The Chronicles of Lorrek Box Set

by Kelly Blanchard

  Theran shook his head. “Not until we complete this adventure of yours. My ability comes in handy at times.” He smiled.

  Vixen watched the exchange, and she saw the great reluctance on Lorrek’s part to even reach out and grab hold of his brother’s hand because he knew that would break his own hand. She decided to resolve it herself and stepped between the two brothers, seizing Lorrek’s hand, locking eyes with him. “Everyone, grab hold.” Then she seized Theran’s gloved hand only to inhale sharply when the bones in her hands snapped. While everyone else grabbed hands then took hold of Lorrek’s other hand, Vixen ground her teeth as she glared at Theran. “You. Owe. Me…big.”

  Ceras waved at them. “Have fun! Wish I could join you.”

  Before Lorrek could magick them away, Radella did it because she knew exactly where they needed to go.

  Reappearing in a forest, Lorrek immediately released everyone’s hands and turned his attention to Vixen, who was grimacing and now cradled her broken hand close to herself. “Let me see that.” He gently took hold of her hand and began to heal it while Theran and Radella began to scout out the area to secure it.

  The two locked eyes briefly, but then Lorrek looked back at her hand. He didn’t want to acknowledge his brother yet, didn’t want to deal with issues of the past. They had more important things to address first.

  After a moment of healing the break, he finally released Vixen’s hand. “Flex it.” He watched as she did this and saw she felt no pain. Good. His job was done.

  He turned toward the others, ignoring Theran but fixing his eyes on Radella. “Lead us away.” And he followed.

  5

  They walked in silence for some time. Radella and Lorrek took the lead, Vixen and Theran came in the middle, and Jaegar with Zoyra brought up the rear. They kept walking and walking, and Vixen tried to identify their surroundings, but forests always looked like the same to her “Radella!” She hollered at the sorceress who walked ahead. “Where are we? And where are we going?”

  “Talhon—at least the forested outskirts of the land.” Radella motioned to their surroundings. “This is where Skelton and I were last tracking Mordora when she lashed out at us, almost turning both of us into stone. That’s when I decided to find Lorrek.” She glanced back at him with a nod then fixed her head forward as she kept walking. “Skelton is still here—somewhere. I can sense his magic…” And she trailed off as she became intensely focused, pushing through the thick underbrush of the forest.

  Everyone noticed her sudden change in demeanor, but they hastened after her.

  “Skelton!” Radella pushed aside low branches and saw behind them the dark opening of a cave. It radiated with Skelton’s signature, but she didn’t hear anything. “Skelton? It is I—Radella. I brought Lorrek and a few others.” She moved to step forward, but Lorrek barred her way with his arm

  He conjured an orb of light then stepped inside first. “Skelton?” He ducked to avoid hitting his head on the low ceiling.

  “Fawn?” A weak voice came from the back of the cave, and they hastened toward it.

  With a muttered spell, Radella lit the entire cave in dim light and saw Skelton sitting up against the back wall of the cave with his hand pressed against the wound in his stomach. The light glistened on his pale, sweaty skin, and he looked like he was barely holding himself up. As Radella went to him, he looked at everyone with confusion. “Where have you all come from…?”

  “We’re here to help,” Jaegar stepped forward, moving Skelton’s hand away from his wound to replace it with his own and heal it. Even though his mother was queen and his father was a former assassin, his parents had instilled in him the desire to try to help those in need, especially those who couldn’t help themselves. Magic users couldn’t heal themselves, so it was a good thing they had found him. He locked eyes with him. “What happened?”

  Skelton coughed then wheezed. Blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth. “Mordora…and that…thing…”

  Jaegar frowned when he heard this, but he assumed Skelton meant the bracelet. After pouring some healing powers into him, he removed his hands only to frown. The wound didn’t appear closed at all. He tried again, but still nothing. He looked up at Radella. “Stay with him.” Then he rose to his feet and went to Lorrek, motioning for him to follow her to the mouth of the cave where Vixen, Zoyra, and Theran stood watch.

