The Coming Dawn Trilogy

by Austen Knowles

  “It means nothing to me since I’m convinced Ky controls Noelya.”

  “How would that be possible? Healers, even Star healers, are weaker than elves!” Ambrosia hissed.

  “I saw Ky bring my brother back from death, twice. That is an impossible feat! Not even elves can breathe life back into people. She is more powerful than elves!”

  “I was there when night squawkers appeared and she went supernova,” Tyrus roared. “She used her blood. Don’t be ridiculous. Even the prophecy says their blood keeps each other alive. The same thing happened at the curing pools. It’s not magic. Blood is the life source of all things. Of course her blood would heal him if they shed it. She is a Star and lives as he does. None of your points are valid or show remarkable ability a Star wouldn’t possess. You only see what you want to, Noxis.”

  “I know a witch when I see one. She’s a witch. I know my brother. He has changed too much and she’s the reason for his sudden alterations!” Noxis yelled.

  “I’m sure you do know a witch when you see one,” Ambrosia scathingly retorted. “But you certainly don’t know a non-magical person if you’re confusing her with a witch. I still have to see her charm anything. And Tyrus is a great healer!”

  The door opened again, and this time Noelya entered the room like a calm vision. Her movements were unhurried, and she seemed to float toward them. She passed Noxis, and without moving her mouth, spoke to Ky with her thoughts: “I told you not to speak of the dagger. This is why. Noxis believes you seek Cobaaron’s life once you rule the world. Until the day he passes on, Noxis will never be persuaded you’re simply a Star and not a witch. There is nothing I can do to change things, but maybe now you will trust me. If you do share more blood with Cobaaron, hoping to save him, then do it before you poison him and alter his body or the transformation will never be complete, and he will die. I assure you, I wish no harm on your husband. I know much about you Kylie. I have seen your past and your future. Trust that I know much more than you and I have seen the best future involves the dagger.”

  “You really expect me to believe that?” Noxis asked Noelya with a growl. At first Ky was baffled, but then she realized that Noelya was speaking to more than one person. Ky glimpsed Tyrus and Ambrosia who held a glazed expression as if listening to a one-sided speech made by the elf queen.

  “Think as you will, Noxis,” Noelya uttered. “Tell Cobaaron of this meeting, before he reaches the city, and I’ll personally see to it you never rest well again. Why don’t you go find Onya, and apologize? We both know you’re beginning to regret accusing her of sleeping with more men than she has.”

  “I still hate her for all the men she has brought to her bed. I exaggerated by rounding up to the closest hundred! It’s repulsive,” Noxis snapped.

  “She’s as upset with you as you are with her, but one long conversation could rectify the situation. You started to care for her, and you could do so again. Just admit that you can love, like any other warrior,” Noelya hummed in a soothing voice.

  “I don’t want to care for her.” Noxis then glared at Ky. “I told you that about Onya’s despicable habits. You speak for Noelya, don’t you? You realize if you harm my brother, I will kill you.”

  “Shut it, Noxis! She doesn’t keep him alive to rule the new city,” Tyrus said.

  “See?” Noxis glared. “She read my mind, and charmed you to say that. I’m not reassured!”

  “There is no point arguing over this,” Noelya said. “We have a party to attend and our absence is noticed by our loved ones. I didn’t want to leave my partner.” Noelya gave a gentle magical push and everyone moved. Without thought, Ky replaced the dagger under the leaves. Then they exited and ambled behind Noelya. When Ky crossed the brook, she realized they were all walking back to the party.

  Ambrosia and Tyrus remembered they were originally going to the river, and excused themselves, but lingered as they watched Noxis pass Ky. Once alone on the bridge, Ky saw Cobaaron and hurriedly joined him as he continued to give his warriors blessings of long marriages.

  “Where did you go?” Cobaaron asked.

  “I went to talk with Tyrus and Ambrosia. They’re just now going down to the river.” Ky avoided his eye by bowing her head. When it came to her husband, she was not a good liar, and Cobaaron didn’t miss much. Luckily, another warrior stepped forward, professing deep attraction to the woman at his side.

