A New Dawn

by J. J. Johnson

  “Greetings, Imari.” From behind a pillar’s shadow appeared the face of Amira.

  “Amira, I assumed you would not be here any longer.”

  “So she told you, huh? I may disagree with my sister, but I cannot abandon Sahra.”

  All he could muster was a sad smile at the royal sister.

  “I want to go with you,” said Amira.

  “Go with me?”

  “To the council in Kingshelm. My sister may not care about these outsiders but something does not sit well with me.”

  “Kingshelm really did change you,” Imari said with a faint smile.

  “I do not wish to talk about that night,” Amira said, turning her head as if to ward off the memory, “but I do seek to know more about these outsiders. So what do you say, Khosi?”

  “I could use a few more allies in Sahra. You may join us.”

  A look of joyous surprise crossed her face. “That makes things easier.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “Well, now I don’t have to sneak into your caravan,” she said with a smirk.

  It dawned on him that the Sycar may be gone, but standing before him was its last remnant. “Very well, we set off tomorrow. You can stay with us this evening.”

  As he turned he couldn’t help but grin at finding at least one ally among so much uncertainty.

  8

  Lydia

  The tower of Kingshelm’s royal keep stood as a beacon welcoming her home. Somewhere inside, her beloved awaited. Too much time had passed since she last entered the halls of her new home. Kingshelm had become a place of comfort and safety to her in a world full of chaos. Not since the killing of her father, King Doran, had she had a place to call home. Finally, she felt like she had a sanctuary, a home, once again. She could feel the tension in her brother as they approached the city. For him it would be a reminder of the atrocities done to him and Brayan.

  She understood his unease at such a return. On her other side was Lancelin. He carried a calm demeanor as he waited to give his report to Titus. A half-victory had been won and soon they could deliver the final blow to Jorn. Something bothered her, though. The news of strangers coming in from the outside world brought a certain dread. Nothing she had encountered beyond Islandia had brought peace to their land. Why should this group be any different?

  The small company of army commanders and Aiden’s captains passed under the whitewashed walls of Kingshelm. The ground shuddered as the large wooden gate closed behind, sealing them within its vaunted defenses. The armies had agreed to stay some distance out from the city until a truce had been hashed out and battle plans made ready.

  Kingshelm reflected little of its former glory. Hovels sprung up at random, creating their own varying districts. Each carried a unique flavor to them. The majority of refugees who had returned now lived in humble shacks cluttered with debris. As one ventured nearer the palace, the living spaces improved. Renewed structures rose from the ashes of the old. Their clay brick roofs and plastered walls pocketed half empty streets. It would take decades for the city to return to its former glory, and perhaps it never would. But maybe that was the point. Walls and roofs could be rebuilt, the lives within them couldn’t. She was stirred from her musings as the palace wall came into view. With giddy haste she entered into its welcoming embrace.

  A vast garden had sprung to life in the space before the fortress. White fountains surrounded by vivid color adorned the grounds. A smell of spring filled the air, a pleasing aroma to all who entered the complex. A small unit of guards stood at their post to greet them. Waiting at their head was her love. He wore a dark gray tunic that bore the symbol of the High King. A roaring lion, proud and fierce. His hair was freshly trimmed at the sides with its wavy brown locks grown long on the top. His light green eyes stirred at the sight of her. An expression of unconfined joy illuminated his handsome face.

  Without a word, he stepped forward to embrace her. Wrapping her in his arms he squeezed her tightly, ignoring all others. For only a blink she felt they could melt away beyond all that surrounded them. The woes, fears, and future nothing but a distant dream. Just as quickly, she was torn from that fantasy as Titus pulled away. He planted a gentle kiss on her forward.

  “I missed you,” he said.

  “Same,” she said, her Valkaran accent breaking through.

  Titus turned his eyes to the other guests and back to her. “There is much I need to speak with you about, but first.” He moved to embrace Lancelin. The two shared the joy of old friends united after a chasm of time had passed. Titus moved to Aiden and extended a formal handshake. At first Aiden only stared at the extended palm, but Lydia caught his eyes. With a look of agitated persuasion he took it.

  Titus’ eyes lit with recognition at the other guest who had joined them. “Henry!” he cried as he fell on the man.

  The long lost defender of Kingshelm had returned, albeit a bit worse for wear at that. He had endured much during his captivity. His face was now decorated with a scraggly beard and had been worn by exposure to the elements. The tunic that he wore hung like rags on his thin frame. She could see the look of anger flare up in Titus’ eyes as he examined the man, but just as quickly he tucked his true emotions away.

  “It’s good to have you back, Henry,” Titus said placing a hand of comfort on his shoulder.

  “It’s… it’s good to be back, my King,” Henry fought back the tears forming in his eyes. Lydia reflected on the sacrifice he had made so they could return to Kingshelm. A price, she wondered, if he had come to regret.

  Titus clapped his hands and a host of servants came pouring from the shadows. “Get this man cleaned and in the finest clothes available. Then bring him to me. I am sure there is much we both can share with each other.”