  Once away from Skelton, Jaegar lowered his voice. “I tried to heal him, but it wouldn’t heal. I haven’t seen magic like that before.”

  “I have,” Lorrek spoke, still staring at Skelton, but his mind was in the past when he had tried to heal Honroth but couldn’t. Emotions rushed through him, yet he clenched his fists and locked eyes with Jaegar. “That is how Countess Verddra killed my brother, Honroth. The only one who can heal the wound is the one who inflicted it in the first place. Mordora shouldn’t have that kind of power—not yet at least.”

  “Maybe that bracelet is giving her powers we never imagined,” Theran suggested.

  This wasn’t an idea Lorrek wanted to think about. “We need to find Mordora and that bracelet.” Lorrek folded his arms as he contemplated the different options they had then finally looked back at Jaegar. “I want you to stay here with Radella. Help her stabilize him. She can’t do it on her own.”

  “Pardon?” Jaegar raised his brows then pulled his shoulders back and crossed his arms. “The whole reason I am here is to protect Vixen—”

  Vixen unsheathed a knife from her vest and took a step forward, only for Zoyra to grab her shoulder and hold her back. Vixen glared at Jaegar and through clenched teeth snarled, “I don’t need a protector!”

  “All the more reason you should stay,” Lorrek told Jaegar. “You’ve already insulted Vixen, and it’s very possible for her to stab you in your sleep. However, your help is needed here. Radella cannot sustain Skelton on her own. Other than me, you are the only other magic user in this group. That is why you will stay.”

  Jaegar narrowed his eyes. He didn’t like this development, but it made sense. “Very well.” He nodded, stepping back. “I will stay, but know that I am not happy about this.”

  A small smile tugged at the corner of Lorrek’s lips. “I’m not trying to make you happy. I am merely trying to do what is necessary. We will return with Mordora and have her heal Skelton, and then we will see what we can do about that bracelet. Theran, I want you to stay here and guard them—”

  “No.”

  This rebuttal caused Lorrek to turn his head and look at his brother. He furrowed his brows. “Excuse me?”

  Theran shook his head, reached up, and removed his helmet, tucking it under his arm, so he could properly glare at his little brother. “I said ‘no’. I’m not going to stand around here doing nothing while you go off to face a dangerous foe. You need my help and my special skills.”

  Lorrek crossed his arms and drew back his shoulders. “I need you to stay here and protect them as Radella and Jaegar will be preoccupied with stabilizing Skelton—”

  “They don’t need my protection, so I’m coming with you!” He stepped toward Lorrek, daring his little brother to object.

  Lorrek narrowed his eyes as he clenched his jaw. He saw everyone around them staring at them, and he balled his fists. He didn’t want to get into an argument with his brother now, and if he wanted to come, so be it. “Very well.” He turned back to Jaegar and Radella. “Cast a hiding spell over the mouth of this cave, so no one else will know you are here. While the Talhonians are friendly, they will be very suspicious of three magic users in a random cave in their forests. We will be back as soon as possible.” With that, Lorrek turned, pushed past the others, and led the way out.

  Vixen and Zoyra shared a look, and then both looked at Theran.

  Ignoring the others, Theran stormed after Lorrek. “What is your problem, Lorrek?” When his little brother gave no response, Theran lengthened his strides to catch up with him, and he stepped in front of him, forcing Lorrek to halt and look at him. �
�You’ve been avoiding me all this time. What did I do wrong?”

  Too many answers rushed through Lorrek’s mind, but he voiced none of them. He gave Theran a look then passed right by him.

  “Oh, come on!” Theran turned back around to look at Lorrek’s retreating form. He spread his hands out. “What did I do that you’re upset with me? You’re sulking, and you never sulk. The last time you did that was when you almost killed Heldon and me when we were children.”

  Lorrek shook his head. He remembered that evening well. The four brothers played in the garden. Theran had taunted Lorrek, and he struck out—the first time he ever used magic. But this was different. Lorrek was not obligated to give his brother an answer. He walked on.

  Theran had enough. He marched after Lorrek and grabbed his arm to stop him.

