The Coming Dawn Trilogy

by Austen Knowles

  Ky held her stomach. She felt sickness coming over her. She lay back in the chair and groaned.

  A warrior began to sing, and soon all the men joined in. They sang in a quiet whisper over the wind:

  “You lay waiting, like a woman in love.

  We hope for good weather and no storms up above.

  Your waves aren’t crashing upon us poor men.

  You open your heart and we enter your den.

  Sleep, sweet lady, a lullaby for you.

  We’ll sing you asleep, so we make it through.

  Our soft voices whisper into your ear;

  Sleep, sweet lady, give us nothing to fear.

  We’ll give all we have, and our devotion.

  If you’ll grant us passage through your ocean.

  Sleep, sweet lady; close your eyes to our ships,

  As rolling waves gently raises and dips.

  Do dream sweet dreams of our love that we share.

  Keep your waters calm, you haven’t a care.

  We’ll lovingly caress as we hold you.

  But we’re no match, sweet lady, we know it’s true.

  So, our song is your proof that we adore,

  Help us to make it safely to the shore.

  We’ll always sail your sea and return here.

  Don’t miss us, sweet lady, don’t shed a tear.

  You know we will be back for you one day,

  Because, sweet lady, our hearts never stray.

  Sleep, sweet lady, have dreams of us tonight.

  Sleep, sweet lady, and please set all things right.”

  Ky ran to the edge of the ship, clutching her stomach, and then fell flat as she vomited overboard. She couldn’t seem to get up. After being sick for so many days, her body was deteriorating rapidly. She was too weak to even roll over. While lying on the deck, with her head hung low, she saw enormous icebergs. She thought it was strange, because the air wasn’t cold.

  Noxis helped her to her feet. Dizziness swept over her and her legs trembled as she walked, ready to give. Once again she held onto the mast to hold herself steady. Soon she didn’t think she could support herself, and decided it wasn’t safe to be on the deck anymore in case she fell overboard.

  “Sit down and be quiet. We’re approaching the guridae. They nest in these waters,” Noxis warned, but Ky couldn’t move. She couldn’t move.

  “She should be below deck, Noxis,” another warrior complained with a growl. “She will doom us all. She’s bad luck. Look at the unnatural fog settling in. You made her jealous.”

  “It’s fog; it’s nothing. We’ll steer away from the guridae bergs,” Noxis said.

  “If you’re not going to put her under the deck, I will.”

  “If any one touches her, I’ve been told to kill you. I swear I will fulfill my brother’s command!” Noxis vowed and then spit on the deck as if that solidified the oath.

  “There are plenty of us, and only one of you. Face it; you’re not your brother. You never were.”

  “I’ll go down…” Ky said, barely over a whisper, but Noxis’s booming voice bellowed over hers.

  “If you are so confident, try to take me!”

  No one moved. A long tension filled moment passed between the two men before another warrior grimaced and spat, “That woman is nothing but trouble. They’re all helpless babes. They don’t belong out here in the wild. She will kill us all if we don’t hide women.

  “Cobaaron has lost his nerve. What is he thinking to bring women, and a Star? She has a strange power over him. She is a witch. Everyone has been saying it since Cobaaron decided to keep her. Just put her below to appease us.”

  “You should be careful when speaking of Cobaaron, especially in my presence. I am loyal to him until my death, even if it is on this ship,” Noxis snarled.

  “Why not tell us why we are going to Elder? It has something to do with the witch Star. I know it. We all know it.”

  “We’re following orders! That is what you’re doing. It’s not for you to question your chief.” Noxis was ready for a brawl; his hands on his swords.

  The two men glared each other down, with only feet separating them. One swift move and one or both could be dead. Suddenly a warrior sitting nearby clutched a fistful of her hair, dragging her backward. She was yanked with such strength she fell on her seat. Ky held her hair and tried to scramble backward as he dragged her. He opened the trapdoor to toss her, but Noxis threw his sword into the warrior’s gut. The man fell, still holding her hair, and almost took her as he splashed into the ocean, but someone seized her feet.

