The Coming Dawn Trilogy

by Austen Knowles

  The ground was ash-covered and in the dark reflected an eerie solid shade of gray from within the mountaintops to the vast, empty valley below. The dull-brown moon had an enormous, slightly brighter new scar on its face. The luminescence was vivid, forming a peach-colored haze. A beautiful ash ring floated around the celestial body.

  After winding up from deep within the earth, they exited close to the base of the mountain. Ky gazed at the new, magnificent moon. Without a pause, Huntra forged down the hill. The crunching ground under Huntra’s paws got her attention. Before he took a couple more steps, Huntra stopped and rapidly decreased his mass.

  “He’s too heavy.” Cobaaron slid off.

  When Ky dismounted, Cobaaron ripped twisting tendrils from Huntra’s legs that crept out of the cracks. Ky gasped and stepped back, feeling creeping plants wrap around her legs as she split the layer of harden ash. With each step, more vines grew at alarming speed, sprouting flowers that bloomed within seconds.

  “Keep walking, love. We’re right behind you,” Cobaaron said, as he freed Huntra’s feet. Cobaaron stepped high to unbind his ankles as he circled Huntra with long strides. “This would be a lot easier if you shrank, Huntra,” Cobaaron complained.

  Ky kicked as Cobaaron had done as she descended. Tyrus, Ambrosia, Ram, and Parson swiftly accompanied her. They spread out as they walked, because the bigger the cracks, the quicker and thicker the plant grew. Mushrooms, daisy-like weeds, and prickly grass sprouted also.

  Cobaaron caught up to Ky, with Huntra on his shoulders. There were shrieks of women behind them. The tendrils were rapidly wrapping around their legs. “We need to hurry so those behind us can move faster or they will get stuck.” Cobaaron sped to a jog. “We’ll be entering trading territory once we reach the forest. It’s important to not make any noise. In fact, from now on, only whisper if you need to talk.”

  They put more space between them as they ran. The ash split and crunched under foot. The warriors in front were lucky enough to only watch the foliage sprouting from under the hardened minerals. Those behind were caught in the living snares, and fought their way only to get a few steps. The army hastened the women to the front, and after that everyone was able to run faster while expanding a mile wide.

  They hurried downhill and jogged across the open valley. Ky felt like she was running a marathon. The mountain was soon far behind them. Glistening silver sweat covered her body, twinkling with every movement. Cobaaron obviously worried she shone too brightly, because he kept eyeing her. To make it worse, her druse fluttered around her head, not wanting to sit on her shoulder or in her swinging hair.

  Once they hurdled a low wall of stacked rocks, they slowed to a fast walk. “We’re in trader’s territory,” Cobaaron whispered. “The cracking ash is enough to get attention. Stay close, Ky. We need to surround the Stars.”

  Cobaaron waved the warriors forward, communicating his commands silently. Warriors surrounded Wyt, while others marched up to encircle Ky and her small group. “Spread out,” Cobaaron quietly hissed because the vines were once again ensnaring their ankles.

  Ambrosia clutched Ky’s hand tightly. She was shaking with fear as they made their way into a thick, dense forest. Her reaction to the trading territory scared Ky, thinking Ambrosia knew something she didn’t. Ky squeezed her hand, trying to be comforting. Trees crowded them until they were in the heart of the dense woods. Tall firs among the mountain swamp gum trees creaked in a soft wind and they slowed and spread out even farther to maneuver between giant trunks while avoiding vines. Ambrosia wouldn’t budge from her side.

  “We should have separated, instead of bringing two Stars into trading territory. I shouldn’t have listened to Wyt. This is madness,” Cobaaron grumbled and pointed to the right. The warriors divided, and half his army swept Wyt and his family to the west through the dark thicket.

  Ky watched the departing group until the woods hid the warriors surrounding Wyt. Ky knew why Cobaaron kept looking at Ky with concern. Wyt’s blue brilliance glowed brightly between the dark trees, and Ky knew her skin was equally as radiant. Until then, Ky didn’t realize how far her light reached, now that she was a mature Star. Knowing how intensely she shined only made Ky more nervous.

