The Korellian Odyssey: Requiem by Vance Bachelder Read Free Book Online

of the lesser nobles. At this time, one noble of obscure note suddenly grew in prominence. Averil was his name by birth, but as a dark power seemed to move upon him he took up the new name of Toresten, which means to purge by fire. Toresten raised as his standard the ancient law of banishment regarding all those who possessed the gift of the Necor, making use of deception, subtlety, and dark arts to turn the loyal hearts of many against their king. . . and even Thoren began to doubt.
    Soon battle raged within the palace, and as destruction began to rain all around him, King Valyrea felt flight would better preserve the kingdom and the people that he loved. He took all his loyal house and fled into the wilderness. But Toresten feared Valyrea and even in his triumph sought Valyrea's destruction. He sent fighting men to pursue Valyrea, and in the end even Thoren himself (who had never known defeat in battle) led men in pursuit of the fugitive king. On the plain before Mount Sorad, Thoren spied a band of men fleeing toward the mountain foot. As he closed upon them, Thoren stretched out with his mind, causing most of the band to stop and stand bewildered upon the hill. One hooded figure stood outfrom the others, his profile regal as one who would yet rule many. And as the figure stood, Thoren rode forth and cut him down.
    But as he fell, Thoren recognized the fallen as his own son, Freyr, the son who had stood beside Valyrea, his king and uncle, through all. A madness born of sorrow fell upon Thoren and he staggered round the field, drunk with dregs of blind despair, until at last his own men bound him and brought him back along the paths of return near the meads of Feldaria. But ere Thoren finally left the field bound in cords, he looked upon the sum of the fallen and knew his son was not among them. Many days later, Thoren returned to the field in search of his son. But all was in vain as he wondered the hills and vales for a season, letting his torment lead his feet whither it would.
    And this was the last battle of the Duluvial Wars, battles so named because the Earth, in its sorrow, would raise water from streams and deep channels to cover the fallen and reclaim them unto itself.
    Korel forced his gaze away from the stone rod and looked upon Targor, who returned his look meaningfully.
    "There is more in this world to fear than the Quenivorian," murmured Targor. Korel nodded gravely in return, "And more virtue in this world hidden by time and trial than is known by the wisest sage. I thank you for your unusual hospitality and hope to call you friend."
    "Friend is a word I have seldom used, but I shall be glad to have need of its use again," Targor replied.
    Again the mind-blinding pain came piercing through Korel's skull, but more slowly this time and with less heat. Soon the pain stopped altogether. Across from the sphere, Korel's vision cleared, resolving the blur that came with the cascades of lightning and mind-blasting white. Syrilla stood casually on the other side of the room.
    "You will yet learn the rewards of obedience and the purgatory of impotence. This is but a taste of the joys and agonies my sponsorship may bring you. But be warned, you will not be let off so lightly again. Now I have another little project you're sure to enjoy . . ."
* * *
    Korel found himself on his back looking up at the fading stars as dawn began to ride up over the Eastern horizon. The fever that had wracked him the previous night had broken, leaving rivulets of grayish slick sweat drying in spotted coalescence over his body. His swollen forearm, while still a sickly gray with its crater-like wound dripping a brackish thin fluid, was smaller and much less painful. Only now did he let himself believe he might survive the injury. Yet the older burn to his index finger remained unhealed, continuously oozing a clear watery fluid.
    As he surveyed the meadow, Korel felt an unnatural disquiet descend, then deepen around him. The disquiet built to