Eyes wide with fright, a hand raised to ward off danger, her mouth slightly opened, Kaaleel stood frozen. The stone at her throat no longer pulsed with light. Tikk strained to straighten but couldn't. Every muscle resisted his desire. Neither he nor Kaaleel could move.
Tikk struggled with all his being, but all he accomplished was to feel the pounding of his heart and the softness of his breath through his lips and, ever so slowly, move his eyes.
Tikk forcefully followed Kaaleel's gaze downward. The old priest slept peacefully; but through his white beard, pulsed a violet glow. Tikk raged within himself, tried throughout the night to force his arm downward, to strike his blade into the heart of the priest. To no avail.
At intervals, Tikk shared glances with Kaaleel. Saw in her emerald eyes the same despair she must see in his.
The room lightened with the rising of the sun. Tikk could hear sounds outside the window as the temple came to life. A single gong echoed from the walls. The priest yawned, stretched, opened his eyes.
"Don't!" he cried, raising one hand to shield himself as the other clutched at the glowing stone beneath his beard.
When the dagger didn't strike and the two assassins made no movement, the priest began to relax. He felt the throbbing of the stone at his throat. "Blessed be Gaal."
He eased off of the pallet avoiding the dagger. He walked around studying Tikk and Kaaleel. He felt the stiffness of their skin, their muscle; waved his hand before their unblinking eyes.
"What?" He startled when their gaze met his. When they made no movement, no sound, he relaxed again. Then he saw the chalcedony eyes tied at their throats.
"Blessed be Gaal. Two of your eyes have been returned."
The priest removed the stones, blessed them, and added them to the pile in the bowl. He turned and saw that Tikk and Kaaleel watched him.
"How should I thank you for returning the eyes of Gaal? Though I plainly see that was not your intent." He pointed to the dagger. "This will require much thought." He pulled on a cord hanging from the wall beside the pallet.
Tikk heard the beaded curtain part but couldn't see who entered. The priest spoke.
"Bring four strong men. I have two... two statues I wish moved."
