Sighing, Caleth halted in front of a door to a humble house in the city. He came here as often as he could. He wished the only occupant of this house lived back in the palace with him, but Lyrillind insisted on living here. Yes, on occasion she would visit the palace to see him, especially when he reached out to her and told her that he needed her, but she never stayed.
He understood why. Other than Verddra, Lyrillind was the only kelliph with no magic. She was the first kelliph to lose her magic to a handblade. That was how they had discovered that if a handblade struck a kelliph without killing them, it would drain them of their magic.
And it had been Anelm’s fault—or Therina’s, as she was known back then.
Caleth shook his head. Who was he trying to fool? He had had a hand in it too. He initiated the circumstances that put Lyrillind in that situation, and Anelm’s actions didn’t help either. Caleth almost didn’t forgive his sister for what happened to his wife. The only reason he did was because Lyrillind had insisted. He was glad she had, but still, in moments like this when the past haunted him, it would be easier to have someone else to blame.
Suddenly the door opened, and Lyrillind placed her hand on her hip and raised her brows. “Do you intend to stand outside the door and brood all night?” She smiled at him.
Caleth had to smile back, and he stepped inside, pushing the hood off his head. He embraced his beloved then kissed her and hugged her, closing his eyes as he felt her closeness. “There are times when I really wish you would sit by my side instead of my sister.”
Lyrillind pulled back and frowned as she stared into his face. This wasn’t the first time he had said something like this, and it wouldn’t be the last, but there was something different about this time. “Rykeldan,” she guessed. “What happened?” As she waited for an answer, she took his hand and led him to the common room to sit on the couch.
Caleth sighed as he sank onto the couch with her. She held his hand, and he kissed hers as he thought back to recent events. “Rykeldan is gone.”
“Gone? For good?” Lyrillind gripped her husband’s hand tighter now. “Are you certain?”
“I don’t know.” He shook his head. “He was turned into a statue. As far as I know, that is permanent.”
“What if someone breaks the statue?”
Caleth looked at his wife. “Then he’s gone for good.”
Lyrillind maintained eye contact because she wanted him to see how serious she was. “Then why don’t we do that?
Upon hearing this, Caleth sighed and rubbed his hands on his thighs. “Until we fully understand the magic we are dealing with, I can’t give that command.”
“But if he somehow frees himself, he will come after us!” Lyrillind seized Caleth’s hand and gripped it tightly. “You can defend yourself, but...I am powerless. I have no magic. He will kill me.”
Caleth immediately turned to her and cupped her face in his hands. He stared into her eyes, hoping she would see the utter determination he had. “I will not allow that to happen. And neither will Anelm. You are safe. Rykeldan has been dealt with. And besides.” He smiled at her. “He never knew exactly what part you played in his downfall. You were always there in the shadows being my support. I was the one out in the open. If he has any ill will toward anyone, it will be me, and I will protect you.”
Lyrillind hugged him tightly, pressing her cheek against his chest. “I don’t want to think about it. At least we know where he is, aye?” She pulled back, lifting her brows. When he nodded, she relaxed a little. “Then if we can keep it that way, good. However, let us put it all aside. You’re here now, and I’ve missed you.” She took his hand and tugged him to his feet.
Caleth let her guide him away, but he still felt heaviness in his heart. Although he always wished Lyrillind would join him in the throne room and take her rightful place as Queen of Athorim, he was glad she hadn’t been present when Rykeldan came in. Rykeldan might have sensed her lack of magic and used it against her, but as it was, he didn’t know she still lived, and Caleth preferred it that way.
Most people in Athorim had forgotten Caleth had a wife. Every several decades the question of him marrying would come up time and time again, and those times were when Caleth presented his wife to the court. This satisfied them, but he knew they were concerned for an heir to the throne, but when necessary Caleth and Anelm would reinvent themselves. The current generation of Athorians had forgotten how long exactly a kelliph could live and that Caleth himself had multiple lives. Caleth didn’t care to remind them. He would use it to his advantage.
For now he had a kingdom to rule and could finally breathe easy, knowing that the one individual from his past he had always worried about returning had come and been dealt with. Now, all he had to do was press forward.
