“You don’t mean that.” Theran shook his head. “I saw the way you cared for Loroth—”
“Of course I cared for him! He was my husband!” Vixen threw her hands in the air, then began to pace. “I didn’t want him to die, so we agreed on the whole magic extraction plan of Lorrek’s, but that didn’t turn out well. Next thing I know, Loroth mysteriously dies, Lorrek is missing, and suddenly I’m assigned to accompany you for ten years while you search for Lorrek. Then, when Lorrek finally surfaces, he’s hunting me! And he nearly succeeds! When I wake up, all of this drama with Mordora and the Kelliphs unfolds, and then you break Lorrek’s arm, and suddenly I’m responsible for taking care of him.” She stalked up to Theran. “I. Am. Through! Once all of this has been resolved, I am going my own way, and none of you should try to change my mind. I will stab you if you do.” With that, she spun on her heel and marched away.
Theran watched her go as he tried to understand everything she had said. It hurt—deeper than he understood, but he wasn’t about to let her go so easily. “Where will you go?” He followed her.
“I don’t know. Travel the world. Travel the stars. Reclaim my name as the most feared assassin. It doesn’t matter.” She kept walking.
“It matters to me.”
This caused Vixen to laugh, and she glimpsed over her shoulder at Theran. “No, it doesn’t. You’ve simply gotten used to my presence since we went on adventures for ten years.”
“And do you know who I trusted most during that time?” Theran kept on her heel. “I didn’t trust Aradin or Dustal with my life, but you...I trusted you.”
Vixen arched a brow as she looked at him. “You do realize the entire time I was relaying information to your brothers regarding your whereabouts, correct? That is why it was so easy for Heldon to find you in the inn before any of this began.”
“I don’t care.” Theran shook his head. “You may have been giving information to my family, but you never once turned your back on me or betrayed me. We had good times together, and you helped me sort through the mess.”
“All I wanted was answers as to what really happened to Loroth.” With a sigh, Vixen bowed her head, then shrugged. “But I suppose I will never know since Lorrek is never in his right mind.” She glared at the besetting darkness around them as night had crept in.
Theran paused and furrowed his brows, confused. “Wait.” He looked at her and blinked. “You don’t know what really happened to Loroth?”
Vixen lifted her brows at his bewilderment and shook her head. “No. Lorrek’s memories were taken before I could get an answer, so when I saw him, he tried to kill me. Then I woke up in some place called Elloi, and then all this...” She made a wide-sweeping gesture to their surroundings. “Unfolded.” She stopped walking to fix her gaze on Theran. “Why? Do you know what happened?”
For a long moment, Theran just stared at Vixen. He couldn’t believe no one had told her. He wanted to punch Lorrek in the face for forgetting to tell her, but he supposed now it fell on him. He sighed. “After the Battle of Cuskelom, Lorrek tried to retrieve Atheta from Endleath, but she refused to come because she had created a new life there, started a new family. However, she did pass word through Lorrek to anyone who doubted him, and Lorrek showed us that message through magic when he told us everything that really happened in Jechorm.”
Now curious, Vixen crossed her arms and stood her ground as she regarded Theran. If everyone had known all this time, why hadn’t they said anything to her? She supposed there hadn’t been time, but still that wasn’t an excuse. She jutted her chin toward Theran. “And what exactly happened?’
“Where to begin?” Theran wondered as he began to pace, trying to recall everything Lorrek had revealed. “You were in Jechorm with them.” He turned to her, seeking confirmation. When she nodded he went on, “But you had to leave at one point.”
“Yes, the Jechorians had made me a part of an operation against my will. Lorrek woke me, and I just fought my way out.” She shrugged but had to smile when she recalled the fight. “It was a good fight, but they hunted me down. I think that was the same operation where King Roskelem gained his magic. Lorrek insisted I leave for my own safety, so Erita took Inecha and me back to Cuskelom. That was the last time I saw Loroth.”
