Dawn of the Forgotten

by K.N. Lee

  “I’ll sleep on the floor,” Liam said, taking his wool blanket and placing it onto the floor at the foot of one of the beds.

  “You will not,” Lilae said, taking his blanket and setting in on top of one of the beds. “I’ll sleep on the floor, and will hear nothing else of it.”

  “You must rest,” Delia added, and Liam shook his head, but didn’t protest their determination to see him take a bed.

  “At least join me,” he said, and her cheeks burned red.

  Jaiza averted her eyes and Delia pursed her lips.

  She scratched the back of her neck and chewed the corner of her lip. “Jaiza and I will curl up on the floor to keep warm,” she said, and he shrugged, removing his boots and cloak.

  She wanted nothing more than to sleep beside him as they’d done in the Shadow Elf village. But, with the others around, it simply didn’t feel appropriate. Perhaps another time, when they could be alone.

  Once in his trousers and shirt, he climbed under the blankets and within seconds, his soft breaths signaled he’d fallen asleep.

  Lilae placed her blanket on the floor, and curled up against the wood-paneled wall. It was warm in the room, with a small fire burning in the hearth on the other side of the room. Jaiza lay beside her, and they held each other as they drifted to sleep while the sun began to set.

  17

  Lilae left the warmth of the inn to explore the city of Leedun, and gather a tonic for Liam’s incessant coughing.

  With Rowe by her side, she was certain no one would dare bother her as she did so. He towered over her, with muscles the size of tree trunks, and an axe at his hip.

  They stepped from the steps before the main entrance, and onto the stone circle that stood between several roads that went in different directions.

  In the center was a statue of a creature Lilae had never seen in person, but knew of only from tales of the olden days when might creatures roamed the skies.

  Not wyverns, like the Shadow Elves flew, but massive dragons, with shining scales and breaths of fire.

  The statue was black, and portrayed a dragon with its wings outstretched, while the eyes and head were pointed upward, toward the sky.

  Something about it intrigued her, and she found herself transfixed as her eyes traced every detail of the work of art before her.

  “I’ve seen one of those,” Rowe said, beholding the statue at her side.

  She shot him a look, eyes lifted. “Truly?”

  He nodded, scratching his beard. “Back in Kyril. Liam saved a young prince from one of the kingdoms. The boy has a dragon that he keeps in a talisman. Like the one you’re wearing,” he said, motioning to the necklace around her neck.

  Her lips parted as she held out the ruby at the end of the golden chain. “Can you imagine? Me, riding a real dragon.”

  Shrugging, he chuckled. “I’ve seen it all. I can imagine just about anything at this point.”

  “We’ll just have to wait and see what’s hiding within.”

  As she stroked the smooth jewel, a faint vibration began in return.

  “We shall,” she said.

  They left the statue, and headed toward the row of merchant carts that were lined against the walls of two buildings.

  “What are we looking for, exactly?” Rowe asked as they browsed the many carts full of colorful pots, spices, and furs. There were also carts of roasted nuts, dried meat, and bags full of grain or rice from the southern regions of Eura.

  Lilae walked ahead, with him following behind her as the crowds pressed in, and only gave a narrow opening for them to pass through.

  Delia had been an apothecary back in one of the towns she and her surrogate family had made home before the Mithrani came to destroy it all. She’d learned a great deal about tonics, medicines, and potions.

  What they were looking for was a thick, dark jelly that Delia could mix with warm water to give to Liam.

  She stopped before a cart with an old man standing behind it. He looked to her with deep-set green eyes. His white beard was braided, and hung almost to the middle of his chest. Aside from that, his head was bald, and tattooed.

  She wondered what he’d been in his younger days, and returned his smile as he waved her forward.

  “Come closer, dear. Take a good look at what I’ve brought to Leedun today. Only the best tonics and potions.”

  “Brilliant,” Lilae said. “That’s what we’ve come for, actually. Something for a cough.”