What’s Next?
If you are enjoying the series, you will want to check out You Left Me No Choice!
Glossary
Aden – leader of the band of thieves that Vixen was associated with
Adonis – sorcerer thief, brother to Skelton, always pulling his brother out of trouble
Adrik – High Protector of Queen Ensula of Ceraleo, Jaegar’s father
Anelm – Princess of Athorim, twin sister to King Caleth, also known as Therina
Anicocina – a dark creature from the land of Anicoce from another world, its mere presence has the ability to negate magic
Anita – rogue Guardian of Jechorm, scout, hacker/invisibility
Annetta – Late wife of King Wordan, mother of Princess Mordora and Prince Moren. She died of a plague years before the events of the book.
Aradin – Older brother of Dustal, thief,
Ardenn – thief, Ceras’ daughter, raised by Mel’Nath
Asalda – One of the Directors of the Guardian Program of Jechorm
Atheta – Eldest princess of Serhon, daughter of King Roskelem, sister to Haskel and Gremina. Formerly betrothed to Prince Theran but had fallen in love with his cousin, Therth.
Athorim –The land southwest on the continent of Attilath, home to the pure magic users and the Black Stone. Caleth is king. Anelm is his twin sister.
Bodulf – A magic user from Athorim, cursed to live a life without a solid form because he had angered King Roskelem. He protects the Field of Statues alongside Esdras.
Breksta – a Guardian of Jechorm, power: gravity manipulation
Calder – older assassin who is very good at reading people, is very involved in the Crucibles of Jechorm
Caleth – King of Athorim, twin brother to Anelm
Caletta – daughter of Esdras, sensitive to magic
Ceras – former assassin of House Perik, Governor of Jechorm
Crucibles – the broadcasted game in which the surviving Guardian of the Guardian Games must survive an entire day without his specialized armor, and he is being hunted by the most ruthless of killers. No Guardian has yet survived.
Cuskelom – The land north on the continent of Attilath, home to the handblades, World Orbs, and Porta Cosmica. Honroth is King. Theran, Heldon, and Lorrek are all princes of the land.
Damaen – king of Talhon, father of Kinnard and Inecha
Draben – Thymord Agent sent to retrieve the World Orbs from Cuskelom, teammate with Reven, also her ex-husband
Drathan – assassin from House Ackden, brother to Kilroth and Erita, very involved in the Crucibles of Jechorm
Drathic – a highly advanced humanoid Guardian
Dustal – thief, brother to Aradin
Eldak – Roskelem’s cousin who had challenged him, so Roskelem turned him into stone in his court.
Elloi – original name was Kellirothen, home of the kelliph
Endleath – The world where Lorrek put Atheta, where Sindric had banished Theran for his recklessness. It is a moderately advanced world with cars and such.
Erita – sorceress, former assassin of House Ackden, Mage of Cuskelom, wife to King Heldon of Cuskelom
Esdras – Guardian of the statues in t
he Field of Statues. His wife is one of the statues.
Fawn/Radella – adopted daughter of Verddra, she was in the coma for a long time and has been mentally unstable
Felhelm – Thymord agent, used to be the team leader of Draben, Reven, and Jethcal
Gaetana – queen of Jechorm
Galvin – reporter in Jechorm, covering the ‘Guardian Games’
Garenthi the Great – great-great grandfather of Lorrek and his brothers
Gershom – magic user in Cuskelom, brother to Esdras, protector of Esdras’ daughter, Caletta
Gremina – Princess of Serhon, youngest daughter of Roskelem, sister to Atheta and Haskel
Guardian Games – the gladiator-like games where rogue Guardians of Jechorm are pitted against each other and forced to fight until a single Guardian remains. They fight for the chance to be classified as human. After the Guardian Games, the Crucibles begin
Haelm the Honorable – great grandfather of Lorrek and his brother
Haiken – the Guardian of Jechorm, his ability is shielding.
Handblades – unique black bracelet that transforms from bracelet into a gauntlet when its wearer is in danger. A black, polished blade emerges from the top of it. This blade has the ability to absorb things. The handblade also has the ability for short-range teleportation and works in harmony with the World Orbs. These are only found in Cuskelom, worn by members of the royal family.