  The person who captured her yelled, “We are all dead if she dies! She must live!”

  As if the men knew where their loyalties lay, they fought accordingly: some with Noxis, others against. Ky was detained, and a second warrior swung an axe at her head. Almost by instinct, Ky kicked his ribs so hard she heard them break. She stole his axe when he faltered.

  The ship wasn’t being steered and it collided with an iceberg. Everyone lost balance and some men fell overboard.

  The iceberg spun. At least Ky thought it was smooth ice that rolled and rolled. Whatever the floating mass was, it turned upside down. Then gigantic claws rose out of the water. Long tentacle eyes stared at their vessel. It was an enormous hermit crab inside a floating shell. Its pincers snapped at the men. Noxis seized Ky, and pushed her below.

  The door slammed above her. She heard the men continue to fight, not only each other but also the giant crab. Huntra immediately sprung Ky onto his back. He had grown, knowing she was in trouble.

  Then Ky saw it. The boat was damaged. There were droplets trickling down from the same crack that had been haunting her for days. “No,” she whispered in disbelief. It couldn’t be happening, but she watched the water slide down the tar.

  As before, an enormous gash tore through the ship, water gushed in with tremendous force. Ky braced for what was going to happen next, but her body was too weak. In seconds, a huge swell rushed in and engulfed her. She was thrown from Huntra against the opposite wall. With a loud snap, the ship broke into two. She whirled in the current.

  Then she was blinded by thousands of tiny white bubbles. When they cleared she saw Huntra swimming to the surface. She kicked her legs, following Huntra, but she had little strength, and started to sink. Someone grabbed her. She was spun into Noxis. He wrenched her arm, pulling her not toward the surface but away from the berg. Claws swiped at them inches from their heads. Ky saw the claw pinch a warrior in two, and then plucked the halves out of the water drawing both pieces into its mouth.

  To Ky’s horror she saw Huntra still swimming straight at the giant crab. “No,” she screamed, and lost some air. To Ky’s amazement, Huntra swam in a half circle and stared as if he’d heard her. Noxis towed her farther from the berg. Ky pointed to her side and wished more than believed Huntra would obey her. “Come,” she commanded, letting out more air. Huntra swam after her.

  Her air was low. She could feel her heartbeat pounding. She needed air. Noxis put his mouth to hers. Bubbles escaped them. Not expecting that he would press his lips to her, she resisted him. Ky knew he was giving her air, but she felt oddly unfaithful to Cobaaron. While fighting him off, she accidentally scratched his face. He wrenched her to him again, and this time blew in her mouth.

  Huntra swam to her, bit the collar of her dress, and dragged her out of the water and away from the crab’s reach. Noxis barely hung on, as Huntra’s bulky paws easily propelled them forward.

  When their heads surfaced, they all gasped for air. They weren’t alone. Warriors were all around them swimming toward other boats. “What was that for?” Noxis asked her angrily. He touched his cheek, which was bleeding. With seawater splashing against his face, as a constant flow of blood streaming down his cheek. She hoped it wasn’t as deep as it appeared.

  “I’m sorry…” she gasped, but couldn’t talk. Not because she was out of breath, but because she felt woozy. Now in water, and no longer having a boat to keep her s
teady, Ky felt nauseous. Without warning, she vomited.

  “Mother of pearl, woman!” Noxis clutched her arm and carted her forward. Ships all around them were dropping their sails to wait for them, as the boats behind them were steering away from the crab’s reach. Huntra was eager to get out of the water, and swam as fast as he could to the closest ship. Noxis clung to Huntra again, bringing Ky.

  After being ill for days, Ky had no energy. Any last bit of strength was used in the excitement of the ship breaking in two. Noxis was holding on for both of them, dragging her behind him while clutching Huntra’s fur. Ky gave up, and went limp, but Noxis didn’t growl at her for not trying.

  “Keep your head above water.”

  “I can’t. It’s too hard,” Ky mumbled tiredly, letting the water splash her.

  “Nonsense. We’re almost there,” he retorted.

  “I can’t.”

  “Not much farther.” Noxis nodded to a ship. “They’re circling around. They’ll be upon us in no time.”