  “They must want to view the angel fish swim up river at night.” He gave the warrior and his chosen partner a blessing and they formed the bond. “They’re very beautiful. You should have gone with them. I would prefer to escape large crowds like this, but I asked the men to confess their unions openly. It was a mistake to ask them to come to me personally. I should have asked them to approach Noxis as well. He needs to see eager men unite,” Cobaaron said, and not wishing to hold up the line, he waved for the next warrior to approach after giving the couple a blessing.

  “Since you’re preoccupied and there’s nothing for me to do here, I’ll go to the river.”

  “Love, I’m leery about leaving you alone since my brother is exhibiting aggression toward you. He left the party shortly after you, and I’m surprised you didn’t run into him.” Cobaaron scanned the crowd for Noxis. When he saw him sitting next to Onya, ignoring her while elves engaged him in conversation, he met Ky’s eyes. “Hmm. Now he’s back. Did you run into him?” He knew they had.

  “I did, but Noelya interrupted. There is nothing to worry about. She doesn’t want me discussing this with you.”

  “Then don’t, but stay close, Ky. I’m glad Noelya got involved. It gives me hope that those dreams were merely visions to help you avoid a possible future. Conceivably, they weren’t prophetic at all. A good thought, and one less thing I need to worry about. Stay here tonight, and I’ll take you to see angel fish tomorrow.” He held her hand under the table, gave it a reassuring squeeze, and then asked an elf to fetch Ky more wine to help her get through a few more hours of tedious boredom.

  CHAPTER THREE

  The door to Cobaaron and Ky’s room creaked opened. The noise woke them both; Cobaaron leaped from the bed fully awake before the visitors appeared. “Very good, you’re awake,” Limro said, taking long strides into their bedchamber. He magically cleaned the room and gathered the gifts. Without Huntra needing to grow, Limro made the sleeping cart appear, and their things zoomed into the small window.

  The boundless ball they gave Ky burst and warm liquid spilled over her body. The contents flashed a blazing light before it evaporated into white smoke. Ky didn’t feel any lifting powers, but the gift guaranteed a witch could never control her again.

  “What’s going on? It’s the middle of the night,” Cobaaron demanded answers as he wrapped his scale skirt around his waist, dropped the sheet, and then buckled his belt. When Ky sat up in nothing but a robe, Cobaaron pointed at her. “Stay where you are.” He glared at Limro. “My partner is not dressed. I hope you have a reason for barging in.”

  Noelya swept into the room, and magically clothed Ky. “Limro had a dream. You must leave now, or your brother will follow instead of taking his bond partner with him to recruit more warriors. We must hold off his anger toward Ky as long as possible. Preferably until you’re at the city and measures are taken to douse his anger. He is quite concerned because you have changed drastically since Ky’s appearance. Then after yesterday’s events, and seeing her fight in Telling of the Tales, he thinks she’s too powerful to remain alive.”

  “I apologize,” Limro said. “I don’t see some things until after a certain action causes unfavorable consequences. I had no idea volunteering your partner would bring Noxis’s fears to the surface. Her impressive display came too soon after your announcement to your men to make unions. She easily defeated three warriors.”

  “An apology isn’t necessary,” Cobaaron insisted, before saying he didn’t wish for Limro to plead forgiveness any further. “I’m thankful you’re ensuring my wife’s safety.”

&n
bsp; “You must leave now. You need a few hours head start. When he wakes, he’ll be preoccupied when maidservants bring him breakfast in bed. We’ll tell him all warriors who formed a bond are served a special breakfast. I’ll even have his blades sharpened. Warriors are very particular about how they like it done, and he will spend the morning going over it again. You’ll have a half-day head start. That is all the time I can give you without appearing to assist you; that would infuriate him and make him fear your death all the more.”

  “That is enough time to put plenty of distance between us. Make certain he travels with his partner. She will slow him drastically.” Cobaaron whistled for Huntra, who sprang from a tree root and sauntered out. Cobaaron and Ky followed, with Limro and Noelya at their heels. When they left the confines of the hallway, Huntra began to swell.