Haskel – Prince of Serhon, only son of Roskelem, brother to Atheta and Gremina
Heber – one of the people on Endleath who Lorrek implanted memories of knowing Atheta, and he helped rescued her
Heldon – king of Cuskelom, was the twin brother to Honroth, is brother to Theran and Lorrek, married to Erita
Honroth – former king of Cuskelom, twin brother to Heldon, brother to Theran and Lorrek
Hunters – thieves and assassins who participate in the Crucibles of Jechorm to hunt down the survivor of the Guardian Games
Inecha – sorceress, exiled princess of Talhon, sister to Kinnard and half-sister to Fawn/Radella, currently an advisor to King Honroth of Cuskelom
Jadkon – guardian of Mordora, originally from the faraway land of Aquila
Jaegar – son of High Protector Adrik Doolin and Queen Ensula of Ceraleo
Jarovit – rogue Guardian of Jechorm, weapons’ specialist/pain
Jechorm – The land northeast on the continent of Attilath, home of highly advanced technology and the Guardian Program.
Jethcal – Thymord agent, used to be on the same team as Draben and Reven
Joktan – a Talhon secret
Kedessa – thief, former lover of Dustal but holds a grudge against him since he disappeared for years immediately after proposing to her
Kelliph – magical near-immortal race, who lived in the land of Kellirothen (now named Elloi). With the passing of each new year, they gained an extra life
Kilroth – member of Aden’s band of thieves, which was associated with Vixen, preferred weapon: bo-staff, brother to Elita and Drathan
Kinnard – prince of Talhon, brother to Inecha, half-brother to Fawn/Radella
Kithena – Rykeldan’s lover, also known Verddra
Kyra – humanoid of the Syheaf edition in Jechorm. She mistakes Theran as Therth when he arrives in Jechorm
Lailorea – sister to Jaegar, daughter to Adrik and Ensula
Lorentha – mother to Theran, Honroth, Heldon, and Lorrek, former queen of Cuskelom, regent for Moren the king of Nirrorm
Loroth – Brother to Therth, cousin to Theran, Honroth, Heldon, and Lorrek, identical to Lorrek, late husband to Vixen
Lorrek – sorcerer prince of Cuskelom, brother to Theran, Honroth, and Heldon
Lyrillind – wife to King Caleth of Athorim, she is a kelliph stripped of her magic
Lyston – member of Aden’s band of thieves, which was associated with Vixen, preferred weapon: archery, also good at hacking
Meka – reporter in Jechorm, covering the ‘Guardian Games’
Mel’Nath – thief, good friend of Ceras, father figure for Ardenn
Mitron – Guardian who fought Theran when he got his armor from Asalda and Pelham
Mordora – Princess of Nirrorm, older sister to Prince Moren, daughter of King Wordan and Queen Annetta.
Moren – brother to Mordora, king of Nirrorm in his sister’s stead, trained under Caleth in magic for a bit
Nedra – the world where the Thymords are from as well as where Elloi is located
Nirrorm – The land northwest on the continent of Attilath. Wordan is king. Mordora and Moren are princess and prince of the land.
Noden – a Guardian of Jechorm
Nyvera – former thief, now-assassin of House Rodden, wife to Lord Sirros of House Rodden, Vixen’s mother
Orb Worlds – Glass orbs that, when touched by the gauntleted form of a handblade, teleports the person to the world the orb represents. These are only found in the Porta Cosmica of Cuskelom.
Pelham – One of the Directors of the Guardian Programs in Jechorm
Pelkin – a Guardian of Jechorm, powers:flexibility, super-strength, endurance
Porta Cosmica – a chamber deep beneath the castle of Cuskelom. It houses the World Orbs.
