Read Online The Cor Chronicles: Volume 02 - Fire and Steel by Martin V. Parece II - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Martin V. Parece II
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for twenty years while you train your children,” Thyss stated derisively from her place on the plush bed.
The rooms they had been given in the palace were huge and airy, even compared to those in Taraq’nok’s castle. Thick, plush carpets and rugs lined the floor, and silk tapestries and wall coverings abounded. Of course, there were no slaves in Aquis, but paid servants who steadfastly did their duties waited on them heavily. The other Dahken were given rooms all located down the same corridor, and Cor rested somewhat uneasily having solid walls and doors separating him from them.
“You will be her loyal servant?” Thyss asked with a sneer. “Perhaps I was wrong about you, Dahken Cor. I think perhaps I should take my leave of you.”
She stood up from her place on the bed and stared at him intently, her legs set wide apart. Though they had only known each other for about a month, Cor had been with Thyss long enough to know when she issued a challenge. He also knew he had two choices; he could meet her challenge, or he could let her walk right out the door. Somehow, he knew it would be the last time he ever saw her. Cor lifted himself out of the chair he had sat in after removing his armor and walked to stand directly in front of her, mere inches away.
“I need the Westerners to understand that the Dahken are not evil, that we are no threat to them,” he said to her. “To do that, I need Aquis to support me. It is the heart of the Shining West.”
“I would have just demanded what I wanted. She would have given it to me, or I would have destroyed her precious kingdom and urinated on the visage of her god,” Thyss replied imperiously.
“And you would have died in the doing of it, killing the rest of us with you. Thyss, I love you, but you need to learn that sometimes destruction is not the answer.”
“What did you just say?” she asked, her eyes narrowed.
“Sometimes destruction is not the answer,” Cor replied, “You can partner with people to create. Creation can be just as random and elemental as destruction.”
“No, you said you love me.”
“I,” Cor was about to deny it until he thought carefully over the words that had come so easily. “Yes, I did. I do.”
“Then I have finally broken you.”
They made love then, and no fire of passion was contained. Lying there afterwards, Thyss asleep against him, Cor realized what she had always sought. Everyone wanted Thyss; she was beautiful, powerful and dangerous. She didn’t need to be wanted, she wanted to be needed.
* * *
“I find myself in a most interesting predicament, Dahken Cor,” Queen Erella said. She had called him to her chambers just after he breakfasted. She expected him alone, and he very nearly refused, expecting Thyss to join him as always.
“Creation, not destruction,” Thyss said to him, “Besides, I would like to look around this wondrous city a bit.” So, he went alone as asked, and it did not escape his notice that half a dozen guards were in the room.
“What predicament, Majesty?”
“You were right, I don’t trust you, but I find myself daring to believe in you. You have already accomplished something I deemed impossible - your entrance into and escape from Losz. You claim to have slain one of their necromancers, of which I have no actual proof, but I do not think you are a liar. What if I agree to your terms?”
“Well,” he paused in thought, “First, there is something I must do in the west, but I don’t believe it will take long. Then I would need to select a suitable site. My family owned land near Martherus; I assume it belongs to me now.”
“One thing at a time Dahken Cor. Do not think I am going to let you plant a small castle just anywhere in the Aquis countryside. No, we will select a suitable place that will allow me to monitor you,” she paused briefly, studying his face. “What task awaits you to the west?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t believe it will take long,” he
The rooms they had been given in the palace were huge and airy, even compared to those in Taraq’nok’s castle. Thick, plush carpets and rugs lined the floor, and silk tapestries and wall coverings abounded. Of course, there were no slaves in Aquis, but paid servants who steadfastly did their duties waited on them heavily. The other Dahken were given rooms all located down the same corridor, and Cor rested somewhat uneasily having solid walls and doors separating him from them.
“You will be her loyal servant?” Thyss asked with a sneer. “Perhaps I was wrong about you, Dahken Cor. I think perhaps I should take my leave of you.”
She stood up from her place on the bed and stared at him intently, her legs set wide apart. Though they had only known each other for about a month, Cor had been with Thyss long enough to know when she issued a challenge. He also knew he had two choices; he could meet her challenge, or he could let her walk right out the door. Somehow, he knew it would be the last time he ever saw her. Cor lifted himself out of the chair he had sat in after removing his armor and walked to stand directly in front of her, mere inches away.
“I need the Westerners to understand that the Dahken are not evil, that we are no threat to them,” he said to her. “To do that, I need Aquis to support me. It is the heart of the Shining West.”
“I would have just demanded what I wanted. She would have given it to me, or I would have destroyed her precious kingdom and urinated on the visage of her god,” Thyss replied imperiously.
“And you would have died in the doing of it, killing the rest of us with you. Thyss, I love you, but you need to learn that sometimes destruction is not the answer.”
“What did you just say?” she asked, her eyes narrowed.
“Sometimes destruction is not the answer,” Cor replied, “You can partner with people to create. Creation can be just as random and elemental as destruction.”
“No, you said you love me.”
“I,” Cor was about to deny it until he thought carefully over the words that had come so easily. “Yes, I did. I do.”
“Then I have finally broken you.”
They made love then, and no fire of passion was contained. Lying there afterwards, Thyss asleep against him, Cor realized what she had always sought. Everyone wanted Thyss; she was beautiful, powerful and dangerous. She didn’t need to be wanted, she wanted to be needed.
* * *
“I find myself in a most interesting predicament, Dahken Cor,” Queen Erella said. She had called him to her chambers just after he breakfasted. She expected him alone, and he very nearly refused, expecting Thyss to join him as always.
“Creation, not destruction,” Thyss said to him, “Besides, I would like to look around this wondrous city a bit.” So, he went alone as asked, and it did not escape his notice that half a dozen guards were in the room.
“What predicament, Majesty?”
“You were right, I don’t trust you, but I find myself daring to believe in you. You have already accomplished something I deemed impossible - your entrance into and escape from Losz. You claim to have slain one of their necromancers, of which I have no actual proof, but I do not think you are a liar. What if I agree to your terms?”
“Well,” he paused in thought, “First, there is something I must do in the west, but I don’t believe it will take long. Then I would need to select a suitable site. My family owned land near Martherus; I assume it belongs to me now.”
“One thing at a time Dahken Cor. Do not think I am going to let you plant a small castle just anywhere in the Aquis countryside. No, we will select a suitable place that will allow me to monitor you,” she paused briefly, studying his face. “What task awaits you to the west?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t believe it will take long,” he
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