  “Take them over the mountain, Huntra. The path is much shorter,” Noelya uttered as she petted his fur lovingly. She spoke in a whisper like a mother to her child. Then she confided to Cobaaron: “You will still be in the protected forest of the elves, and no danger will seek you here. Continue to sleep while going over the pass.”

  Cobaaron thanked Limro and Noelya for their hospitality and then bounded onto Huntra’s back. Ky was bounced up after Cobaaron mounted. Before exchanging a proper farewell, Huntra hurried along a well-trod path that splintered to the north up the mountain.

  Ky held onto Cobaaron’s waist tightly. “I’m disappointed I didn’t say goodbye to Ambrosia. I’m going to miss her. She’s a great friend,” Ky sighed, hoping she would soon see Ambrosia while wishing her a safe journey to the City of Lights.

  “Well, love, as you say ‘don’t worry about it’,” Cobaaron quoted humorously, but it wasn’t consoling. He patted her hand that gripped his waist. “Before you know it, we will be at the lava pools. Then we’ll go get this sword, and be home.” He didn’t sound convinced they’d get the weapon or be going home soon, but he didn’t voice his anxieties. He fell silent after that.

  Nothing he could say would make her feel any better anyway, because at that moment she realized she never retrieved the blade. She was unsure of the poison, but hoped to postpone her decision until she was certain. She needed the dagger in case the weapon truly did help him. She wondered if Limro packed it, and hid it in Huntra’s room. Surely, he knew it was there since Noelya compelled her to return the blade to the bedding of leaves.

  Ky hoped Cobaaron wouldn’t see where Limro hid it. Questions about a dagger with dark magic in its cavity would surface, and she needed to be vague. She hated lying to him, and never made a habit of it, as she’d have to now. She didn’t want him snooping in the room in case she concluded it was best to poison him. She simply wished she knew what to do with confidence.

  Having the conversation with Ambrosia and Tyrus told her nothing except bad news. It made her uneasy. The one thing she was certain of was that Cobaaron would die if he entered the lava.

  Noelya was even aware of Tyrus and Ambrosia’s idea of sharing more blood, and Noelya wasn’t convinced it would help. Tyrus and Ambrosia weren’t certain it would either, even if she did share a great deal of blood with Cobaaron. More and more, her few options all seemed like miserable ideas. The well-being of her lover was at stake, and Ky had no idea what to do. Her thoughts spun. She dwelled on how, in an enchanted world with endless possibilities, only a poison could fix his predicament. It didn’t sit right and even worse the plan wasn’t fail proof. He’d be different.

  “Huntra, make the room. Go over the pass, but stay in the light of the elves. Don’t go up to the snow line. That’s too far,” Cobaaron commanded, and peppered him with instructions until the room completely transformed. When Cobaaron and Ky were alone, he embraced her by gathering her to his chest and laying her on top of him. He immediately kissed her. The desperation in his touch was so noticeable she asked if he was okay. “I want to be as close to you as possible until we get to the lava. I want to make love to you every day until we arrive.”

  Although he didn’t say it, he was obviously worried he wouldn’t survive the lava. He was positive they were heading to his death. “Are you worried you’ll die?”

  “If the prophecy is correct, and there isn’t another copy that divulges more than what was said, I decided that I couldn’t die in lava.” Cobaaron shrugged, but his words were heavy and an uncomfortable silence lingered. He died twice already. The prophecy no longer gave Ky comfort. She was extremely worried, but didn’t say it. Their conversation only mounted her pressure. She needed to make the right decision. She couldn’t lose him! She hugged him tightly. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. Don’t be quiet. It’s not you.”

  “Are you absolutely sure you trust Noelya? Because if you do, she asked me to do something that may help you, but it might kill you. I don’t know what to do, Cobaaron. I’m so petrified of making the wrong decision. I asked Tyrus and Ambrosia and they didn’t give me a clear answer. I don’t want to mess this up.”

  “Love, if she told you to do something, do it. If this is what she asked you not to talk to me about, say nothing more. At least we don’t march to the lava with nothing but your blood to help me survive.” Cobaaron ended the conversation with a kiss, which was calmer and tenderer than before. He ran his hand along her side, and stopped when his palm rested comfortably on her hip. “She wasn’t helping with Noxis then?”

  “No.”