Pravin – thief, Kedessa’s brother, hates Dustal only because his sister does
Priam – rogue Guardian of Jechorm, strategist/senses
Radella – formerly known as Fawn, adopted daughter to Verddra, a sorceress
Radim – thief, wife to Tradek
Rakessat – the machine fused with magic and technology in Jechorm
Reven – Thymord agent, sent to retrieved the World Orbs from Cuskelom, teammate with Draben also his ex-wife
Rickar – Atheta’s husband
Roskelem – King of Serhon, father of Atheta, Haskel, and Gremina.
Rykeldan – ancient kelliph king, soulbound to Therina, former lover to Kithena, imprisoned in a magical bracelet but freed by Mordora. All he wants is to be with Therina
Serhon – The land south on the continent of Attilath. Roskelem is king. The Field of Statues are in Serhon. Many of the assassins and thieves call Serhon home.
Sernroth – home of the Five Houses of Assassins
Sidra – Queen of the Thieves, queen mother of Serhon, estranged wife of Roskelem, mother of Gremina, Haskel, and Atheta.
Sindric – late king of Cuskelom, father of Theran, Honroth, Heldon, and Lorrek
Sirros – Assassin, Lord of House Rodden, Vixen’s father
Skelton – sorcerer thief, brother to Adonis, obsession with Athorim and pure magic users, particularly interested in Mordora
Talhon – The land southeast on the continent of Attilath, This is where Inecha was originally from. It is a land of mystery and neutrality.
Theran – Eldest son of King Sindric and Queen Lorentha, oldest brother to Honroth, Heldon, and Lorrek, rightful heir to the throne of Cuskelom
Therina – Rykeldan’s soulbound, another name for Anelm
Therth – cousin to Theran, Honroth, Heldon, and Lorrek, identical to Theran, brother to Loroth
Tobias – member of the band of thieves that Vixen used to be associated with
Torroth – twin brother of Sindric, uncle to Theran, Honroth, Heldon, and Lorrek, father to Therth and Loroth
Tradek – sorcerer thief, husband to Radim
Verddra – originally from Athorim but lived in Serhon for a while as a countess. Adopted mother to Fawn/Radella. Stripped of her magic and imprisoned in Athorim. Formerly the lover of Rykeldan. Went by the name Kithena
Vixen – former assassin from House Rodden and former thief, widow of Loroth
Wol’van – thief, trained Vixen in knives long ago
Wordan – King of Nirrorm, father of Mordora and Moren. He had courted Countess Verddra for a time
Zaklurd – a king from a southern land who had come up against Roskelem and humiliated him
Zethus – chief of security in Jechorm
&nb
sp; Zhirak – constable of Cuskelom
Zoyra – former Guardian of Jechorm, ability – unlocking
This box set is dedicated to
MATTHEW DALE
Honestly, he’s the reason
this series continued beyond Book 2,
and I think we’re all so very grateful for that!
Acknowledgments
So many people have supported me throughout the journey that was the Chronicles of Lorrek. I am grateful for everyone.
First, I want to thank Fallbrandt Press for believing in me and for taking a chance with my books. I am forever grateful to them and am excited to see what the future brings!”
A big thanks to Ravenborn who designed the covers of my books! I always say, “This is just the vague idea I have in mind,” and she runs with it, producing magic! Quite awesome!
A warm thanks to my editor, Rachel Lemons. I appreciate all her hard work, helping me tighten the books.
Can’t forget my wonderful cartographer, Crystalyn Bryan! With her amazing talent, she’s able to bring to life the locations I have in my head and draw them as maps. Very incredible for certain, and I am so appreciative for her great work.
Last but FAR from least—MY FANS! My loyal supporters! Matthew Dale, Michael Evan, Jessica Elaine, Megan Hay, KJ A Lewis, Sandy Fosdick, Allen Cheeseman, Rachel Rutledge, and so, SO many others that I can’t possibly name everyone! But know that you are on my heart and in my mind. I appreciate all your loyal support and your belief in me. It is incredible. I would not be where I am today without it, so thank you—for everything! You are amazing!
Author Bio
Known as the Muse in the writing community, Kelly Blanchard was born in Texas but lives in Florida with her husband, who is often the one who tries to saves characters lives by convincing Kelly not to kill them. How successful he is--that's up for debate.
The Chronicles of Lorrek Box Set Page 111
