King by R.J. Larson Read Free Book Online Page B

existence.” Kien paused, deliberate. “The Infinite lives ! I’ve witnessed His power. I’ve seen the words of His prophet fulfilled in the overthrows of kings, kingdoms, and His own beloved Parne. I will praise Him to my death! Those who sneer have not sincerely evaluated themselves or Him. Therefore, they mock in ignorance.”
    Remarkably, Cherne and his cohorts remained quiet. Staring. “As for your contempt toward the king of Siphra, sirs . . . ” Kien straightened. “You are not in his place! You will never understand what Akabe of Siphra must endure. He is an honorable man, yet you scorn him, not knowing what he’s facing for the sake of his people.”
    Cherne twitched, and one of the men beside him smirked. “So you say, my lord .”
    The magistrate hammered on the sound box. “Silence, or I’ll have you thrown out!”
    Kien eyed the man who’d smirked. “You called me ‘my lord’ as an insult. But you and your cronies are the ones who’ve made that word my reality! I did not ask for a Siphran title or wealth and lands for saving my friend’s life. I rejected the title—as I rejected Istgard’s crown last year! My father and mother raised me to love my country and to serve the Tracelands, and so I have. To serve has been my life! I’ve never sought power for myself.”He wouldn’t mention Father. Rade Lantec’s ambition was too well known.
    “But you, sirs, by trying to wreak havoc on my father to repay him for your political quarrels, have forced me to become a Siphran lord!” The thought choked him. Fighting the invisible cord burning and tightening around his throat, he rasped, “In conclusion . . . I have loved the Tracelands. I’ve been imprisoned and risked my life for the Tracelands. Now the Tracelands is about to repay me, thanks to you!”
    Tears slid down his face now and dripped onto the table. Oh, perfect. Fine. He wouldn’t wipe them away. He turned to the magistrate and stood at attention. “Sir, I am finished.”
    The man rubbed his face and coughed. Finally, he said, “Kien Lantec. For your guilt in the question of loyalty, you are stripped of all rights and status as a Tracelander. You will resign all offices and leave our country within five days. Dismissed.” He hammered the sound box one last time, then stood and departed from the circular chamber.
    Our country. Kien pondered the words from an emotional distance. Our country, no longer Kien Lantec’s country. Numbed, he looked around. Father was slouched deep in his chair, hands over his face, his shoulders shaking. As everyone watched, Kien crossed the marble floor, climbed the steps, and leaned down, hugging Rade tight. Knowing that hope was probably wasted, he said, “We’ll find some way to overcome this sentence!”
    Rade gripped Kien, trembling. After gasping for air, he choked out, “Yes! Cherne will have a fight such as he’s never seen!”
    “Choose your battles carefully,” Kien warned. “You must restore our good names first.” That battle would take years. Beginning now.
    Determined to fulfill his sentence publicly, Kien released Father and went to stand in front of General Rol. The general stood slowly, his thin face working in a clear battle against his emotions. “My boy . . .” he began.
    “Sir,” Kien interrupted quietly, “forgive me.” He unbuckledhis sword-belt, lifted the military baldric from his shoulder, then folded the black leather against his cherished, nearly invulnerable Azurnite sword—the hilt gleaming in its scabbard, the glistening blue blade hidden like a treasured gem.
    He’d loved carrying this sword. Best to never think of it again.
    At attention now, he held the sword across both palms and offered it to General Rol. And waited. Rol finally accepted the sword, moisture edging his eyelids. After giving his military mentor an encouraging nod, Kien removed his own mantle with its Tracelandic military insignias and folded it with all the ceremony he could muster.