Amber and Iron - Margaret Weis [109]
“My lord is no fool. When he goes to that cave this night and finds an emaciated monk and a sniveling little kender chained to a wall, he will know you lied to him.”
“Maybe,” said Krell stolidly. “Maybe not.”
Mina clenched her fists in frustration. “Are you as stupid as you look, Krell? When Chemosh finds out you lied to him about me, he will be furious with you. He might well hand you over to Zeboim. But you can still save yourself. Go to Chemosh and tell him that you have thought this over and you were mistaken.…”
Krell was not stupid. He had thought it over. He knew just what he had to do to protect himself.
“My lord Chemosh has given orders he is not to be disturbed,” said Krell, and he gave Mina a shove that propelled her backward into the room.
He slammed the door shut, bolted it from the outside, and resumed his stance before it.
Mina went back to the window. She knew what Krell plotted. All he had to do was go to the cave, dispose of the kender and the dog, kill the monk and remove his chains, and leave the body for Chemosh to find, along with evidence to prove the grotto had been her love nest.
Perhaps Krell had already done this. That would certainly account for his smugness. Mina didn’t know how long she had been unconscious. Hours, at least. The castle faced east and its shadow lay dark on the blood-red waves. The sun was already sinking toward the end of day.
Mina stood at the window. I have to win back my lord’s trust and affection. There must be a way to prove my love. If I could give him a gift. Something he yearns to possess.
But what is there a god cannot have if he wants it?
One thing. One thing Chemosh wanted and he could not get.
Nuitari’s Tower.
“If I could give him that, I would do it,” Mina said softly, “though it cost me my life.…”
She closed her eyes, and she found herself beneath the sea. The Tower of High Sorcery stood before her. Its crystalline walls reflected the clear blue water, the red coral, and the green sea plants and multi-colored sea creatures—a constant panorama of sea life glided across its faceted surface.
She was inside the Tower, in her prison, talking with Nuitari. She was in the water of the globe, speaking with the dragon. She was in the Solio Febalas, overcome by awe and wonder, surrounded by the sublime miracle that was the gods.
Mina held out her hands. Her longing intensified, welled up inside her. Her heart pounded, her muscles stiffened. She sank to her knees with a moan, and still she held out her hands to the Tower that was everywhere inside her.
The longing took control of her and swept her up. She could not stop. She did not want to stop. She gave herself to the longing, and it seemed her heart would tear itself apart. She gasped for breath. She tasted blood in her mouth. She shuddered and moaned again, and suddenly something snapped within her.
The longing, the desire, flowed out of her outstretched hands and she was calm and at peace.…
Krell had figured a way out of his predicament, though not the way Mina had guessed. Her plan required that he leave the castle and he was terrified to do so, for fear Chemosh would return at any moment. Krell might have the brains of a rodent, but he had twice the low cunning to make up for it. His plan was simple, and it was direct.
He didn’t have to kill the kender, the monk, or the dog. All he had to do was kill Mina.
Once Mina was dead, end of story. Chemosh would have no reason to go to the cave to confront her lover, and Krell’s problem would be solved.
Krell detested Mina, and he would have murdered her long ago, but he feared that Chemosh would have murdered him—not an easy thing to do, since Krell was already dead, but Krell was fairly certain the Lord of Death would find a way and it would not be pleasant.
Krell deemed it safe to kill Mina now. Chemosh despised her. He loathed her. He couldn’t stand the sight of her.
“She tried to escape, my lord,” Krell said, rehearsing his speech. “I didn