  “Ah, yes. The cough lingers for those new to town. I’ve got just the thing for you.”

  “Good, then we can head back to where its warm,” Rowe mumbled.

  The man looked up at Rowe, who stood almost a full foot taller than mostly everyone in town, except for a few guards and tall humans walking around. Aurorians were taller than most humans, but still not quite as formidable as Rowe.

  “Brought your—brother along? Husband, perhaps?”

  She cracked a grin. “Actually, he’s my personal guard.”

  That made the old man chuckle when she winked and revealed the joke.

  “Aye, a girl as pretty as yourself must need a personal guard. Best keep close to your giant, lass. Save a bandit carry you off into the night.”

  She tilted her head as she looked at the man. “I’d like to see them try,” she said, and his laugh only grew louder.

  He slapped his thigh. “I do like you, lass. Fiery as your hair. A true Aurorian, no doubt.”

  She grinned, with a nod. “No doubt, sir.”

  He continued laughing as he searched through his assortment of vials and pots, all kept neat in a wooden box with separators in between them. When he pulled a small, blue vial with small black letters carved into the wood, he held it out to her.

  She accepted, holding onto it in her fist. “Thank you,” she said, and dug in her pocket. “How much?”

  He shook his hand. “This one is on me, lass. Take care of your friend. I wish he—or she much luck.” He then gave Rowe a look. “She’s a keeper, that one. Don’t let her slip from your fingers, lad.”

  Rowe lifted a brow, but kept silent as they left the man and his cart.

  “Keeper, huh?” He said, grinning. “I’ll make sure I pass that along to Liam. But, I’m sure he already knows that.”

  Lilae blushed, but hid it as she quickened her step and walked ahead.

  18

  Once Lilae and Rowe returned to the inn, she and Rowe crossed the tavern and headed up the stairs.

  Inside their shared room, she promptly handed Delia the vial.

  “Good girl,” Delia whispered, touching Lilae’s cheek, and headed toward the pot of water hanging over the fire.

  While Delia worked at preparing the tonic, she sat at Liam’s side.

  Feverish, and coughing every few moments, his skin was pallid and damp with sweat. She took his hand into hers, and stroked his knuckles.

  “Doing all right?” Lilae asked, her voice soft, concerned.

  Risa and Jaiza sat on the floor, washing everyone’s clothes in a basin with soap and warm water that they hung on a line near the fire. Soon, they’d have to leave the comfort and warmth of Leedun, and venture into the Shadow Tower.

  But, Lilae would hear nothing of it until Liam was well.

  From the window in their room, she could see the tower looming in the distance.

  Dark.

  Foreboding.

  Liam gave her a weak smile, and she returned it.

  “Not too bad,” he said. “I promise its nothing.”

  “Either way, Delia is making you a tonic to help heal you faster.”

  He sighed, but nodded. “If you think its necessary. But, I don’t.”

  She brought his hand to her lips, where she kissed them. “But, you’re a stubborn man as I’ve ever seen,” she said, looking at him from beneath heavy, golden lashes.

  He smiled again, and before she could protest, he pulled her onto his lap and kissed her forehead.

  She leaped from his bed, stunn
ed by his sudden show of affection, and embarrassed by the way everyone stared at them. Her interactions with men were few and far between, and having everyone watching only intensified her anxiety.

  She straightened her clothes and ran her finger through her hair, cheeks probably as red as a tomato.

  Thankfully, Delia carried along a small bowl with the prepared tonic. She waved away steam with her hand, and blew into it to speed the cooling process.

  Lilae helped Liam sit all the way up, and Delia held the bowl to his lips.

  “Drink it down,” she said, and he obeyed, parting his lips to accept the dark liquid.

  He drank it all, wincing at the flavor, and she gave him a pat on the head. “Good. It should help you sleep now, and ease the cough.”

  “I do feel a bit better, already,” he said.