  Ky began to slip from Noxis’s grasp, and she began to dip below the water. Noxis heaved her closer, keeping her head above water. She closed her eyes, because even that was more energy than she had. “We’re almost there.”

  Ky felt her stomach churning. She had no warning, and heaved into the water again. Noxis cursed loudly. He said something, but she couldn’t concentrate enough to hear what he was saying. Even though she knew he continued to talk, she didn’t understand it. Her body wasn’t responding. Ky felt tired and confused. She couldn’t remember where she was anymore.

  Several arms plucked her out of the water. She slumped over as she was lifted from the water. She couldn’t open her eyes, and felt herself falling asleep.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  A disgusting flavor flooded Ky’s taste buds. She coughed, choked, and spit out a large piece of green mushy leaf. She rolled onto her side. It was an awful way to wake up. She was on the floor inside another ship. But this ship had heaps of floor pillows and other creature comforts in the main hold. “It’s noxious weed. Eat it. It will make you feel better,” a familiar voice commanded. She turned her head, but immediately wished she hadn’t moved fast. She clamped her hand to her mouth, close to vomiting again. “You need to eat this. You’re very sick.” He opened her mouth, stuffed it with the noxious weed, and clamped her jaw shut. “Swallow it, Ky.” Without chewing, she gulped down the slimy ball. He gave her another one, and then another. Before she swallowed the fourth weed she felt better.

  “Now drink.” He held up a jug of water. She thirstily drank. “That is enough. Not too much right now.” He took the jug. “Better?”

  “Yes,” Ky admitted.

  “Good. That means you can eat. You need to whether you want to or not.” He handed her a plate of different-colored caviar and a wet plant resembling shredded celery. Now that her nausea left, she was starving and greedily ate. “Slow down. You’ll get sick.” He took the plate when she couldn’t pace herself, but then she hadn’t eaten in days and lost all her food while ill.

  Ky couldn’t meet Cobaaron’s eye. She was embarrassed because he was nursing her when she had been cruel to him, and because he had willingly broken the union without fighting to keep her. She wanted to apologize but couldn’t find the words. “I’m all done,” she said instead of what was on her mind.

  “Fine. That’s enough for now.” He stood, leaving the plate, and then began to walk away.

  “You’re leaving?” she blurted out, hurt that he would leave her again so soon.

  Cobaaron froze, but waited for so long she didn’t think he was going to face her. When he finally did, he stared at her as if asking what she wanted. She glimpsed his stunning, sapphire blue eyes, which she had been avoiding. She had to apologize before she didn’t have the guts. “I’m sorry I said all those hurtful, horrid things. You’re right I’m young, headstrong, and foolish for not listening to your advice in this world. I’m sorry, I hurt you.” It sounded forced, but it was because she was terrified of his response. She didn’t want him rejecting her as she had cruelly done to him. She didn’t want him to easily let her go once again, as if she meant nothing.

  “I’m fine,” he replied. It was the worst answer he could have given her.

  “Right,” she said and sulked while staring at her palm. She wanted to say something about their union, but his tone sounded detached. He seemed cold and calm. He didn’t love her, and it served her right. Their relationship was over. “Well...thanks.”

  He didn’t move. He stood in his spot for several heartbeats before he recanted. “Actually, I’m not fine.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said. Her eyes swept over him, reading his body language, hoping he still wanted her. “I’m so sorry. I tried to tell you that I didn’t mean it, but I couldn’t read your thoughts and I wasn’t sure you could read mine. I tried telling you, though.”

  “I stopped reading your mind when we fought and I didn’t want you reading mine either.”

  “Why?”

  “Because of what you said. It was clear to me it was over, and you didn’t love me. I didn’t want you in my head, or knowing my feelings.”

  “Oh,” Ky said and looked down at the pillow. She couldn’t bear to look at him, once she inquired if his feelings were past tense. “Are you saying you still feel for me?”

  “Just tell me what you want, Ky. Why did you stop me from leaving? What did you want to say? Are you seeking forgiveness after your apology? Tell me what you want so I know how to act.”

