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

Akeela nodded. "Go on, all of you, go first."
With a shooing gesture he ushered Trager and Breck into the banquet chamber, then asked the Reecians to proceed. Akeela steadied himself with a breath. Then, with Lukien at his side, he Pepped into the tumult of the banquet. Instantly, every head in the chamber turned toward him, and the music grew. A crescendo of applause erupted and the Reecians banged the long banquet tables with their metal tankards and cheered for the for eign king. Servants with platters in their hands stopped in midservice to gape, and the children of the castle nobles, who had been carefully outfitted in royal finery, pointed and giggled. At the end of the vast chamber, at a raised table against the far wall, King Karis stood and joined the applause. There was a huge goblet in his meaty fist and his beard parted in laughter. Around him were Earl Linuk and a dozen other nobles, while at a table to his left sat a group of lovely women all sharing a striking resemblance. These, Lukien guessed, were Karis' daughters. He had heard that they were very beautiful, and now he saw the rumors were true. Each wore a long velvet dress and twinkling jewelry, and each had a husband or suitor seated beside her. As Akeela moved into the center of the room, his Royal Chargers, who had already gathered for the feast, gave a large round of cheers, drowning out even the whistling children. The hero's welcome made Akeela flush. The young king gave a humble smile as he approached the table where Karis waited, two empty chairs directly on his right. Akeela thanked the crowds, trying to speak over the clamor, gesturing for quiet. But there was too much exuberance in the room for that, so he simply made his way to the head table with Lukien. There, with everyone watching, he and King Karis embraced. It was a light embrace, more like a hand- j shake, but the peck the Reecian gave Akeela's cheek told Lukien it was sincere.
'A great day!" said Karis over the din. "And now, a great night to celebrate!"
Akeela swept an arm over the room, moved by the celebration. "This is wonderful, my lord," he said. "I'm grateful."
'It's well deserved," replied Karis. "All Reec should celebrate tonight. Now sit, my new friend, and enjoy yourself. Tonight is for getting drunk."
Akeela sat down next to the king, then Lukien took his own seat beside Akeela. Trager and Breck, who had been waiting for them beside the table, sat down next to Lukien. A pretty serving girl offered him some ale. Lukien held out his goblet, giving her a wink. Trager noticed the flirting and shook his head with disgust.
'What?" asked Lukien.
Trager scowled. "Why would you pretend to want one of these Reecian she-wolves, Captain?" he asked, careful that Akeela did not hear him. "Once she got you in bed she'd emasculate you with her teeth."
'Sure," Lukien scoffed. "And how would you know that? Has a Reecian wench gotten to your stones, Trager?"
'They're our enemies," said Trager simply. "Piss-filled bags of misery, the lot of them. You of all people should know that, Captain."
'Times are changing, Trager," said Lukien simply. "Have some ale."
The lieutenant folded his arms over his chest. "I won't drink with these swine."
'Suit yourself."
Turning his attention toward the floor, Lukien noticed a clearing between tables. The space just in front of their own table had been left bare, but an instant later an acrobat tumbled into it. As the crowd laughed and clapped, the man somersaulted backwards, landing on his feet again and again. A juggler joined him, then a violinist, and soon the floor was full of entertainers. Lukien settled back to enjoy the show.
From a tiny alcove just beyond the banquet room, Cassandra peered out from behind a velvet curtain, breathless with anticipation. In a moment the soft music would start and her father would call her forth. Cassandra smiled inwardly. She was a fine dancer, and the dress Jancis had made her was tight in all the right places. Even if Akeela was accustomed to beautiful women, she knew she could seduce him. Men were like that when she danced, so pliable, even the hardest of them. Next to her, Jancis was smiling mischievously, enjoying the excitement. From their place in the alcove they could barely see Akeela past the crowds, catching only glimpses of him and his bodyguard, the Bronze Knight. The L№rian king was drinking and laughing. He had dark hair, not unlike Cassandra's own, and his smile was blinding. Cassandra thought him handsome. Not stunningly handsome, but serviceably so, and that heartened her. She had heard too stories of duchesses married to beastly brutes, who did room had quieted. The violinists drew their bows across their strings, readying themselves.
'King Akeela, I have a special treat for you now," said Karis. "The sweetest date in my orchardЧmy daughter, Cassandra."
'Daughter?" said Akeela. With his chin he gestured to the nearby table. "Aren't those your daughters?"
'They are. But there is one you haven't met yet." The monarch's face glowed with pride. "She is the most special thing I have, King Akeela. Now she will dance for you."
Before Akeela could reply, Karis clapped his hands loudly. The violinists began to play, drawing out a soft melody. The lute player joined them, plucking slowly on his strings, and the music they made was beautiful. Lukien felt suddenly calmed. Like candlelight, the music bathed him. Even Trager was pacified. The glower on the lieutenant's face melted away, replaced by a blank-ness. Akeela looked around the chamber, wondering where this prize daughter was hiding. Then, from behind a velvet curtain, she emerged.
