Beyond the Edge of Dawn

by Christian Warren Freed

  The man announced, “Let the supplicant come forward.”

  Dressed in robes of purest white, the supplicant marched with deliberate intent. His heart beat just that extra bit more. All of the long years of training and dedication had paid off. At long last, he was going to join his ancestors. Their glory and valor was now his own. Barum had never been more proud. He stopped before the broken stone.

  “Kneel out of obedience to your dedication,” the woman commanded.

  Barum knelt. The midnight moon was directly overhead, the sky bright and cloudless. Dag, Geblin, Wurz, and more fell in behind. They’d all been instructed in their parts.

  Aphere spoke from beneath her hood. “From the dawn of the world, select men and women have come forward in times of peril and unrest. All readily accept the burden of sacrifice, dedicating their entire lives to the pursuit of justice.”

  Kavan continued, “The weak shall be protected, the wicked punished. The road will be long and unforgiving. Often, decisions must be made for the greater good rather than personal interest. Can you discharge these duties faithfully and without pause?”

  “Yes,” Barum said, bowing his forehead to the stone.

  “Will you sacrifice yourself in order that justice be done?” Aphere asked.

  “Yes,” he repeated the gesture.

  Aphere and Kavan raised their arms high into the night sky. The chime rang again. Both drew their swords and carefully laid the blades on Barum’s shoulders.

  “Rise, Barum of the House Keidi. Shed your former life, and arise a knight of ancient Gaimos,” Aphere instructed.

  Barum rose slowly.

  Aphere smiled from beneath her hood. “Welcome to the fold.”

  The gathering held its collective breath as the chime sang three times. As the echoes of the third faded, they broke into applause. Barum was officially a Vengeance Knight. They rushed to embrace him. Each offered congratulations. Aphere and Kavan lowered their hoods. They’d been waiting for this moment since the Kergland Spine, and now, almost a year later, Barum was rewarded. As was tradition, Barum led them all to a large pyre constructed on the far side of the clearing. He lit it in honor of all the fallen. It was only after the fires burned out the celebration began.

  So it was that the order of Gaimosian Knights continued.

  Kavan lost the urge to fight. He and Phirial took their oaths to each other and left the world behind. That night on Skaag Mountain became his last official act as a knight. They settled down in a quiet part of the world. Phirial gave him three sons and a daughter with fiery red hair like her mother.

  For her love, Kavan built a nice sized cabin just south of the great Relin Werd. Eventually, others would come, and a village would spring up around him. Men came to call the village Fel Darrins. Centuries later, Kavan’s descendants would give birth to a baby boy and lovingly name him Delin.

  “I love you,” Barum told Aphere.

  She blushed much the same as she always did when he told her. “I love you more.”

  He smiled. The years of knighthood had been kind. He and Aphere had married a few years after his induction ceremony. She had gone on to become one of Kistan’s greatest students. Without powers of his own, Barum had become the captain of the guard. At first, others protested having a military arm in their community, but recent events in Gessun Thune calmed their ire. The Fist, and Dag, comprised the rest of the guard.

  The community along the shores of Thuil Lake steadily grew. The great castle was erected and fast became the focus of knowledge and learning for all Malweir. Aphere and Barum sat looking down on Ipn Shal, though they only had eyes for each other. She reached out to take his hand. Together, they walked slowly back down the hill to enjoy a new day in a brand new world.

  END

  Thank you for taking the time to enjoy my Novel. I hope you will continue enjoying my work by following a link on the next page.

  Other Books by Christian Warren Freed

  The Northern Crusade Series

  Hammers in the Wind

  Tides of Blood and Steel

  A Whisper After Midnight

  Empire of Bones

  The Madness of Gods and Kings

  Even Gods Must Fall

  A History of Malweir Series

  Armies of the Silver Mage

  The Dragon Hunters

  Beyond the Edge of Dawn

  About the Author

  Christian W. Freed was born in Buffalo, N.Y. He recently retired from a twenty year career in the U.S. Army. Armies of the Silver Mage is his first book for sale and was written during his tour of duty in Afghanistan. Much of the experiences and battle sequences in his novels come from his three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and a keenly developed understanding of military tactics. He graduated from Campbell University with a degree in history and is pursuing a Masters of Arts degree in Military History from Norwich University. He currently lives outside of Raleigh, N.C. and devotes his time to writing and to his family and their two Bernese Mountain Dogs.

  Table of Contents

  BEYOND THE EDGE OF DAWN

  Other Books by Christian Warren Freed

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  Other Books by Christian Warren Freed

  About the Author