  “I’m glad she made preparations, but I was hoping she would help with Noxis.”

  “No, she said that is a lost cause. I’d much rather save you…if it does help.”

  “It will,” he said confidently. It was a while before he spoke again. “I see you’re not convinced. Do what she asked, Ky, no matter what she told you to do. Fear nothing, because in the end it’s your blood that saves me.”

  “I suppose that is true. No matter what I do or what happens, I could save you.” She relaxed, deciding his statement was accurate and a great comfort.

  “We’ll deal with Noxis later. I promise you’ll be fine. We’ll think of something. We’re not in a hurry, now. Wyt said the two kings don’t come to battle for years. I want to take advantage of spending this time alone together. I intend to get far from Opalace and my brother, and then take my time traveling. We’ll stay in caves, and I’ll make love to you every night. It’s a long time coming, as far as I’m concerned.” Cobaaron grinned. Ky enjoyed his grumbling about wanting her. She liked his mild complaints when they couldn’t make love while around his troops or far from shelter. It made her feel wanted and sexy.

  “You’ll have to wait until we’re alone in a cave.”

  “We are alone now,” Cobaaron said, confused.

  “No.” She pointed to the white fur. “It doesn’t bother you we’re on top of Huntra?”

  “Nope,” he replied with a devilish glint in his eye. “But I can wait, since it bothers you, if you sleep close like we are.”

  It took a long time before they fell into a deep slumber, and when they awoke, the black world surrounded them again, now that Huntra was beyond the supernatural light of the elves. They weren’t near mountains anymore.

  Cobaaron dismounted, and held out his hand for Ky. “Let’s give Huntra a rest. We slept for hours. This is a safe place to walk. The hills of grosbush are full of snakes but nothing else.”

  “Great, snakes—I love snakes,” Ky said sarcastically, and then slid off Huntra. When Huntra was small, Cobaaron lifted him; Prism sat primly on top of his head. Huntra slept wrapped around his neck like a fur collar. Cobaaron held Ky’s hand as they strode through the grosbush. Every once in awhile a shrub would pop and burst into flames, but they didn’t avoid the warm bonfires that quickly snuffed out.

  The small and timid snakes fled from the fire. Long before Cobaaron and Ky approached the snakes’ burrows, they slithered into their holes or scattered if the bushes blazed.

  The hills dipped and rose, and even with the slow pace, Ky was out of breath. For hours, the landscape never changed. The
y hiked the hills, taking few breaks, while seemingly getting nowhere. She had less energy than usual; because she was exhausted and grouchy, Ky demanded a long rest before they reached the top. “Please, I have to stop. I’m used to riding Huntra,” she begged when he said they were almost there.

  So they wouldn’t stop at a dangerous spot, he had Huntra walk, and carried Ky the rest of the way up the hill. “Why aren’t you out of breath? I’m so tired I could sleep, and you’re not even sweating,” she said, impressed by his strength. She liked having her arms around him, and meant her comment as flirting.

  “I’m used to it.” He shrugged.

  When they reached the top, Cobaaron set her down to rest. He scanned the area and pointed out the Mazerpeque Mountain Range. In the pale moonlight Ky could barely see the black mountains. “We’ll head west when you’re rested, Ky. There should be plenty of small caves to sleep in. If my brother is following, we can lose him in the tunnels. We might even camp out a week or two, and he will move on, knowing we’re heading to Magamatesh. He will wait at the lava pools, but if we take a long time to arrive, he’ll think we’ve already come and gone. He knows it’s futile to search for us in a city that can’t be found, and he’ll abandon his quest. I’m positive he’ll then recruit only one army before taking them to the City of Lights.”

  “Won’t he expect you to do the unexpected?” Ky asked. “Like waiting him out?”

  “Yes, this is why we will spend so much time in caves. In a few days, I’ll tell my men that we made excellent time, and that I’ve transformed to a Star. They’ll prepare the city, and we’ll arrive shortly with the sword. I’m sure Noxis will believe it.” As Cobaaron spoke, his eyes lingered on the bottom of the hill. He watched some movement, but spun to Ky and asked, “Once we’re at the caves, will you be hungry?”