Read Online The Cor Chronicles: Volume 02 - Fire and Steel by Martin V. Parece II - Free Book Online
Authors: Martin V. Parece II
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in every aspect of the largest city in the Shining West and possibly the world.
Beyond the weather having cooled, it appeared that nothing had changed at all in the great city. Everything was exactly as Cor remembered, including the beautiful plaza connecting the palace and temple. Despite the constant bustling activity, the city was peaceful in a way, as if the people were content and sure of their safety from the dangers of the outside world. Cor wondered what most of these Westerners would do if real war were to again come to Aquis.
They dismounted outside of the palace, and the guards escorted the group into the palace. The children continued to stare and point in awe, while the teenagers and Thyss had finally settled into calm interest. The wet nurse, Celia, paid little attention to any of it; she simply followed the group, her attention focused on the infant she carried. There was no wait for admittance into the palace’s great hall; no doubt the queen awaited him for days, and she was prepared to see him immediately upon his arrival.
Upon entrance into the hall, he saw her sitting upon her throne, examining his group with a practiced eye, but relinquishing no clue as to her thoughts. The old man who was her advisor stood to her right, and he coughed lightly into a small handkerchief. Cor approached her raised dais slowly while removing his helm, and then, somewhat uncertain as to why, went down onto one knee before her. Most of his group hesitantly followed suit, excluding Thyss, whom Cor noted held a disdainful grimace upon her face.
“Rise Dahken Cor,” she said. “It is interesting to me that you now show respect. I would ask what you found in Losz, but the answer seems obvious between your black armored countenance and those who follow you. I truly did not expect to see you again. Why have you returned to Aquis?”
“I have slain the Loszian lord responsible for my parents’ murder,” he answered. He then half turned and motioned as those behind him. “Majesty, I present to you the future of the Dahken and perhaps the future of the Shining West.”
“Interesting, and who is this exotic foreigner?” she asked. Cor had not expected the queen’s interest in Thyss, and the question gave him pause.
“I am Thyss of Dulkur, Elemental Priestess of Hykan,” Thyss said in her thickly accented Western.
“You show this court no respect, Thyss of Dulkur, and you dare mention the name of a heathen god before my throne.”
“A heathen god in your eyes, but King of the Gods in mine. A god of whom you dare not deny existence, Queen of Aquis,” Thyss retorted, and her voice contained a dangerous note of challenge. The assembled crowd hissed and murmured to each other about the audacity of this woman, and the old man called for silence.
“As I must treat you as a dignitary from an empire we have little relations with, I will allow your tone to pass Thyss of Dulkur, but do not push too far lest you find yourself unable to return,” the queen said softly. She then turned her eyes to Cor. “What do you here, Dahken Cor?”
“I have come to discuss with you my plans and hopes that the Shining West and the Dahken may find common ground, Majesty.”
“And what ground would that be?” she asked in response.
“It is time to free the Westerners who remain enslaved to the Loszian Empire. It is time to end the reign of evil over half of this continent,” Cor declared loudly. The onlookers had mixed responses, from mild cheers to guffaws.
“How, Dahken Cor, do you expect to accomplish that? With an army of children?” Queen Erella asked, and this evoked laughter from the assembly.
“Majesty, the Dahken are among you, regardless of what you know or believe of them. We are born to all classes, in any nation, and we are ostracized or even murdered at birth. Only the Dahken can help you defeat the Loszians. The children you see before you represent the first of the new generation of Dahken and more will
Beyond the weather having cooled, it appeared that nothing had changed at all in the great city. Everything was exactly as Cor remembered, including the beautiful plaza connecting the palace and temple. Despite the constant bustling activity, the city was peaceful in a way, as if the people were content and sure of their safety from the dangers of the outside world. Cor wondered what most of these Westerners would do if real war were to again come to Aquis.
They dismounted outside of the palace, and the guards escorted the group into the palace. The children continued to stare and point in awe, while the teenagers and Thyss had finally settled into calm interest. The wet nurse, Celia, paid little attention to any of it; she simply followed the group, her attention focused on the infant she carried. There was no wait for admittance into the palace’s great hall; no doubt the queen awaited him for days, and she was prepared to see him immediately upon his arrival.
Upon entrance into the hall, he saw her sitting upon her throne, examining his group with a practiced eye, but relinquishing no clue as to her thoughts. The old man who was her advisor stood to her right, and he coughed lightly into a small handkerchief. Cor approached her raised dais slowly while removing his helm, and then, somewhat uncertain as to why, went down onto one knee before her. Most of his group hesitantly followed suit, excluding Thyss, whom Cor noted held a disdainful grimace upon her face.
“Rise Dahken Cor,” she said. “It is interesting to me that you now show respect. I would ask what you found in Losz, but the answer seems obvious between your black armored countenance and those who follow you. I truly did not expect to see you again. Why have you returned to Aquis?”
“I have slain the Loszian lord responsible for my parents’ murder,” he answered. He then half turned and motioned as those behind him. “Majesty, I present to you the future of the Dahken and perhaps the future of the Shining West.”
“Interesting, and who is this exotic foreigner?” she asked. Cor had not expected the queen’s interest in Thyss, and the question gave him pause.
“I am Thyss of Dulkur, Elemental Priestess of Hykan,” Thyss said in her thickly accented Western.
“You show this court no respect, Thyss of Dulkur, and you dare mention the name of a heathen god before my throne.”
“A heathen god in your eyes, but King of the Gods in mine. A god of whom you dare not deny existence, Queen of Aquis,” Thyss retorted, and her voice contained a dangerous note of challenge. The assembled crowd hissed and murmured to each other about the audacity of this woman, and the old man called for silence.
“As I must treat you as a dignitary from an empire we have little relations with, I will allow your tone to pass Thyss of Dulkur, but do not push too far lest you find yourself unable to return,” the queen said softly. She then turned her eyes to Cor. “What do you here, Dahken Cor?”
“I have come to discuss with you my plans and hopes that the Shining West and the Dahken may find common ground, Majesty.”
“And what ground would that be?” she asked in response.
“It is time to free the Westerners who remain enslaved to the Loszian Empire. It is time to end the reign of evil over half of this continent,” Cor declared loudly. The onlookers had mixed responses, from mild cheers to guffaws.
“How, Dahken Cor, do you expect to accomplish that? With an army of children?” Queen Erella asked, and this evoked laughter from the assembly.
“Majesty, the Dahken are among you, regardless of what you know or believe of them. We are born to all classes, in any nation, and we are ostracized or even murdered at birth. Only the Dahken can help you defeat the Loszians. The children you see before you represent the first of the new generation of Dahken and more will
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