Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #21 December 2015 | Page 19

he reduced me to a quivering jelly of terror. I don’t
suppose you find that surprising, since I’m such a
coward. I was taken to Taruwdant and put to work in
the kitchens. I kept my head down and worked hard. I
knew that there was no chance of escape and resigned
myself to a lifetime of slavery. I don’t know why,
perhaps it was my work ethic or the desire to stay out
of trouble, but I was selected for special attention. I
was interviewed by a series of people, culminating in
a meeting with one of the Wolf’s lieutenants. I now
know that he was a wizard. He looked very much like
you do, except that his hair was very curly. He said
that I had been selected for a special mission, which
would earn me my freedom, if I did well. If I failed, I
would be tracked down and used as wolf meat. By the
time my throat was torn out, I would be begging for
death, he told me. He forced his way into my mind.
He raped me mentally. I could not keep him out. It
was terrible; he knew all of my secrets and fears. He
placed images in my mind of what would happen
to me if I disobeyed. He gave me a new history, as
a bard. He told me I had to travel to Elannort for an
important meeting of the Wise. I was to ingratiate
myself with you and try to join any expedition that
was mounted. I was to learn as much as I could about
a powerful sword and the hero who would wield it.
I was to pay particular attention to a red-haired boy.
I feared for my life, for my very soul. I’m sorry,
Manfred. I was too weak to resist his evil.”

less fearful. “Tell me, Kris, how were you to be
contacted?”

Manfred sighed and looked at the pathetic,
cowering man in front of him. “I’m sorry, too, Kris. I
should not have threatened you with a mind probe. I
can help you to heal and to forget. If you will let me
into your mind, willingly, I will try to soothe the hurt.”

Kris was very emotional. There were tears
in his eyes and his voice wobbled. “Thank you,
Manfred. I will be forever in your debt. I would like
to continue with you and become the official Bard of
Elannort, should I prove worthy. Consider me a sort of
apprentice in the meantime. I have been working on a
short piece concerning the journey so far. Would you
care to hear a little of it?”

Kris hesitated and looked concerned but he
finally agreed. Manfred laid his hands on the bard’s
head and concentrated. He looked into the frightened
man’s soul. He had been telling the truth. Frisa the
Curly-Haired had planted many evil neural links. It
was a wonder that Kris had been able to function at
all. His fear of wargs was planted deep. It was little
wonder he had reacted as he had on the Ice Stair.
Manfred did what he could to remove the planted
suggestions and remove the fear. Manfred removed
his hands. Kris seemed a little more relaxed and

“He said that his servants would seek me out
and collect any information I had. I thought that the
wargs were doing that. I’m sorry for what I did. Is
there any way I can make it up to you?”
“I will talk to the others. I will tell them only
what they need to know. I think that you should
continue your new profession as a bard. There will be
many stories yet to be told before this war is over. I
would be pleased to have you along to record them.
You were correct when you called this a quest for
knowledge. Every snippet that I learn fills in more of
the gaps. It would appear that Weylyn is behind much
of our troubles. How he became corrupted, I do not
know. I wish I knew where Dammar fits into all of
this, if indeed he still lives. What am I supposed to
do about Ubadah? There are so many questions still
to answer and problems to solve. I see that there is
goodness in you, Kris. I also feel, without any real
justification, that you were sent to us for a purpose
and that you will have an important role to play before
all of this is done. I have done my best to remove the
evil that Frisa planted. There will be echoes of it for
the rest of your life.