The Coming Dawn Trilogy
Page 92
“Do you hear that?” Vale squealed. Everyone strained. Vale rushed to the gate, and searched beyond the bars. All the elves followed. “Open the gates. Please! Open the gates.”
Tyrus looked at Vale in surprise, but when he peered through the bars, he rushed out of sight. The iron lifted. There was singing. A chorus was in the distance, humming in melody singing sweetly:
“The sun has returned to the blue sky.
The new moon of Lu Lush sits up high.
At the great loss of men we must cry.
To our friends we had to say goodbye.
For the greater good we had to try.
And cling to death like an old ally.
We let go of many, watched them die.
Watched birds eat their flesh as they passed by.”
Limro and Noelya led marching elves. As the elves passed, the blood-soaked landscape flourished and the earth was renewed.
They sang until the king and queen of Opalace entered. The elves marched on, and filled the glade within the protective wall of their city and surrounded the survivors. One elf lingered with Limro and Noelya as they protected their son. Noelya clutched his shoulders when Ky gave him a cheerful greeting.
“This is Lu Lyle,” Noelya said, smiling. She glanced at Lu Lu who remained on Cobaaron’s shoulders. “You must be Lu Lu.”
“I am,” Lu Lu said with her head held high.
“I’ve brought you a friend.” Noelya patted her son’s shoulders. His red hair turned white. He was a shy boy, and didn’t speak to Lu Lu. He took a quick peek at his mother for reassurance, and then to Lu Lu. Ky was curious how magical the boy was, and wondered if he knew he would marry Lu Lu. If he was aware he was looking into the face of his future wife, he didn’t express it. He stared, his gaze glued on Lu Lu’s intense blue eyes, which were different from his gray.
“But he’s a boy,” Lu Lu complained, as if it was obvious that she would rather spend time with a girl.
“Lu Lu, be nice,” Cobaaron said, but he didn’t put her down, as if that meant marriage, and he wanted to hold onto his little girl—literally.
“Well,” Noelya tried to conceal a laugh. “You look different, but well Cobaaron. It’s nice to see those who made it. Once our singing is over, there will be no reason to weep. We bring joy.”
“And that is why we’re here,” Limro said. “You had little help to prepare a feast for celebrating. We have come with good news to share over your malt. My elves will stay here for as long as you need. Exciting times! Stars will be born in this city, instead of scattered. I dreamed the first comes tonight while we sleep. But let’s rest; our journey has been long. I’d like to lounge in your city center, under this magnificent sky you bartered for.”
The mood changed with the new arrivals. There was no longer a sense that all was lost. In fact, it was exhilarating. Everyone was in a good mood, as the elves busily worked to create a feast, singing cheerful tunes under the glorious sunlight. The city square sprung forth streamers, ornaments, and lanterns. Chaise chairs appeared, and walked on the four legs, making a huge circle like a round couch where elves mingled. The square rang with the sounds of merriment, and malt freely flowed, regardless of the early morning.
The elves encouraged the kids to play a game similar to sit-down tag. The sounds of children laughing and cheering lifted everyone’s spirits.
“It is all worth it just to hear that,” Cobaaron said, as he watched Lu Lu chase Lu Lyle. His smile grew when Lu Lu burst into giggling because O’Dell chased her as well.
“Yes, I would say that too, but I wasn’t the chosen one,” Limro beamed at Cobaaron with pride. “You were the one who had to do right by the world. Your decision was clearly destiny, as the prophecy stressed, ‘The curse will bring death; tremble at his will.’”
“To decline deity was noble,” Noelya said, cheerfully. “Give him the prophecy, Limro.” Noelya clutched Limro’s arm.
Limro reached into his robe, and removed a dark, mustard-brown parchment scroll that looked ancient. Limro handed it to Cobaaron and insisted he read it.
Cobaaron took the prophecy, and glanced at it before reading aloud:
“The unconquerable sits on his throne for seven hundred years.
Only a glimpse of the future for this world.
His offspring are touched by the gods.
She, the one, bears nine children that span the globe—
Though not until the wild child is back in homeland.
Their seed changes the world of impurity to justice.
The Golden Age begins at first dawn.
One thousand years of peace they’ll see, with three more to come after the goblin war.
But first, the children will see the animals of this world change—
To beautiful creatures within a single generation.
Creatures of the night become dust; their dry bones fertilize the soil.
All beast of the field will shrink in size, and cower under the spear of man.”
Cobaaron passed the parchment to Tyrus, letting anyone read it that wanted to.
Limro said, “You will reign seven hundred years, until your sight begins to leave you. Magic will correct your sight, of course, but your children will be ready for the task of running this great city. Between your four sons, Genis will be the wisest of rulers, and the others will be as loyal to him as Noxis was to you. I’ve seen this in a dream, so have peace that you’ll have a long and happy life.”
Cobaaron was happy with the news, and took Ky’s hand as he gloated. She was sure it was because Limro spoke of boys. Noelya then smiled encouragingly to Cobaaron and Ky. “It takes less time than you think to repopulate this world with men. In your lifetime you will see a long line of children’s children for twenty generations.”
Limro basked in the warm rays. “I’ll consider myself lucky to watch all the changes. I never knew it was this beautiful. I had dreams, but this doesn’t compare. It’s warm and took the depression of darkness. I’m as happy as an innocent child!”
“Enough talking! Pass the malt. It’s time for Telling of the Tales, and passing around jokes,” Hyun exclaimed. “It’s time to rejoice in Cobaaron’s victory.”
The feast began with hearty food, and games filled with laughter, which turned into dancing and hysterics. And when dusk fell, Limro pointed to the sky, setting off fireworks high into the sunset. And thus began the celebration of peace and the rise of the Golden Age.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Austen Knowles’s inspiration for The Coming Dawn came to her in a vision of a woman warrior with long, glowing, crimson hair standing over a dark cliff. From that first glimpse, she wrote the beloved trilogy in two years. In this realm, she is married to her loving husband, Aaron, and together they raise their two children.
www.austenknowles.com
austen@austenknowles.com
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