The Darkness of Dawn

by Braden Michael

  “You asked me in, my Lady?”

  Vai stood at the bar table and poured two glasses of wine. “Sit,” she commanded.

  Adrian nodded and marched over to the table, armor clanking, and occupied the chair nearest the table head. Vai left the bar table and went back to her seat across the corner from Adrian, sliding a glass his way.

  “I’m on duty, my Lady.”

  “As am I.” Vai offered a playful smile.

  Adrian managed a subtle laugh. He leaned forward to grab the wine glass and took a sip. “That’s quite delicious.” He looked up thoughtfully. “I can’t place it. Where’s it from?”

  “The Winterlands, believe it or not,” Vai said jokingly.

  Adrian smirked. “You must be lying.”

  “You think me a liar?” Vai took a sip from her glass and raised an eyebrow at Adrian.

  “Poor choice of words, my Lady.”

  “Not a poor choice of wine,” she said. Another sip.

  “I didn’t even think the Winterlands had wine,” he joked.

  “I was surprised as well,” she finished her glass. “I was under the impression they only had cold weather and dreariness.”

  Adrian chuckled as he took another sip. He set the glass down and looked at Vai, expecting her to speak. Instead, she nodded at the glass. He took the cue and finished the remaining wine. Vai laughed approvingly, stood up, and went back to the bar table to refill the two glasses.

  “This next wine is made of fermented emberberries. I think you’ll enjoy the fiery taste.” She brought the two glasses back to the table and set one down in front of Adrian. While sitting down at her chair, she nearly slipped. Adrian briefly jolted within his seat, but calm downed as Vai was able to recover herself.

  “Are you okay, my Lady?”

  “I am, Adrian, thank you.” She shifted her body in the chair to realign herself. A very mild light-headedness began to set in as she took a sip of her Emberberry wine.

  Adrian gently sniffed the Emberberry wine in his glass, and carefully took a sip. He smacked his lips and cracked an enjoying smile. He then turned his eyes to Vai and adopted a semi-serious look. “So, why did you summon me, my Lady? I must assume this meeting is more than a pleasant wine-tasting.”

  Why did I call him in? Vai thought, questioning herself. She took a sip from her glass and improvised. “You’re very perceptive, Captain. What do you think of his Imperial Majesty?” she asked, almost sarcastically.

  “What do I think?”

  “Do you like him? Are you utterly devoted to him?”

  “I am sworn to whomever the Robinsfort belongs to, and I have and will always show utter devotion.”

  Vai continued to sip from her glass. You say you’re loyal and devoted. Let’s test your devotion, shall we? “Peter has taken a detour and landed the Rockland party at Gurasu.” She scanned his eyes, taking yet another sip.

  “Gurasu?”

  “You heard correctly, Adrian.” She took a large sip. “You served Peter for many years. Why do you suppose he took his leave there?”

  Adrian started to rub the back of his neck, momentarily unsure of what to say next, before he mustered an answer. “I would never presume to question his Imperial Majesty.”

  “As the Lady of the Robinsfort, I require honesty,” she softly reassured. She gently placed her hand on Adrian’s leg and looked at him expectantly. Would you besmirch his marriage, oh loyal Captain?

  Adrian glanced at her hand nervously. Sweat began to gather at his hairline, and he continued rubbing the back of his neck. “Uh… Thank you for the wine, my Lady. With your leave, I should go back to my post.”

  Vai pulled her hand from Adrian’s leg and leaned back in her chair. “You’re dismissed.”

  Adrian stood from his chair and scampered towards the door, returning outside to his post.

  Vai looked at her wine glass with mischievousness. Your devotion is stronger than drunken lust, she thought as she downed the remainder of her glass. The emberberry wine stung her tongue, but she enjoyed the numbness the spice brought about. Another glass was in order. She got up, poured it, then sat back down. Adrian’s loyalty to Peter should transfer to me, should tragedy befall his Imperial Majesty. Vai grinned devilishly as she drank. Perhaps offering Peter that drink was the right move after all…

  CH 15 – Viktor II

  Just as the sun broke out for dawn, war horns were blown throughout all the camp. The sounds of horses trotting and officers shouting erupted from outside. Viktor woke in a brief panic, throwing off his blanket, inadvertently tossing it over Anton’s face.

