Forged in the Dawn

by Gavin Zanker

  ‘It’s hard to argue with that.’

  Aiden peered through the doors to get a look at the speaker. On the central stage he saw a tall man wearing a bright cream suit, his long brown hair held in check with a headband. The audience were applauding every sentence as he paced around the stage speaking with passion.

  ‘That would be Travis then?’ Aiden asked. ‘He has quite a presence.’

  ‘That’s him,’ Faye said, gazing at the stage. ‘Isn’t he a great speaker? I could listen to him for hours.’

  ‘What is he speaking from? Don’t religions usually have a holy book or some sort of scripture?’

  ‘Books require a printing press, something we are sorely lacking.’ Aiden turned to see a bright-eyed man carrying a briefcase. ‘Though we are currently working on repurposing an old machine so we can better spread the word of light.’

  ‘Oh, hi Samuel,’ Faye said, before returning her attention back to the sermon.

  ‘Hello Aiden,’ the man said, his voice soft as he shifted his briefcase to his other hand. Apart from the rectangular glasses under neatly parted brown hair, he was completely unremarkable. The sort of person you forgot moments after meeting.

  ‘You know me?’ Aiden asked, suddenly conscious of what to do with his hands under the man’s gaze. He settled with pushing them into his pockets.

  ‘I know everyone here, it’s part of my job. My name is Samuel Benson.’ The small man extended his hand in greeting. Aiden shook it, glancing down to see no marks or callouses there.

  ‘I don’t think I’ve seen you around before,’ Aiden said. ‘What is your job exactly?’

  ‘I am a personal aide to Travis. I handle much of the day-to-day running of the Church. Accountancy, paper work, that sort of thing.’

  Samuel lapsed into silence, making no effort to keep the conversation going. He merely stared at Aiden as Travis’ sermon continued in the background. Samuel seemed simple, almost naive, though he had a somewhat awkward intensity about him.

  ‘Well, it was nice to meet you, Aiden,’ he said eventually. ‘If you will excuse me, I have other matters to attend to.’

  With that, he turned and headed towards the Zenith Gate that led to the inner compound. Aiden watched the man walk away with an innocuous gait. The guards waved him through, locking the heavy studded door firmly behind him.

  ‘Faye, I’m heading back to the barracks. I need something to eat.’

  ‘There’s usually some bread in the common room you can help yourself to if Jordy hasn’t snagged it already,’ Faye said, flashing him a smile before turning her attention back to Travis. ‘I’ll catch up with you later.’

  Aiden strolled towards the barracks. He was still feeling out of place here, and meeting so many new people was mentally draining. He had never thrived on social interaction, preferring his own company to that of others, and he could feel it starting to darken his mood. But then the alternatives to being here reared up in his mind. Locked up, facing torment and starvation at the bottom of the canyon, or fighting for his survival in the blood-soaked arena.

  Immediately feeling better, he quickened his pace and headed for the common room to find that bread.

  SOON, AIDEN WAS standing in the common room kitchen, chewing on a piece of dry toasted bread as he listened to the portable radio. Rim News Radio was operated by Grave Ludgate, the woman he had met briefly a few days ago at the compound gates, and was the only radio station in the city, probably the country.

  Currently an old swing track, no doubt salvaged from before the Dawn, was playing through the tinny speakers. The scratchy record finished and he recognised Grace’s voice as she began reading a news report. She commented on the rising tensions between the city police and the refugees from the surrounding plains who, having been denied entry, were amassing outside the city with nowhere else to turn. There was also a report on violence breaking out between police and a Syndicate gang somewhere in the Rusts, one of the oldest and poorest parts of the city.

  As Grace moved on to discussing the food shortages in the city, playing snippets of a recorded interview with Mayor Reinhold, laughter rippled out from the far side of the room, pulling Aiden’s attention away from the radio. Two Seekers were there, sat on a sofa sharing a joke. Aiden had noticed them a few times around the compound, always together, and always obnoxiously loud. Neither of them looked old enough to shave.

  Kane appeared, his sudden presence almost causing Aiden to drop the bread he held. The charismatic leader was hard to miss when he entered a room, always striding around with great purpose. Aiden had not taken stealth to be one of the man’s strong points.

