The Coming Dawn Trilogy

by Austen Knowles

  The dragon and her young dived toward the herd; they picked off the weak that fell behind. The adult dragon swooped, breathing fire that blazed brightly and lit the dark valley. Those in the line of fire collapsed, and the small dragons gathered like vultures. Immediately, their strong jaws and jagged teeth tore the burning flesh of the dead.

  Cobaaron guided the mongrule away from the herd, now that the juveniles weren’t snatching the weak. They swerved right, heading for the thick woods leading to the distant mountains. Cobaaron jabbed his heels into the mongrule making it run faster. The large dragon dived again, breathing orange and blue fire, scorching the panicking herd. The dragon aimed for where they were only a moment before. Cobaaron manhandled the panicked mongrule as he wrenched the mane, because the creature instinctively wanted to join its fellow kind.

  The mongrule disapproved loudly, but obeyed. Again they headed toward the woods. Cobaaron prodded the creature once more. Ky held onto his arm, while managing to grasp her terrified flurry and not fall off the speeding mongrule. The moment they reached the woods, the animal lurched to a halt and bucked.

  Cobaaron instantly rolled over Ky, protecting her as the furious creature trampled them for either separating it from the herd or Cobaaron’s hard jabs. Its hooves scraped and clawed at his back and Cobaaron growled in pain. The mongrule tried to stomp on Ky, but Cobaaron moved again to cover her, allowing the beast to injure him. She heard his flesh tearing as the thing raged. Rocks stuck in its hooves tore him open. When Cobaaron’s hot blood touched the mongrule it screeched in pain, and fled.

  “Are you okay?” Ky asked, close to tears because he was in pain. She consoled him the best she could by kissing his cheeks as he gritted from his scorching blood slowly coagulating on his back, arms, and hands. She reached to heal him, but he forced her hands away, stating that she was pregnant and he didn’t want her to bleed. His tense body hovered over her with little weight pressed against her. When he yelled out in pain, Ky sobbed. “Cobaaron.” Ky kissed him with tears. She physically hurt to see him in pain. “I love you! I love you so much!” She cupped his face, kissing the side of his mouth as he writhed. She knew how badly the blood could burn, but he had more cuts than she ever experienced.

  His blood seeped back into his skin. Ky held him tightly, thanking him and professing to love him more than ever. How could she not be overwhelmed, knowing the creature tried to harm them, but he took all the blows? It was a heroic and a gallant gesture that demonstrated exactly how much he loved her; he loved her more than himself. At least that was how Ky felt. “I love you so much, Cobaaron!”

  His body relaxed, and he rolled off. He quickly examined her with a fleeting glance to make certain she was okay. Then for confirmation, he asked, “Are you okay?”

  “Me? You’re the sweetest man. I’m worried about you. I’m fine!” Ky wiped her tears.

  “I’m okay, too,” Cobaaron said, though he didn’t leap up. He watched her as if her reaction was worth all the pain. He didn’t say anything as he quietly thought while gazing at her. He was probably thinking he would do literally anything for her because he loved her, and she felt the same. But he never divulged what made him stop to stare attentively at her.

  “We’ll rest in the mountains tonight,” he said, caressing her waist. “By midday tomorrow, we will be at the lava pools. I want to rest. If dipping in lava hurts as bad as mongrule hooves, I’m not looking forward to tomorrow. In fact, I want to make love to you all night.”

  “Are you worried about tomorrow?” Ky whispered.

  “Nah,” he was downplaying it and she knew it was because he was a warrior. If he was looking at tonight as his last and wanting nothing but time to make love to her, it meant he was anxious.

  “You’ll be fine; I swear.”

  Cobaaron stood, and helped Ky up with a free hand. They petted her flurry, as it shivered with fear, unharmed. “Well, it’s not brave.”

  “So far, your flurry is proving to be the worst pet. I found a coward. They should bite your enemies, not hide.” Cobaaron stared blankly before meeting Ky’s eye. “No, it’s female. That explains why it’s not aggressive.”

  “Oh?” Having an affectionate pet rather than a protector pleased her. She didn’t need a useful pet. Besides, Cobaaron was the only defender she needed.

