Read Online The Cor Chronicles: Volume 02 - Fire and Steel by Martin V. Parece II - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Martin V. Parece II
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follow. I will build a castle in Aquis, a stronghold such as Sanctum once was, and as was once done, I will find more Dahken and bring them to our stronghold to learn of their power.”
“And you would expect me to allow this?” the queen interrupted him. “To create a small army comprised of your kind? You would expect Aquis to allow you to erect a castle so that you may destroy us from within with the power of your evil god? You would expect me to allow you free reign over the lands of the Shining West to find more of your abominable kind? You expect much, Dahken Cor.”
Queen Erella stood from her throne as she spoke, and her voice had risen as if with a violent rage, though her face remained as impassive and calculating as always. The crowd had gone completely silent; some of their eyes locked on their queen, while the rest bored into Cor’s back like daggers. He had expected she would have this reaction, but hoped for otherwise; it showed just how entrenched her beliefs of the Dahken were. As he replied, he kept his voice as calm and reasonable as possible.
“The Dahken are not evil. The god from whom we spring is Dahk, the God of Blood. All Rumedians have blood, and as such, a Dahken may be born to anyone. I neither worship him, nor any god, but they all exist in our world and must be recognized. The Dahken history, as translated by The Chronicler, shows that the Dahken didn’t stand with the Loszians, but neither did they help the Westerners in their plight. That was a mistake, and they paid for it dearly when The Cleansing came to them.
“I am here to make amends for the mistakes of the past. I ask you to judge neither me, nor the Dahken based on your view of history. Judge me for who I am, what I have done, and what I will do.”
“You admit to having murdered a venerable priest of Garod and twelve of my soldiers, do you not? That is a crime punishable by death,” she said, her voice very quiet though it carried well through the hall.
“I admit to having defended myself against men who killed my mentor and tried to kill me also. One even dealt me what should have been a killing blow, had I not spilled his blood before I died. I have no guilt over it. And if you wanted me dead for that crime, you would have had me killed last time I came before you. Certainly, you would not have risked the lives of Thom and his garrison to save me from the Loszians,” Cor reasoned. “Majesty, I know that you don’t trust me, and you’ll likely not be surprised to learn that I don’t much trust you. Powers in this world, Her Majesty included, have worked to manipulate me from the day I was born. Trust starts with one person. I have never lied to you, and I ask you to trust me. In return, I will make myself your loyal servant, and together we will free the rest of Garod’s people.”
Queen Erella dropped back heavily in her throne in shock of this man who stood so confidently in front of her. He was barely out of boyhood, but he spoke with a well reasoned mind. This Dahken Cor was far wiser than his age, and he spoke in a way that made one listen. And here he was, standing in her hall, with over a score of his people and one exotic, arrogant foreign woman standing behind him. What was it about him that made people listen to him and follow him? Even now, she, Queen Erella of Aquis and High Priestess of Garod, wanted to stand and proclaim her agreement to his ridiculous claims. She needed to think over the entire situation.
“Captain, please find comfortable chambers for the Dahken and arrange for them to have meals as necessary. Dahken Cor, I will consider your words, and we shall speak more tomorrow.”
She stood, and the entire assembly excluding Thyss knelt to the ruler of Aquis. The two women locked eyes for a moment, an imperious gaze fighting a defiant stare, and Queen Erella of Aquis exited the great hall with her aged advisor trailing behind her.
4.
“Surely, you don’t expect me to stand around
“And you would expect me to allow this?” the queen interrupted him. “To create a small army comprised of your kind? You would expect Aquis to allow you to erect a castle so that you may destroy us from within with the power of your evil god? You would expect me to allow you free reign over the lands of the Shining West to find more of your abominable kind? You expect much, Dahken Cor.”
Queen Erella stood from her throne as she spoke, and her voice had risen as if with a violent rage, though her face remained as impassive and calculating as always. The crowd had gone completely silent; some of their eyes locked on their queen, while the rest bored into Cor’s back like daggers. He had expected she would have this reaction, but hoped for otherwise; it showed just how entrenched her beliefs of the Dahken were. As he replied, he kept his voice as calm and reasonable as possible.
“The Dahken are not evil. The god from whom we spring is Dahk, the God of Blood. All Rumedians have blood, and as such, a Dahken may be born to anyone. I neither worship him, nor any god, but they all exist in our world and must be recognized. The Dahken history, as translated by The Chronicler, shows that the Dahken didn’t stand with the Loszians, but neither did they help the Westerners in their plight. That was a mistake, and they paid for it dearly when The Cleansing came to them.
“I am here to make amends for the mistakes of the past. I ask you to judge neither me, nor the Dahken based on your view of history. Judge me for who I am, what I have done, and what I will do.”
“You admit to having murdered a venerable priest of Garod and twelve of my soldiers, do you not? That is a crime punishable by death,” she said, her voice very quiet though it carried well through the hall.
“I admit to having defended myself against men who killed my mentor and tried to kill me also. One even dealt me what should have been a killing blow, had I not spilled his blood before I died. I have no guilt over it. And if you wanted me dead for that crime, you would have had me killed last time I came before you. Certainly, you would not have risked the lives of Thom and his garrison to save me from the Loszians,” Cor reasoned. “Majesty, I know that you don’t trust me, and you’ll likely not be surprised to learn that I don’t much trust you. Powers in this world, Her Majesty included, have worked to manipulate me from the day I was born. Trust starts with one person. I have never lied to you, and I ask you to trust me. In return, I will make myself your loyal servant, and together we will free the rest of Garod’s people.”
Queen Erella dropped back heavily in her throne in shock of this man who stood so confidently in front of her. He was barely out of boyhood, but he spoke with a well reasoned mind. This Dahken Cor was far wiser than his age, and he spoke in a way that made one listen. And here he was, standing in her hall, with over a score of his people and one exotic, arrogant foreign woman standing behind him. What was it about him that made people listen to him and follow him? Even now, she, Queen Erella of Aquis and High Priestess of Garod, wanted to stand and proclaim her agreement to his ridiculous claims. She needed to think over the entire situation.
“Captain, please find comfortable chambers for the Dahken and arrange for them to have meals as necessary. Dahken Cor, I will consider your words, and we shall speak more tomorrow.”
She stood, and the entire assembly excluding Thyss knelt to the ruler of Aquis. The two women locked eyes for a moment, an imperious gaze fighting a defiant stare, and Queen Erella of Aquis exited the great hall with her aged advisor trailing behind her.
4.
“Surely, you don’t expect me to stand around
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