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

Karis could barely speak. "They did this for you?" he asked.
'They did this for peace," said Akeela. "Not for me."
'My king is modest," said Lukien. "They would not have done this for any other ruler, not even his father."
King Karis shook his head in disbelief. "In L№ria they call you Akeela the Good," he said. "I know this. And now I know why."
'It is the people of L№ria that are good, my lord. I asked them to contribute and they did so willingly." Akeela brightened. "But that's not all. Look closer at the chest, my lord."
Puzzled, Karis did as asked, staring into the box and its lustrous contents. "Yes?"
'That bunch of cloth. Pick it up."
Laying atop the golden heap was a piece of blue linen,
wrapped securely around a hidden item. Karis reached out and plucked it from the pile, holding it carefully.
'What is it?" he asked.
'Go ahead, unwrap it," urged Akeela. Lukien cringed. Like Trager, he had dreaded this moment. It was the one thing he and his lieutenant agreed upon. He watched Karis peel the blue linen back until its contents was revealedЧa little crystal bottle filled with clear liquid. Karis held it up to the light. His advisors gathered around to see it.
'Forgive me, King Akeela," said Karis, "but your gift isЕ
baffling."
'That's water from the river Kryss," said Akeela. His voice quavered, and Lukien knew he was nervous. After this, there could be no going back. "It's yours, my lord."
Karis looked at him, not quite understanding, or not daring to believe.
'My lord, you said it yourself," said Akeela. "Since before I was born, Reec and L№ria have battled, and all because of a river. We've always thought the Kryss was ours, and you've always thought it belonged to you. I don't know how many people have died for that bloody stream; I don't think anyone could count. But I'm king now, and I won't let it go on." He shrugged, and for a moment he looked more like a boy than a monarch. "The river Kryss is yours. If you'll allow L№ria free trade on the western side, we will quarrel with you over it no more."
King Karis of Reec blinked, mute with surprise. He didn't move, but merely stared at Akeela with his mouth open. "Fate above," said Linuk. "Do you mean this?" "Everything my king says is the truth," said Lukien. "Akeela the Good does not lie."
'You would give us the Kryss?" asked Raxor. The war minister seemed dazed. "Just like that?"
'No," said Akeela sharply. "Not just like that. For peace, and peace only. That's the price for these gifts. You may keep all this gold, but if you break this pact there will be bloodshed again. And I'm gambling that none of us wants that. Do you want war,
King Karis?"
Still Karis didn't reply. Clutching the bottle of river water, he climbed back to his throne, seating himself. Lukien knew Akeela's gift had astonished him. After nearly thirty years of war, the Kryss was suddenly his, and now he didn't know what to do with it.
'Do you know the cards of Noor, King Akeela?" he asked.
Akeela nodded. In L№ria, fortune cards were common, just like all other arcane trappings. "I know of them, but that is all." he replied.
'When your father died, I read the cards," said Karis. "I wanted to know what kind of man was succeeding him. The cards told me that you were a man of peace. It was the first time I thought they were lying to me. Now it seems the cards have shamed me. I should have listened."
Akeela stepped toward the throne. "We have an agreement, then?"
Karis gave a huge grin. "Oh, young king, we have so much more than that. We have peace, for the first time in my memory. You have made an old man very happy."
The Reecians in the room cheered, and Akeela and Breck joined them. Even Lukien grinned. Akeela clapped the shoulder of Earl Linuk, then embraced Raxor and Arnod in turn. Finally, he climbed onto the dais to take Karis' hand, but Karis rose instead, took Akeela's hand in his own, and placed a gentle kiss on it.
'Tonight we will celebrate," he declared. "There will be music and we will feast. All your men must attend, and we will show you how Reecians celebrate!"
'Thank you, my lord," said Akeela. To Lukien, he looked gigantically relieved. "Then we will see you tonight. And if you have rooms for us, we would be grateful. 'Twas a long road from L№ria."
'Rooms are already prepared for you," said Karis. "Earl Linuk will escort you, and my servants will see to your needs. Rest well for tonight, King Akeela. You are not the only one with gifts."
Akeela squinted at him. "My lord?"
Karis laughed and released his hand. "You'll see what I mean. For now, just rest and enjoy my home."
what he needed to survive or working for pennies in the slave-like conditions of smithies. By eleven he was emaciated from this grueling life, but by thirteen he was becoming a man, and life in the smithies had strengthened his body and hardened his heart. Then, at fourteen, he had met Akeela.
Akeela, who was three years younger than Lukien, had been touring the L№rian capital with some of his father's advisors. A contingent of guards had accompanied them, but Akeela, curious about things even then, had wandered off to explore on his own, blundering into the alleys Lukien called home. It hadn't taken long for the roughs in the area to find the well dressed stranger. Even for his age Akeela was short, but he had defended himself against the youths that had robbed him, swearing when Lukien found him that he'd bloodied the noses of two of them. Of course it was Akeela who was truly bloody. Thoroughly drubbed by the boys, Akeela needed help finding his way back to his royal guardians. And when they had located the guards and gotten Akeela safely into his carriage, the boy-prince had told his protectors not to go looking for the youths that had robbed him, because they were poor and knew no better.