  “Female flurries are clingy.” Cobaaron grasped Ky’s hand, and searched for an animal path.

  “I’ll have to think of girl names then,” Ky said happily.

  “What about Ata, short for Atanos? A male name, but Ata sounds feminine.”

  “I like the name Lu Lu better than that,” Ky cringed.

  “Okay, what about Taja?” Cobaaron suggested. “That sounds like a girl’s name, but I wanted my daughter’s name to be Taja.”

  “I like that. I was thinking Ellie, but I like Taja better.”

  They found a narrow path of trodden dirt, and quietly traveled through the thickest part of the dark woods. Within hours, they reached the mouth of the mountain. A long time ago, Ky heard a mountain breathing at the cave outside Gem City. Both entrances had enormous teeth-like stones in the wide-open jaw, with long throat-like passageways.

  They hiked down the narrow tunnel, and when they made enough twists and turns for protection, Cobaaron searched for a perfect sleeping cavity. Ky was anxious as Cobaaron stalked ahead of her. She guiltily watched him scout each cave, knowing she would stab Cobaaron tonight, and he’d wake as a new man. She didn’t know how she would find a moment to poison him, considering they were going to share an intimate night that she knew would last hours. How could she stab him after making love to him? It felt wrong. But she had no intention of declining. She enjoyed the closeness, and they always had phenomenal sex. After he shielded her from the mongrule, she was eager to express her love.

  She crawled five feet up a smooth rock wall, to enter a very spacious cave with an ancient fire pit in the back. Cobaaron rolled a large stone over the exit, and built the pile of wood haphazardly stacked in the corner. Then he set his hands ablaze to kindle the fire.

  He was uncharacteristically quiet. Even after he came back from hunting with a large meal as if it was his last, they ate silently while watching Taja steal their food.

  Exasperated by his brave facade, Ky asked, “Are you sure you’re okay?” He instantly insisted he was. “You’re a warrior, Cobaaron. I get that. But you’re also a man. It’s okay if something is wrong.”

  He was about to deny his heavily thoughts again, but stopped. He stared pensively into the flames. Finally, he sighed and shook his head. “I have something to live for.” He shrugged. “I have you and our child. I don’t want to die tomorrow. I need to believe in the prophecy and have faith. But what if we’re misinterpreting the archive? What if I’m not the one? What if we missed something along the way? I could dip in a pool and it char me until there isn’t a part of me left for you to revive. Maybe I was supposed to get the sword that was mentioned in the prophecy and it was intended to help me survive the heat. I don’t want anything to go wrong, and leave you alone and pregnant only to die. I wish I had a guarantee that I’ll come back to you. I wish I knew why Noelya didn’t want me to know about the plan. I worry the reason she didn’t want me to know is because she’s uncertain. Then what if I do come back as a Star, but I’m different? What if after that we are different? I wish I had more time with you as we are—this in love.”

  She scooted closer to him and dropped her head onto his shoulder. “I’m confident Noelya is certain. The woman who gave me Huntra assured me it was the right thing to do, because…I can’t tell you. But you will be different. She warned me about that. I’ll love you no matter what, and this won’t ruin us. Right?”

  “No.”

  “I promise you, all you need is a good night’s sleep.”

  “Not without making love,” he declared. “I want to spend as much time with you as possible.”

  With a soft glisten, and a whisper, she pleaded: “Then come here.” />
  He obediently crawled over to her with their gazes locked. He no longer wanted to be far from her, and she could see it in his eyes. By the warmth of the fire, they unhurriedly stripped off their clothing. They knelt in the orange glow, touching as if they were discovering each other for the first time. Until Cobaaron was satisfied, they made love as many times as they could. Their skin glistened with glittering sweat. When they were exhausted, they melted into each other’s arms.

  Weariness hit them when Ky’s clock necklace was so dim it had almost no light at all. Cobaaron cradled her, as they lay on pillows. It wasn’t long before Ky heard the heavy breathing of his deep sleep.