  “I want...I wanted you to stay,” she said. “I’m sorry, and I love you, Cobaaron. I do. It’s not the union if we’ve been apart for over a week and I still love you.”

  Cobaaron repressed a hint of a smile. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, he came to her. His lips quickly found hers. He kissed her possessively, wanting to keep her. It felt wonderful to be wanted by him. He cradled her nape as he kissed her. Everything he did felt divine. Cobaaron stopped, and said, “Before I met you, I was misled and unhappy without knowing it. I thought that life was about being a disciplined warrior, but now I know it’s about this.” He placed his hand over her heart. “Loving you is my real purpose in life. I’ve never done anything greater.”

  She smiled, close to tears that he was opening up to her. “Make love to me Cobaaron.”

  “Not unless you’re my wife, Ky. I want to keep you for myself. Bond with me.”

  “I will bond with you as many times as you want.”

  He kissed her, and spoke with relief, “This is the last time. I won’t let you get away after tonight.” He pushed off the pillows to fetch the plate. He dumped the food, and then broke the serving dish in half. He pressed the serrated edge into her palm, but stopped. “The union will try to take control again. It helps not to fight it. I want to make love, not be taken over by lust. Give in, and let it remove the strong hold it has on you.”

  “I agree. I like kissing; it grounds me.”

  He slit her palm. She started to bleed scalding hot blood. He clenched his fingers around her hand. She felt the hot blood. She bit her lip to keep from screaming. He squeezed her palm tighter. They should have been used to the excruciating pain after five previous cuts, but it wasn’t the case. They both yelled out in pain.

  The bleeding lasted much longer than usual. The heat wasn’t going away. The blood was burning their hands with bubbling blisters. His hand caught on fire, and glowed a silvery orange-red. Ky was concerned that something was wrong. Cobaaron’s expression was tense as well; the bleeding simply wasn’t stopping.

  With pure panic, she screamed out to Cobaaron. “Make it stop.” She knew he would die if he took too much of her blood.

  He squeezed harder, and then used his other hand for added pressure. With great strength he squeezed her hand until it felt he would soon crush her. Ky felt overwhelmed with pain. The torture drained her body of any energy she recouped. In return, it made the bleeding worse. Her skin smolde
red from the igneous heat. Cobaaron bellowed out in pain.

  She felt weak, very weak. Then her skin cooled. Her wound took much longer to heal. The process was slow, as the blood gathered back into her body, and Cobaaron’s. Their blisters and burns began to disappear. What felt like several minutes, but was probably no more than one, her skin finally healed completely, and then there was no heat.

  “Why did that take so long?” she asked, while relieved she felt a full recovery.

  “The weed only covers up the sickness. You must have been very ill. How did Noxis not know how bad you were feeling?”

  “I was below deck.”

  “I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. You’ll be with me from now on.” He took her hand. His touch, triggered by that small gesture, seized her body by the supernatural power of their union. The force was stronger than before, but she welcomed the spellbound control over her; she had no desire to resist the orgasmic pleasure from succumbing to its presence.

  Ky moved gracefully without thought or control, while she breathed through her climax. She stood, and grasped the shoulder strap of her dress, and slid it off. The fabric brushed her nipple, and her orgasm heightened. Cobaaron was transfixed. She could see a glazed look in his eyes as if the union was forcing him still and silent to watch. His eyes followed her movement as she slipped the second strap of her dress off, and then let it fall. In a moment, she was fully exposed. She let him gaze at her body from her breasts to the soft curves of her exaggerated hips. Her body seemed to float to him. She straddled him, and pressed her lips to his. A yearning, an intense craving to make love to him ripped through her body as wild as the enchanted lust that consumed her—still making her peak. Her toes curled, and her hands tightened to fists. Her climax became more powerful with the sensation of kissing him. She sharply inhaled with her lips touching his mouth.

  “Take me, Cobaaron. Make love to me like a warrior, controlling my movements. Keep my lips to yours as you wish.” Ky’s voice was her own, but the words were not. The union was speaking to him, most likely telling him exactly what he wanted to hear.