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

'I am not my father!"
The music suddenly stopped. Akeela shrank back in his chair as the eyes of the celebrants fell upon him. Baron Glass smiled, amused, and rose from his seat.
'No," he said, "you're not." he sat he lifted his glass. "To you both," he said. "May Fate grant you a long and happy marriage."
'Here, here," toasted Lukien, still drinking from the pitcher.
'Thank you, Baron," said Akeela. He took a sip of beer, watching Glass as he did so. If the baron hadn't been so near, he would have reminded Cassandra of what he'd said earlierЧbefore the day was over, Glass would ruin it with politics.
'So," said Akeela cordially, "how did you like the tournament this year, Baron?"
'Well played, as always," replied Glass. This time he raised his goblet to Lukien. "Good jousting, Sir Lukien. You are as skilled as I ever was, maybe more so."
'Thank you, my lord," said Lukien. "You honor me."
'And the banquetЕ so lavish!" Glass looked around the chamber. "To be honest, I had expected a smaller affair."
'Oh?" asked Cassandra. "Why is that?"
Akeela braced himself. Here it comesЕ
'The expense, my lady," replied Glass. "With all the projects your husband has been championing, I didn't think the treasury had enough in its coffers for such luxury."
Akeela stiffened. "Baron GlassЕ"
'It's a special day," interrupted Lukien. "And I think it's worth the expense, don't you, Baron?"
'Of course." Glass grinned. "Tell me, Queen Cassandra, have you seen your husband's library yet? It's quite impressive."
Cassandra began to answer, but Akeela said quickly, "I've taken her there, yes."
'Did you think it was very grand?" asked Glass.
'I think it will be marvelous when it's done," said Cassandra. To Akeela's surprise, she took his hand. "And I think it's worth any expense to bring light to the world, Baron."
'Hmm, Chancellor Sark may not agree with you, my lady. He doesn't like watching the coffers of his treasury bled dry."
'It's not his treasury," snapped Akeela. "And it's not yours or mine, either, Baron. It belongs to the people of L№ria. They want the library. They know it will bring them knowledge."
Baron Glass looked down into his goblet, considering his words carefully. "Knowledge," he sighed. "Knowledge is for men realized suddenly he was shaking. Lukien hurried a goblet into his hands.
'How'd I do?" he asked.
'Drink," advised Lukien.
'Akeela?" Cassandra asked. "Are you really going away on thisЕ tour?"
'I'm sorry, Cassandra, I should have told you," said Akeela. He took a few gulps of beer, steadying himself. Blessedly, the minstrels had started playing again. "But Glass got me so angry I forgot myself. I had to say something to change the subject."
'Well, that certainly did it!" joked Lukien.
'So you're going?" asked Cassandra crossly. "Just like that?"
'I must. I'm king." Akeela took her hand. "Please try to understand. It's as I told you in HesЧI'm trying to accomplish something. And it won't be so bad; I won't be gone that long. You can get things ready for us here in Lionkeep. And Lukien will look after you."
Cassandra's face clenched. Lukien put down his beer.
'Me?" he blurted. "ButЕ shouldn't I go with you, Akeela? I mean, who'll protect you?"
'Come now, Lukien, you're not the only Royal Charger in L№ria. And you're Cassandra's champion now. Your first duty is to the queen."
Cassandra pulled back her hand. The expression on her face was dreadful. "I'm not feeling well, Akeela," she said. Yet as she spoke, she looked at Lukien."! think I need to be alone."
Before he could go, Akeela got to his feet. "Wait."
Glass stopped and turned around, looking at him questioning-ly. Angry, Akeela decided the time had come to make his statement.
'Everybody, please listen to me." He already had the crowd's attention. "I want to make an announcement."
'Announcement?" asked Lukien.
'Akeela?" probed Cassandra.
'I'm going away for a while," Akeela told them. "I'm going on a journey, a goodwill tour, you might say. I want to introduce myself to our neighboring nations. I want them to see me, and know that they have an ally in L№ria."
'What?" erupted Glass. "My lord, you've only just returned. The ink on the Reecian treaty hasn't dried yet!"
'Even so," Akeela continued, "I'm going. Countries like Marn and Norvor need to know they still have an ally in L№ria. This is going to be the start of a new relationship between our nation and the rest of the continent."
The crowd began to murmur. As Akeela expected, the chancellors in the audience shook their heads.
'My lord," said Glass, "don't you think you're going too quickly? Don't be reckless. Let us send emissaries first."
'Reckless?" asked Akeela. "Like I was in Reec, you mean? Or do you think I was merely lucky on that mission, Baron? More of your Fate nonsense?"
Glass sighed miserably. "I'm only thinking of your safety, my lord. And the good of L№ria."
'Fine. Then we're agreed that the good of L№ria matters. Therefore, I am going on this tour. It's important."
'King AkeelaЧ"
'It's important," Akeela repeated. He glared at Glass. "Now, make your fellow lords understand that, Baron."
Baron Glass was flabbergasted by Akeela's tone. They stared at one another in challenge, Akeela determined not to blink. Then, the baron smiled.
'Well," he said, "perhaps there is more of your father in you than I thought, King Akeela. Excuse me, please."
Akeela watched him turn and go, then sat back down. He J-he celebration went on for hours more, though Cassandra had retired early to her private chamber, feigning a headache that had become remarkably real. Her private chamber was a very grand room, with silk window dressings and velvet chairs and her own bed for those nights when Akeela didn't require her. She stared at the bed from one of the plush chairs, listening to the ebbing revelry in the banquet room far below and wondering what it would be like to share her sheets with Akeela. Despite her illnessesЧreal and imaginedЧshe had promised him his wedding night, and as king he had a right to expect her compliance. She hadn't thought she would dread the experience, but as the night wore on and the celebration ended, she began to fear the inevitable knock at her door. If she had gone to her window, she would have seen the exhausted nobles streaming out of Lionkeep, their enormous appetites slaked by Akeela's kitchens and wine cellars. She could hear them faintly though the glass, bidding farewell to friends and enemies they wouldn't see again for ages, and she knew that her virginity would soon be at an end.