“There’s something else,” sighed Marilius. “Diriel’s men didn’t become walking dead men at first-the first mummy powder we gave them did nothing, though they thought it did. Diriel’s superstitious, they say. His men easily crushed Kasse.”
“So? I don’t understand.”
“After that, Diriel wanted more mummy powder,” said Fallon.
“You told me that already. What’s your point?”
“It was the mummia from the Akyren tomb that turned them soulless,” said Fallon “The tomb with the monster.”
“So they’re connected? How?”
Marilius shook his head. “I don’t know. Mummy powder’s a myth. Men who take it believe it makes them stronger, so it does. But the stuff Anton made for them. . well, it really worked.”
“And woke the beast!” moaned Fallon.
“You did this,” I sneered. “It’s your own fault, all of it. I won’t be part of it anymore.”
“There’s nowhere to go, Lukien,” said Marilius. “You can’t go to Akyre, and Diriel’s taken over all the territories. Or will soon.”
“I’ll head home, then. Back to Jador.”
“With Cricket?” pressed Marilius. “Do you think she’ll be happy about that, after coming all this way to find out who she is?”
“We’ll I’m not staying here!”
“Let him go,” groaned Fallon. He sat down again, miserable. “He’s useless.”
“You’re right, Fallon.” I went over and patted him on the shoulder. “You are a dead man.”
I was done with both of them. All I wanted was to leave. I headed for the doors, flung them open, and made my way through the crowd of mercenaries. That’s when Marilius caught up to me.
“Lukien, wait!”
He grabbed my arm. I shook it off and kept walking.
“Get our horses ready,” I told him. “Cricket and I are leaving.”
Marilius stayed on my heels. “Where? Back to Jador? If you leave us we’re doomed, Lukien. It’s not just that monster. Didn’t you hear what I said about Diriel?”
“I heard.”
“We need you!”
I pushed through the hall, pretending not to care. “Sure. Let the man who can’t die fight your battles for you. Forget it.”
“Then why’d you come here?” Marilius took my arm more forcefully, spinning me around. “Because I saved your life? Or maybe you just wanted to prove yourself. Well you haven’t yet. You lost against Wrestler and you lost against the monster, and now you’re running away.”
“You lied to me, Marilius. I thought I owed you for saving me, but that’s over. You’re as bad as Fallon. You don’t give a damn about me, or about those men Diriel enslaved. They’re men, Marilius.”
“I didn’t know what would happen to them, Lukien. Anton didn’t either. Mummy powder! Who could ever think that would work? If I had known-”
“You would have done nothing.” I poked my finger in his chest. “You’re a swindler, Marilius. Just like your beloved Fallon. You think he cares about you? A snake like that cares only about money. You’re smart enough to know that. But you’re hiding in this palace because you’re not man enough to face the real world.”
Marilius stood his ground. “I’m not the one who’s running this time. This time I’m staying to fight.”
“Fine.” I turned and continued on my way. “Then you’ll get the death you deserve.”
16
Maybe I was harder on Marilius than I should have been. Maybe I knew that and didn’t want to face it. I admit I was angry, but I admired him, too. He really was a dead man for staying with Fallon. Only I didn’t care so much if Fallon died. If there was a villain in this all, it was Fallon. Men like him didn’t get rich by caring what happened to others. Fallon knew what Diriel would do with the mummia, or at least what he would try to do. He just didn’t care. And all those deaths, and all those refugees-they were on his head. He was as guilty as Diriel.
But Marilius was different. Part of him was wily, like Fallon, but part of him had the heart of a soldier. He was loyal to Fallon, and loyalty is never really a flaw. Marilius had found what he was looking for in Isowon-a leader to love and a land to call his own. He had a mission now. I was sure it would kill him, but I envied him for it. Until I remembered that I had a mission, too.
My mission’s name was Cricket. Only now, I didn’t know how to save her.
It was still early by the time I returned to our chambers, so I wasn’t surprised to find her still asleep. The servants had left her a breakfast of jam and bread, an appropriate favorite of a girl who was, in too many ways, still a child. Along with a decanter of milk and a bowl of bright, unrecognizable fruit, her food waited for her untouched on a sunlit table by the window. I paused from my tiptoeing to watch her sleep, undoing my sword belt and laying my weapon against my own bed. As I did, Malator’s voice jumped out at me.
Where will we go now?
I strode over to the chair by the window and sat down facing Cricket. I didn’t have an answer, but Malator knew that already, surely. Perhaps I should have been tired, but I wasn’t. I was alive after beating at death’s door again, and as awake and aware as ever. I stared at Cricket, admiring the way that sleep erased all the worry from her gentle face. She had stopped dreaming and now looked angelic, a beautiful reminder of why I had brought her with me.
Will you wake her? asked Malator. If we’re going soon she should know.
“There’s time,” I said softly. “Let me think.”
In my mind I heard Malator sigh, saw him stretching back as if relaxing by a campfire. I had gotten some answers from Fallon, but still couldn’t shake the dread. The monster was his problem, but it was mine as well. It was stalking us all.
But why?
“You know why I brought her with me?” I whispered. “Look at her. You know why? You didn’t want me to, but it wasn’t because I needed a friend. It wasn’t so I could save her. She saves me, Malator. She reminds me of the good in the world. Because I forget.”
In my mind, I saw Malator nod. Then he said, You remind people of the good in the world too, Lukien.
That made me laugh. “Is that why they use me? Is that why I’m so trusting? How many men has Diriel turned into slaves? Hundreds? Thousands?” A thousand men like me. A thousand soulless soldiers. The thought haunted me. Was I a slave too?
What will you tell her?
“Everything. She needs to know the truth about Marilius. He betrayed us. He lured us here to fight.”
Do you want to fight?
“You’re in my mind,” I whispered. “You know my heart.”
But he asked me again. Do you want to fight?
“I want to fight. Yes! What else am I? I’m a fighter.”
Cricket opened her mouth as she started to waken.
I stopped talking and spoke to Malator only in my mind. I came here to do good. So let me! I closed my good eye, focusing on him. Tell me what to do. You know the answer. You know what I should do. Please. .
He shook his head. Impossible.
Then help me decide!
I have tried. His young face smiled at me. Remember? You’re a soldier, Lukien.
So? Yes, I’m a soldier. . I struggled with his riddle. Soldiers do good. I want to do good.
Loyal, he reminded me. A king should be loyal.
To his men. .
Was Diriel loyal to his men?
Of course not. He betrayed them.
And who can help them?
I opened my eye in surprise. “Me?”
Cricket awoke as I blurted out the word. She smiled sleepily when she saw it was me. “Lukien.”