  ‘Aiden, how are you getting on?’ Kane asked.

  Aiden swallowed the last of the bread. ‘Good, I think. Though all I’ve done so far is wander around the compound. Is it always this quiet around here?’

  ‘No, not usually. You’ll be put to use soon don’t worry, I just wanted to have a chat with you first.’

  ‘Okay,’ Aiden said, tension creeping over him as he waited for bad news. ‘What do you want to talk about?’

  ‘You know I pulled your files before I offered you the contract. While your past is irrelevant here, I wanted to check something with you.’ Kane looked at Aiden, his grey eyes unblinking. ‘The violent crime you were sentenced for. It had the markings of a very calculating man. I’ve seen crimes of passion before, and this wasn’t one. Would you agree?’

  Aiden nodded, remembering what he had done to the slave trader, still unsure where this conversation was leading.

  ‘You’re a driven man. Something pushed you to do what you did, and judging by you being picked up on your way out of the city in such a hurry, I can only assume that you didn’t accomplish whatever it was you needed to. While I can respect the drive to finish a job, I’m a driven man myself, I need to know that you can put your unfinished business aside for the time being.’

  ‘Of course, I understand my role here.’

  ‘I can see you’re smarter than most. I just need to hear from you that my orders will always take priority over any personal feelings you may be kicking around.’

  ‘You’re worried I might snap?’

  ‘Let’s say I don’t know what it is you were trying to do, and while I have no interest in finding out, I don’t want any surprises out there. When things get serious, I need people I can rely on.’

  ‘You have my word,’ Aiden said, meeting Kane’s intense stare. ‘What you said is true, but my personal history can wait.’

  ‘Good, I knew we’d get along.’ More laughter and raised voices came from across the room, causing an irritated look to form on Kane’s face. ‘Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a little problem to deal with.’

  Kane strode over towards the two men sat in the corner, their laughter stopping instantly. Aiden turned back to the radio, wondering how much of what he just said he actually believed himself. Would he finish his contract? This place was comfortable, and giving his word had come so easily. But could he really put off his search for Kate now that he had a name? He poured himself a glass of water, still lost in thought, when the discussion on the other side of the room became more animated.

  ‘You will follow your orders, Seeker!’ Kane growled.

  ‘Whatever, man,’ one of the young men said, rising from his chair. ‘I don’t have to take your crap.’

  ‘Don’t mess about, Dil,’ the other man said, pulling on his friend’s sleeve. ‘Come on, we’re scheduled for guard duty so let’s just go. No need to cause trouble.’

  ‘Cameron here speaks sense,’ Kane said calmly, his without breaking eye contact. ‘I’d listen to your friend, if I were you Dillon. Otherwise you’ll find yourself with a serious problem.’

  ‘No way am I going back up on that bloody wall,’ Dillon declared, his hands balled at his sides. ‘This old man is singling us out. Can’t you see it, Cam?

  Dillon’s jaw clenched tightly as he squared up to Kane. He was taller than the older man, and his eye
s burned with anger as the tension in the room grew.

  Kane exploded with movement, spinning Dillon around and wrenching his arm up behind his back in a flash of motion. ‘You’ve broken the rules of your contract,’ he said, as he pinned the man against the sofa. ‘And you are now officially ejected from the Seekers. You will be turned over to the city authorities and returned to prison to serve the remainder of your sentence. Congratulations, son, you fucked it all up.’

  Kane caught Aiden’s eye and waved him over. Aiden placed his glass of water down on the counter and joined them as Cameron pleaded with Kane to give his friend another chance.

  ‘Give me a hand here,’ Kane said to Aiden.

  As Kane removed a pair of handcuffs from his belt, Dillon managed to twist himself free and attempted to duck away. Aiden snaked out his leg, catching the youth’s shin and sending him sprawling to the floor. Kane was on him immediately, his knee in Dillon’s back.

  ‘I’ll take care of him from here,’ Kane said, nodding his thanks to Aiden as he handcuffed the man and yanked him upright. Cameron stood in shock, his mouth open as his struggling friend was marched out of the room.