  “Good,” Delia said. “It should immediately soothe the throat. Get some rest.”

  He nodded. “Thank you, Delia.” He settled under the covers, turning away from them.

  She eyed him, longingly, and Delia leaned close, lowering her voice.

  “Go on,” she said, nodding to Liam. “Keep him warm. I know you want to.”

  Lilae resisted a nervous giggle, and slid into the bed beside him. Warmth emitted from his body, and instantly soothed her. It had been awhile since they shared a bed, and each time they touched, something magical happened.

  There was calm.

  Peace.

  It always felt right.

  She draped her arm around his middle, and snuggled her face into his back.

  As she held him, the magic ignited, and with a jolt of energy and a wave of cold, their bodies began to glow.

  “Dear spirits,” Risa shouted, springing to her feet.

  Lilae gasped, and Liam exhaled.

  Their bodies were one, and every hair on her body stood on end.

  “Dear spirits, indeed,” Delia said, and Lilae turned to see a look of approval on the Elder’s face.

  “What’s happening?” Lilae asked, quietly, afraid that if she spoke too loudly or moved too much that something would happen, and all she wanted was to bask in whatever magical moment was happening—for it to never end.

  His heart raced. Hers thumped against her ribcage.

  Then, their beats began to sync and become one.

  Delia clapped. “I do believe you two are experiencing a very rare skill. Body to mind.”

  “What?” Risa asked.

  “Lilae is transferring some of her energy to Liam, and will do so until he is brought back to full strength. It comes at a price, but she’ll be fine once they complete the process.”

  Made sense. Lilae and Liam both knew they shared some kind of connection, and he’d healed her once before. What they experienced now, was simply validation.

  She began to laugh, even as her energy began to slightly deplete. She just wished she’d thought of it sooner.

  She sucked in a breath as his pain became hers, but she welcomed it. As long as it would heal him, she’d do whatever it takes.

  Once the glow of their bodies began to subside, the pain dissipated with it. Liam sat up in the bed, and looked down at her.

  His color had returned, and she sat up to wipe his forehead of sweat.

  It was then that he pulled her into his chest and kept her there, breathing her in, keeping her close.

  “Amazing,” Jaiza said.

  Liam held Lilae out at arm’s length. “Yes,” he said. “Lilae is exactly that.”

  Their eyes met and she smiled back at him as he stroked her cheeks.

  “She’s amazing,” he said.

  Her heart soared, and a smile took over her face. Every time she’d been injured in her past, they’d meet in dreams, and when she’d awakened, every ailment had been cured.

  Together, they were invincible.

  “Now,” she began, and looked over her shoulder at the others, who all stared at them. “Let’s take over that tower.”

  19

  Deep breaths.

  Quiet.

  Focus.

  Clearing his mind, Kavien searched for Lilae, through time and space, and became desperate as the search proved fruitless at every turn.

  The fire pit blazed and sparks flew into the cold night air. Kavien stood before the fire, staring into the flames. He appeared to look into the fire, but his mind was far away from that place.

  Though they were within the palace grounds, Kavien could travel far and wide with the power his father had given to him at his birth.

  While Wexcyn sent his shadows to seek Lilae out, he was determined to find her first. Sona, however, would not leave him alone. She followed him wherever he went, only giving him peace when he ventured to his private quarters.

  She’d become more than a nuisance, she was an inconvenience, and he feared she now spied on him for his father.

  Even the sound of her breaths behind him annoyed him to no end. He wished for nothing more than to be able to send her back to Kyril right then and there.

  “Do you see her?” Sona asked. “This is taking longer than expected. Aren’t you supposed to be good at this?”

  Despite focusing and using every facet of his power, he could not find and see Lilae. With a sigh, he closed his eyes.

  “I cannot see her. She is lost to me.”

  Through the darkness of his mind, and the space between worlds, he sifted through countless minds, and still couldn’t find the one he needed to connect with most of all. Lilae had always been strong, but at one time she welcomed him into her subconscious. Now, whatever barrier or wall she put up, was impenetrable.