  “Dude!” Anton protested, struggling to pull the large blanket off his head.

  Viktor ignored him while rushing to open the tent. He had kept his boots on overnight, despite the protests of his feet. Sacrificing comfort to prevent frostbitten toes was worth it in Viktor’s mind.

  “Wake up, you sons of whores!” the Arch-Commander roared into his ivory cone, projecting his voice into the air with fiery splendor.

  Viktor stumbled out of the tent, landing face-first into the snow. He quickly stood himself up and posed at attention. The other tents had tired recruits scrambling out from them as well, and mounted officers galloped throughout the camp on their horses, nearly trampling those unfortunate enough to stumble in front of them.

  Anton clambered out of the tent, followed by Alexey. Once outside, they grunted in pain while quickly switching the one foot they stood on: it was as if they were stepping on hot coals, only it was the cold that burned them. They did their best to disguise their pain, but it was obvious to anyone looking on. Viktor scanned the camp, and multiple recruits were being taunted and scolded for emerging bare-footed from their tents.

  “Get your fucking boots on,” Viktor muttered. He kept his gaze at head-level and maintained his at-attention posture. Unlike any other recruit, Viktor chose not to wear the uniform coat, instead wearing only the undershirt and pants.

  “Viktor!” Petrenko’s horse came to a sudden stop. The hooves of his horse kicked up a large collection of snow all over Viktor’s body, dampening his clothes. “Why are you not wearing your coat!?”

  Viktor wiped the snow from his face. “It’s not yet cold enough for it, Captain.”

  “Excuse me?” Petrenko dismounted and walked up into Viktor’s face. “Care to repeat that?”

  “It’s not yet cold enough for it, Captain.” The mocking tone in Viktor’s voice was so incredibly subtle that Petrenko was outraged, yet could not scold him with good enough cause.

  “Are you as dull as you are mad?”

  “The cold can dull anyone’s wits, Captain.” Viktor made eye contact with Petrenko for a split second, then returned to looking aimlessly at the air. “I choose not to wear the coat to make myself tougher and better able to handle the weather. When we march in the Forest, I will wear it.” He saw the Arch-Commander walk over, then looked back to Petrenko. “I appreciate your concern for my health, Captain, but I need to handle the cold if I am to be a great warrior such as yourself.”

  The Captain could not hide his intense irritation, but just before he was about to unleash his fury, the Arch-Commander aggressively placed his palm on Petrenko’s shoulder and roared out laughing.

  “You could learn a thing or two from this recruit, Petrenko!” The officers within earshot laughed. Alexey and Anton smirked and made muffled chuckles, careful to not let Petrenko see their amusement. Viktor maintained his polite demeanor, making the Captain even more furious.

  “Learn what? How to act like a drunken fool in front of an entire village!?” Petrenko seethed.

  “Careful.” The Arch-Commander’s uncharacteristically sinister tone disconcerted everyone in the vicinity. Petrenko simply looked at him and gulped. He walked away and made his way towards the quasi-center of the camp. “I want the officers to assemble with their recruits and wait by the Forest’s entry!”

  Many shouts echoed throughout the camp, and all the men began to move. They hu
ddled into their formations like disciplined mice, officers leading recruits, recruits following officers.

  “Get your ass in formation, recruit,” Petrenko snarled at Viktor.

  Careful, Viktor thought. He reached back into the tent, and as he fumbled inside, Petrenko kicked him in further and told him to hurry up. Viktor ground his teeth as he grabbed his coat and climbed back out. By then, Petrenko had already scampered off with the rest of the squad, of which Viktor, Alexey, Anton, and two others named Dimitri and Yuri were the only ones still alive. Before too long, the entire camp was lined up in front of the tree line.

  “Attention!” the Arch-Commander bellowed out. In perfect synchrony, the recruits and officers quickly stood at attention. A loud thunk erupted from the men as their feet were quickly thrust onto the ground. The Arch-Commander galloped in front of the line of recruits as he addressed them. “You’re about to begin the final phase of the Rite! You will enter the unforgiving Frozen Forest, the pinnacle of Winter! This will test your resolve, and whether you’re worthy of Her ranks! You’ll have two choices: prove to the Winterguard you have what it takes to serve Her, or die! Do any of you intend for the Forest to be your grave?”

