The Darkness of Dawn

by Braden Michael

  Black Eyes completed his dressing, moving around and getting accustomed to the bodysuit he wore. It hugged his skin tightly but more comfortably than any clothing he had ever worn. Soon afterwards, Viktor finished putting his body suit on, appearing to be surprised by its comfort level as well. Griffin replaced his outfit with the same bodysuit, refilled his quiver with strange arrows, and grabbed a more compact bow.

  “Now, find the armor pieces and put them on. They’ll attach themselves to your suit, it won’t take long,” said Griffin.

  Still confused, Black Eyes complied, scouring the various devices for armor. One by one he grabbed them and, surely enough, they attached themselves to the appropriate parts of his body. They were much lighter than any steel armor he had worn in the past, and the texture was much smoother. Lastly, he found a helmet that followed the same self-attachment pattern. It molded to his head like a second layer of skin.

  Once fully armored, he paused for a moment to think. Just what exactly is happening? What is any of this weird technology? He was momentarily overwhelmed by uncertainty. It seemed as if everything he understood about the world did not even scratch the surface of the truth.

  “Hey!” Griffin shouted, waving his hand in front of Black Eyes’ absent face.

  “What?”

  “Grab a weapon and meet me back in the Conduit room. That goes for you too, Viktor.”

  “What the fuck are we doing? I ain’t gonna join in some war until I know a little bit more!” Black Eyes said.

  “You’ll know the plan in just a minute. I promise,” said Griffin.

  “What the—"

  Fully supplied, Griffin walked back into the room with Helena. Black Eyes and Viktor shrugged at each other then scoured the weapon rack. The weapons appeared to be just like any other they would find in a Dawnland armory: spears, swords, daggers, and bludgeons, but the design appeared much more in step with the armor they wore. The steel was far lighter and appeared much sharper than typical weapons, and the handles were made with a strange and unidentifiable synthetic material. Black Eyes grabbed two short swords while Viktor grabbed a spear. They walked back into the main room to find Helena wrapping up on the monitor and Griffin waiting beside her. She perked her head up when they entered, and she looked at their fresh armor approvingly.

  “Good. You look ready for what’s to come,” said Helena.

  “Just what exactly is that, huh? I don’t care if you’re pre-occupied, the time to fill us in is right now,” Black Eyes protested.

  “Fair enough,” Helena said, stepping away from the glass monitor. She proceeded to explain the entirety of her plan. Black Eyes nodded while he listened. Helena’s plan would have him fight in the streets, then storm the Archon’s palace and take the man in alive. Alive? It was a mistake to let him live the last time…

  CH 52 – Vaishalla XII

  The consummation was a demonstrable improvement over her consummation with Peter, who had raped and flogged her, then left her to cry into the sheets. With Asher, there was only the perfect combination of love and lust: he seemed to intuitively understand everything her body craved, and he satiated every one of those cravings. Whenever Peter had deposited his seed into her, she’d felt violated, as if she were another one of his receptacles. When Asher came to his conclusion, she felt as if he had filled her with himself, and she felt connected to him.

  Asher rubbed his eyes as he slowly woke up. He looked at Vai and smiled. “Good morning, wife.”

  “Good morning to you, husband.”

  Vai and Asher giggled like children, then hugged each other more tightly. Vai found comfort in the warmth that emanated from his body; she was almost intoxicated by it.

  “You know, when I first had the idea to propose a marriage to you, I was worried you might not be husband-material,” she said while gently rubbing his abdomen.

  “Were you concerned that a marriage so soon after our introduction was potentially a bad idea?”

  “There was that, but—” The rest of her words were caught in her throat.

  “But?”

  “But I didn’t want it to be like my first marriage…” said Vai.

  “Peter was cruel, no doubt. And you don’t need to worry about me. I may have done some cruel things in this war, but I never enjoyed it,” he said, almost defensively.

  Does he think I’m accusing him? Vai turned over and placed her hand on Asher’s cheek, looking deep into his eyes. “I could tell the moment I looked into your eyes that you had a good heart, but that you were also capable and fierce. And last night when we were together, I’ve never felt so close to someone as I did with you.” You and Adrian, she thought off-handedly.

  Asher smiled tenderly and gently held her cheek. “I’m sorry, I, uh, didn’t mean to snap at you or anything. Not like I did last night…”

  “There’s no need to apologize. You’ve been through a lot, and you are much more together than most men,” Vai reassured.

  “I’m grateful that you’re so understanding, but… I, uh, can’t lose it in front of my men like that. If they saw me cower like that—”

  Vai placed her finger on his mouth, quickly silencing him. “Your men will never jump on your naked body and kiss you, I hope,” she joked.

  Asher snorted, laughing boisterously. “I mean, we’ve not even been married a full day. How would you know me well enough to figure that out?” he asked sarcastically.

  Vai and Asher laughed until their abdomens were sore.

  Vai looked at Asher adoringly. “I… I think I love you.” Her face was won over by immediate regret, which she tried to recover from but only stammered. “I—I—I know th—th—th—that’s strange to, um, say that so s—soon, but I, uh—”

  In a moment of playful payback, Asher placed his finger on Vai’s lip, quickly silencing her. “As luck would have it, I’m starting to think I feel the same way.”

