The Iron-Jawed Boy and the Hand of the Moon (Book 2, Sky Guardian Chronicles) by Nikolas Lee Read Free Book Online Page A

the Sun, am the only deity of the Grand Council fit to summon the Moon. I alone empower the Sun, I alone tend to its temperatures and light. My power over the celestial bodies of this world has already been proven. Overseeing the demands of the Moon will be no foreign matter for me, like it would Esereez, here.” He curled his lip at the tiny god. “You’re only an inventor, brother. You couldn’t possibly begin to understand the responsibility of controlling the Moon.”
    There was a smattering of whispers from the crowd of dwarves, elves, and giants on the second floor.
    Esereez’s fists went tight at his side. “It seems you’ve made my case for me, Bright One. A god of the Sun should not also be a god of the Moon. Your responsibilities are already too great. Me, on the other hand? I simply have to exist and those of this world will be inspired to invent. Assuming the responsibilities of the Moon God will not affect my present duties like it would yours.”
    Vasheer scoffed at the comment, then smirked. “Responsibilities aside, how will you ever reach the Throne of the Moon, Inventor? Shall you craft a stool to help you up?”
    The smattering of whispers from above turned to snickering, until a cold glare from Esereez silenced them.
    A third god rose, slow but mighty. He stood tall, with incredibly long, thin limbs clad in black armor, not excluding his neck. Around his head rotated a carousel of fifty magically hovering lenses—one for each of his tiny eyes. The lenses were either big and thick, or small and thin, each moving slowly from one eye to the next.
    “I, Thoman the Overseer,” the god spoke, his voice hard and unsettling, “seek the Throne of the Moon to regain the dishonor that has fallen upon me. I shall proudly take Lady Vinya’s place to restore life to her memory and mine, and erase that of my wretched son.”
    K’thas , Ion realized. This was the Overseer—the Illyrian god of war. So he was the one who brought K’thas into this world . Ion couldn’t imagine the shame he felt, though he could clearly see it weighing heavily upon the cheeks that sat below his collection of eyes.
    Esereez rolled his eyes. Vasheer rubbed one of his diamond head spikes, unimpressed.
    “This is no time for you to be thinking of honor, Thoman,” said Vasheer. “The Moon is important, and most would argue your job is more demanding than any of ours. At least when I Empower the Sun I only have to do it once a month. You, however, must sit in your tower all day, overseeing the skirmishes of this world.”
    “You speak of nothing I don’t already know,” Thoman returned. “I am aware of my limits, but they have not yet been reached. Overseeing the Moon will be no difficult task.”
    “Hah!” Vasheer cackled. “You couldn’t even raise your own son, yet you think you can take care of the Moon?”
    “Do not speak to me in that manner!” Thoman boomed, stomping the floor and rocking the Hall.
    A barrage of words was fired from all three Illyrians, the other ten gods watching on in boredom. Something bumped into Ion’s arm, and he turned to find a tray of cakes topped by bubbling, red liquid floating in midair beside him. It bumped into him again, and when he looked about to see if anyone else was seeing this, he caught Othum’s eye.
    “Serve them,” he mouthed.
    Ion grabbed the plate, and looked to Oceanus for help as he left the doors of the Hall and approached the circle of thrones. She, however, couldn’t take her eyes off the gods, so he looked to Theo, who quickly and nervously looked away.
    The crystal thrones were even bigger up close—besides Esereez’s—and the same went for the gods sitting in them. He swallowed as he came upon them, so aware of how unbearably thick his tongue felt. The sounds of godly arguing still echoed about the Hall.
    Ion walked in between two thrones and offered the plate to the deity on his left. “Sweet?” he asked quietly.
    He was a large god. In a monstrously