same tired old question. Jancis watched her like a midwife these days.
'Yes," Cassandra lied. "I'm fine."
'No pains?"
'No," said Cassandra. Another lie. "I was just thinking."
'Oh, I'm sure. About what? Should I guess?"
'Don't be a pest, Jancis," said Cassandra. But she sighed theatrically, inviting her friend's attention. "Oh, Jan. I don't know what to doЕ"
'There's nothing to be done, so don't fret over it. I told youЧhe's probably forgotten all about it. And even if he hasn't, I don't think he's going to tell anyone. He's as guilty as you, Cass. Don't forget that."
'He's not," said Cassandra.
'He is. He was the one looking at you, remember. He couldn't take his eyes off you!" Jancis frowned. "Bloody wretch, that's what he is. Going over his king's wife like that. Maybe Akeela should find out about it, teach him some manners."
'I have to talk to him," Cassandra resolved. She thought for a moment, her eyes narrowing. "Yes. If I could speak to him I could explain things, before he says anything to Akeela."
Jancis' face hardened. "Don't talk to him. That's how you got in this mess in the first place."
'I have to," said Cassandra. She gave her maid a sad smile. "I want to, Jan."
Just then the carriage came to a stop. Jancis massaged her neck in relief.
'Thank God," she said, stretching. "I could use a walk." "We're stopping," said Cassandra absently. The seed of an idea began to bloom. She cranked up her courage. "Yes, all right."
Tomas almost blushed. "I suppose we could ride ahead. He's nly just gone. It shouldn't be a problem catching up to him."
He gestured to one of the horses. "You can ride, my lady, can't 'What?"
Cassandra stood up, stooping, and opened the carriage door.
'Cass, where are you going?"
'To talk to Lukien," said Cassandra quickly. "I have to speak to him before we reach Koth."
'No!"
Cassandra hardly heard lands' plea. She was out of the carriage in a second, her boots splashing into the boggy earth. The entire company had come to a halt, and the men were already dismounting. She strained to see toward the head of the column, searching for Lukien, but he was nowhere to be found. Puzzled, she glanced around. The men were all stretching and seeing to their horses. Jancis jumped out of the carriage beside Cassandra.
'I don't see him," said Cassandra. "Where'd he go?"
Jancis was relieved. "I don't know and I don't care. Now forget about him, will you please?"
Cassandra had no intention of forgoing her plan. She intended to speak to Lukien now, while she still had the courage.
'Stay here," she ordered, then made her way to the front of the company where a number of L№rian soldiers were caring for their mounts. Noticing her at once, the soldiers stopped working.
'My lady?" asked one of them, a young man named Tomas. "Can I help you?"
Cassandra hesitated. "I'm looking for Lukien," she said. "Do you know where he is?"
The soldiers glanced at each other. Cassandra tried to look confident.
'He's just gone off, my lady," said Tomas, pointing down the road. "He's gone to scout the way ahead."
'Well, I must speak to him," said Cassandra. "It's important."
Tomas smiled. "He'll be back soon, my lady."
'No, that won't do. I have to speak to him now." Cassandra returned Tomas' smile, heaping on the charm. "Could you take me to him, Tomas?"
'Me? Oh, no, my lady. I don't think I should. He'll be back presently."
'But it's urgent, Tomas," said Cassandra. She took a step closer, fluttering her long lashes. "Please?"
you Cassandra wasted no time in mounting the horse.
Irager waited until he had watered and fed his horse before checking on the princess. She was a spoiled brat anyway, so he took his time sauntering to her carriage. When he arrived, he found the princess' handmaid leaning against the vehicle, her face drawn. He took the time to leer at her before she noticed him.
'Handmaid Jancis?" he asked.
The girl jumped at the intrusion.
'Yes?"
'Is your mistress about?" Trager asked. "I'm here to see if she needs anything."
The maiden blanched. "No."