  “NO SIR!” every recruit roared passionately, especially Viktor. Petrenko wants to see me dead, and I’ll never give that fucker what he wants.

  “That’s very good to hear! Officers, say your final words to your recruits, then send them forth!”

  “AYE SIR!”

  The Arch-Commander galloped back towards the camp. Petrenko stood before his recruits and looked at them one by one, scanning them intently. His eyes were filled with hatred as they focused on Viktor. He then turned to address the entire group.

  “Do you have all the supplies you’ll need?” Petrenko inquired.

  “I put all of what I needed in my bag last night, Sir.” Dimitri stated. His voice was similar in pitch to Alexey’s, but he looked half a decade older.

  “As have I, Captain,” Yuri boldly stated. He seemed in his mid-twenties and was almost as tall and athletic as Viktor.

  “What about you three?” Petrenko asked, looking towards Anton, Alexey, and Viktor, who nodded. “You’ve made it to this point without dying, but most if not all of you will be dead by tomorrow. Do what you have to do to prove me wrong.”

  “Yes Sir!” the group, sans Viktor, confidently shouted.

  Petrenko walked towards the camp, aggressively hitting his shoulder against Viktor’s as he passed by. Viktor turned around and stared at his back with hatred in his eyes. Your head would look better on a spike than on your shoulders, he thought.

  “Why does he hate you so much?” Dimitri asked.

  “He’s probably jealous of my good looks,” Viktor joked.

  “He’d be jealous of anybody’s good looks, Viktor,” Anton teased. The group laughed while Viktor managed a grin.

  “Guess it’s time to go into the Forest.” Alexey began to walk forward. Anton and Viktor both began to follow, but Dimitri and Yuri were hesitant.

  “C’mon, this is the part where you begin walking, remember?” said Viktor.

  Dimitri and Yuri both looked uncertain. They remained motionless and silent as they stared upwards at the Forest’s tree line with apprehension.

  “Guys.” Alexey started towards them. “We came this far already, and it’s our only option right now. I’m afraid too—”

  “I’m not afraid!” Yuri interrupted.

  “Then why are you shaking?” Anton asked.

  Yuri looked at Anton with a hint of anger. He was shaking, but not from the cold.

  “You’re uncertain of what’ll happen inside,” Alexey asserted. “In that case you oughtta listen to what I have to say.”

  “Listen to a child?” Dimitri scoffed.

  “A child that’s less afraid of a couple icicles than you are,” said Viktor. Dimitri and Yuri looked at him angrily. “Your two choices are to listen to what he has to say, or die,” he taunted.

  “And why should I listen to what Petrenko’s little bitch has to say?” Yuri contested.

  Viktor grabbed Yuri by the throat and lifted him in the air. He began to kick his feet feebly, tapping Viktor’s arm with both his hands. “St—stop!” he cried, struggling to speak.

  Viktor released Yuri, dropping him to the ground. “If I’m Petrenko’s bitch, then what’re you?”

  Yuri struggled to his feet with a humbled look on his face. He glanced at Viktor shyly then looked over to Alexey. “Listening to you means we survive?”

  “Pretty much.” Alexey smirked, looking at Viktor mischievously.

  “Last night he told us all about the shit we’ll encounter, like packs of Abominations, steel blades shattering from the cold, and the pockets of warmth we need to seek out,” said Anton.

  Dimitri looked at Anton, frustrated. “How the hell would he know any of that?”

  “He reads books,” said Anton.

  Dimitri and Yuri were past arguing, begrudgingly deciding to follow Alexey, Viktor, and Anton. Viktor looked around to the sides, and multiple groups of recruits were already inside the tree lines while others were preparing to enter.

  “Everyone! Stick together!” Viktor bellowed out. Most of the recruits turned to look and slowed their pace, while a few others ignored Viktor and kept going forward into the Forest. You idiots can die just fine on your own, he reflected. The groups that listened shifted their path in his direction. As he entered the Forest, the icy grip of the cold returned to his throat, and his breathing shortened.

