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

Assistant Chancellor D'marak cleared his throat loudly, shooting Akeela a cautioning glance. Akeela looked at him askance.
'Is something wrong, D'marak?"
'My king," said D'marak, "this man is a felon, beyond redemption. He got eight years because he deserves it." He tapped his book. "It's all in the records. He made his livelihood as a thief. If you let him go he'll just steal again."
Akeela thought for a moment, leaning back in the big chair. Mercy Court wasn't supposed to be a mockery, and releasing dangerous men was the last thing he wanted to do. But Regial didn't look dangerous to Akeela. He looked dirty and that was all, the way Lukien had looked as a boy.
'Regial," he said, "Mercy Court means a great deal to me, but it's also important to all these others. If I release someone who then goes out and repeats the same crimes, it would ruin this court. I'd have to stop granting leniency and hearing petitions, and then everyone would lose. Do you take my meaning?"
The young man nodded quickly. "I do, my king."
'So you won't return to thieving?"
Regial crossed his heart. "I promise."
'Promise," sneered D'marak. "King Akeela, pleaseЕ"
Akeela held up his hand. "It's done. Release him and take him to Lionkeep." He glowered at Regial. "We're going to put you to work in the castle, fellow. I'm going to keep an eye on you. And I warn youЧI know every stick of silverware in my home. If so much as a spoon goes missing, it's back to Borior with you."
Regial smiled, D'marak sighed, and the crowd of petitioners broke into murmurs, surprised by Akeela's trust.
'Thank you, my king," said Regial, bowing. "I won't disappoint you, you'll see."
'See that you don't," said Akeela. He was pleased with himself, pleased with the respect he saw reflected at him from the crowd.
For the rest of the afternoon, the petitioners were ordinary. Two more prisoners were brought in from Borior, but neither of them had stolen from a baron and that made them less appealing to the crowd. D'marak, still stung by Akeela's refusal of his advice, remained quiet throughout the proceedings, simply reading charges and answering Akeela's inquiries. Akeela could sense D'marak's disquietude.
Finally, near sundown, D'marak called the last number for the day.
'Forty-three."
A man stood up from the crowd, his wooden number tag in hand. He was well dressed and groomed, with shining jet black hair combed carefully to one side and a well tailored jacket around his slim frame. He stepped forward, bowing first to D'marak then to Akeela. He presented himself with an earnest smile and a whiff of nervousness.
'Thank you for hearing my petition, my king," he said. "My name is Gorlon, from Koth."
'Welcome, Gorlon," said Akeela. It was late in the day now and he was weary, but he was^ determined to give this last case his full attention. "You look afraid. Don't be. This is Mercy Court, after all." He glanced at D'marak. "Assistant Chancellor, what are the particulars?"
D'marak paged through his book until he came to number forty-three. Half-laughing, he said, "Adultery, my lord."
Akeela's smile waned. "Adultery? Is that true, Gorlon?"
Gorlon swallowed. "I'm sorry to say so, my lord."
In L№ria, adultery wasn't a crime like rape or thievery, but it was a transgression for which a man could expect restitution. He could put his wife away for it, or demand that damages be paid as compensation for his broken home, if not his broken heart. So far in Mercy Court Akeela had dealt with thieves and whores and even a rapist, but this was his first adulterer. For some reason he couldn't explain, he disliked the man.
'I don't think we should waste your time with this, my king," said D'marak. "I'm sure Gorlon here is sorry." He turned to the young man. "My ledger says the offended wants twenty sovereigns for damages. You can pay half that, yes?"
Gorlon nodded. "Yes, gladly."
D'marak made a mark in his book. "Fine. Then we're done here, I think. My king, if you'dЧ"
'Stop," said Akeela. He looked at D'marak acidly. "We're not done here, Assistant Chancellor."
D'marak blanched, and Gorlon, who hadn't expected the king's tone, stepped back a pace.
'Explain yourself, Gorlon," Akeela ordered. He leaned Suddenly Akeela didn't know himself. All the mercy blew out of him like a wind. He saw Gorlon standing before him, prideful and handsome, cocksure that he could come to Mercy Court and bargain a better deal, and Akeela remembered how awkward he had been as a youth. In his mind's eye, it was all he could see.
'Right," he said, nodding. "Gorlon, you will pay the husband you wronged forty sovereigns."
'Forty?" Gorlon shrieked. "But my lord, he's only asking for twenty!"
'Forty," Akeela repeated. "And don't raise your voice to me."
Gorlon looked at D'marak for support, but the assistant only stared at the king, his mouth agape.
'You think I'm being cruel, don't you?" Akeela asked the petitioner. "You're lucky I don't toss you into Borior."
'King Akeela, pleaseЕ"
'Look at you, standing there in your fine clothes with your perfect face. I've seen fellows like you all my life. You think that smile of yours lets you get away with anything."
Stunned, Gorlon said nothing.
'Well, not this time." Akeela rose from the bench. "D'marak, forty sovereigns. Not a penny less."
He left the courtroom, suffering the shocked expressions of the crowd.
forward, gazing down at the man. "I want to hear about your crime."
'My king, there's really nothing to explain," stammered Gor-lon. "I loved a woman who was married. That's all. It was my foolishness that brought me to this place."
'And your lust," added Akeela.
'Aye, and that," agreed Gorlon. "But I did the lady no harm. She was with me willingly, and has even told her husband so."
'No harm?" said Akeela. "You believe that?"
Gorlon nodded. "Yes, my lord. But I don't have the twenty sovereigns to pay the man I've wronged. If ten is agreedЕ"
'It is not agreed, sir," said Akeela. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples against a rising headache. The way this arrogant Gorlon pranced into courtЕ
'My king," said D'marak. "Why not let him pay the ten sovereigns and be done with it? It's late, after all. And it's only adultery."
'Only adultery?" Akeela erupted. He stood up suddenly, forcing a gasp from the courtroom. "Adultery is a crime in L№ria."
D'marak chuckled. "It's hardly the same as murder, King Akeela."
Akeela turned to Gorlon. "What is marriage?"