  ‘You okay?’ Aiden asked, returning to his spot by the radio and picking up his drink.

  ‘He was my only friend here,’ Cameron said. ‘Why did he do that? What am I going to do on my own now? How can I survive?’

  ‘You will or you won’t,’ Aiden said with a shrug. ‘Either way, that guy wouldn’t have helped. I know his type. He would only have dragged you down into trouble with him.’

  Cameron, his face pale, turned and walked out without another word. Alone in the common room now, Aiden faced the radio again and turned up the volume.

  CHAPTER 17

  IT WAS EARLY enough in the day that the rest of the team were still asleep in their bunks, leaving Blanc free to sit alone in the common room. She was leaning back in an armchair, gazing up at the tiled ceiling and spinning the silver ring on her finger, as she often did while lost in thought.

  Her world had been moving so quickly over the last few weeks. She needed time to get her thoughts in order, to figure out who it was she was becoming. The constant fear in her stomach told her what she already knew. She was not suited to being a Seeker. If it was a choice, she would leave, but then where else could she go?

  The rest of the team were so calm under pressure, and she tried her best to emulate their behaviour. A fight had broken out in the barracks a few days ago, some pointless squabble over a tin of peaches. Blanc had summoned the courage to step between the arguing men and to her surprise, had found conflict to not be as terrifying as she had feared. The revelation had forced her to start questioning a lot of old assumptions.

  Her thoughts were interrupted as Emily entered the common room from outside, bringing a gust of cold wind in with her. Blanc narrowed her eyes at the church leader, then returned to staring at the ceiling.

  ‘I didn’t think anyone else would be up yet,’ Emily declared, seeing Blanc sat alone. ‘You’re an early riser like me I take it?’ She moved to the kitchen and set about making a drink. ‘I like the stillness in the mornings. When the world is still asleep, and the air has an untouched freshness.’

  Thankfully, the sound of the boiling kettle was too loud to continue a conversation across the room and Blanc was left in peace. When Emily had made a drink though, she made her way over, carrying two steaming mugs of tea. She placed one on the table in front of Blanc, and took a seat on a nearby chair, crossing her tight-covered legs as she sat. Blanc glanced at her in annoyance, noting the dark red lipstick as she pursed her lip to blow on the hot drink.

  Emily caught her looking. ‘I know you’re still angry, Karen.’

  ‘Don’t call me that,’ Blanc snapped, her voice tinged with a ferocity that surprised even her. Only her parents had called her by her first name. She hated hearing it now.

  ‘Sorry, you go by Blanc now don’t you? I keep forgetting.’ Emily took a sip from her mug. ‘So how are you fitting in here? I imagine it’s quite tough.’

  ‘Do you really care?’ Blanc asked, shooting her another hostile look. Her placement in the Seekers had not been Emily’s decision, and even though she had pulled the strings for Blanc to bypass the initiation test, she could not help feeling resentment for the church leader.

  ‘Of course I care. I didn’t make the rules, Blanc. I just have to follow them, same as everyone else. If only you had followed them too then you wouldn’t-’

  ‘I’m not going to sit through that speech again. I’ve heard it enough from everyone else.’

  Blanc leaned forward and picked up her mug from the table, sipping the hot tea.

  ‘You know, I realised today that you’ve never once asked about them,’ Emily said, her voice soft.

  ‘Because I don’t care,’ Blanc said through gritted teeth. ‘They turned their back on me. Why should I do any different?’

  ‘I see.’ Emily looked down at her drink. ‘Honestly, that makes me sad. Family is a blessing that shouldn’t be taken for granted. That ring you’re playing with, I remember the look on your face when your father gave it to you.’

  ‘Some family,’ Blanc sneered, clutching the ring.

  They both sat nursing their drinks in silence. Blanc fidgeted in her chair, just wanting to be left alone. She glanced across to make it clear, only for Emily to smile back at her.

  ‘So was there something you wanted,’ Blanc asked, ‘or did you just come here to bother me?’

  Emily straightened up in her seat. ‘Now that you mention it, there is something actually. Since you’re the only Seeker up, maybe you could do me a favour. I need someone to head into the city and collect a Church member for readjustment.’

