The Chronicles of Lorrek Box Set

by Kelly Blanchard

  “As am I,” Theran added as he turned back to the conversation. “And I’m sorry for the many times I forced you to pull us out of trouble.”

  Lorrek chuckled—a merry sound now—and he looked up at Theran. “I never expected you to apologize, but thank you.” He bowed his head to him.

  A moment of silence settled upon them. Each brother was lost in their own thoughts and wondered how they came to this point.

  Suddenly, a realization came to Heldon, and he straightened in his chair. “Do you remember Uncle Torroth?” He glanced between his brothers.

  “Loroth and Therth’s father.” Theran nodded.

  “He was also Father’s identical twin and therefore his double,” Lorrek added, “Much like you were for Honroth at times.” He crossed his arms and furrowed his brows. Why did Heldon suddenly bring up their uncle?

  Heldon hesitated and clenched his fists. He really hated having to be the one to tell them what Torroth had revealed to him. With a sigh, he sat back in his chair and looked at his brothers. “Apparently he is responsible for the Rakessat attacking the Porta Cosmica the first time.”

  Stunned, Theran leaned forward to grab the back of a chair to brace himself, but as soon as he touched it, the chair broke, and Theran stumbled forward, almost catching himself on the table, but he suddenly halted—parallel to the table. Surprised, he looked up and saw Lorrek with his hand stretched out, no doubt using magic to catch Theran. Slowly, Lorrek righted his brother, and Theran found his footing again, and he tried to remember what Heldon had just said. When he remembered, he shot his brother a look. “How is Uncle Torroth responsible for that?”

  “And how do you know this?” Lorrek asked quietly as he stared at the table.

  Heldon sighed. “Before Therth and Gremina came to Cuskelom, Uncle Torroth found me in the Crypts, and he told me. He hadn’t intended for Father to die...or for you, Lorrek, to fall into the Orb of Oblivion. He simply wanted to scare Father, to show him he wasn’t all-powerful. He was...a bit angry with how Father had intervened in manipulating Therth’s and Loroth’s appearances to mirror yours, but especially how he infused magic into Loroth and made him deathly ill. I suppose it was his way of getting revenge on Father, but he didn’t expect him to die.”

  Theran closed his fist as he spoke with a dark but measured tone, “What did he expect? He gave permission to the Jechorians to unleash that...creature upon our land! Of course Father would give his life protecting Cuskelom—especially the World Orbs. What did he expect would happen?” Theran began to pace. “Where is Torroth now?”

  “Back in Cuskelom. He said he knew the Archives possessed some knowledge of the World Orbs that we never knew. He thinks it will help strengthen our claim to them against the thymords. I commanded him to search the Archives for this information, and I set a guard to watch him at all times. I want to hold him accountable for what happened, but we have more pressing issues to address. I merely thought the two of you should know that before we return to Cuskelom.”

  Lorrek nodded when he heard this. It was a lot to take in. He had never suspected his uncle had had a hand in the events of that day, but now he would have to reevaluate what he knew of the events leading up to it. However, as Heldon had said, there were more immediate matters at hand that demanded their attention.

  Lorrek straightened. “Theran, will you allow me to remove you from that armor? I can do so.” He motioned toward him as he rose to his feet. “I can phase my hand through the arm, solidify my hand briefly to grab you, and then phase you out of it. Let me do this for you.” He stepped toward him, but Theran stepped away, shaking his head.

  “Doing that would break your hand the moment you solidify your hand to grab me.”

  Lorrek gestured to their surroundings. “We are in Athorim. Finding a magic user to heal me is not a problem.” He took another step toward Theran. “Please, let me help.”

  However, Theran stepped away once more. “Lorrek, no,” he said sternly. When his little brother looked at him puzzled, Theran shook his head then sighed. “We know not what we face. Until this whole situation with Rykeldan and the statues have been dealt with, I want to retain this power. I don’t want to depend on you. I can do this. It might prove useful.”

  Lorrek sighed. As much as he didn’t like it, Theran’s reasoning made sense, so he nodded. “Very well. However, once this situation has been fully resolved, I will remove you from that armor.”

