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

Linuk and his courtiers turned and went to their horses, a group of brawny beasts with crimson blankets waiting at the side of the avenue. At the earl's command the Reecian soldiers prepared to fall in line behind the L№rians. Akeela brought his horse forward, waving to the eager crowds. Lukien hurried alongside his king, followed directly by Trager, Breck, the wagonload of gifts, and the forty Royal Chargers accompanying them. The gates closed silently behind them, and Castle Hes beckoned them forward. Lukien looked about, spying the Reecians lining the street. All met his eyes with a distinct scorn. Though they loved Akeela, apparently, they hated his herald. The knight leaned toward Akeela.
'You were right," he confessed. "Look at them. They adore you."
'They adore the thought of peace," said Akeela, his lips barely moving as he continued to smile and wave. "They are as weary of war as we are."
'We?" chuckled Lukien. "You, perhaps."
'All right then, me," said Akeela. "You're not king, Lukien. If you were, you'd feel differently."
Lukien decided not to ruin the moment. Of all the Chargers, only he himself craved war, because it defined him and because he knew nothing else. He said, "I'm happy for you, Akeela. I'm happy you're right."
'Be happy for L№ria," said Akeela. They were passing a crowd of young children, all boys, all excited and pointing at them. "Look there, you see those boys? They would have all grown up to be Reecian soldiers, with nothing more to look forward to than war. But they can have a future now. They won't have to face you on the battlefield."
Akeela's logic was flawless and cruel, and it made Lukien stiffen.
'As I said, I'm glad you were right."
The two rode in silence for minutes afterward, Akeela enjoying the crowds, Lukien enduring their stares. Earl Linuk and his party had brought them to the very edge of the castle hill, to another open gate leading to the outer ward of the citadel. Here, the crowds of citizens thinned, replaced by more soldiers and servants of the king. Stableboys and milkmaids had gathered in the yard, and the wide portcullis of Castle Hes had been raised, bidding them enter. The long columns of horsemen snaked into the ward, where Linuk and his men dismounted, handing their steeds off to waiting grooms. Akeela glanced up at the two towers, impressed by them. They were suitably grand, and the lichens climbing up their walls made them look ancient. Now that the sun was nearly down, the palace was lit with braziers. Grim-faced guards with feathers in their helms flanked the portcullis. Lukien waited for Linuk to fetch them. He dismounted, along with Trager and Breck.
Earl Linuk stepped forward and carefully took Akeela's reins. "My lord, if you'll come with me, I'll take you to King Karis. He's in his throne room, waiting for you."
Akeela dismounted, eager to follow the earl. "Will, see to the wagon, will you?"
Lieutenant Trager said, "Yes, my lord," and went to work. Like Lukien, he had known Akeela for years, and hated being ordered about. But he always did as ordered, and with Breck's help pulled back the tarpaulin from the wagon. Atop the wagon's bed was an iron chest with stout rivets and a padlock. Akeela gestured to it, asking Linuk if he could bring it with him to the throne room. The earl agreed without hesitation, but when Linuk called some of his men forward to carry it, Akeela said, "Don't bother, Earl. My lieutenants will see to it," then followed the earl through the portcullis. Lukien hurried after him.
'Breck, Trager," he ordered, "bring it along. The rest of you, stay behind."
Quickly he caught up with Akeela, falling in step behind him. The earl's men surrounded them, talking idly about how pleased they were to have Akeela in Reec. The young king nodded and smiled, well suited to his first diplomatic mission. Lukien was proud of him, the way an older brother would be proud of a younger sibling. They had talked about this moment for months, and all the while Akeela had fretted about the task. Yet the new king seemed every bit as polished as his late father.
The halls of Castle Hes were marvelous. High ceilings swallowed them, decorated with mosaics of colored marble and gilded glass. Huge windows revealed the night outside as it came alive with stars, and glowing torches stood like sentries along the walls. The stableboys and milkmaids had gone, and now only well-dressed nobles greeted them, bowing to Akeela as he passed. Lukien caught the eye of a comely noblewoman just in time to see her snicker. He sighed and looked away. Just ahead a pair of carved oak doors hung open on iron hinges.
'The throne room," said Linuk. He paused outside the chamber, stepping aside and gesturing for Akeela to enter. Akeela took a breath, then turned toward Lukien, giving his champion a nervous smile. Lukien encouraged him with a wink. Then, with Akeela leading the way, the two L№rians stepped inside.
The throne room spread out before them, high and barrel-vaulted, with stout iron chandeliers and grand tapestries and a formidable dais at its far end. On the dais was a throne of ebony, with carved runes through its form and feet like the paws of a lion. Perched on the throne, his eyes as hard as diamonds, was King Karis of Reec. Akeela and Lukien took careful steps toward him, not averting their gaze. Karis' face was emotionless. He studied the pair dispassionately, barely twitching his ringed fingers. Two more Reecians, dressed similarly to Linuk, stood on the dais beside him. Lukien guessed they were Raxor, the king's war minister, and Arnod, the Reecian treasurer. Raxor was the king's brother, and the family resemblance was striking. To Lukien's eye, they could have been twins. Not so with Arnod, who was much shorter than Raxor and fair-haired. Both advisors were quiet as Akeela approached, waiting for their king to speak first. An anxious silence filled the chamber.