“Right.” Theran snapped his fingers as things fell into place, and he resumed his pacing. “After you left, Lorrek trained Roskelem on how to perfect his magic, but somehow he discovered Princess Atheta was pregnant with Therth’s son. Roskelem knew none of this. Lorrek confronted her, and Roskelem came across the conversation at the wrong time, and he made his own assumptions that Lorrek had forced her, so he lashed out. Loroth felt that attack since he shared a bond with Lorrek, and he sought him out.” Then Theran shook his head as he tried to recall everything. “I don’t remember all the details, but things got out of hand, and Lorrek had to magick Loroth and Atheta out of there, and they accidentally ended up on Endleath.”
Vixen cast him a confused look. “Endleath is a whole other world. How did Lorrek accidentally magick them there?”
Theran shrugged. “From my understanding, it was a moment of desperation, and he had reached out to...” He paused when he realized what he was about to say. It suddenly hit him—his own responsibility for everything that had happened.
“Theran?” Vixen’s voice caused him to look at her, but she could tell he was still trying to comprehend something. The look he had was one of sudden realization of his own guilt, and that made her frown. “Who did Lorrek reach out to?”
He bowed his head and made a fist. “Me.” Then he lifted his gaze once more and locked eyes with Vixen. “I had been foolish as I often was, and Father had had enough. He removed my handblade and banished me to Endleath, saying I would never return to Cuskelom until I learned my lesson. You can imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon Lorrek.” He chuckled, but it was a dry sound.
Vixen noticed how he mentioned coming across only Lorrek—not Loroth or Atheta, and Vixen wasn’t sure what this meant, but she had to ask, “Theran, what happened to Loroth and Atheta?”
He darted his gaze to hers again, having forgotten what he had been telling her. “Right—what happened to Loroth.” He cleared his throat as he resumed pacing. He tried to backtrack to where he had left off, tried to remember what Lorrek had revealed had happened, but Theran felt an overwhelming sense of guilt for the whole issue.
He growled as he clenched his fist tighter. “It’s my fault. If I hadn’t been foolish, I wouldn’t have ended up on Endleath, which meant I would have still been in Cuskelom, and Lorrek would have magicked them there. Everyone would have been safe. If I hadn’t been foolish, Therth wouldn’t have had to double for me on so many occasions—especially those regarding Princess Atheta, and she wouldn’t have fallen in love with Therth instead. All of this could have been avoided if I had been the proper prince everyone expected me to be.” He tossed aside his helmet in frustration and sat down on the ground, glaring at it.
Theran still wasn’t giving her the answers she wanted, and Vixen narrowed her eyes. She marched up to him and towered over him as she crossed her arms. She wanted to shake him and demand answers, but she knew better than to touch his armor. Instead, she hardened her voice and stared at him unrelentingly. “What happened to my husband?”
Theran tried to think back and recall Lorrek’s memories, but his own guilt blinded him. He shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t remember. Something about Loroth saving Lorrek’s life because Lorrek had been gravely injured. I don’t know the details!”
“Well, try to remember!” Vixen snapped as she stepped away from him. “Lorrek said he tried to save Loroth but couldn’t, and now you’re saying that Loroth saved Lorrek. What happened?”
“I thought you said you didn’t talk to Lorrek,” Theran countered as he looked up at her dumbfounded, and Vixen glared down at him.
“While you and I were searching for Lorrek, he appeared to me twice, and one time he gave me a little
information—”
“Wait...” Theran rose to his feet. “Was this before the Battle of Cuskelom? Before we met Therth and Erita in the woods when you beat up Therth?”
Vixen paused, trying to recollect when exactly it had been, but she nodded. “Yes.”
Now Theran took a step toward her, towering over her. His eyes flamed with fury, but he willed himself not to reach out and grab Vixen to get answers. No, he would not hurt her, but he measured his tone, laced with darkness and anger. “You spoke with my brother twice and didn’t see it fit to tell me?”
She stood her ground and crossed her arms, lifting her chin to meet his fiery eyes. “You would have demanded proof, and I had none. He magicked in temporarily to ask me a few questions, and then he was gone.” When Theran let out an exaggerated sigh and turned around, throwing his hands in the air, Vixen went on, “For what it’s worth, I repeatedly told him to reveal himself to you, but he refused.”
