The Corin Chronicles Volume I: The Light and the Dark (31 page)

“Assuming I go ahead with this, Abaros,” King Oncelot said. “Who will be willing to go across the great River Crasus, knowing that it will most likely mean certain death? I refuse to send an army to their doom, especially with the possibility of another war imminent.”

“If I may, Lord King—rather than condemn your only son to death today, would it not be wiser to at least give him the chance to lead a small group of men in a quest to bring the Philosophers back here? At least then he would be truly serving his planet.”

“Please, my love,” pleaded Queen Mariam, springing to her feet. “Let us put the fate of our son in his own hands.”

“I agree with the queen,” said Abaros. “Let Prince Ramon determine his own destiny. He is, after all, one of the greatest warriors in all of Corin.”

The king looked on at the crowd, dumbfounded. He knew that his son was below the platform where they stood, getting ready for the ritual. “I will speak to my son personally,” he finally said. Again, he felt his eyes go blurry, and he could not keep his vision steady. He took two deep breaths, and then he made his way to the lower chambers of the royal box to speak to his son.

Within the preparation chamber, Prince Ramon noticed with worry that the sound of the parade had suddenly stopped. He knew they would send for him when the time came, but the silence did not make the anticipation any easier. He knew that Abaros still had the power to speak out, but he did not trust the man. Seeing his father approaching from the shadows, however, filled him with hope.

“Leave us,” said the king in a coarse voice.

The servants immediately stopped adjusting the prince’s armor and exited, leaving father and son together. King Oncelot sat down next to Ramon and looked down at the floor, lost for words to address him.

“It is all right, Father.” Ramon leaned closer to the king. “I know what is needed of me here. I will do anything for Corin, and you know that.”

“I know you will, Son.” Oncelot gave him a firm look. “But there might be another way. It is very dangerous. It might mean death for you and other brave young men.”

“What is it, Father?”

The king cleared his throat. “Abaros tells me that there is a group of wise men in the Dark World that may help us,” he said. “But this involves crossing the River Crasus and the great desert of the Dark World, and nothing you have seen before could prepare you for the danger that lies there.”

Ramon paused, unsure of whether to inform his father that he already knew of Abaros’s plan. Doing so, however, could introduce a completely new problem. “I know about the legend, Father,” he said finally. “And you know I will go to the end of the world for Corin. I want to serve you in any way I can, and if you want me to do this, I will.”

“I know you will, Son. From the day you were born, I saw a future leader of men. That is how I know you will come back stronger to help me restore Corin to what it used to be.”

Ramon knelt down, holding on to his father’s hand. “Command me, Father,” he said.

To Ramon’s surprise, his father also knelt down and grabbed hold of his hands. Sensing the fear etched across his son’s face, Oncelot gently brought him back to an upright position. “I will hand pick the best warriors of Corin to accompany you, but I especially want you to take Topenga.”

A look of surprise crept over Prince Ramon’s face. “But he is your best warrior,” he said. “You need him here to protect you.”

“In light of the dreadful tales we have heard about the Dark World, do you really believe you will not need him?” The king walked around the chamber. “Some will say that the entire Corin army could not achieve what you will be attempting, and although I would love to send my entire fleet to aid you, I will not be able to convince the council. But with Topenga by your side, you will have the best possible chance of surviving. I might not be able to send the battalion, but by the gods I will have the very best of Corin watching over you.” He paused for a few seconds before continuing. “I will also summon Master Ndu, as soon as I possibly can. His wisdom shall guide you, even during your darkest times.” He paused for a second before continuing. “You must travel light. Take only the clothes you have on your back. Armor will just slow you down.”

“As you wish, Father.” Ramon rose to his feet. “I will take Topenga, and I will make you and Master Ndu proud of me.”

“I want you to leave today,” the king added.”

The prince edged closer to his father and gave him another reverent bow. He held the position for a few seconds, realizing it might be his last time saluting the king.

“Come, my son,” said Oncelot sternly. “Your destiny awaits you.”

Ramon slowly returned to his feet and followed his father out of the chamber.

And it came to pass, that as the planet Corin stopped turning, the humans sent to the Dark World lived on for thousands of years, desperate to fight the evil placed on them by Auphora. With vicious predators roaming the land, men, women and children screamed in the never-ending darkness, their bodies slowly mutating into creatures of the damned. It has been written that some ventured into the Dark World, seeking a deeper truth, a possible trace of their true ancestry. But as with those condemned to a dark fate, most who ventured to the ghastly divide met the same pain and despair, but were also blessed with death rather than eternal suffering.

Eternus Patientia, Eternal Suffering

Author: Pirini Neono, The Second Coming

5.1

D
EPARTURE

A
s the north wind whipped toward the royal castle, Topenga, First Colonoy of Corin, held the reins of his Ikrenum and peered toward the castle gates, waiting for his king to arrive. He squinted as another strong wind lashed at him, throwing his long, dark braids into his eyes. He brushed them aside, irritated. It was unusual for men in the service of the royal family to have braided hair, but Topenga had never worn his hair any other way, for as long as he could remember. And his status as Corin’s greatest warrior came with certain benefits.

