The Eye of Luvelles - By Phillip Jones Page 0,1

alone. Seth told Aparis, the legion leader of the Ninth Mark, his kind has been throwing their profits in this pit for more than 6,000 seasons.”

“6,000?” Shalee exclaimed in awe. “That sounds like forever.”

Michael nodded. “Indeed, My Queen.” The general redirected his gaze back onto the king. “I’ve ordered most of the spoils to be brought to Brandor, but I fear our vaults don’t have the means to hold it. I have also commanded that a wagon full of coin be sent to each city, town, and village throughout the kingdom. I hope this is acceptable, Sire.”

Pushing his hands through his hair, Sam chuckled. “There’s that much?”

Michael just smiled.

Sam took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled over an extended series of moments. “Too much coin is what I consider a pleasant problem to have. I’ll order new vaults constructed. How many do you think we’ll need?”

Again, Michael smiled. “I would say another 25, but you may want to make them twice as large.”

Sam placed his free hand on the back of his throne. “Holy garesh! That pit must be pretty damn deep.” He took another drink of ale. “If this is the case, our kingdom will never lack for anything. We’ll be able to enhance not only Brandor, but the rest of the kingdom as well.”

The king motioned for Michael to stand as he moved to look out the window. Sam sighed as he watched the everyday man walk across the meticulously placed stones of the streets. “Their pain will soon be over. Their loved ones will return, and their lives will be able to move forward in peace.”

Though Sam’s back was to him, Michael nodded. “Your subjects love you, My King ... even those who have suffered loss because of the war.”

Sam enjoyed a deep breath of Grayham’s crisp, clean air as a gentle breeze found its way through the window and onto his face. “Finally … some good news.” He turned and motioned for Michael to join him at the window. “The coin will be a blessing.”

Sam pointed toward the street and continued to address his general. “I was worried there would be further bloodshed before the barbarians surrendered. The families of our men will be happy to know it’s only a matter of Peaks before their loved ones return.” He reached up and squeezed the back of Michael’s neck. “It sounds like there’s enough coin to reward each soldier for their service.”

“There is enough to reward them again and again for more than a hundred lives lived, My King.”

Sam shook his head. “Wow! It’s hard to envision that much. I look forward to seeing the mounds myself.”

“But what about George?” Shalee interrupted, wanting answers of her own.

As always, the queen was stunning, her fashion impeccable. Her soft-blue gown accented her natural glow, courtesy of her pregnancy. She stood from her throne and pushed her blonde hair behind her ears. After taking Precious into her hand, she tapped the butt end of the staff on the floor and looked at the general through a pair of radiant, blue eyes.

“The coin sounds great, General, but for heaven’s sake, do you know where George is? Does anyone know where Kepler is? How about Kepler’s brothers for that matter? They’re enemies to our way of life and to this kingdom. We need to find them so we can stop them from hurting anyone else. This war was their creation in the first place.”

Michael’s mood changed as his report of the kingdom’s newfound fortune was overshadowed by George and Kepler’s disappearance. “My Queen, I have assigned 500 men to hunt Kepler and his brothers. I have also assigned another 200 to search for George. It won’t be long before their flesh meets the chains of our dungeon.”

Shalee moved next to Sam and took hold of his arm. “Michael, I want the kingdom to be at peace before the baby is born.” She touched her belly. “I don’t want any child of mine being born into a world with that much hate existing in it. Two hundred men won’t be enough to fight against George’s power.”

“I understand. I’ll double their numbers.”

“No,” Shalee demanded. “You will triple them.”

Michael turned to Sam. “Are those your orders, Sire?”

Sam nodded. “They are.” The king motioned for the servants and the remaining guards to clear the room. Once they were alone, he continued. “Michael, let’s talk as friends for a moment.”

“What’s on your mind, Sam?”

“You know that I’ve commanded the members of the Senate to come to