  As the two groups parted, the earth began to rumble. The shaking became increasingly violent until they had no choice but to brace themselves to stand, but suddenly huge rock pillars shot up around them. Ky screamed, as a pillar sprung up beneath Ambrosia and her. The force threw her into the air and Ambrosia screamed when she was tossed higher than Ky. She clung to Ky’s hand, determined not to let go. Together they wildly rolled in the air before they landed hard on top of another pillar. Ambrosia dangled off the ledge and Ky started to slip. She had no choice and released one of Ambrosia’s hands. “I got you.” Ky yelled over the rumbling earth. She gripped the edge and strained to lift Ambrosia. Hoisting her became easy as Ambrosia levitated until she flung a foot onto the high rock.

  The ground continued to shake violently. From twenty feet up, Ky could no longer see Cobaaron among the bulky, ash-covered tree limbs. The fractures in the hard cinders split open as growing leaves on the branches poked out and shivered. Sprouting shoots swelled, causing the cracks to splinter first toward the trunk and then chip down to the earth. The ash crumbled as if the tree purposefully broke free of the magic shell.

  “Where is Cobaaron?” Ky asked with a shaky voice.

  “Don’t lean over.” Ambrosia pulled Ky away from the ledge. Her shaking worsened, but more pillars shot up around them and the ground under their feet wobbled. They toppled over the twenty-foot ledge and fell to earth; plants ensnared their arms and legs.

  Ky screamed; her light brightened and they grew wildly, but as she became hot they shriveled and died. Ambrosia bellowed from the pain, but wrenched her up off the ground with a blistered hand. “We have to run, my Lady!”

  “Ky!” Cobaaron yelled, as he stood on another high pillar. “Run!” He pointed to the right and hurdled to another pillar.

  Ambrosia and Ky tried to sprint south, but the ground shook violently. The warriors were running around them. Their footing gave way and Ambrosia and Ky plummeted into a hole. Vines grew as they slid down the steep tunnel until they skidded to the base of a small cave.

  Ambrosia let go of her hand. She was shaking more than ever. “Do you trust me, my Lady?” Ambrosia asked timidity, but clearly, she was trying to be brave.

  “I do,” Ky said. She winced when her druse yanked her hair rushing to make a nest. “Ouch!”

  “We have to hurry,” Ambrosia stressed, and rotated Ky’s palm upward. Cobaaron’s name was embedded in her skin and the creased lines. Ambrosia pinched her palm pulling a few letters from his name. Translucent red strands disappeared as she discarded them in mid-air by rubbing her fingers together and then flicked the vapor away. Ambrosia then touched her eyes, and removed the violet color, as if she were removing contacts. She shook the violet irises from her fingers. Her eyes were now deep brown, almost as dark as her hair. “I need one of your hairs, my Lady. You have to give it to me willingly.”

  Ky nodded. “Of course! Anything…” She breathed heavily wondering why Ambrosia found it necessary to expunge part of Cobaaron’s name. Ambrosia plucked a hair from Ky’s head, pulling harder than she intended as the ground rumbled again. Ambrosia then took the brown thick, hard vine that crept around her leg. When Ambrosia broke it, the plant softened, becoming limp. She wrapped the thin branch around Ky’s single hair, fashioning a wand. “All witches perform better with wands. Healers’ daughters are no different.” Then with one finger, she drew a line in the air, tearing the space, and threw the wand. Ky watched, as the wand disappeared midair.

  “Is this important to you?” Ambrosia asked, pointing to Ky’s ring.

  “Very.” Ky clutched her hand protectively. She didn’t want Ambrosia removing it and transforming her wedding ring to smoke. She may never get it back.

  Ambrosia hurriedly smacked her hand away an
d squeezed the ring. Ky watched the gold and stone sink into her skin, but she could see the ship and rock sail as a glowing outline under her pink flesh. “Would you believe me if I said I dreamt all this while in Sarnia?”

  “I would.”

  “Then you must believe me when I tell you, the trader must never know who you are. Your bond partner is a councilman named Ron. You hate your arranged union, and you have taken me, your handmaiden, to run away. We don’t know where we’re going, but hope to find a close city.” As Ambrosia spoke, her words became convincing; Ky was nearly persuaded she was upset with Cobaaron for forcing her into marriage. Ambrosia repeated her words a second time.

  “I hate Ron!” Ky exclaimed emotionally.

  “You must do everything I say, my Lady. Most importantly, I’m not a healer, and you do not speak unless you must. Let me do the talking. I’ll guide you with my words if I can.” Ambrosia was going to say something else, but the vines snapped along the ceiling, and a huge net ensnared them. They were hauled up and out of the cave within seconds. The trap dragged them along the ground. Warriors jumped for them.

