The Corin Chronicles Volume I: The Light and the Dark by Marvin Amazon

fear and anger, but Tranin quickly restrained her.
    Kuskus quickly drew his sword but realized that Cramo had already placed a blade against his neck. “What is this?” Kuskus asked. “Why do you threaten the boy?”
    “I will not be lied to,” replied Kirinki in a fury. “I have heard another mention the mark of Pyro, from one of Auphora’s soldiers. I thought nothing of it at the time, but it is starting to bear some significance now. I swore to protect this boy, but I must know his true identity, and I must know it now.” With the veil now completely removed from Siroco’s face, Kirinki looked shocked. The boy was handsome, with bluish, green eyes and long, golden hair, but it was not Siroco’s eyes that brought about his reaction. “By the gods, you speak the truth.” Kirinki ran his hands across the deep scar under the boy’s right eye. “He is the Anointed One, just as you said.”
    “But of course he is,” shouted Kuskus. “I would not have risked my life coming here if he was not.”
    Cramo lowered his blade and Kuskus approached Kirinki, sparing an angry glance at the other man.
    Kirinki looked sadly at Selena. “Would it have been so difficult for you to tell me the truth? I would have protected both of you, no matter what.”
    “I did not want to give you that burden.” replied Selena, unable to meet his eyes.
    “So you would rather hand us this death sentence without even telling us that our time is coming to an end?” Kirinki shouted. “Do you know how many people have died today?”
    “What would you have me do?” Selena said. “So many have already died to protect him. I have already told you that I will give my life for his. I gave you everything I owned. I will fall on your sword now, if you told me that an act like that would make him live.” Selena slumped to the ground, sobbing.
    “How did you know about the scar?” Kirinki diverted his attention back to Kuskus.
    “As I said, I am one of the loyal servants, sworn to protect the boy. He acquired that scar from an executioner who meant to claim his life, just days after his birth. I arrived minutes after the assassin to find the man dead on the floor, still holding the bloodstained blade. It is still unclear as what or who killed the assassin, but the blade had brushed against the boy’s skin as the killer fell to his death, scarring him for life.”
    “But what are you protecting him from? I keep hearing stories about the Anointed One, but what does that really mean?”
    “I could stand here and tell you about the legacy that will become embroiled with this boy, but as we stand here, Auphora has demanded his death. The people that ravage this village as we speak are here at Auphora’s bidding, and they will not stop until Siroco is dead.”
    “But why would the God of Gods want such a young and innocent boy dead?” Kirinki shuddered as a loud scream bled into the tent, quickly followed by another.
    “We must leave at once, Master Kirinki,” said Cramo, tugging at his shoulder. “This place is no longer safe.”
    “I will not leave until I know what it is I am protecting.” Kirinki’s glare toward Selena was fierce. “I want to know why Auphora would want this boy dead.” He returned his gaze to Kuskus.
    “Because this little boy will be the one to bring balance back to Corin,” Kuskus said. “And he must live at all costs.”
    “But the galaxy is peaceful with the Corin gods banished. Why should I help in changing that?”
    “Listen to me, Master Kirinki,” Kuskus spoke slowly. “The war between the gods has raged for two generations. We know not what they fight over, nor their true intentions. The First Coming ended after the War of the Immortals, when Auphora fought against the demigods, his own children. We know not the true reasons for that war. Now, he has not only banished his eldest son, but he has also demanded the death of this child. So if the God of Gods is going to such lengths to murder this