Read Online The Dead God's Due (The Eye of the Lion Saga Book 1) by Matt Gilbert - Free Book Online
Authors: Matt Gilbert
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them a drink when he heard the sound of footsteps in the foyer.
Moments later, Narelki, Matriarch of House Amrath stood in the
doorway, an expression of slight annoyance on her normally serene
face. She wore a simple, form fitting dress of white silk, and no
jewelry at all. She is perpetually severe .
To Aiul, she seemed more sculpture than woman, a female
counterpoint to the statue of Amrath: noble, aquiline face of
whitest alabaster, with high, chiseled cheeks and pointed chin; fine
hair of spun gold, not a strand out of place; narrowed, cold eyes of
pale, blue sapphire; thin, pressed, disapproving lips carved of
ruby.
Her heart, he knew, was made of
stone, so why not the rest of her?
Narelki raised an eyebrow as
she surveyed the room. “I see we have guests.”
Aiul flashed his most charming,
confident smile at his mother. “Indeed we do. I invited them
to hear my news.”
“And welcome the two of
you are in my humble abode,” she said, nodding to the two
elders. “As for me, I feel more summoned than invited, but as
our Great Father told us, feelings have little to do with reality.”
“It is good to see you,
child,” Ariano offered.
Narelki seemed to soften just
the tiniest fraction at this. “It is good to see the both of
you, as well. It has been some time, hasn’t it?”
“You are young,”
Ariano said. “You have responsibilities. We understand.”
Maranath rolled his eyes as if
to say, “Speak for yourself,” and Aiul struggled not to
laugh out loud. He, too, suspected Narelki’s sudden grace was
more out of decorum than any real sense of ease or reunion, but he
would take what he could get.
Obviously, no one was going to
be surprised by his news, but it was time to make it official.
“Well, you’re all anxious to hear my ‘secret’,
so I’ll go straight at it. The test was positive. Lara is
pregnant! I am to be a father, and Great Father Amrath’s line
moves forward once again.”
Ariano clapped her hands
together and grinned like a child before a birthday cake, and
Maranath rose with uncharacteristic speed to clap a hand Against
Aiul’s back. “Well done, boy! Well done indeed!”
He gave an exaggerated wink and chuckled, “We knew, of course.
What else could it be? But it’s good to hear it from your
lips. Congratulations!”
“It’s wonderful
news, Aiul!” Ariano said. “I simply must do something to commemorate the occasion.” She clasped her
hands together and tilted here head, a look of pure bliss on her
face, her eyes widening and seeming to lose focus as she considered.
“A song? A sculpture? A painting, perhaps, of you and Lara. I
have some techniques I’ve been wanting to try. Or a mosaic!”
She was more excited now. “Yes! I could do something grand on
one of the walls in your new home! Have you any ideas on where you
will live?”
“I do indeed,” Aiul
answered. “I think a top level suite in the Cradle of Nihlos
would be appropriate.”
“Oh, my, yes,”
Ariano agreed. “But you will need more than money for that.
You will need influence as well. It’s quite a difficult thing
to arrange for most.”
Aiul nodded, beaming. “So
it is. Fortunately, I know some very influential people who--”
He turned toward his mother to continue and fell speechless. The
look in her eyes made him feel as if he had been doused with icy
water after a long marathon. Maranath, seeing the same thing,
stepped aside and leaned against the wall, a dubious expression on
his face.
Narelki’s face had grown
rigid with disapproval, making her seem even more a statue. After a
moment of consternation, Aiul recovered himself and met her stare
with his own, wondering if perhaps she thought of him as he did her:
carved of stone, hard of heart. Both of them bore more than passing
resemblance to their revered ancestor. Only the eyes would be
different. She would see emeralds.
Narelki at last broke the
silence. “This is a mistake, Aiul.”
“We have been
them a drink when he heard the sound of footsteps in the foyer.
Moments later, Narelki, Matriarch of House Amrath stood in the
doorway, an expression of slight annoyance on her normally serene
face. She wore a simple, form fitting dress of white silk, and no
jewelry at all. She is perpetually severe .
To Aiul, she seemed more sculpture than woman, a female
counterpoint to the statue of Amrath: noble, aquiline face of
whitest alabaster, with high, chiseled cheeks and pointed chin; fine
hair of spun gold, not a strand out of place; narrowed, cold eyes of
pale, blue sapphire; thin, pressed, disapproving lips carved of
ruby.
Her heart, he knew, was made of
stone, so why not the rest of her?
Narelki raised an eyebrow as
she surveyed the room. “I see we have guests.”
Aiul flashed his most charming,
confident smile at his mother. “Indeed we do. I invited them
to hear my news.”
“And welcome the two of
you are in my humble abode,” she said, nodding to the two
elders. “As for me, I feel more summoned than invited, but as
our Great Father told us, feelings have little to do with reality.”
“It is good to see you,
child,” Ariano offered.
Narelki seemed to soften just
the tiniest fraction at this. “It is good to see the both of
you, as well. It has been some time, hasn’t it?”
“You are young,”
Ariano said. “You have responsibilities. We understand.”
Maranath rolled his eyes as if
to say, “Speak for yourself,” and Aiul struggled not to
laugh out loud. He, too, suspected Narelki’s sudden grace was
more out of decorum than any real sense of ease or reunion, but he
would take what he could get.
Obviously, no one was going to
be surprised by his news, but it was time to make it official.
“Well, you’re all anxious to hear my ‘secret’,
so I’ll go straight at it. The test was positive. Lara is
pregnant! I am to be a father, and Great Father Amrath’s line
moves forward once again.”
Ariano clapped her hands
together and grinned like a child before a birthday cake, and
Maranath rose with uncharacteristic speed to clap a hand Against
Aiul’s back. “Well done, boy! Well done indeed!”
He gave an exaggerated wink and chuckled, “We knew, of course.
What else could it be? But it’s good to hear it from your
lips. Congratulations!”
“It’s wonderful
news, Aiul!” Ariano said. “I simply must do something to commemorate the occasion.” She clasped her
hands together and tilted here head, a look of pure bliss on her
face, her eyes widening and seeming to lose focus as she considered.
“A song? A sculpture? A painting, perhaps, of you and Lara. I
have some techniques I’ve been wanting to try. Or a mosaic!”
She was more excited now. “Yes! I could do something grand on
one of the walls in your new home! Have you any ideas on where you
will live?”
“I do indeed,” Aiul
answered. “I think a top level suite in the Cradle of Nihlos
would be appropriate.”
“Oh, my, yes,”
Ariano agreed. “But you will need more than money for that.
You will need influence as well. It’s quite a difficult thing
to arrange for most.”
Aiul nodded, beaming. “So
it is. Fortunately, I know some very influential people who--”
He turned toward his mother to continue and fell speechless. The
look in her eyes made him feel as if he had been doused with icy
water after a long marathon. Maranath, seeing the same thing,
stepped aside and leaned against the wall, a dubious expression on
his face.
Narelki’s face had grown
rigid with disapproval, making her seem even more a statue. After a
moment of consternation, Aiul recovered himself and met her stare
with his own, wondering if perhaps she thought of him as he did her:
carved of stone, hard of heart. Both of them bore more than passing
resemblance to their revered ancestor. Only the eyes would be
different. She would see emeralds.
Narelki at last broke the
silence. “This is a mistake, Aiul.”
“We have been
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