  Lydia took note of her king’s effort not to stare at her brother. He was doing his best to hold the tensions of this meeting at bay.

  Titus continued, “Tonight we will have a royal dinner, then a council together. There are pressing matters for all of us to discuss.”

  With that, he waved his hand and the host of servants descended on them, ushering each to their respective quarters. Aiden gave their proddings an unsure glance. Titus raised his hand to stop them.

  “I will escort this guest and his companions myself.”

  Aiden leered but Lydia could see he would rather face Titus than a handful of pushy servants. Henry and the other captains who had joined them were ushered off, leaving the small company of Titus, Aiden, Lancelin, and herself behind. A light breeze wafted through the courtyard cooling the sweat that had accumulated on her neck. Despite nature’s best effort, she could still feel the tension thick in the air.

  “Place looks even better than when we departed, friend,” Lancelin said trying to break the awkward silence.

  “Thanks, Lancelin. Many have worked hard to restore our home,” Titus said looking at Aiden.

  Her brother let out a grunt, “If you ask me, it looked better burnt.”

  “Aiden!” she snapped, but Titus raised a hand to calm her.

  “You can speak freely here as long as all of us are allowed to do so,” Titus said.

  Aiden gave a shrug of the shoulders, allowing another moment of awkward silence.

  “You said you would come in cooperation,” Lancelin snarled, lifting an accusing finger.

  “Cooperation is different than consideration. This place still reeks of disillusioned narcissism. Obscene palace beauty, decadent dinners, and fine clothes. What have you really changed?”

  “Step inside these palace walls and see for yourself. Kingshelm is no longer a place of extreme wealth. What resources we have are being used to keep people alive in the streets. As for our hosting you, it is only out of the highest honor for our guests that we put on such an evening. Perhaps you should remove the lens of pessimism from your eyes.”

  Aiden turned his gaze to her as if seeking an answer to the validity of T
itus’ claims.

  “It is true, brother. All our resources have been devoted to bringing the city back to life as well as raising up a force to stand against Jorn. You will not find the lavish tastes displayed from your last visit.”

  Aiden nodded for the king to lead the way, content with his sister’s reply. Titus turned abruptly and started for the palace entrance. Aiden soon followed. Lancelin turned to her with rolled eyes. “Great start.”

  “Give it time. He may come around yet,” she said.

  As they entered the complex of halls and interweaving courtyards, she took note of her brother’s eyes. They darted to and fro as if inspecting every inch of the place. White, pristine walls carried no beautiful tapestries, no fine decor, only white washed stone. All the gold furnishings had been stripped away for more practical metals. At last, they reached the large waiting room outside the throne room with its twin ascending stairs. It lay bare as if emptied of occupancy.

  “So, your words are proven true. Is the grand tour over?” asked Aiden as he stood with arms crossed in the center of the room.

  “Yes, it is. Your room is just down the hall. Lancelin, care to escort our guest to his chambers?” Titus asked withholding his growing frustration. He could not hide such things from her, though. She could see it in his eyes. Lancelin sighed at the command and motioned for Aiden to follow. The Valkaran royalty scowled but obeyed, leaving them in the stillness of the vast room.

  Titus turned to her, a tender smile painted on his face. It was the face that she had grown to love. The one that could melt away everything else. She collapsed into his arms, weariness overtaking her. She was unsure if it was the long journey, the stress, or the never-ending conflicts that had taken their toll. Perhaps it was all of them. With one swift motion he lifted her off her feet.

  “Please, Titus, I am not a damsel in distress.”

  “I know.” His lips met hers in a passionate kiss. In a blur she found herself carried away to their chambers. Long journeys and time apart brought deeper meaning to moments of intimacy shared between lovers. She lay wrapped in the bed’s linen sheets, her head nestled against his chest. She listened to the soft beating of his heart, the rhythmic breath of his lungs.

  “There is so much weighing on me,” Titus said, breaking the silence. “Too much…”

  She twisted around to stare up into his eyes. “You do not have to carry it all alone, you know?”

  He gave her a loving glance. “I know. But I fear as king much has fallen to me that I do not have the answer for. Am I to be a rigid ruler that allows no others but our own to dwell among us, or do I open the gates and allow anyone and everyone to come to our lands? They say that Maluuk rules all others in the world. Should we not be a beacon of hope for them? But then Geralt claims Eloy warned of treachery…”

  “Geralt?” She sat up at the mention of the name. “When have you seen Geralt? What do you mean Eloy warned him? Before his passing?” she asked.

  Titus let out a faint chuckle. “There is much I still need to tell you.”

  A flood washed over her at all that had transpired. The man who had become like a father to her now restored from the pit he had chosen to wallow in. The mysterious sighting of Eloy and these strange men. She understood why Titus could be so torn. She laid back down with a crash. Her red curls splayed across the pillow.

  “I am sorry to weigh you down with all this,” Titus said looking at her.

  “I am your High Queen, your burdens are my own. The words of Eloy, why does Geralt lend them to these men? Could a threat not come from Jorn or even Sahra at this point?”

