Read Online The Dead God's Due (The Eye of the Lion Saga Book 1) by Matt Gilbert - Free Book Online Page A

through
this.”
    “We certainly have, and
don’t think for a moment that I don’t recognize an
ambush when I see one. If you imagined I would hide my disapproval
of this union because of our guests, you are sadly mistaken. I will
not bless foolhardiness.”
    Aiul sighed. “Mother, I
have made my decision.”
    Narelki’s face now showed
more anger, her nostrils flaring. “It is a foolish decision! You are a nobleman of Nihlos. You should marry a
noblewoman.”
    “You’re a fine one
to talk!” Aiul snapped, a bit more sharply than he had
intended, but it was a ridiculous situation. His own father had been
a commoner. “Such hypocrisy!”
    “It is hardly hypocrisy
to recognize the mistakes of one’s youth. It is wisdom.”
    Aiul spread his arms wide and
looked to the two elders in frustration. “What would you have
me do, mother? I love Lara! She carries my child !”
    “And what of it? You
needn’t acknowledge the child.” She folded her arms
across her chest. “A commoner is fine for a mistress, but a
marriage is quite another matter,” she declared. “They
don’t understand our ways, Aiul. It will go badly for you in
the end, and then you will have to do very difficult things, things
that will haunt you forever.”
    “Because it went badly
for you? Because you are haunted?”
    Narelki’s eyes flashed in
true anger now. “You go too far!”
    Aiul stood fuming in silence
for a moment, then nodded and lowered his gaze to the floor. “You
speak truth.”
    At this, Narelki softened a bit
as well. “Oh, Aiul, I know the madness you feel. I know it
well!” She walked over to her son, her head barely reaching
his chin, and hugged him. “But marriage is about more than
that. It is image and politics and business, too. Surely those three
things outweigh the one?”
    Aiul shook his head in denial
and stepped apart from Narelki. “The Great Father spoke often
of balance in all things. If there were a noblewoman who suited me,
I would consider it, but there are none I would have as wife.”
    “None? Kariana is a
beautiful women! She has made no secret of her interest in you, and
she is Empress !”
Ariano’s eyes grew wide at this suggestion, and Maranath was
seized by a coughing fit that didn’t entirely hide some choice
expletives.
    Aiul shook his head sadly.
“Such a stupid and arrogant thing, that title. I’ll
always think of her as Kariana. I fail to see how my becoming one of
her many toys will raise my status or that of House Amrath. Her
perverse appetites are well known.”
    “You had no such problem
with that before. You used to quite fancy her.”
    “Mother, you are no
shrinking violet! There is a strong difference between what a man
chooses for dalliance and what he chooses for wife and mother of his
children!”
    Narelki shook her head,
unmoved. “You were very close to her since you were children
yourselves. You’re making excuses.”
    Aiul sighed, not really wanting
to go here, but Narelki had him cornered. “She changed ,
mother. She was always undignified and impulsive. Those were some of
the things I liked about her.” He struggled against the urge
to smile as one after another outrageous memory bubbled up in his
mind. That would not help his argument at all. “Since she took
that crown, she’s become cruel and very publicly promiscuous.
She would shame me, Mother, and shame House Amrath.”
    It was Narelki’s turn to
admit defeat. “You speak truth. The politics do not outweigh
the cost in dignity. But surely we could find someone--!”
    Aiul shook his head and slammed
a fist into his open hand. “I’ve made my decision,
Mother!”
    Narelki stared at him in
silence a moment, then gave him a curt nod. “And I have made
mine. As Matriarch of House Amrath, I forbid the union, as is my
right.”
    Maranath cleared his throat as
his fingers tightened on the handle of his cane. “This is
unseemly.” He stepped forward and gently guided Aiul aside,
then faced Narelki with a scowl.