  “She’s here!” a warrior yelled. “They both are here!”

  Cobaaron ran full speed chasing after them. Warriors’ weapons struck the cord pulling them, trying to free Ambrosia and Ky, but the cord would smolder with black smoke and mend. Few men that tried snatching the webbed rope were successful. They cut at the thick cable to no avail.

  The terrain continued to shake. Pillars sprung up all around them. Warriors disappeared behind the columns that separated them. Then a wide pillar shot up from under them, the force of the thrust tossed Ambrosia and Ky upward, and all the warriors who clung to the net were tossed. The warriors fell to the ground. Ambrosia and Ky dropped, but at the last second Ambrosia held her hands out and prevented the crash as they hovered over the hardened ash. They were towed at an incredible speed out into the dark forest. With gentle impact, the trap dragged along the hard ash again.

  Ky reached through the woven rope, grasping for Cobaaron as he ran after them. He was so fast he was leaving his men behind. He was gradually gaining on them, but pillars continued to shoot up around him. “NO!” Cobaaron yelled.

  A moment later, Ambrosia and Ky were heaved into a crate of bars, and then everything disappeared in a puff of thin black vapor. When the smoke dissipated, they were in the same spot. The net around Ambrosia and Ky disappeared with the smoke. Cobaaron was circling the area, walking through the bars where they were trapped. His screams were soft and muffled, “I’ll find you! I swear I will find you!”

  There was a crack of a whip, and the tumbrel jolted as it began to move. They weren’t alone in the carriage, another woman was with them, but separated by bars in another compartment. A man was sitting on top of the crate, holding the reins of a strange animal with short stubby legs, long donkey-like ears, and a hump on its wooly back.

  The other woman in the carriage stared at Ky. Her skin was pale and dirty; one of her eyes was as black as a beetle, while the other was bright yellow with an enlarged pupil. Ky felt her evil gaze upon her. She shifted, uncomfortable that such a person, who seemed to be possessed, would unblinkingly watch her. Ky was thankful for the bars that separated them. The woman slowly moved her head to the side as she stared. Then she simpered with a mouth full of black teeth.

  “There is a Star in the wagon, and a pretty one at that,” the woman slurred with a harsh scratchy voice. “And what is a celestial queen doing among Cobaaron and his warriors, I wonder? The kings would not tell me why I’m looking for you, but I know they need the Star that travels with him. I’m confused why I saw two.” She slowly tilted her head in the opposite direction, and still she didn’t blink.

  “They…came to Sarnia,” Ambrosia hesitantly spoke. “We snuck out with Cobaaron, and by the time he noticed, it was too late. We were told we could accompany him.”

  “You lie!” the woman spat. “They sniff like dogs. The dark has made them more than mere men. They would find you before they left the first gate out of the city.”

  “We waited for them,” Ambrosia stressed, “because we knew which way they headed. My master brought plenty of us women with her hoping they would be snatched by traders, and not her.”

  “I don’t believe you,” the woman snarled. “You shouldn’t underestimate me, as many do.”

  “I can live with your curiosity not being satisfied,” Ambrosia said with remarkable bravery even though she sounded petrified. Ambrosia gulped when she realized what she had done.

  “You shouldn’t speak to me with such insolence, little girl. You don’t look a day over eighteen,” the woman hissed. “You have no idea who or what you’re talking to.”

  Ambrosia sat back, leaning against the bars, terrified of the prisoner. She clutched Ky’s hand, as if she needed reassurance to keep from shivering uncontrollably. The threat didn’t go unnoticed; Ambrosia’s druse zoomed out of her hair, getting between Ambrosia and the other passenger to protect her new owner. “No,” Ambrosia cried out, calling her druse back, but it was too late. The crazed captive looked at the druse, her eyes swirled to an eerie white, and the small creature shattered. The sound of breaking glass was sharp and piercing. “No,” Ambrosia cried.

  Ky clutched Ambrosia. “It’s okay. I’ll share mine. We’ll…we’ll leave the woman be.”

  “I’m no mere woman!” In a moment, the stranger rushed the bars and seized the iron. Her anger was evident, as she spat out her words. Ambrosia and Ky flinched. Suddenly the woman was very close. “I’m a witch—a witch that you should show your respect and fear. Do you think,” she leaned, her head passing through the bars, “that these bars hold me? I’m here by choice. Swear your allegiance to me if you want to live. Maybe then I would keep you as a pet.”