  “No matter,” Sona said, tilting her chin upward. She pushed around a pebble with the toe of her boot. “I will find her, faster than the Shadow Elf did, no doubt. We don’t have seventeen years to waste.”

  “You will do nothing without my permission,” he said.

  “Do I need your permission to kill them? Isn’t that the purpose of this entire war? I’m aware of your feelings for the little wench, but she must die. Can’t you see that? We cannot win with the Chosen running free out there.”

  Kavien’s jaw clenched as his glare rested on the Tryan woman’s bright, blue eyes. “I want to deal with her myself.”

  “I see,” she said, hands on curvaceous hips. “The Emperor is weakened by a woman.”

  He extinguished the flames, waving his hands before him and watching the smoke float through the air. “You had your chance to kill The Storm, and failed. I will not tolerate any more failed tasks. Even if my father has made you a general. I am still Emperor.”

  They now stood in the darkness of night.

  “As you wish, Emperor,” Sona said, and mocked a deep bow before stalking away in her black boots that reached her knees. She paused and glanced at him. An eerie smile rested on her full, pink lips, and stood out on her pale face illuminated by the moon’s light. “I’ll let you handle it your way. Think of it as redemption. You kill The Flame, and I finish the job by killing The Storm. Then, we will be free of them.”

  “Very well,” he said, and she turned to leave.

  “I’m glad we can agree on something.”

  “Where are you going now?”

  She didn’t look back that time as she replied.

  “Another mission, Emperor.”

  He watched her walk away from the back garden courtyard, her single, black braid swinging behind her. He didn’t press her for more information, but assumed it was something his father had asked of her.

  Once she was gone, and he was alone, he closed his eyes against a constant thumping inside his head.

  Sighing, he fell to his knees and buried his face in his hands.

  All was lost, and there was nothing he could do about it.

  Then again, there was one woman who could—one woman not of this world.

  20

  Days passed before Etheria invited Aria to join her in the forest behind her cottage.

  She agreed, pulling on a heavy,
wool cloak. They headed outside where the cold, wintry wind blew at them. She shivered, not used to such temperatures, but kept her lips pursed against any protests or complaints.

  Her days with Yoska and his mother had been filled with delicious food, intriguing stories, and nights of nightmares where Sona ruled Oren and Liam waited for her in the Underworld.

  The trees were taller than any she’d seen, and thin, with gray bark that blended in with the snow. A tiny rodent with a long tail ran across the snow-packed ground, and scurried into a hole within one of the trees.

  “Today, my dear,” Etheria said, smiling. “We use some of that Tryan power of yours.”

  She lifted a brow. “What do you mean?”

  “Yoska tells me you have the Create trait,” Etheria said, stopping before a pile of branches, and a table that had been broken into large chunks of wood. “This may come in handy for us. Show me.”

  Aria glanced at her, her eyes drying from the wind. “Show you what? What do you wish to see me Create?”

  “A door,” Etheria said, with a shrug. “Sounds simple enough.”

  “I suppose,” Aria said, tilting her head as she gazed down at her meager materials.

  “Show me your talents, and I will show you mine in return.”

  Aria nodded, then wiped her face and knelt down before the pile. She wasn’t sure what the elven woman wanted her to make, and how she would see it with her blind eyes, but she did as she was asked nonetheless. Best to not question things. She’d learned that not everything was as it seemed, and that people of all walks could surprise you when you least expected it.

  “Very well,” she muttered.

  With a long breath inward, she cleansed her mind and focused her energy on the materials set before her. She’d never been the best at this rare skill. Reading thoughts had always proved to be her true gift. But, her father had passed on some of himself to her with his death.

  Like any Legacy, she was given his abilities and strengths. It was the way of the Tryans—a way that might die out with Kyril if Wexcyn and his minions weren’t stopped.