  “Don’t… let your shortness of breath worry you,” Alexey reassured the group while short of breath himself. “T—The cold is… just trying to scare you. Don’t… let it.”

  “Aye aye, Alexey!” Anton cheered.

  As the recruits descended deeper into the Forest, their breaths grew quicker and heavier as the cold strengthened. Viktor noticed his pace beginning to slow, and clouds of his exhales were as clear as the icy trees before him. The snow at his feet began to harden as the ground turned rockier and icier. Five hundred feet into the Forest, the cold remained constant.

  “All right!” Alexey announced, his winded breath apparent. “It… shouldn’t get m—much colder… than this! We… need to p—pace ourselves, c—conserve as much energy… as we can, and stick t—together!”

  Viktor was impressed with Alexey’s display of competence.

  “Why should we listen to you?” a voice called out.

  “Because you want to live?” Viktor called out in response.

  “And how does he know the key to survival?” the same voice called out.

  “You’re welcome to go off on your own and rely on your own wealth of knowledge,” said Anton. “Just make sure when you go have a piss, that you rub your cock on the trees for good luck!” Dozens of recruits guffawed. Viktor could scarcely make out the dissenting recruit telling his comrades to shut up, which made them laugh even harder.

  The recruits soldiered on through the Forest, maintaining the slow and measured pace Alexey recommended while staying within arm’s length of one another. Of the sixty-six recruits who lived through the first part of their march, forty-two had the sense to remain close and listen to Alexey. A group this size would be plenty to survive together in the Forest, so long as they listened.

  Viktor was impressed with the kid: he knows a lot more than I thought he did, he reflected while remembering the conversation in the tent. Reading books was something Viktor had never wanted to do, but it seemed to serve Alexey quite well.

  Twenty-four recruits decided to scatter and gallivant off away from the core group of men. Twenty-four corpses will be added to the Forest, Viktor reflected.

  CH 16 – Asher V

  Whenever summoned, Damon appeared more quickly than the rest. There were times when Damon’s shift was taken over by a different man, but Damon was Asher’s personal guard most of the day. During Damon’s current break, it was Andy who stood guard outside Asher’s door. Andy had never set fo
ot inside the main tower, and he was still adjusting to the scenery.

  Knocking echoed from the door, and Asher granted permission for the door to be opened. Andy opened the door, and Bertrand entered the room. Andy closed the door and remained posted outside.

  “Your Majesty, I have just received word of the Emperor.” Bertrand was calm and collected, not like his usual neurotic self. “He has arrived in Kaiyotan.”

  “How long ago?”

  “Earlier today.”

  Today? How could he have gotten word so soon? Asher scanned Bertrand closely. “Is this a lucky guess?”

  “I received word from the Conduit,” Bertrand informed nonchalantly. He picked up on Asher’s flabbergasted face and offered a surprised look of his own. “Did the Emperor not tell you about it?”

  Asher was exasperated. Conduit? What other secrets are being kept from me? he wondered angrily. Bertrand jumped back startled as Asher thrust himself up to his feet and slid his chair back suddenly. The chair legs squeaked jarringly against the marble floor. For a few moments, Asher exhaled and laughed in utter disbelief. “Andy!” he yelled out to the door. Andy thrust the door open and scurried in at attention. “Where is Damon?” Asher asked.

  “He might be a few floors below, in the armory with the others?”

  “Bring him here,” Asher commanded.

  “At once, your Majesty.” Andy quickly ran out of the room as the door closed behind him. The cocky demeanor Andy first displayed during their sparring match was almost never seen now.

  Asher stood up and walked over to Bertrand. He was furious but tried his hardest to conceal it. Unleashing anger is unbecoming of an Emperor, he reassured himself. “Bertrand, you have served my father, the Emperor, quite well over the years.” He placed both his hands onto Bertrand’s shoulders. “And as the current Emperor, I need you to share with me anything important that will help me in my duties.”

  “I understand,” Bertrand’s tension appeared to have been eased, “but your father has ordered me to keep our greatest strategic advantages a secret, so our adversaries do not know our potential.”