  She sneered, entered their cage, and leaned against the bars opposite them. Then her appearance changed. She became an exact replica of Ky, before she turned her palms up and read the name on her hand. “The name of your lover is Ron?”

  “It is,” Ky divulged, hating to admit it. Her attention focused, not on their conversation, but what she saw. “I have seen you before. You were in the tunnel, weren’t you? You tried to kill me!”

  “Now, that is curious a witch has presented herself in your form. And to try to kill you? You must be more valuable than I previously believed.” She once again cocked her neck in a slow manner and peered into her eyes as if she read her mind. “Why do you flee from Ron?”

  “I’m eighteen. I’m too young to marry,” Ky griped, sounding as angry as she felt. As if she finally had someone who cared about her marriage woes she blabbed on. “It’s not fair!”

  “What is this ‘marry’?”

  “I mean bond.” Ky waved her hand dismissing the small language barrier and once again stressed her point. “I shouldn’t be forced into marriage. It’s a stupid rule of society, a union chosen by council? I’d rather die!”

  “That is good, because you surely shall,” the witch hissed impatiently.

  Ky gasped and recoiled, no longer wishing to converse. The witch cackled a low gurgling laugh when she saw Ky squirm. Ambrosia squeezed her hand tightly.

  “Have you seen that we die?” Ambrosia asked, sounding unsure and nervous.

  The witch didn’t bother to answer. Apparently, she wanted Ambrosia and Ky to dwell on their fear. Instead, she glared as she announced her plans. “I’m bound to this life and to King Verellis. I’ll take you to him. He decides your fate. Since the south needs the warmth of the Star’s light, he’s usually merciful. He will take a liking to you, Star. Though you, useless girl, he will sentence to death, having no need of you. Unless you want to be my pet, I have use for a slave.”

  “No,” Ky gasped. “We’ll escape as we did in Sarnia.”

  “There is no escaping! These bars are mine. I’m the trader; I bound myself to this life after a duel. I had three days to find a replacement body to live and found the man who drives this carriage. I promised
him wealth in exchange for his youth. He bartered incorrectly and died. I’ll find another soul willing to trade for wealth, and again exchange lives, and then I’ll be free. For now, no one escapes. I’m Luanda the Weird. Some say I’m mad. You would do well to not try to escape.”

  “Are you magically bound to take us to King Verellis? Could you take us somewhere else? Surely my Lady could give a handsome reward.”

  “I said I’m bound! He will like the beautiful Star, and trade with me a magical instrument that will give me added youth. I seek immortality.” Luanda leaned forward as her upper lip curled with scorn. “Since your queen doesn’t want the bond to her partner, maybe the king will break it, and unite with her himself. As for you, my pet, consider belonging to me.”

  “I don’t want to marry anyone,” Ky cried.

  “It’s no consequence to me!” Luanda cackled before she slumped back, slipping through the bars, and began to follow the tumbrel in shadow. Her body didn’t move in a graceful, fluid motion but in a strange fashion, as if her joints rolled in an abnormal posture. A black cloak wrapped her body, with a long hood hiding her face as she stared downwards, covering her terrifying features.

  Ambrosia squeezed Ky’s hand tightly, as they huddled together. “I think I made a mistake,” Ambrosia whispered, sounding dismal. “I think…she was tipped by the kings.”

  “What?” Ky asked.

  “Why, King Verellis wants you. Because of whom you’re bonded to.” Ambrosia hung her head, cupping her face in her palms. “At least she hasn’t separated us. That is a good sign.”

  “Ambrosia, it’s okay.” Ky patted Ambrosia’s head reassuringly. “That warrior promised to find us, and for some reason I trust him.”

  “You, my Lady, he promised to find you. You heard Luanda. I’m sentenced to death. I don’t want to die. If she dreamt it, there may be no hope. I must try to fight even if I lose. But I’ve never dueled.” Ambrosia whispered even quieter to say, “All I’ve seen is this. And a few times I saw her temper.” Ambrosia wiped tears, and added, “I’ve heard of Luanda. The fact that I have means she is much more powerful than me. I don’t think I have a chance of escaping. If only Tyrus were here…”