Lunatic by Ted Dekker Read Free Book Online Page A

me."
    Hesitation.
    "Don't let Sucrow get to you," the captain said.
    Marak growled. "Take a troop into the desert and find me those albinos. Then I want you personally to report Eram's whereabouts."
    Cassak frowned. "Marak."
    So much for pretense.
    He straightened and looked at his friend. "How bad was it?"
    Cassak shook his head. "You shouldn't ask me questions, Marak. Just trust me." Marak raised a brow. Something was bothering his captain. He threw him a questioning look, eyes narrow.
    Cassak scowled. "When it comes, it comes."
    "What?"
    His friend spoke slowly. "They've taken Rona again."
    Marak worked his fist.
    "General, end it. Don't wait for Sucrow to force you or to use them against you. Do the right thing and execute them."
    "They're already dead." The general turned his back and stormed out. He had an albino hunt to lead.

    SUCROW WAITED UNTIL MARAK WAS GONE BEFORE REtreating into his temple. The foolish general needed to learn to leave religious matters to priests and worry only about his precious plan to eliminate the albinos. His Desecration. A fitting mission name.
    Marak also needed to learn his newfound place in the world. A world in which he was subject to Qurong's priest.
    Sucrow crossed through the atrium and the outer court into a side chamber, intent on a hidden passage to the library.
    Someone pressed the sharp tip of a dagger between his shoulder blades.
    He paused, then reached for a concealed knife within his robes. "Who is there?"
    Cassak stepped into the light. Kept his dagger where Sucrow could see it.
    Coming to fulfill his duty to Marak and make certain Warryn didn't get too carried away with his torture. The leech.
    Sucrow stilled but let a sneer spread across his face. "I could order you executed for treason, Captain. Enter."
    The man closed the door and entered the room. Twirled his dagger.
    Sucrow lit a candle and sat against the small wooden table.
    Cassak sat. Long braids fell heavy over his shoulders. The man stank of desert, blood, and sweat.
    "Now, what is it you want, Captain?" It was almost comical, this notion that a mere captain would try to sway Teeleh's priest on his general's behalf.

    "Don't tempt him too far, Priest."
    "You are not in a position to make demands. Did you not hear? Qurong has granted all military authority to myself and my serpent warriors." Sucrow waved a dismissive hand and moved to a seat across from Cassak. "Why are you here?"
    "You're torturing my general's brother."
    "Now isn't the time for second thoughts on trapping Jordan of Southern, Captain."
    "The plan was simply to capture and execute them."
    "Patience." Sucrow began to wish he were speaking with Marak instead. Marak was much more reasonable. Cassak, though, better appreciated Sucrow's position.
    "First of all, I believe it is Marak prolonging the inevitable. I merely provided him an outlet-all he had to do was leave them at my full disposal. Sec-"
    "Priest-"
    "And second, Qurong wanted my serpent warriors dealing with these albinos because Marak won't be able to do what's necessary to break them. He's too close. Third, and most important, I am now your general's ranking officer. To question me is treason."
    Cassak's expression turned dark. "Execute them and be done."
    The man was tenacious, that much was certain. If it wasn't enough that Marak himself was clinging to Sucrow's arm and crying like a baby, it was worse with his captain nagging him.
    "What do you care about three albinos, anyway?"
    "I don't. But I don't torture them."

    "Spoken like a warrior."
    "Spoken like a man."
    The two drilled each other with hard stares. Sucrow lost. He stood and waved a dismissive hand. "Go. I have things to do."
    "Priest-"
    "Be gone."
    "Priest, do not dismiss me."
    Sucrow turned back. "Answer me this: do you think your own general is losing his edge?"
    The captain grew silent, white-faced, as if he hadn't considered what his demands were implying.
    Sucrow let that thought sink deep into Cassak's mind. He