  “Agreed.” Theran nodded—a bit more relaxed now that they came to an agreement. He crossed his arms. “What’s the plan though?”

  Lorrek fastened his gaze on Heldon. “I will send you back to Cuskelom since we do not know if and where the thymords may return. Cuskelom needs their king, and Erita needs her husband. And I want you to keep an eye on Uncle Torroth just in case he slips through our fingers. The first chance I get, I will return to Cuskelom myself to secure the World Orbs, and then we will address the issue of our uncle’s actions.”

  Heldon rose to his feet. “Do you want me to leave now?”

  “It might be wise. The sooner you get to Cuskelom, the better.” Lorrek offered Heldon his hand. “Come. Let me return you home.” He looked at Theran. “I’ll return momentarily.”

  Heldon pressed his lips together but gave a curt nod. This was the best course of action, so he nodded to Theran. “Take care of our little brother.”

  Theran smiled. “Always. You keep Cuskelom safe.”

  With that and a smile, Heldon took hold of Lorrek’s hand, and they vanished away.

  Theran held his breath, waiting and watching, and then in a gust of wind, Lorrek returned, and Theran allowed himself to sigh in relief. Then he fixed his gaze on Lorrek. “Now what?”

  “Now...” Lorrek tapped into the magic realm to locate Skelton, Mordora, and the others, and he frowned. “They didn’t follow my orders.”

  “Lorrek?” Theran tilted his head to a side and furrowed his brows.

  Blinking, Lorrek looked at Theran but then realized he didn’t understand, so Lorrek clarified. “Skelton didn’t take Mordora to Serhon with the thieves and Prince Kinnard.” With that, he headed for the door and opened it. When he only saw Vixen, he frowned. “Where’s Radella?”

  Vixen let out an exaggerated sigh as she gestured to the door. “Verddra.”

  Lorrek shared a look with his brother then nodded and magicked away.

  Vixen watched him go then turned her attention to Theran, crossed her arms, and raised her brows. “What’s the grand plan?”

  “Sometimes, there is no plan,” Theran told her and went to the door to keep watch.

  In the corridor, Lorrek caught up with Radella, who hadn’t magicked straight to Verddra’s cell. She didn’t break stride when he suddenly appeared, so he fell into step with her. “I need you to go to Serhon and retrieve Dustal and Aradin. I feel they will be of great importance for our next step,” he told her.

  Radella lifted her brows. “What of Prince Kinnard, Mordora and Skelton?”

  Lorrek shook his head as they rounded a corner at a brisk pace. “I will deal with Mordora and Skelton because apparently they did not go to Serhon as I commanded. As for Prince Kinnard...” He trailed off and contemplated this. Finally though, he shrugged. “I believe it is time he returns home. This is not his fight. He need not get involved in it.”

  A smile tugged at Radella’s lips. “I doubt he will agree with that.”

  Lorrek grunted. “Do what you can.” Then he noticed their path and jutted his chin ahead as they approached the locked gates of the dungeon. “You go to visit your mother?”

  “Aye. I have some questions for her.”

  Lorrek slowed and came to a halt, and Radella halted beside him. He gave her a firm look. “She is not to aid in this expedition. We have enough people as it is.”

  Radella nodded. “I understand.” She smiled at him. “I merely wish to know what my mother knows of the kelliph.”

  Oftentimes Lorrek forgot Radella was part Athorian. Her da
rk black hair deceived him. If anything, she was the only Athorian magic user who embraced her use of tainted magic and allowed her hair to go black rather than using a glamour spell to keep up the appearance of a pure magic user.

  Lorrek shook his head. With all the talk of the kelliph and having seen their unique power on display, he wasn’t sure if there was such a thing as pure magic, but rather kelliph magic. If the nobles of Athorim were full-blooded kelliphs, they would exalt their own magic as being unique, which would have ramifications for their descendants who were only half-blooded kelliphs and naturally lacked the unique magic of a kelliph. Their only magic was the human magic, which they called tainted. No one wanted to be branded as ‘tainted’, so they used glamour spells. Generation after generation the deception deepened until Lorrek was certain the present day Athorians truly thought their magic was pure while the rest of magic users were tainted.

