The Eyes of God Read Online Free

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 Liiria,” 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