  Lorrek stiffened immediately and sucked in a deep breath as he felt his humerus break between his elbow and his shoulder. He didn’t move at first but then slowly turned his gaze upon his brother. His eyes darkened.

  A few paces behind them, Zoyra gave Vixen an uncertain glance, but Vixen motioned for her to stay back. However, Zoyra could tell by the assassin’s tense stance that she was ready to separate the brothers.

  Intense pain radiated through Lorrek’s body, starting at the break and shooting down to his fingertips. Though he could move his fingers, it hurt. The pain also shot up to his shoulder, neck, and head and completely overwhelmed him, so he gasped.

  Realizing what he had done, Theran cursed under his breath and released his brother. “Lorrek, I’m sorry…”

  Lorrek held his arm close to his chest as he finally turned to Theran and bared his teeth. “Sorry?” He growled. “You are ‘sorry’? All you have ever been is reckless and careless! All you have ever cared about was your own pride and your own merriment while the consequences of your actions went well beyond yourself!” He stepped closer to Theran’s face, seething. “Father is dead because of you. Loroth is dead because of you. Honroth is dead because of you. Inecha is dead because of you. Heldon lost his hand because of you. I lost ten years of my life because of you! And now my arm is broken because of you. You. Don’t. Think! And now, because you are stuck in that pathetic suit of armor with the magical ability to break things with a touch, you think that I should pity you?” Lorrek scoffed with a dry laugh and stepped back, shaking his head. “I don’t have time for this. I didn’t ask you to come, but if you are determined to tag along, you will follow my lead and do as I say without question. Am I understood?”

  Theran stared at Lorrek for a long time—suddenly seeing a man he had never seen before, who wasn’t his little brother. Theran’s jaw shifted. He wanted to remind Lorrek of his place, and how dare he speak to him in such a manner? But he didn’t as Lorrek’s words began to sink in.

  Lorrek was right. Everything terrible that had happened was because Theran hadn’t been responsible in the first place. So much could have been avoided if he had merely done what was expected of him. Honroth especially could still be alive today if Theran had taken the crown rather than forced it on his younger brother. There was so much Theran wished he could change, but he couldn’t go back in time. And he didn’t know what to say.

  He dropped his arms and slumped his shoulders. “I’m sorry.” But even that sounded lame to him. He didn’t know what to do. Lorrek claimed he never took responsibility. Theran decided he should start now, and he pulled back his shoulders, meeting his little brother’s eyes. “You’re right. I am responsible for so much, but I cannot change the past. However, I can take charge now and make sure my past actions are not repeated.” With that, he marched past Lorrek to take the lead.

  Lorrek watched him go then hollered after him, “And what exactly is your plan?”

  Theran turned to him and spread out his hands as he kept walking backwards. “To track down Princess Mordora.”

  “And how do you intend to do that?” Lorrek raised his brows.

  Theran laughed then put his helmet back on his head and tapped on the side of his head. “Technology, little brother.”

  Now it was Lorrek’s turn to shake his head and chuckle. “You always think you have all the answers.” He stalked up to Theran—his face cold and calm. “But have you considered the fact that your technology has its limits? In order for you to find her, she must first be in your system, yet she has never been around such technology, so your technology has never had the opportunity to document her face. Therefore, you cannot do a simple search for her in the hopes of locating her. That is where my magic come in.” With that, he walked past Theran to lead the way.

  Theran watched him go and glared at him. Of all his brothers, he never thought Lorrek would be the one he would have most conflict with. That role usually went to Honroth. But with Honroth gone, Theran supposed it made sense. He cast Vixen a frustrated look.

  She shrugged as she and Zoyra approached him. “I’ll talk with him.”

  “Doubt you’ll have much luck.”

  She ignored him, nodding for Zoyra to stay with Theran as she went on ahead. Zoyra shared a look with Theran, and then the two followed after Vixen and Lorrek, but at a slower pace to give them space.