Theran whipped back around and stalked up to her. “But nevertheless, you never told me you saw him.”
She stared unflinchingly as he loomed over her. Her patience was wearing thin with the entire royal family of Cuskelom. She spoke with a firm, stern voice, “As I said, you would have required proof, and you would have been angry at me for lifting your hopes. I know you. I know your entire family. And I am weary of the games you play. That is why, when we are finished with this task, I am leaving. I am finished with all of you.” With that, she spun on her heel and stalked away.
“Vixen.” Theran called after her, but when she ignored him, he growled and went after her. “Vixen, where are you going?”
“Athorim, of course!”
“It’s getting late. We need to stop for the night and set up camp, and we should get some food. We’re not going to reach Athorim tonight.”
As much as Vixen didn’t want to comply, she knew he was right, but she didn’t break a stride. “Very well. Set up camp. I will hunt some dinner.” Because I need to kill something, she left the latter part unspoken as she marched away, clenching her hands as fists at her sides.
She was frustrated with Theran. He had come so close to telling her exactly what had happened to Loroth, but then he got sidetracked and forgot the details. The next time she saw Lorrek, she would demand he tell her everything. Why hadn’t he told her earlier? Why didn’t he tell her as soon as she had awoken from nearly dying? “Well, I did hit him...” she recalled, but still, that wasn’t an excuse for him. Yes, Radella approached them immediately with this whole issue with Mordora, but still! Lorrek should have found a moment to reveal to Vixen what had really happened to her husband. He could have done so when he was in the hospital in Jechorm, but no, he was so focused on returning to this quest that it never crossed his mind. “The next time I see him...”
Theran stopped and watched her go. He wasn’t sure if she would actually return, but he knew she needed some time to herself. With a shake of his head, he went and retrieved his helmet, pulling it back on. Then he looked where Vixen had wandered off. “Computer, track Vixen’s signature.” Now that the computer in his suit would keep track of her, he wouldn’t lose her in the woods, so he went about to set up camp for her return.
26
Lorrek and Radella trailed Anelm and the thymords from a distance in order to fully observe the thymords’ intentions. Lorrek had only vague recollections of them since he encountered them during the haze of his infection and fever. He knew Erita had sent them from Cuskelom as he had commanded her. They desired possession of the World Orbs and handblades, but the presence of Rykeldan took precedence over even that. This gave Cuskelom more time to determine what exactly to do when their very heritage was threatened.
However, the king of Cuskelom had little time to contemplate this before he was requested to join the party to ask for King Roskelem’s release. Lorrek wished Heldon hadn’t agreed to that because there were greater threats to face at the moment, and the last thing they needed was the unpredictable threat of Roskelem. None of this made sense, but he trusted Theran would have a handle on that situation.
In the meanwhile though, Lorrek watched Anelm converse with the thymords as they settled in for the night. Finally, Anelm moved away from the thymords and settled on the ground to sleep, and Lorrek signaled for Radella, and the two of them slipped into the magic realm. “Princess,” Lorrek called out to her.
She opened her eyes, saw no one, so she closed her eyes again, but this time she opened them in the magic realm and saw Lorrek and Radella before her. In the magic realm, she rose to her feet to greet them. “Prince Lorrek, it is good to see you are well. You as well, Radella. Does this mean Skelton is healed?” She glimpsed between the two of them expectantly.
Lorrek nodded. “Skelton has been restored. Other issues are being handled. For now though, we are here to help you track down Rykeldan, but first...are they trustworthy?” He looked past Anelm to the thymords. Draben was lying down on his back with his hands interlaced behind his head, and Reven stood over him, looking down at him unimpressed, and the two argued over who should keep first watch.
She followed his gaze and sighed but nodded. “They constantly bicker with each other, but they seem very keen on resolving the threat of Rykeldan.”
“Do you know where he is?” Radella asked. She hadn’t encountered the kelliph yet, so she wasn’t sure what to think of him, but by the way everyone else responded, she suspected he had great power.