  It bewildered Lorrek, yet he cleared his thoughts and focused on Radella. “Be well.” With that, he magicked away, leaving her standing alone in the corridor in front of the guarded dungeon door.

  She watched him go and set her gaze upon the door. She smiled at the guards then headed forward.

  30

  Verddra sat on her bed, reading. A little while back Roskelem had been magicked out, and he had yet to be returned. She wondered what that was about. She heard the dungeon door open and petite steps making their way down the stairs. Even without her magic, Verddra knew who it was. She smiled as her daughter came into view. “Ah, my little Fawn—”

  “I go by Radella now,” Radella cut her off as she came to stand before her. “Fawn was my small, scared, broken self. I am not that person anymore.”

  Verddra took in the sight of her daughter. She looked nothing like Verddra. It was easy to forget they were mother and daughter. Of course, Verddra supposed in a way Radella never was her daughter, because a surrogate mother had to bear her, yet she had raised her as her own.

  She knew Radella had not come to reminisce, so she rose to her feet with grace and drew near to the magic-charged wall that kept her bound. “Why have you come?”

  Radella slowly paced before the cell and shot Verddra a look. “I am not of Athorian blood, am I? Though you claim me as your daughter, no part of you is in my blood—is it?”

  Verddra narrowed her eyes as she heard this line of questioning. She lowered herself into a chair near the lone table in her cell, and she cocked her head to the side. “What is the meaning of these questions? Why are you asking this?”

  “I want to know if I have any Athorian blood—any kelliph blood—in my veins.” Radella watched Verddra closely and saw her stiffen when she mentioned the word ‘kelliph’. Radella latched onto this and took a step toward the cell. “You know of the kelliphs.”

  A small smile tugged at the corner of Verddra’s lips. “They are a mythical race of the Athorians. Legend has it only they possess pure magic, but they do not exist.” She paused. “At least, they don’t anymore.”

  Radella observed her mother. If Verddra had an ounce of magic remaining in her, she would have felt the unmistakable display of Caleth’s power and the Black Stone. However, since she was in the dungeon below ground, she remained oblivious to it. She had no idea Radella had witnessed the true power of a kelliph. “They don’t exist...anymore,” Radella quoted Verddra’s words back to her. “This means they did, once upon a time, exist.” For some reason she had a suspicion she couldn’t shake, so she drew closer to the barrier between them. “Are you a kelliph? A true, full-blooded kelliph?”

  Verddra stared at Radella, and she had to chuckle. “I know not what you mean.”

  “Do not lie to me, Mother.”

  “You don’t understand.”

  Radella folded her arms and shrugged. “Then explain it.”

  Verddra sighed. It had been so long ago, she had almost completely forgotten her roots as a kelliph. She had made one mistake, and now for the rest of her life she suffered for it. Lowering her gaze, she tried to think of where to start. “I am a full-blooded kelliph, and when a kelliph is born, a dragon is always present.” She saw the confusion in Radella’s eyes, and she explained, “Not a dragon as you imagine—with scales, wings, and breathing fire. Though that is their true form, yes, they are shape-shifters, and their favorite form is humanoid. The main difference between a human and a dragon in human form is that the dragons are always much taller.” Verddra shook her head as she returned to the main point. “Nevertheless, a dragon is always present at the birth of a kelliph, and they announce at the birth who the soulbound mate of that kelliph will be.”

  “The Dragon Prophecy.” Radella bobbed her head.

  Verddra narrowed her eyes. “How do you know of that?”

  Radella dismissed her concern with a wave of her hand. “I’ve heard it mentioned. But by all means, please, continue.”

  With a nod, Verddra went on. “The exact name of the soulbound is never known, but rather something like ‘the Sixth Son of the Seventh Generation of the Tethinal Family’. It could be hundreds or even thousands of years before the soulbound of the kelliph is actually born. The only requirement is the kelliph remain true to that soulbound all those years by abstaining from others. A kelliph is to know only one mate and that one alone...if they are so fortunate.” Verddra cast her gaze aside and shook her head.

