Read Online The Iron-Jawed Boy and the Hand of the Moon (Book 2, Sky Guardian Chronicles) by Nikolas Lee - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nikolas Lee
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puddings—rose from the gap in the floor.
“Oh, thank the Triplets,” said Lord Soldune. “I’m starving .”
“Of course you are, brother,” said Vasheer.
“Guardians,” said Othum, “would you please serve your Illyrians their food?”
The Guardians traded glances and immediately took to the table of trays. Ion grabbed a plate heavy with bowls of weird, golden pudding and approached the table of Illyrians. He lowered the tray to Lady Borea, who urged him—with very pushy eyes—to place the bowl on her tray. But when he did, she smacked him on the wrist and whispered, “Serve from the left, boy.” Nervously, he did as he was told, before walking to the next god, Adalantis. He smelled of earth, and while Ion served him his bowl— from the left , of course—he saw the tiny, nearly unnoticeable grains of dark sand that made up his skin.
While Theo and Lillian went around the table filling everyone’s goblets with a slushed, coffee-colored sort of drink—except Onyxia, she was good with mead—Oceanus made her rounds with a tray of cakes spewing a steaming red lava, gleefully placing one on each god’s plate with a pair of tongs.
“Thoman, my child,” said Lady Borea, “what of the war efforts in the Outerworld? There are whispers in the garden that speak of slowed progress?”
“Mother, I think that topic could be saved for another less sensitive time?” said Othum, gesturing toward Ion, who was placing a bowl of pudding on his plate.
“Oh, no, it’s fine,” said Oceanus. “We’re fine with it, really.”
“Speak for yourself,” Ion murmured, immediately realizing he’d said it too loud.
Lady Borea eyed him disapprovingly and slipped a spoonful of pudding past her thin lips. “Your tone is noted, Sky Guardian,” she said. “But sacrifices must be made in a time of war, military drafts included. I’m sure the Achaean Academy has at least taught you that.”
“Yes, Lady Borea,” Ion said through his teeth.
“Very well then,” she continued. “Thoman, what news do you have for us?”
The hovering lenses around Thoman’s head slowed as he dabbed the corners of his mouth with his napkin. “Progress has slowed, yes. Ten human citadels remain, the last conquered four months ago. But with their numbers concentrated now, they’ve been able to better defend against our invasions. The destruction of their Wonders has surely made a dent in their morale, however. We’re just waiting to see the results.”
“Their Wonders?” Oceanus asked quietly, pouring a cup of the coffee-colored liquid into Eos’s goblet.
“Yes, their Wonders ,” said Vasheer. “Grandmother, here, brought to our attention the pride the humans share over the great structures they’ve built in the past: the Parthenon, the Great Pyramids, so on and so forth. And then suggested we destroy them.”
What Vasheer said must have sounded just as harsh as Ion had imagined, because the look on Oceanus’s face was just as horrified as his.
“Just to wipe those rotting mounds of brick and sand off this earth was enough to make me happy,” said Lady Borea. “ Great Pyramids , my godly behind.” There was a moment of uncomfortable silence, where everyone flicked their attention to Onyxia. “Apologies, My Queen. Did I offend? Let it be known, Guardians, that the Queen here is a long-lost descendant of the mighty Old Gods of Egypt—the last one of their bloodline. Of course, I’m sure you could tell that by her gaudy choice of dress.”
“No offense taken, Lady Borea,” said the Queen, eyes half open. “You know—” Othum placed his hand on Onyxia’s wrist and she tore her arm away. “Don’t touch me, you oaf! Ugh ! And now you’ve made me forget what I was going to say!”
Ion looked over at the other Guardians—everyone was shocked at Onyxia’s words. She seemed to... to hate him . While Ion placed a bowl of pudding in front of Esereez, it now made sense to him why Othum had chosen to live on
“Oh, thank the Triplets,” said Lord Soldune. “I’m starving .”
“Of course you are, brother,” said Vasheer.
“Guardians,” said Othum, “would you please serve your Illyrians their food?”
The Guardians traded glances and immediately took to the table of trays. Ion grabbed a plate heavy with bowls of weird, golden pudding and approached the table of Illyrians. He lowered the tray to Lady Borea, who urged him—with very pushy eyes—to place the bowl on her tray. But when he did, she smacked him on the wrist and whispered, “Serve from the left, boy.” Nervously, he did as he was told, before walking to the next god, Adalantis. He smelled of earth, and while Ion served him his bowl— from the left , of course—he saw the tiny, nearly unnoticeable grains of dark sand that made up his skin.
While Theo and Lillian went around the table filling everyone’s goblets with a slushed, coffee-colored sort of drink—except Onyxia, she was good with mead—Oceanus made her rounds with a tray of cakes spewing a steaming red lava, gleefully placing one on each god’s plate with a pair of tongs.
“Thoman, my child,” said Lady Borea, “what of the war efforts in the Outerworld? There are whispers in the garden that speak of slowed progress?”
“Mother, I think that topic could be saved for another less sensitive time?” said Othum, gesturing toward Ion, who was placing a bowl of pudding on his plate.
“Oh, no, it’s fine,” said Oceanus. “We’re fine with it, really.”
“Speak for yourself,” Ion murmured, immediately realizing he’d said it too loud.
Lady Borea eyed him disapprovingly and slipped a spoonful of pudding past her thin lips. “Your tone is noted, Sky Guardian,” she said. “But sacrifices must be made in a time of war, military drafts included. I’m sure the Achaean Academy has at least taught you that.”
“Yes, Lady Borea,” Ion said through his teeth.
“Very well then,” she continued. “Thoman, what news do you have for us?”
The hovering lenses around Thoman’s head slowed as he dabbed the corners of his mouth with his napkin. “Progress has slowed, yes. Ten human citadels remain, the last conquered four months ago. But with their numbers concentrated now, they’ve been able to better defend against our invasions. The destruction of their Wonders has surely made a dent in their morale, however. We’re just waiting to see the results.”
“Their Wonders?” Oceanus asked quietly, pouring a cup of the coffee-colored liquid into Eos’s goblet.
“Yes, their Wonders ,” said Vasheer. “Grandmother, here, brought to our attention the pride the humans share over the great structures they’ve built in the past: the Parthenon, the Great Pyramids, so on and so forth. And then suggested we destroy them.”
What Vasheer said must have sounded just as harsh as Ion had imagined, because the look on Oceanus’s face was just as horrified as his.
“Just to wipe those rotting mounds of brick and sand off this earth was enough to make me happy,” said Lady Borea. “ Great Pyramids , my godly behind.” There was a moment of uncomfortable silence, where everyone flicked their attention to Onyxia. “Apologies, My Queen. Did I offend? Let it be known, Guardians, that the Queen here is a long-lost descendant of the mighty Old Gods of Egypt—the last one of their bloodline. Of course, I’m sure you could tell that by her gaudy choice of dress.”
“No offense taken, Lady Borea,” said the Queen, eyes half open. “You know—” Othum placed his hand on Onyxia’s wrist and she tore her arm away. “Don’t touch me, you oaf! Ugh ! And now you’ve made me forget what I was going to say!”
Ion looked over at the other Guardians—everyone was shocked at Onyxia’s words. She seemed to... to hate him . While Ion placed a bowl of pudding in front of Esereez, it now made sense to him why Othum had chosen to live on
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