Anelm closed her eyes for a moment, seeking Rykeldan’s signature, but finally she snapped her eyes open. “He’s heading for Athorim.”
“Athorim?” Lorrek raised his brows, alarmed.
“Yes. Why?”
Lorrek made a fist and growled. “Because Heldon is on his way to Athorim with Princess Gremina and Therth, and I sent Vixen and Theran after them. Gremina wants her father released.”
Anelm frowned when she heard this. It made no sense. King Roskelem was justly imprisoned for the crimes he had committed. Why did Gremina think she could secure his freedom? However, she knew one thing. “Roskelem cannot be released. If he is, Rykeldan will surely kill him.”
Radella and Lorrek shared a look. Rykeldan had never met Roskelem, so why would he kill him? Radella was the one to voice this question. “Why would he do that?”
“Trust me, he will. We must prevent this from happening.” Anelm locked eyes with Lorrek. “I will reach out to Caleth to inform him of this situation. Perhaps he can relocate Roskelem before Gremina arrives. Nevertheless, Lorrek, you must go to your brother and try to persuade them to change their minds. This will not end well—for anyone.”
Lorrek heaved a heavy sigh but nodded. “Very well. I will go to Heldon and speak with them, but Radella, I want you to find Theran and Vixen. Magick them to Athorim, since it seems we are all destined to convene there. We know not how this situation will unfold, and their aid may be required.”
“Certainly.” With that, Radella magicked away, allowing Lorrek and Anelm to have a moment.
Lorrek stared at the thymords, who had finally stopped arguing, Draben agreed to take the first watch while Reven slept. Lorrek didn’t trust them. He wished they were gone, so he didn’t have to deal with the uncertain element their presence brought. However, he shifted his gaze to Anelm. “How do you know Rykeldan is heading for Athorim? He is the most powerful individual I have ever encountered, yet I cannot track his signature. He masks it. How did you find it so easily?”
At first Anelm looked as though she was about to say something, but then she changed her mind and smiled at him. “It is no secret those in Athorim are descendants of the ancient kelliph. Perhaps that bloodline makes it easier for me to track him.”
“Is there a power unique to the kelliphs I should know in case I encounter him?”
Anelm thought for a moment but finally nodded. “The kelliphs have one true power different from anything you have ever encountered. They can change one element into another with a mere thought. They can turn that rock
into pure gold.” She motioned to a dull, gray stone on the ground. “They can turn lightning into ice. Water into fire. Food into dust. Whatever they want, they can create—out of nothing.”
Lorrek furrowed his brows when he heard this, and he tried to understand how it was different. “Similar to my conjuring abilities?” He opened his palm, conjuring an orb.
She looked at it but shook her head. “You can conjure a fiery orb or a shield, yet you have a limit to what you can conjure without other material. All things else, you pull from a pocket dimension. That is not so with the kelliph. They can literally create whatsoever they desire or change whatever they want with a mere thought, although it is more difficult with living things.” She shook her head as she reflected on all this folklore and refocused on the task at hand. “Now go. Stop your brother from this madness. Roskelem must not be released.”
Receiving the command from a fellow royal and powerful magic user, Lorrek bowed to her then straightened and looked at the thymords before looking back at her. “Be wary of them.”
She smiled. “Always.”
This satisfied him, so he gave her a curt nod and magicked away, leaving Anelm to emerge from the magic realm. She opened her eyes and sat up so suddenly it startled Draben, and even Reven jerked awake when she heard him gasp then curse. Anelm ignored all of this and rose to her feet. “We must be on our way.”
“What?” Reven pushed herself up into a sitting position but was still groggy from having just fallen asleep.
Draben crossed his arms. “We just set up camp. You told us to rest for the night.”
“Yes, but that was before I walked through the magic realm and identified Rykeldan’s destination.”
Reven sighed as she slowly pushed herself to her feet. There was no hope for sleep now, so she might as well stay awake. “Very well. Where is he going?”
The Chronicles of Lorrek Box Set Page 97
