Free The Corin Chronicles Volume I: The Light and the Dark by Marvin Amazon Page A

initially thought.”
    “That is quite alright,” replied Selena, smiling. “Why are there so many men with us? Are they all coming?”
    “Yes, my lady.” Kirinki handed his horse to one of the other riders and watched as his men assumed positions in front of and behind the carriage. “There has been word of Auphora’s troops in the villages near Goneca, so I thought we could do with as many men as we could spare.” To Selena’s surprise, Kirinki started to board the carriage himself, signaling his men to start making their way toward Goneca. “We must leave at once, my lady. Not another second can be wasted.”
    With a nod Selena gave her approval, and the horses started to pull the carriage toward the River Kinetic.
    They continued deep into the forest, moving from town to town, trying to avoid the continuing massacres that had been sweeping across eastern Tyranis. Using his vast knowledge of the planet, Kirinki managed to avoid most of the checkpoints set up by Auphora’s soldiers. But when they were only a few miles from the River Kinetic, a small unit of riders began approaching on horses.
    Upon noticing them, Kirinki’s men came to a complete halt and signaled the driver of the carriage. Samma studied the riders and, even from that distance, could see that the group was four humans and a single Monoroi. He knew that even that sole Monoroi was capable of killing every one of them. Only Kirinki could decide what to do now.
    Samma thrust the cloth at the back of the carriage open, which drew a short scream from Siroco. He still had the veil over his face, having never removed it, even while sleeping. “Five riders approaching,” Samma said. “One is a Monoroi.”
    Kirinki remained in the same position, with his hand on his chin. Selena edged closer to him. “What does that mean?” she asked. “Is there another way we can go?”
    “No, my lady,” interrupted Samma, “this is the only way left to get to the river. Every other way has a full checkpoint with hundreds of soldiers. We must go this way. Besides, whatever secret you are protecting cannot be too great that they would purposefully harm a woman and her child.”
    “Do you not understand?” snapped Selena. “We cannot be seen by a single Monoroi.” She turned her gaze to Siroco, who still trembled. “He must not be seen. Please do whatever you can, but they must not run their eyes past us.”
    “But what do they want with you and your son, my lady?” Kirinki asked. “You must agree that I have asked no questions thus far. Instead I have trusted your every word. But I need to understand your predicament, if I am to risk my men’s lives any further and confront one of Auphora’s most deadly warriors.”
    “All right then,” Selena said, her voice weak. “I will speak to you alone, outside the carriage.”
    Kirinki rose and approached the entrance of the carriage, prompting Selena to follow him. But Samma stopped her. “Whatever you have to say, my lady,” he said, “make it quick. For Auphora’s men draw near.”
    Standing a few feet from the carriage, Selena paced back and forth, sweat rising on her face. “What I tell you now, I do because there is no other way,” she said. “Telling you this is putting a burden on you. One I wish on no one.”
    “I agreed to help you, my lady, and no matter what you tell me now, I will uphold my promise.”
    “My son is different, unique in some ways,” she said. “Do you know the story of the Anointed One?”
    “The story is known to me, yes,” he replied. “But what has that to do with your son?”
    “Just after the divide of Corin,” she continued, “rumors started to spread about the identity of the Anointed One. Some said he was a man. Some said he was a boy. Both men and children were captured in the search for him and, some say, slaughtered for bearing a resemblance to the person foreseen to bring an end to Auphora’s kingdom. My son also bears similar appearance to the One