The Cor Chronicles: Volume 02 - Fire and Steel by Martin V. Parece II Page A

holding a note worth a mighty ransom. I have taken possession of the note to finance the building of a castle at Fort Haldon, and I have already dispatched architects to the site.
    “Your land grant is marked accordingly,” she said, pointing to the map, “It is approximately twenty five hundred acres the eastern border of which is the Spine. Lord Paton is your immediate neighbor, and he was not overly excited about giving up the land. I paid him with the knowledge that he would no longer be the first line of defense should war with Losz occur.
    “Commander Thom has agreed to stay at Fort Haldon permanently as garrison commander. The two of you seem to be on fair terms, so the choice was simple for me. He will relocate his family, as will most of his men. The garrison and the castle will be maintained by Aquis as it always has been, but you will need some income to support your Dahken.”
    “Majesty, I still have a fair amount of gold and some gems,” Cor said.
    “That may do for the short term, but you must have citizens to tax,” she replied. “I have offered land to commoners and farmers who desire opportunity within your grant. I will assign an administrator from my exchequer’s office to you for the purpose of establishing an equitable tax system. I hope you are prepared for the mundane life of a lord, Dahken Cor.”
    “I hadn’t considered it honestly,” Cor said. Near as he could tell, the Dahken in the past survived on accumulated wealth of centuries, likely from their many adventures. But now that wealth was gone, and he would need a way to support his people, for a number of years at least. The fact did not dawn on him until just then.
    “Before I allow you to leave, I must be clear about one thing. I have no reason to trust you, the Dahken, as your history by the way I remember it is an unsavory one. I am still not certain whether you are good or evil, or whether or not your desires are best for Aquis and Garod. However, I am certain that you are not a liar, and you have given me an oath to serve me. Make no mistake, I am ruler of Aquis, and I answer to no one but Garod. You will obey my will as quickly as one of my palace guards. If that is clear, you may take your leave of me now.
    “And one last thing Lord Dahken Cor,” Queen Erella called after him as they turned to leave her chambers. “In the future, I expect that you and your subjects will show proper respect when entering my presence.”
    Cor simply nodded and continued his exit. It dawned on Cor later that night that Queen Erella had labeled Cor with the same title that Rael had been using. Yet somehow he was sure the title did not carry the same meaning to each of them.

6.
     
    Palius slumped in his chair behind his desk, eyes closed and the bridge of his nose pinched in his left hand. He sat very still, deep in thought as to the state of things, though he was completely conscious and aware of his surroundings.
    To look at him, one would think him asleep even dead if not for the slight rise and fall of his ever thinning mass. Occasional coughing broke his peace, and he would sometimes fight for breath. Palius rarely ate these days, and he had originally assumed it was from the constant rigors and stress of his position. A priest had told him otherwise. He was dying, and he knew his time was limited. Queen Erella knew it too, but she had never spoken to him about it. Palius was well aware that most of Garod’s priests could see illnesses in people, especially those that would lead to one’s death, and sometimes even they were powerless to stop it.
    For weeks Palius had discussed matters with Queen Erella, imploring her to see reason. Discussion reached the point of pleading argument, as he could not understand how her angry outburst at the Dahken had turned to understanding and acceptance.
    “The Dahken are dangerous, My Queen. They cannot be trusted.”
    “We should have let the Loszians rid us of him.”
    “Kill them now, at least