The nights in Tustodes—if they could be called nights—were ever hot and uncomfortable, with the endless rays of the sun invading what should have been the hours of sleep. Still, Topenga fought back a yawn, for though the night sky was bright, the shifting of the winds indicated that the hour was late. Most of the citizens of Tustodes would be in their homes, asleep in their beds, and soon the more savage animals would be out to hunt, their instincts still following a cycle that had long outlived its purpose.

Topenga shifted in his saddle, willing himself into alertness, knowing that even a night in a world of light was a dangerous time to be outside. But the presence of the three young warriors beside him brought a smile to his face. It seemed like an eternity since he had spent time with his childhood friends, Mikael, Rumin, and Kasa.

“So what does it feel like to be with normal people again?” asked Kasa, smiling. His chubby cheeks shone in the sunlight, and the crossbow slung over his shoulder covered most of his broad back.

Another blast of wind rushed over them, and Topenga half smiled, half squinted at his old friend. Along with Prince Ramon, he did not have many childhood memories that did not include Kasa and the others. Yet he sensed some resentment and jealousy from them, due to his making Colonoy, a dream they had all shared while growing up.

“After all,” Kasa continued. “You are now a full Colonoy, probably too good for any of us folk.” He rolled his eyes.

Topenga forced a hoarse laugh and gently answered his friend. “I am still no better than you.”

“Now, why would you tell lies like that?” said Rumin, only without the playful attitude of Kasa. His deep blue eyes and spiky hair made his glare even sharper, and the polearm fork strapped to his back enhanced his intimidating presence. “You are now considered the perfect specimen. A Colonoy is no mere warrior. You have now begun your path to becoming a god among men.”

Topenga slid his eyes back toward the castle, trying to avoid Rumin’s glare. Then he glanced over at Mikael. He thoroughly enjoyed seeing his smiling face and appreciated Mikael’s amazing gift of seeing the best in every situation, no matter how grim. The battle axe hanging from Mikael’s waist was nearly as long as his legs. His olive skin and chiselled face went well with his warm smile, and Topenga had almost forgotten about the scowl still planted on Rumin’s face.

He knew that his friend was correct. He had excelled beyond them and achieved what they had all trained for from a young age. As much as he liked to believe that he had been assigned to protect his king due to being the superior warrior, he knew that being the first within his group to reach the age of twenty-one—the minimum age for a full Colonoy—had counted in his favor.

The mood at the gates of the palace remained relaxed and calm as the warriors continued to await the arrival of their king and prince. Topenga made use of the delay by instructing the men to recheck their supplies. Along with the food and weapons stored away in their packs, they each carried an abundant supply of fire substance, in preparation for their inevitable encounter with the Kronos within the Dark World. Topenga dreaded the thought of riding into the darkness with no source of light.

Before long, the screeching, scraping talons of an Ikrenum-driven carriage signaled that the king was approaching with his son, Ramon. The men quickly dismounted their own Ikrenums and took up the correct position to greet the royal party. The carriage soon arrived, immersed in a bright, blue glow from the royal flame on top of the wagon, and the Ikrenums pulling the royal carriage came to a halt a few feet away from the awaiting party. The king had a stern look on his face as he flicked the curtain open, aware of the magnitude of the mission on which his son was about to embark. Two royal servants came around the side to help King Oncelot and Prince Ramon exit the carriage.

Topenga advanced to the side of the wagon and saluted as soon as Oncelot reached the ground. He held the gesture for Prince Ramon’s exit, though he did not meet the prince’s eyes. They had not been on speaking terms for some time, outside of the formal duties required of him as a Colonoy of Corin. Watching the prince emerge from the carriage brought mixed emotions to Topenga. He longed for the day that both he and Ramon could share the accolade of Colonoy together. But things had not worked out as planned, and his appointment ahead of the prince brought much resentment from Ramon. It had made performing his duties difficult. Regardless of the past, however, there he stood at the gates of the royal palace, charged with protecting the son of his king.

Following the greetings from Topenga and the rest of the warriors, the king gathered everyone close together before speaking. “My children,” he started. “You salute me. You serve me honorably. You are all the future of Corin. From the day you were born, you were chosen to lead Corin out of the darkness and back into the light.” The king paused to catch his breath. “That day is upon us now,” he continued. “What you are about to do will be written in Corin’s history. Your names will be spoken forever. You have heard the stories of the Dark World. You know the legends of the Kronos and the Noboros. Yet none can imagine what other horrors you will face. Understand that this will be the most difficult challenge any of you will ever face. Remember, however, that even in their imprisoned state, the gods of Corin watch over you always.”

The king gestured toward the driver of the carriage, who quickly rose to his feet and opened the curtains once more. “I am but an old man now,” Oncelot continued. “My days of glory are behind me, but there is something I can do. I offer you the wisdom and guidance of the only person ever to scour all the lands of our great planet, both light and dark.”

Mikael and Rubin looked at each other and, catching a glare from Topenga, quickly resumed their normal, military postures. After a few seconds, a man exited the carriage and approached them. His gray tunic traversed the ground. His distinguished white hair, leathery face, and brown eyes shone with compassion and grace.