Gliding into the center of the chamber came a lithe and delicate figure with raven-black hair and a twirling dress of green and crimson. She floated, barely grazing the floor in her passage, her face lightly flushed, her dark eyes lustrous. Lukien slowly lowered his goblet, his eyes narrowing. She was a vision. Perfect in every way. The folds of her dress wrapped around her flawless figure, showcasing her hips and perfect breasts, and as she spun slowly toward them her hair twirled in seductive ribbons about her face. The music drew her nearer, filling the room, and every eye watched her, admiring her grace. Lukien glanced over at Akeela and saw his king mesmerized. He too had lowered his goblet, and now was clutching the arms of his chair, entranced by the lovely girl.
'Cassandra," Karis whispered. "My youngest daughter."
Akeela nodded dumbly. "Cassandra."
The music grew. The dancer drifted closer. As the rhythm quickened so did she, her movements bewitching. Soon other instruments joined the song, another lute and a flute player. Cassandra tossed her body into the music, twirling and falling and throwing back her head as though an unseen lover caressed her.
nothing but breed them for sons. From the little she knew of the L№rian, he didn't seem that type at all. And, to Cassandra's great surprise, neither did his knight.
Lukien of L№ria was easily the more handsome of the pair. He was tall and lean, with the look of a wolf about his sharp face, and his hair was honey-colored, making him seem less threatening than Cassandra had imagined. Like everyone in Reec, she knew the stories of the legendary knight. On this side of the river Kryss, they were evil tales. Yet as she spied him from behind her curtain, Lukien didn't look evil. He looked remarkably tame.
'Look," Jancis whispered, pointing toward the head table. "The tumblers are leaving."
As the entertainers left the floor, Cassandra finally got an unobstructed look at her husbandЕ
No, she corrected herself. Not her husband. Not yet. He would have to accept her first, and for that she needed to be perfect. How many women had Akeela been with, she wondered? And she, still a virgin, had to seduce him. The challenge made her pulse race.
'God's death, what's taking Father so long?" she muttered. "Easy," bade Jancis. "The musicians are coming, see?" Cassandra craned around the curtain and saw the violinists moving toward the floor. When they made their soft music, her father would call her out. She closed her eyes, summoning her skill, and waited for his call.
JL,'ukien watched with interest as the acrobats cleared the floor. He had been enjoying their antics, and they gave the Reecians in the room something other than him to stare at. A group of musicians were taking the floor, a lute player and a pair of violinists. The lute player tested his instrument, plucking off a string of gentle notes. The sight of them made the knight groan.
'Oh, no," he muttered softly, prepared to be bored.
Next to him, Akeela still had a smile plastered on his face. He was talking to King Karis, but when the musicians came forward their conversation abruptly stopped. Karis seemed distracted.
'More music, my lord?" Akeela asked him. Strangely, the Lukien swallowed hard, unable to take his eyes from the girl. She radiated beauty, and her seductive turns made his blood race. She was very near their table now. Lifting her face toward them, she gave Akeela the slightest smile. The gesture made the young king swoon. He tilted toward Lukien slightly, whispering in a starstruck voice, "Look at her. She's beautiful."
Lukien nodded. In that moment, Cassandra of Reec was the fairest thing he had ever seen. Her seductive movements touched something primal in him, something dark and carnal. And, to his surprise, something gentle stirred within him too, longing for the love of a woman. He sank back in his chair, and suddenly he was on the streets of Koth again. Alone and afraid, he could never hope for a woman like this. Princesses were the purvey of princes. Lukien picked up his drink and sipped at it distractedly. He had bedded beautiful women before, but never a royal one. Close as he was to Akeela, he was still kept from such finery.
'Oh, she's lovely," said Akeela. This time, he was speaking to Karis. "Such a fine dancer, my lord."
'My daughter dances constantly," said Karis. "It is a gift she has." He gave his guest a curious look. "You like her?"
'Like her? She's a treasure. Your daughterЧall your daughters reallyЧare lovely."
Karis moved in closer. "Ah, but Cassandra is the fairest of them all, don't you think?"
'She's splendid," agreed Akeela, then said no more, concentrating instead on the dancer and letting the world fall away around him.
Cassandra danced until sweat fell from her brow and her long hair straggled across her face. She twirled and twirled without end, and when the music finally climaxed she collapsed to the floor in a dramatic finish, tossing back her head and panting, a giant smile on her face. Her eyes locked with Akeela's as the room came alive with applause. Akeela's gaze lingered on her. Lukien sighed breathlessly.
'Beautiful," he whispered.
Akeela rose to his feet. "Beautiful!" he echoed, clapping for the girl. His approval made Cassandra glow. Still on her knees, she tilted her head to the L№rian king.
'Thank you, my lord," she said. Out of breath, her voice was soft as a breeze.
'Rise, daughter," said Karis.
Cassandra did as her father commanded, getting to her feet. She did not look away from them as Lukien expected, but rather faced them head on, still looking at Akeela. Then, oddly, her eyes flicked toward Lukien for a moment. The gesture startled Lukien and it was he that looked away, but by the time he looked back her gaze had returned to Akeela.
'You are a very fine dancer, Princess," said Akeela. "The finest I've ever seen, I'd say. Wouldn't you agree, Lukien?"
Lukien said, "I would, my lord."
'Good!" said Karis. "Then you will be pleased with what I have to tell you. Sit, my lord, please."
They all returned to their chairs, and while Cassandra stood before them, Karis picked up a pitcher of ale and began refilling Akeela's goblet. Akeela put up a hand to stop the king.
'No, no more for me yet, my lord."