In all the years since then, Lukien had never forgotten that moment. Had he been the victim, he would have tracked the rabble down and killed them, but not so this forgiving youngster. Instead, Akeela had insisted that Lukien return to the castle with them, to get some clean clothing and a good meal, and to meet his father, the king. There, the young Lukien was greeted as a hero for helping the prince, and King Balak had practically adopted him. He hadn't left the castle since; as he had never left Akeela's side, because the young prince needed him.
But Lukien always remembered the hard-won lessons of the street, and he had never forgiven his drunken father for leaving him, nor his mother for dying. Those were burdens he carried [th him everywhere, even onto the battlefield, and it was an unfortunate enemy indeed who came upon the Bronze Knight and his unwieldy emotions. In Koth's castle he had grown to manhood, had studied in the L№rian war college, and graduated the top of his class. He had become the paragon of a horse A .keela had been given chambers in the south tower of Castle Hes, overlooking the city and its vast marketplace. They were well appointed rooms, fit for a royal visitor, furnished lavishly with silk and tapestries. A cavernous collection of hallways connected the rooms, so that Akeela not only had a bed chamber, but also a dressing room and a separate room for bathing. A huge bed of iron and brass decorated with plush pillows had been prepared for him, along with a platter of fresh breads and cheeses. Earl Linuk, who had escorted Akeela to the rooms, had told him to rest and make ready for the banquet being prepared for him. Linuk had seen to Akeela personally, while Karis' servants tended to the other L№rians, finding them rooms on lower floors. Linuk had not expected Lukien to insist on sharing the rooms with Akeela. Cordially, Linuk explained that he had prepared a nearby room for the king's "bodyguard," but Lukien had ignored him, choosing instead to remain with Akeela.
Lukien was always with Akeela.
Sometimes, it seemed to Lukien that he had been with Akeela his whole life. They were nothing alike, really, but over the years they had become like brothers, and had even been raised as such by Akeela's father, Balak, who adored Lukien. Abandoned by his father and orphaned by the death of his mother, Lukien had lived in the streets of Koth, with only his ten-year old wits to protect him from the big-city predators. He had been a thief, stealing soldier, rising to command the Royal Chargers. Still Lukien brooded as he recalled his miserable life on the streets of Koth.
All these things Lukien considered as he sat by the window overlooking Hes' marketplace, absently chewing an apple. From high in the tower, Hes looked much the same as Koth, and the similarity triggered unpleasant memories. Lukien stretched out, holding back a sigh. Inside the dressing chamber, Akeela was i preparing for the celebration. Lukien himself had already dressed, choosing a tunic of plain brown and some stiff black j boots that Karis' servants had provided. Already Lukien felt himself growing anxious. He didn't like the idea of eating with Ree- : cians, or of spending the evening being stared at. But Akeela was i in a fine mood, for he had brokered his peace with Karis and was j ready to celebrate. As the young king readied himself in the | nearby chamber, Lukien could hear him whistling.
Whistling. Lukien couldn't help but laugh. At twenty-four, Akeela still resembled the boy he had rescued in the alley.
'Akeela the Good," he whispered, shaking his head. An apt name for such a blameless man. Suddenly, Lukien was pleased with his life as Akeela's champion. Sometimes brothers are less than friends, he knew, but that didn't mean there was love lost. Putting aside his half-eaten apple, he got out of the chair and strode toward the dressing chamber. "Almost ready?" he called. "They'll be expecting us."
Akeela stepped out of the small room, his hair shining with oil, his blue tunic stunning. Across his waist rested a silver belt with a small, ceremonial dagger, while on his feet were a pair of thigh-high boots, polished to a gemstone-like luster. "I'm ready," he declared. "And I'm starving." "Let's hope these Reecians can cook," said Lukien. He glanced down at Akeela's dagger. "You're taking that?"
Akeela caught his meaning. The Reecians had requested that Lukien himself bear no arms to the banquet. "It's just for ceremony," he explained. "Besides, you'll be sitting next to me. If anyone tries to harm me, you can grab my dagger and save me, all right?"
Lukien didn't laugh. Without his weapons he felt naked. "I think they'd try to poison you first. Not much good I could do then." you found a mirror in the hall and adjusted his collar. "You don't trust them, I know. But you'll see. The time for peace has come. The time for a new L№ria, maybe a whole new world."
"A grand dream."
'Nay, not a dream, Lukien. A plan." The young king smoothed down his hair. "Shall we go?"
With Akeela leading, Lukien followed him out of the chambers and into the hallway where two Reecian guards were waiting, ready to escort them downstairs. They explained that King Karis was already in the banquet chamber, and that many of Akeela's men had gathered there, too. Akeela walked with eager strides as the guards led them down a flight of stairs, then into another hall, wide and tall. The hall was decorated with flowers, and as they neared the banquet room the strains of music reached their ears. Lukien could see Trager and Breck waiting for them just outside the banquet room. Breck wore a grin while Trager was unreadable, but both had dressed for the evening, sporting long capes trimmed with wolf fur. They looked fit, fine examples of L№rian excellence, and Lukien was proud of them. They bowed to Akeela as he approached.
'How's it look in there?" Lukien asked Breck, peering over his lieutenant's shoulder. The chamber was crowded with people and pipe smoke.
'You should see the feast they've laid out for us," Breck replied. He was a big man who loved food, and his appetite shone in his eyes.
'King Karis is already inside, waiting for you, my lord," Trager told Akeela.