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.