  Vixen didn’t talk with Lorrek right away. She let him lead them through the forest in silence, and she observed the way he cradled his arm close and shied away from anything that might bump into it. The one thing she always thought was unfair about magic was the fact that while users could heal others, they could never heal themselves. Lorrek would have to wait until they came across another magic user before he could be healed. In the meantime though, his arm needed to be secured because Vixen knew Lorrek wouldn’t turn back to be healed by Radella or Jaegar.

  After walking for a while and giving him time to think about what he had said to Theran, Vixen decided to approach him and lengthened her strides. “Let me see your arm.”

  Lorrek glanced at her as she kept pace beside him. He contemplated arguing. He sighed and found a rock to sit on, motioning for her to examine his arm.

  “We’re going to scout out ahead,” Zoyra told them as she passed them with Theran.

  Vixen nodded her thanks and focused her attention on Lorrek’s arm, gently taking hold of it. He hissed and stiffened but otherwise did nothing. “I need to brace it.” She looked around for sticks and soon returned with some. “Do you happen to have any strips of cloth we can use in that pocket dimension?”

  Still saying nothing, Lorrek reached into the magical pocket dimension and pulled a cloth out of the air. “You will have to rip it.”

  Vixen nodded as she took it from him and began ripping the cloth into strips. One thing about magic users Vixen was envious of was the dimension they could reach into to pocket things away or to retrieve things. That way they did not need to carry it on their person. That was incredibly handy at times, and she had observed how thieves with magic abilities used this pocket dimension to their advantage, pocketing away a stolen item so no one would find it on them.

  She began to work on securing Lorrek’s arm. “I have to say, I’ve never seen you that angry.”

  Lorrek grunted but said nothing. Instead, he focused on not flinching as she worked on his arm.

  Vixen worked in silence, straightening Lorrek’s arm, bracing it, and binding it. She took her time.

  “I lied,” Lorrek’s soft voice finally broke the silence, and she looked up at him. He went on, “Theran isn’t responsible for Loroth’s death, or Father’s, or Honroth’s, or Inecha’s. He wasn’t even there.” Lorrek shook his head and looked away. “I said those things because I was angry. I am tired of being responsible—for everything.”

  “Lorrek, you’re not responsible for everything,” Vixen said gently, still binding his arm.

  He chuckled quietly. “You’re right.” His gaze met hers. “But I am more responsible than anyone else.”

  “Why? Because you have magic?” Vixen raised her brows as she made a sling out of the remainder of the cloth. Looping it around his neck,
she situated his arm in it and pulled back, satisfied with her work. Although she was an assassin by trade, she was pleased with her ability to tend to wounds if necessary.

  When Lorrek didn’t respond, Vixen grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her. “Stop this. You’re acting like a child. You know things are not as simple as one person being responsible for everything. Yes, in some heroic manner, you wish to take all the blame—and the credit—but why? Are you trying to build a legacy for yourself? So all of time would look back in history at Prince Lorrek of Cuskelom and see him as the greatest and most powerful sorcerer of all time? You need to stop it.”

  “And do what?” Lorrek glared at her as he yanked his chin out of her grip and looked away, staring at a tree stump a little way away.

  Vixen threw her hands in the air. “I don’t know! Experience life? Actually live? Have you ever been in love?”

  This question earned her another scowl, but then Lorrek looked away once more.

  Resisting the urge to unsheathe a blade and stab him to get his attention, Vixen sighed and lowered herself to the ground beside him. They sat in silence for a long time before she finally asked, “Who was she?”

  “None of your concern.” Lorrek still did not make eye contact.

  “You’re impossible.”

  Lorrek gave her an unsurprised look.

  She went on, “You’re absolutely selfish—”

  “I seek to find Mordora, save her from herself, and have her heal Skelton and reverse all the stone spells she has cast. How is that selfish on my part?” Lorrek furrowed his brows, genuinely confused.

  Seeing she had some room for conversation with him now, Vixen continued, “Why do you seek to do all that?”

  “Because I’m the only one who can.”

  This caused Vixen to laugh, and she gave him an incredulous look with raised brows. “The only one, aye? I beg to differ. After all, there is Jaegar, Radella, and many other sorcerers…”