  ‘Readjustment?’ Blanc raised her eyebrows. ‘Who’s the lucky person?’

  ‘Her name is Mrs. Harrington. She runs a store not far from here over in the Rusts. I can give you directions-’

  ‘No need, I know where to find her,’ Blanc said, pressing her lips together.

  ‘So, you think you’re up to it?’

  ‘Don’t patronise me like a little girl,’ Blanc said with a scowl. ‘I’m a Seeker now, the least you can do is treat me like one.’

  ‘Well look at you.’ Emily drained the last of her drink and placed the empty mug on the table, then stood and smoothed down her knee-length skirt. ‘I’ll leave this task in your capable hands then. As soon as you can, please. You can drop her off at the Zenith Gate and someone will take her through to the readjustment villas inside. Oh, and she’s unaware that she’s been scheduled to be brought in, so she might be a little hesitant.’

  ‘Don’t worry, I’ll get her here.’

  ‘Good. Hopefully she won’t give you too much trouble. Not everyone appreciates readjustment, but unfortunately it’s sometimes necessary.’ Emily pinched the bridge of her nose and yawned. ‘Well, time to go and meet another new day.’

  She forced a smile at Blanc, then turned and left the common room. As the outer door swung open, Blanc caught sight of the lightening dawn outside. As the door shut behind her, the inner door to the barracks swung open and Adam shuffled through, his eyes still half-closed from sleep. Blanc stood and waved the shambling man over.

  ‘Hello, Blanc,’ he said, rubbing his face.

  ‘Come on Adam,’ Blanc said, taking her friend by the arm and smiling up at him. ‘You can help me. We’ve got important church work to do today.’

  BLANC STROLLED THROUGH the aisle, running her hand over the shelves. Mostly old trinkets and plastic junk being sold as children’s toys. The odd piece of tattered clothing. Adam followed close behind. His presence calming her, lifting her above the constant anxiety in her stomach. She glanced back at him and smiled, seeing his blank expression as his head turned this way and that to look around the dimly lit shop.

  As they reached the end of the aisle, they came upon a lone woman sat behind a counter, her head down, absorbed in a magazine. Blanc wandered over, feeling the rese
ntment rise up inside as she drew closer to the middle-aged hag.

  ‘Sorry, no food for sale,’ the woman said without looking up. ‘Try the market in Oldtown.’

  ‘Ah, Mrs. Harrington,’ Blanc said with theatrical enthusiasm. ‘Is that some grey I see in your hair?’

  ‘Karen? Is that you?’ The shopkeeper’s face registered shock as she recognised Blanc stood before her.

  ‘That’s right. Still here. Still breathing.’ Blanc tilted her head as she gazed around the shop. ‘No thanks to you, of course.’

  ‘Oh, my dear child. I heard what happened to you. I was only-’

  ‘I’m not interested in hearing your excuses. You knew full well what would happen when you ran off to tell your group of Church hens about me. You’ve always been one for gossip, haven’t you? Whispering here and there. Spreading rumours about people behind their backs.’

  Mrs. Harrington looked from Blanc to the intimidating figure of Adam, swallowing slowly. ‘You’re part of the Seekers now? I wouldn’t have taken you for the type.’

  ‘Contrition for my crimes, they called it.’ A mirthless smile spread over Blanc’s face. ‘Anyway the past is the past. I’m here on official business today. Me and my colleague are here with some good news for you.’ Blanc clapped her hands happily. ‘You’ve been scheduled for readjustment.’

  ‘What? No, that can’t be right,’ the woman said, her eyes widening. ‘I’ve done nothing wrong!’

  ‘Oh Mrs. Harrington, please. I hope you won’t be causing a problem here.’ Blanc sighed as the older woman shrank back. ‘Adam, would you kindly give our friend a hand? I think she might need some help leaving.’

  Adam lumbered around the counter and locked his huge hand around the shopkeeper’s arm.

  ‘This has to be a misunderstanding!’

  ‘Most likely,’ Blanc said. ‘Just like the rumours you spread about me and Robert.’

  ‘The Syndicate boy? I heard some things but I never-’