The Corin Chronicles Volume I: The Light and the Dark by Marvin Amazon Page A
Authors: Marvin Amazon
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young boy, does it not start to become obvious that something sinister brews? Something he wants no one to be aware of?”
With his hands on his head, Kirinki walked around the tent, deep in thought, shrugging off the continuous words from Cramo, urging him to flee.
Selena, meanwhile, moved closer to Kuskus. “Why do I see only you here?” she asked. “Where are your brothers?”
“Most are not with us anymore. Many died as we crossed the Shallows, on our way to Tyranis. Another died shortly after I arrived here, and another awaits us at the edge of River Jabba.”
“So where do you propose I go with my son?”
“I need to take you to Master Morgise. He awaits us at River Jabba, and he will take you somewhere safe. Beyond that, you must go somewhere Auphora will never think to look for you.”
“But how am I meant to know that?” Selena held out both her hands.
“Reach within yourself, and this place will make itself known to you. But please start gathering your things. We have no more time to waste.” Kuskus darted toward the tent entrance. “I must get the rest of my belongings from the carriage, after which, I shall accompany you.” Following a nod from Selena, the leathery-faced man quickly exited.
Selena gazed toward Kirinki, unsure of what to say. Then, aware that time was of the essence, she began gathering anything she could for their escape, with assistance from Cramo and Tranin. But a loud scream stopped them in their tracks. Looking up, they saw the lifeless body of Kuskus fall back into the tent, a sword thrust deep inside him. Kirinki sprang backward, instinctively crouching low before Siroco, using his body to shield the trembling boy. From behind the dead body of Kuskus emerged the solid, golden frame of Thane. In contrast to their previous meeting, the Monoroi’s cold stare was now filled with bloodlust.
2.5
T HE D AGGER OF P YRO
T ime seemed frozen under the angry glare of the Monoroi. For a moment Thane only stared, his black eyes piercing through everyone in the tent. The noises outside faded to silence while they all looked on, waiting. Finally, Thane raised his right leg and kicked the body of Kuskus off his sword, his eyes never leaving Kirinki, who remained crouched in front of Siroco, protecting him from the Monoroi.
Kirinki wondered what had become of the rest of his men still outside, afraid that the lack of noise could only mean that they had all been killed. But seeing the sole Monoroi gave him hope that there was still a battle taking place. Then he saw Thane step aside, followed by the emergence of another familiar face.
“Master Kirinki.” The voice of General Aspac carried with a hint of satisfaction. “We meet again. It seems the voices of men cannot be kept silent for long. Word has been spreading about a young woman, paying for the services of mercenaries with huge stacks of rubies and gold. It did not take long for us to realize who it was.”
Kirinki tightened the grip on his sword. “You have no business here,” he said. “These people have done nothing to you or your master. Why would the God of Gods order the slaughter of so many innocent people?”
The general turned toward Thane and raised his left hand. Reluctantly, the Monoroi changed his stance to a more relaxed posture and sheathed his sword. Moments later, a number of men walked into the tent, forming an orderly line next to General Aspac. Although all armed with swords, Kirinki sensed that they were not battle-hardened soldiers. One of them, a tall, gaunt man, carried a metal tray before him. Kirinki stared, perplexed to see several daggers arranged neatly on the tray.
“This could have been so much simpler if you had surrendered the boy during our first meeting,” the general started. “The deaths that have happened here, the men that fight for you, the innocent children…I am afraid that was all your doing. Or maybe, just maybe, it was that of the boy’s mother?”
Kirinki turned around
With his hands on his head, Kirinki walked around the tent, deep in thought, shrugging off the continuous words from Cramo, urging him to flee.
Selena, meanwhile, moved closer to Kuskus. “Why do I see only you here?” she asked. “Where are your brothers?”
“Most are not with us anymore. Many died as we crossed the Shallows, on our way to Tyranis. Another died shortly after I arrived here, and another awaits us at the edge of River Jabba.”
“So where do you propose I go with my son?”
“I need to take you to Master Morgise. He awaits us at River Jabba, and he will take you somewhere safe. Beyond that, you must go somewhere Auphora will never think to look for you.”
“But how am I meant to know that?” Selena held out both her hands.
“Reach within yourself, and this place will make itself known to you. But please start gathering your things. We have no more time to waste.” Kuskus darted toward the tent entrance. “I must get the rest of my belongings from the carriage, after which, I shall accompany you.” Following a nod from Selena, the leathery-faced man quickly exited.
Selena gazed toward Kirinki, unsure of what to say. Then, aware that time was of the essence, she began gathering anything she could for their escape, with assistance from Cramo and Tranin. But a loud scream stopped them in their tracks. Looking up, they saw the lifeless body of Kuskus fall back into the tent, a sword thrust deep inside him. Kirinki sprang backward, instinctively crouching low before Siroco, using his body to shield the trembling boy. From behind the dead body of Kuskus emerged the solid, golden frame of Thane. In contrast to their previous meeting, the Monoroi’s cold stare was now filled with bloodlust.
2.5
T HE D AGGER OF P YRO
T ime seemed frozen under the angry glare of the Monoroi. For a moment Thane only stared, his black eyes piercing through everyone in the tent. The noises outside faded to silence while they all looked on, waiting. Finally, Thane raised his right leg and kicked the body of Kuskus off his sword, his eyes never leaving Kirinki, who remained crouched in front of Siroco, protecting him from the Monoroi.
Kirinki wondered what had become of the rest of his men still outside, afraid that the lack of noise could only mean that they had all been killed. But seeing the sole Monoroi gave him hope that there was still a battle taking place. Then he saw Thane step aside, followed by the emergence of another familiar face.
“Master Kirinki.” The voice of General Aspac carried with a hint of satisfaction. “We meet again. It seems the voices of men cannot be kept silent for long. Word has been spreading about a young woman, paying for the services of mercenaries with huge stacks of rubies and gold. It did not take long for us to realize who it was.”
Kirinki tightened the grip on his sword. “You have no business here,” he said. “These people have done nothing to you or your master. Why would the God of Gods order the slaughter of so many innocent people?”
The general turned toward Thane and raised his left hand. Reluctantly, the Monoroi changed his stance to a more relaxed posture and sheathed his sword. Moments later, a number of men walked into the tent, forming an orderly line next to General Aspac. Although all armed with swords, Kirinki sensed that they were not battle-hardened soldiers. One of them, a tall, gaunt man, carried a metal tray before him. Kirinki stared, perplexed to see several daggers arranged neatly on the tray.
“This could have been so much simpler if you had surrendered the boy during our first meeting,” the general started. “The deaths that have happened here, the men that fight for you, the innocent children…I am afraid that was all your doing. Or maybe, just maybe, it was that of the boy’s mother?”
Kirinki turned around
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