  Ky stared at her silver box; the moment had arrived when she would stab her husband with a poisonous dagger. She was thankful the spirit woman came to her, telling her to trust Noelya, but she still hated what she had to do. She felt like she was betraying him. Stabbing someone with a weapon felt violent. She also feared he would awaken; how would he ever trust her after that? Ky didn’t know what it would do to him. They were a morning’s travel from their destination. She hoped it didn’t make him gravely ill. How would she carry him to the lava pools?

  Ky lay there for a long time, eyeing the charmed fairy house. She procrastinated so long that Cobaaron rolled on to his back. Ky seized the moment, not sure when he would realize her warm presence was gone. She felt around for the dagger. After finding the handle, she removed the poisonous weapon. The blade grew back to its normal size. The evil-looking dark blue ink churned within. Ky quietly crawled over to Cobaaron, and before she doubted her actions, she laid the blunt edge on his gut to numb his skin. Cobaaron didn’t twitch.

  Ky didn’t want to watch what she was doing, and didn’t want to think about it, either. I’m giving him what he needs, she silently chanted. With one glance at the tip of the blade that pressed against his numb skin, she leaned down to kiss him. The moment her lips touched his, she let her weight press the blade into his side. Knowing what she was doing, her bottom lip quivered. She felt like Judas, the betrayer.

  Cobaaron woke from the kiss, and whispered sleepily about needing more rest. Her wide eyes were full of fear that she had been discovered, but he gently returned her kiss, and then rolled over.

  When he moved, Ky feared the cutting edge tore him open. But when she peered at his side, the cut was closing in around the deep blue poison, which mixed with his blood. She could see sickly-looking dark veins spreading under his skin. The blade dissolved where the blue liquid flowed out. It bubbled as if eaten by acid. In horror, Ky no longer wanted anything to do with it. She thought of dropping it in the fire, but feared Cobaaron would see it. Noelya gave strict instructions not to let him know what she had done.

  The poison continued to disintegrate the blade, and up the handle where she held it. The bubbling blue liquid dissipated the metal so rapidly that Ky had no choice but to toss the hilt. The hollow glass and metal clinked when it hit the floor. The poison continued to burn away the handle. Ky watched in alarm knowing it was doing the same within Cobaaron. What had she done? In an instant, the toxin swallowed up nearly all trace of the dagger.

  Cobaaron opened his eyes when he heard the sound of the glass. He glanced at the rock that covered the cave exit, and then at her. “Was that you?”

  “I was...getting the...flask from my silver box. I’m thirsty,” Ky lied.

  Cobaaron sat up, and glared in the direction where the dagger was melting. When Ky spun around hoping he wouldn’t see it, the handle was already gone.

  “You’re a terrible liar. Seriously, what was that?” Cobaaron folded his arms, silently demanding an answer.

  “It was another magical object. I keep finding things in my box.” Another false statement, but it was more believable considering he kept finding the dagger. “It was a blue sipping bottle, and when I dropped it, the jar dissolved.” Her story was a mixture of truth and lies, but she hoped the combination would be believable.

  “Who would be sending us evil objects? This is strange and worrisome. Odd they appear in magical storing rooms, first Huntra’s sleeping cart and now your box. I think you need to leave your druse home behind. It stays in this cave, okay? We’ll have to carry what we can like the map, gem, your flask of water, and jerky. I’ll make you a pouch before we leave tomorrow, but no more magical rooms.”

  Her lie worked, but backfired. Ky wouldn’t argue. She didn’t want him finding out what she had done. She nodded, and curled up at his side. She closed her eyes, and listened for signs of him changing. There was none. He fell asleep within minutes, and though Ky fought it, she fell asleep when her necklace was intensifying its vivid light.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Cobaaron was in a vicious mood; he shivered and felt clammy. He coughed, and grumbled about stiff muscles. He barked orders, which surprised Ky; their union was supposed to keep his temper under control, and until today he was mild-mannered, but this morning he was intimidating. He was clearly not himself. She kept her mouth closed, and tried to adjust. Her lover was in there somewhere, and she’d learn to love the new him.

  His pale skin and dark, sunken eyes terrified her. He appeared close to death. The skin around his eyes and fingernails were black and blue, and he had a grayish tint to his skin. Ky wondered if he was a zombie. Stranger things had happened in that world.

