Read Online King by R. J. Larson - Free Book Online

approached, seeming irked. “Shall I offer double the gold to halt the marriage?”
    â€œDo we have double the gold to spare?”
    â€œNot without Siphra taking on a sizable debt, sir.”
    â€œI doubt Thaenfall would accept it anyway.” What was the man’s motive? Power? Regardless, Akabe must outwit Thaenfall on his own battlefield. “My lord, I’m forced to accept this contract as is. Siphra must have that land.”
    Faine looked as if Akabe had punched him in the stomach. Recovering, he gasped, “Majesty, you cannot marry a Thaenfall—they’re Ateans!”
    â€œThen suggest another option for acquiring that land. Anything, my lord, and I’ll consider it!”
    Faine hesitated, silent.
    â€œThat’s what I thought.” Akabe exhaled. Wasn’t this somehow the Infinite’s will? It must be so—otherwise another option would surely present itself. Anyway, by all that was holy and dedicated to the Infinite, it was a disgrace that Ateans controlled what belonged to the Infinite. The situation must be settled.
    By Siphra’s king.

    Caitria stumbled and winced as Cyril wrenched her toward the marble steps. “Tria, what did you say to him?”
    â€œThe truth—that I don’t want this marriage.” Her brother’s fingers dug hard into her arm, making her gasp. “Cyril, let go! You’re hurting me!”
    â€œ You are hurting us! Furies burn your tongue! What were you thinking? You know what this agreement means to our lord-father—to our entire family!”
    Family! Caitria stifled her disgust. What family? When, since Mother’s death, had they ever concerned themselves with her? Naynee was now her parent, playmate, nurse, and friend. Of all her relatives, Cyril was one of the few who ever spoke to her. Cyril and her horrible “cousin,” Lord Ruestock. Ugh! “The agreement was finished and perfect until dear Ruestock came creeping in, suggesting new terms to our lord-father!”
    â€œYou need to appreciate those terms—they’ve supplied you with a dowry and a future!”
    â€œOh!” She twisted her arm from Cyril’s grasp as they entered the marble corridor leading from the garden. Behind her, Issa’s toenails clicked and scrambled over the slick floor in skittish confusion as Caitria halted and glared at her brother. “Let’sdiscuss how much I appreciate being ignored and sold to rebuild that temple despite my fears for the Thaenfalls, and for me! Let’s discuss everything that could go wrong for us all!”
    â€œThere’s nothing to discuss!” Cyril snagged her arm and rushed her through the corridor, muttering, “Lower your voice. In fact, just keep your mouth shut!”
    She wanted to kick him and throw rocks at him—in her thoughts at least. Couldn’t he ever speak to her nicely? She was his sister, not a mere interference to his drinking and gambling and rioting about Siphra.
    Truly, the king had spoken to her with more kindness in a few sentences than had her whole family for years. The king . . . !
    Oh, but why did that big, attractive man with those lovely warm eyes and perfect dimples have to be the king ? Why couldn’t he be some highborn nobleman whom her lord-father praised instead of cursed? If so, she would have approached this marriage joyously.
    Instead, she’d become a pawn in some secretive power-game connived by that wretched Ruestock and her lord-father, who . . . who was waiting at the very entry of her chamber.
    Seeing her father’s jaw tense and his fingers curl into fists, Caitria faltered and reached blindly for Issa, who nudged at her, signaling fear. The poor darling’s instincts were undoubtedly correct. They’d earned thrashings for their little jaunt this morning.
    But it might be worth some pain if the king heeded her plea. In silence, she begged Akabe of Siphra, Please ,