Then, unexpectedly, Akeela dropped to one knee before the Reecian king. He bowed his head, put an arm across his knee as if being knighted, and said, "Great King of Reec, I am Akeela of L№ria. By accepting me into your home, you honor me."
Lukien couldn't believe the sight, nor could Karis. From the way the Reecian's eyebrows lifted, he seemed stunned by the greeting. Noticing that Lukien was still standing, Akeela casually reached out for his hand and gently dragged him downward. Reluctantly, Lukien joined in the bow, keeping his eyes on Karis. The King of Reec looked first at his advisors, then back at Akeela.
'King Akeela," he said finally, "Thank you."
Akeela and Lukien rose. The young king offered his host one of his warm smiles, which the Reecian did not return. Karis merely studied them. Thinking the stillness of the chamber would suffocate him, Lukien nudged Akeela to say something. But the king remained silent.
'You're very young," said Karis."My advisors tell me you are twenty-four years old. Is that so?"
'Your advisors are accurate, King Karis," said Akeela. "I am twenty-four."
'How many years have Reec and L№ria been at war?" pressed Karis. His tone was featureless, neither threatening nor mild. "Do you know?"
'Since before I was born, my lord," replied Akeela. "For twenty-eight years, since the battle of Awalak."
'That's right," sighed Karis. "A very long time, your whole lifetime and more. So tell me then why a scholar like yourself is so anxious to end a war his father loved, so soon after taking his place."
Insulted, Lukien stepped forward. "You presume a great deal, King Karis," he said. "King Balak never loved war. To say so is to slander him."
'Lukien," said Akeela, taking his shoulder. "Be easy."
King Karis rose from his throne. For the first time, anger flashed in his eyes. "You are the Bronze Knight," he declared. "Butcher. I should warn you to be silent, Lukien of L№ria. You are not so welcome here as your king."
Lukien wanted to speak but Akeela's insistent grip on his shoulder stopped him. Akeela stepped forward, saying, "Lukien is my champion, my lord. I go nowhere without him, and you've already agreed to let him accompany me."
'Yes," said Karis. "I did agree, because I wanted to speak with you, King Akeela, and to hear your offer." His eyes went to Lukien. "But I warn you, Bronze KnightЧI tolerate you only for the comfort of your king."
Akeela said calmly, "And I should warn you, King Karis, that Lukien was as close to King Balak as a son. Speaking against my father will invite his ire. And mine."
Karis grunted suspiciously. "You are brothers, then?"
'Of a kind," replied Akeela.
'All right, then," agreed Karis. "We are here to talk peace, after all."
Before Akeela could respond, a clamor sounded in the doorway. Lukien turned to see Trager, Breck, and four others of their brigade toting the iron box. Earl Linuk was before them, smiling at his king.
'My lord, forgive me, but King Akeela has brought this for you."
Karis looked perplexed, and also strangely pleased. He stepped down from his dais just as the sweating men dropped the chest to the floor with a thud.
'What is it?" Karis asked.
'Gifts," said Akeela brightly. "From L№ria to you, King Karis. I think you'll like what we've brought you. In fact, I have something very special to give you."
Lukien bristled, realizing what Akeela meant. But Karis seemed intrigued. Instantly he had lost his dispassion toward Akeela, and now seemed to share the young man's exuberance. Raxor and Arnod gathered near him as he peered at the box. To Lukien, they looked like a bunch of children waiting for Akeela to open a toy chest. Then, as if he'd suddenly come to his senses, Raxor put out a hand.
'Wait, my lord," he told Karis. His eyelids narrowed on Akeela. "Tell us first what is in there."
'RaxorЕ"
'Brother, it could be dangerous," advised the war minister.
'I'm sorry to say this in front of our guests, but they are L№rians, after all."
The king flushed. "Forgive my brother, King Akeela. He means no offense, I assure you."
Akeela produced a shiny silver key from beneath his cape. "I promise you, my lord, there is no danger in the box. Only good things. May I proceed?"
'Of course," said Karis, ignoring his brother's concern. He stepped closer to the box in a show of goodwill. Raxor stood beside him, but Arnod kept back a pace. Curiosity got the better of Earl Linuk, who came to stand next to his king, and as Akeela clicked open the padlock and tilted open the iron lid, the faces of the Reecians took on an amber glow, bathed in the reflected glow of the contents. Nearly everything in the box was gold; coins and candelabras and carving knives, rings and plates and picture frames, all shimmering in the chest. It was more than a fortune, more than a king's ransom, and it made Karis' jaw drop. The Reecian king hovered over the box, dumbfounded. Akeela swelled proudly.
'For the people of Reec," he said. "From the people of L№ria. There's something in here from nearly every citizen of Koth, my lord. These are not only valuables from my own coffers, but from farmers and blacksmiths, even from my own soldiers, here." He gestured to Lukien, who himself had tossed a gold-hilted dagger into the chest.