  Every time he took notice of her, it was as if he wanted to tear her skin off because she kept asking if he was okay. Ky was truly afraid of him ever since she woke up.

  “I said leave it!” Cobaaron snapped, when Ky picked up Taja.

  “I can’t bring anything?” Ky asked, nervously. “Not even my pet? She’s a living thing. I can’t leave her...”

  “No, especially not the rodent,” Cobaaron bellowed. “Leave your jewelry, too. Don’t you know how valuable a moon rock is? It’s more valuable than a Star. Do you want to get snatched by a trader?”

  Ky petted Taja, trying not to show her distress, but she truly hated when Cobaaron yelled at her. She reminded herself that she loved him; she was livid he demanded she leave her wedding ring. Ky put Taja down; deciding it was best not to argue. She trusted that flurries were loyal, and that Taja would follow.

  Ky sobbed as she removed her rings, because he stared daggers until she placed them on the floor. Cobaaron struggled to budge the heavy boulder. For several minutes, he sweated, moving it a fraction.

  With him preoccupied, Ky silently rebelled. She stuffed everything into the box, except the pillows that were too far away. Luckily, Cobaaron never caught her. His back was to her as he inched the stone by placing his shoulder on the rock and pushing off the cave wall with his feet. Still it barely moved. Ky noiselessly clipped the box behind her.

  By the time the tunnel was exposed enough they could slip through, he left. Ky rushed out, noticing his savage mood. He grumbled as he leaped to the floor. Then he complained bitterly about being slowed down by a woman as Ky carefully descended.

  “What is that?” Cobaaron hissed and pointed. “I told you to leave everything!” Before she responded, he ripped the silver box from her belt and almost knocked her down. She clinched the belt, doing her best to protect their child, but then the thin clasp broke. He tossed it down the tunnel and spat, “If you think you know better, then you can stay behind with that stupid thing. I—travel—light!”

  “No, I...” Ky gulped, and dropped her head. She refused to look at him. What had she done? He woke furious that she was in the cave. She dared to mumble. “We’re still going to the pools of Magamatesh, right?”

  “Why would we go there? I’m hungry, and you’re cooking. Moving the boulder enervated me,” Cobaaron snapped.

  “You usually cook, since I scorch everything,” Ky reminded him, taken aback he would even ask. “I’ll try, if you’re hungry. I have endless jerky…”

  “No! I will hunt! I don’t trust magical things! I don’t know where you got it!” He glared.

  “You don’t?” she asked surprised.

&
nbsp; “If you can’t cook, what good are you?” Cobaaron sneered. “I don’t need a woman to clean!”

  “Excuse me?” Her confusion immediately overshadowed by his rude comment. “I can do a lot more than cook and clean. That’s probably the nastiest thing you ever said to me!”

  “Oh, that’s right; women can spread their thighs in a variety of ways, in several positions for each lover,” Cobaaron growled.

  Ky slapped him hard. “How dare you? I’ve only been with you.”

  “I wouldn’t sleep with you if my life depended on it! Now tell me where to take you, so I can leave you. I won’t be able to stand you for long,” Cobaaron snarled.

  Ky gasped, but tried keeping in mind that it was the poison talking, despite the harsh statements. If he was trying to hurt her, he was succeeding, but she needed to calm herself and remember he was sick. Obviously he was only a shadow of himself. His actions were clearly not the Cobaaron she knew.

  “Magamatesh,” Ky said losing her will to argue, and took a step back. He spun around, grumbling once again, but this time he complained about having to travel half the day away from any city simply to shake free of her.

  Ky hurried behind Cobaaron, as he took long strides, unconcerned she was pregnant and slower. He didn’t even look over his shoulder to make sure she followed. He simply hurried through the mountain, and complained of being lost for a few minutes before finding his way again.

  Ky slowly came to a conclusion about how the poison changed him. He had forgotten part of his past. He was getting lost, and didn’t remember her if he vowed he’d never sleep with her. Ky hoped she didn’t do irreparable damage to him and their relationship by poisoning him. And if he had no memory of needing to dip into the lava, she didn’t think he would be willing to humor her and jump in. Ky had to think of a good reason to get him close enough she could shove him in. Thankfully he was weaker than normal.