  She looked at Radella with anger. “When I was born, the dragons gave a dooming prophecy—one very few kelliphs ever received. They said I was destined to be alone. I had no soulbound mate. As I came to understand my prophecy, I considered myself blessed.” She chuckled at how naïve she had been. “Since I had no soulbound, I could be with whomever I wanted without breaking a Dragon Prophecy. The problem is...every other kelliph has a soulbound, so if they were to bind themselves to me, they would be breaking their Dragon Prophecy. When that happens, they spiral down into madness.”

  Radella moved and sat on a step leading up to Verddra’s cell and looked at her. “That’s what happened, isn’t it? A Dragon Prophecy was broken, and madness fell.”

  Verddra chuckled, but it was without humor. She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “He waited several hundred years for his soulbound to be born. That is a very long time—even for a kelliph. One day I caught his eye, and we started talking.” A fond smile ghosted upon her lips as she reflected on the memories. “One thing led to another, which led to another, and next thing we knew...” she looked at Radella. “The Dragon Prophecy was broken. And the very next day his soulbound walked into town.” She shook her head, chuckling—a sad, dry sound.

  “I’ll never forget that look of horror on his face when he saw her. Soulbounds know each other even without meeting, and they know everything there is to know about one another. It was the morning after, and we were in the gardens of the palace, enjoying each other’s company when suddenly they made the announcement, ‘Lady Therina of the House Reckenra’ as she entered the court for the first time. Rykeldan stiffened when he heard this, and he stood to go see her. I didn’t understand what was happening, but he knew his soulbound was from the House Reckenra. He was on a balcony when she passed below. I stood beside him. She looked up, locked eyes with him, and we knew she knew. That was just the beginning. He never cared that that night together I conceived his son—the only child I would ever bear. No, Rykeldan didn’t care.” Verddra shook her head as she reflected upon this with sadness.

  “A son?” Radella’s determination faltered when she heard this, and she took another step closer to the barrier between them. “I had another brother? What happened to him?”

  “He died during the war. That is all I know. He left one day and simply never came home. I felt him die.”

  Radella frowned when she heard this. It was something she would have to investigate further, but for now, she had another question to ask. “Did you say Rykeldan is the one you had an affair with?”

  Verddra nodded and sat back in her chair. She smiled. “Aye—king of the kelliphs! A grand an
d strong king.” Then she paused and fastened her eyes upon Radella. “Why do you ask?”

  For a moment, Radella hesitated. Should she tell Verddra Rykeldan was back? Would that unleash something terrible and unforeseen? Would that rend the kingdom of Athorim apart? She shook her head and smiled at Verddra. “I’ve merely been studying the history of the kelliphs. I’ve learned that Princess Anelm is actually Lady Therina...”

  Verddra shot her a sharp look. “How do you know that?”

  Again Radella merely smiled, and she ignored the question. “If Anelm is Therina, why would she allow you to stay here? To live in Athorim at all? My understanding is that the thymords scattered the kelliphs across worlds. Why were you sent to the same world as your rival?”

  “We were not given a choice as to where we would go.” Verddra paused, refraining from telling the complete truth, but then she added, “I suppose Therina thought she could help me in some way by keeping me close, so I wouldn’t cause any more trouble. She never really explained herself. She forgave me for my hand in the broken Dragon Prophecy, and she offered me the chance at a new life—not bound by prophecies of any kind.” Verddra shifted her gaze to Radella.

  “The story I told of my parents insisting I marry my husband—that was a lie. My parents died during the Kelliph War. The truth is...” Verddra rose to her feet and neared the barrier between Radella and herself, but she was careful not to touch the magic-charged wall. Instead, she softened her voice as she stared at the only person left who meant anything to her. “When I met your father, he was the only person who readily accepted me and never judged me. He knew nothing of my past, but still, he never judged me, and he tried to give me the best life he could. It was sweet.” She smiled. “Endearing. It was quite different from what I was used to here.” She motioned to their surroundings, indicating to Athorim.

  Radella rose to her feet and neared the barrier. “Did Father ever know?”