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

Cassandra seemed perplexed. "But you're not a commoner. You're a knight."
'I am a knight now, true. People call me'sir,' but it wasn't always so."
The princess leaned closer. "Tell me. I want to know about you."
'I was an orphan, living on the streets of Koth. My father abandoned us and my mother died shortly thereafter. I was alone and had to fend for myself. And Koth is a big city, my lady. Bigger than Hes. It's not a place for a boy to grow up alone."
'How did you survive?" asked Cassandra.
'How does anyone survive on the streets? I stole. And I worked, when I could. The smithies were always looking for boys to exploit. They drove us like slaves. I lived like that for almost four years, all alone." A smile cracked Lukien's face. "Until I met Akeela."
Cassandra noticed his grin. "You're very fond of each other, aren't you?"
Lukien nodded. Despite all the arguments he'd had with Akeela, he truly loved him.
'And you are Akeela's champion? You protect him?"
'I protect him because I love him, because he is the closest an explanation. "I'm supposed to protect you, after all. It's hard to do that unless I look at you." Cassandra's smile grew sly. "Oh."
Lukien picked a blade of grass andtwirled it between his fingers. "It's my job, you see."
'Yes, I see. Thank you for explaining it to me. I was curious." "Well, that's all right, then." Cassandra didn't stop smiling. "Yes."
Lukien cleared his throat. For some reason, he couldn't keep himself from asking, "But you were curious?"
'Oh, yes," said Cassandra. She played with the flower in her hand. "I mean, you were staring at me so intently across the pond, I was wondering why. I thought perhaps you found meЕ interesting."
A tiny terror seized Lukien. He knew he'd crossed a line suddenly, and didn't know how to respond. Cassandra was baiting him. Bolstered by the privacy and ignoring his guilt, he said, "You are interesting, my lady. You're different from most women I've known."
'Am I? Tell me."
Lukien tried a smile. "You are very beautiful and talented, and no man can resist that. But you are also refined."
Cassandra laughed. "Oh, but you live in the king's castle. You are surrounded by refined women, sir."
Yes, thought Lukien blackly. Surrounded and doomed to never touch them.
He didn't tell Cassandra how he longed to be with a princess instead of a harlot, or how L№rian women of breeding were reserved for dukes and barons. He said instead, "Still, you are different. You can paint and you can dance. You can even ride a horse. I think you are a mystery, my lady. And that interests me." Cassandra brightened, not showing the slightest hint of offense. "And you interest me, sir. Here in Reec you are the Bronze Knight."
'I'm called that in L№ria as well, my lady." "Ah, but in L№ria you are a hero, while here in Reec you are a villain."
Lukien bristled. "I am no villain."
'Yes, my lady," he said. "Friends."
Cassandra's lovely face shone, but then went horribly twisted. She jerked back her hand with a cry, putting her hands to her stomach and doubling forward. Startled, Lukien rose and knelt beside her.
'My lady?" he asked. "What's wrong?"
The girl let out a horrible gasp. Her eyes were clamped with pain.
'Princess? What is it?"
Barely able to put up a hand, Cassandra moaned, "NothingЕ I'm all right."
'No you're not." Lukien took hold of her arm. "Tell me what's wrong."
'It's nothing," Cassandra insisted through gritted teeth. She was on the verge of tears.
'It'sЕ my moon blood, that's all. That must be it."
'Your moon blood? No, that can't be it."
'And how would you know about my blood?" she snapped. She rose to her feet unsteadily, pushing him away, stumbling toward her horse. Her face was colorless. Before she could reach her mount she collapsed to her knees.
'Cassandra!" Lukien rushed forward, putting his arm around her. "God, let me help you."
The princess shook her head. "It will pass. It always does." She took deep, painful breathes, steadying herself. "Please, just let me rest a moment."
'What's wrong with you?" Lukien insisted. "Tell me, please."
Cassandra's expression was poisonous. "There is nothing wrong with me. Just my monthly cycles, that's all. And don't you dare tell anyone about this, do you understand? Don't utter a word of it."
'My ladyЕ"
'Not a word," sputtered Cassandra. She closed her eyes to compose herself. The worst of it seemed to pass as quickly as it had come. Lukien released her, watching her fretfully. Carefully she got to her feet, her head drooping, one hand still pressed against her abdomen. "I must get back to the house," she said. "Help me to my horse." thing I have ever had to a brother," said Lukien. "And I protect him because he is the son of King Balak, whom I adored."
'But he is a mystery to me," said Cassandra. "I know so little about him, and who better to tell me about him than you? Do they really call him 'Akeela the Good' in L№ria?"
'They do," said Lukien, laughing. "And it's a name he deserves, believe me."
'So he is a good man?"
'Oh, yes."
'And will he make me a good husband?"
Lukien looked at her again. Her face had changed, set with worry. He told her, "My lady, Akeela is the dearest man I've even known. It's why I pledged myself to him, and why I followed him here to Reec. There is no evil within him. He's not capable of harming anyone, least of all you. Are you looking for a gentle husband? A man who will honor and worship you, and ask himself every day how best to make you happy? If you are, then you have found him, my lady."
Their eyes remained locked, and for a moment they shared a thought, wondering exactly who Lukien had just described. Lukien felt his face grow warm with embarrassment. He looked away.
'Akeela will be a good husband, and a good king," he said. "You will be happy with him, my lady."
Cassandra was quiet. The flower in her hand had dropped to her lap. Now she was the one who was staring.
'You are not what I expected," she said softly. "You aren't a villain. I think you areЕ" She stopped herself, changing direction. "I'm sorry for the way I've treated you, Sir Lukien. You must think me a shrew."
'Don't apologize, my lady. If your Uncle Raxor came to Koth, I'd probably treat him the same way."