  “It is why I have struggled as well. Even with your brother Aiden,” he confessed.

  Aiden…she did not want to think of him as the one with treachery in his heart, but she could not deny his hostility. He could see the tension in her face and moved his hand to caress her cheek.

  “Don’t fret love, we will discover the truth soon enough.”

  She clasped his hand in her own. What could they do in the midst of such a tide? How could one find truth in the midst of so many voices? She felt sleep begin to pull at her and, before she knew, it a dreamless slumber overcame her.

  Later, she found herself roaming the halls of the famous palace imagining what it would have looked like before its burning. Her stroll was leading to her actual purpose, to see the man who had been her guardian all her life. The last time she had seen him, he was in a drunken disarray. He had cursed them all for continuing life as normal after all they had endured. His tirade had hit closer to home than she’d liked to admit. But that was what mankind does. They retreat to what they know when times are uncertain.

  She stood before the door of his room, rattling the door with a faint knock. She heard the man’s infamous grunt call out from behind the door. Hinges creaked as the wooden door opened. His eyes grew wide as he looked at the familiar face. With Geralt’s version of an invite he silently motioned for her to step inside. His face had weathered since she last saw him. Lines stretched from long nights and hard days. He wore an informal tunic of bronze and gold. But it was his eyes that caught her. Within them was a joy she had never seen before. A smile stretched across his face.

  “Well, look who it is. Here I thought the High Queen had forgotten about her old guard dog.”

  “Even an old dog has to be cared for,” she said smirking at him.

  “How are you, lass?”

  She let out a tired sigh. “There have been better days,” she admitted, “but I hear you have had quite the change. I see you’ve even cut your hair.” She raised a hand to the short strands.

  “I was due for some grooming. Titus talked with you about me, huh?”

  “He tells me you’ve had strange visions.”

  “I’m guessing he told you they were drunken ones. Am I correct?” he asked in guarded tone.

  “Not necessarily. He doesn’t know what to make of them.”

  “What do you think?”

  She paused, resting her hand on her chin. “I think there is no way you are the man standing before me without something drastic happening to you.”

  He let out a hoarse laugh. “You’re not wrong, but that doesn’t mean you believe me, that what I encountered was real.”

  She peered into his eyes. “Geralt, more than ever, I have to believe that there is something more that can come from all that has happened to us. What you said about us all just returning back to normal… you we were right.”

  “I was drunk,” he said.

  “You were and how you said it is another matter, but your words were true enough. We can’t just go back to the way things were. Otherwise, all that was paid for was just to keep the status quo. I can’t believe Eloy sacrificed what he did for that.”

  “You’re talking about the New Dawn aren’t you, lass?” he said it as if he hadn’t thought it a possibility until now.

  “Maybe that is why you had your vision. Maybe something is coming. Something that is going to shake us all from our sleep.”

  A slight grin crossed his face. “Glad to see you're still thinking, lass.”

  She could feel a blush fill her cheeks. “We will see if my words prove true. There is another matter about to take place. My brother Aiden has come and Titus is expected to restore Valkara to him in a royal hearing. Will you be present?”

  “Think I’m going to stay away from any royal hearings for now. The last time I went it didn’t fair well for anyone. I prefer not to be a distraction,” he said with a wink.

  “Very well, just this once I’ll let you off the hook. But I am in need of a royal body guard. The ones I have now couldn’t best me, let alone the best Valkara has to offer.”

  “The best, huh? High praise coming from you.”

  “You’re not that old yet. Give it a few years, then I might give you a run at it,” she said.

  “If it pleases my Queen,” he said with a mock bow.

  “Enough.
I expect you to report for duty after this meeting. You’ll be a busy man. I know it will take some time for you to get used to that again.”

  “Are you going to continue to insult me or go to your meeting?” he asked.

  “I suppose I’ve abused you enough.” With that she turned to leave but was stopped by his parting words.

  “It’s good to see you again, lass.” His voice carried sincerity that reached far beyond the casual phrase.

  Without looking back she replied, “You too, Geralt.”

  With that she stepped into the hallway, unable to repress the smile creeping across her face. With Geralt’s return she couldn’t help but feel a little bit of the world was being made right. She found herself humming a favorite childhood tune as she mused at the empty walls once more. Perhaps the New Dawn was coming after all, and each restoration in the present was a small hint of that coming glory.

  The throne room was lit by a kaleidoscope of color shining down from the stained glass atop the vaunted hall. A small council had been drawn with various members of importance gathered. Atop the throne sat Titus, his face set in stone as he listened to the events that had transpired near the Forest’s Edge. The royal crown weighed heavy on his head this morning.

  The High King leaned back breathing deeply as Lancelin finished the report. Lydia scanned the audience taking in their reaction from her small throne just below him. A mix of unease, dread, and ambition filled the crowd. Each of them carried emotions that threatened to pull the hearing into the depths of turmoil.

  “Thank you, Lancelin. I have heard enough of your report. Aiden, I would like to hear your proposal. Lydia has informed me what Kingshelm has offered upon her request, but, before we come to any agreement, I need to know your intentions.”