  Relief washed over her as she leaned in and met Asher’s lips with her own. Is it true? Do we truly love each other? Their kiss ended naturally after several seconds, as they then pulled their lips away while gazing into each other’s eyes.

  “It’s time to wake up and get some clothes on, unfortunately,” said Vai.

  Vai kissed Asher’s forehead then climbed out of bed. The fresh morning air hardened her nipples as she searched for her clothes. She found some undergarments in the drawer by the vanity and put them on.

  “I prefer the look of you without clothes,” Asher said groggily yet playfully. He sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes and then admiring Vai’s body.

  Vai giggled. “Well someone else is awake,” she said, looking at his erection.

  “I’ll credit you with that,” said Asher.

  Vai dropped the undergarments and sauntered towards the bed, looking at Asher with desire in her eyes. “I think you’ll credit me with putting him back to bed.” She climbed onto the bed and took him in her mouth.

  Asher moaned in ecstasy as Vai’s tongue massaged his head and sensually worked its way down his shaft. They made eye contact as she pleasured him, the fierceness of his green eyes encouraging her.

  THUD. THUD. THUD. The door shook as the sound erupted from it. Vai fearfully hopped down behind the bed while Asher stood up defiantly, glaring at the door with nervous anticipation.

  “I have urgent news!” a voice shouted through the door.

  Vai and Asher looked at one another concernedly, then she looked back at the door. “Wait outside! We’ll be out shortly.”

  “Of course, your Majesty.”

  Vai exhaled with a modicum of relief. She stood up and walked over to the undergarments she had dropped. Asher remained in his defensive stance, and Vai lightly touched him on the shoulder as she passed.

  “Back to the war, I suppose,” Vai accepted.

  “Yeah…” Asher said somberly, his body loosening up.

  Vai proceeded to get dressed, beginning with her undergarments. She then walked over to the closet and retrieved the battledress. Rig
ht where I ordered them to leave it, she remarked with an inkling of satisfaction. She put the battledress on as she had many times before. By the time she emerged from the closet, fully dressed, Asher had dressed into his tunic and pants. They looked at one another briefly, nodded, then exited the room.

  A young male messenger, likely from the city itself, stood in the hallway along with two Emberland soldiers and two of Vai’s Royal Guardsmen, all of whom seemed visibly distraught.

  “What news?” Asher questioned.

  The messenger stepped forward, holding out a note. Asher quickly took the note and unfurled it, irritated. As his eyes continued to run across then down the page, his irritation turned into visible dread.

  “N—No…” Asher said meekly.

  “What’s going on?” Vai asked.

  “Tell me this isn’t true,” Asher said to the messenger. He handed the note to Vai, his hand shakier than his voice.

  Neither the messenger nor the soldiers mustered a response. Vai began reading the words. The first sentence instantly paralyzed her with fear. I, Captain Adrian Thornton, have a message for all of you… As she continued to read, she got even more distraught. Before writing this note, I killed the Emberland General, Miles, and the whore he bedded. The next portion of my message is directly for the Firelord and his little Robinswhore: I hope your war effort fails. I hope the Firelord dies, and I hope that Howell enslaves you, Robinswhore, and treats you worse than Peter did…

  The note slipped from the weakness of Vai’s hands, tears gathered in her eyes, and she felt cripplingly nauseated. Her head felt light and she felt uncomfortably warm, despite the brisk coldness of the air.

  “M—Miles is dead?” Asher muttered, fury apparent in his voice.

  Adrian did this because of me… Vai realized.

  “I—” Vai stammered.

  “Adrian Thornton. He was one of yours?” Asher asked Vai, desperate anger plaguing his voice.

  He was mine and I was his, she almost caught herself saying aloud. What can I say? If I hadn’t been with Adrian, this wouldn’t…

  Increasingly frustrated, Asher looked up. “When did this happen?”

  “No one knows precisely. It must’ve been in the middle of the night,” said one of Vai’s own Guardsmen.

  “Where’d you find General Miles!?” Asher pleaded.

  “That note was found in Sturgeon’s Northern Inn, where he was staying,” the messenger said meekly.

  “Where’s the traitor!?” Asher seethed almost inhumanly.

  “We don’t know, your Majesty. He killed a few Emberland soldiers and a couple Rockmen after stealing a horse. Lord Archard sent hunters after him, but we’ve heard nothing yet,” said one of the Emberland soldiers.

  Asher clenched his fists and contorted his face, possessed by pure animalistic rage. Vai stood silently and blank-faced, trying to hide her overwhelming guilt and shame. If only I hadn’t been with him. I’m twice married, and I’ve been with another man besides. Maybe I am the Robinswhore…

  “Take me to Miles!” Asher commanded, a hint of sadness mixed with the fury.

  The messenger and the soldiers flinched but nodded.

  “I’ll investigate wherever they say he murdered our men,” said Vai.

  “Fine.” Asher walked towards the end of the hall, motioning the two Emberlanders to come with him, and they promptly joined him.

  Vai’s guilt and shame must have been apparent, as one of her Guardsmen approached her. “Your Majesty, I know this news is, hard…”

  “Yes. Take me to the site of his escape,” said Vai.

  “At once.”

  Vai followed her Guardsmen as they led her down the hall, stairway, and through the lobby, all of which were still absent people. Once she was outside in the street, she was met by a greater contingent of Rockmen, all of whom were only a fraction as distraught as she. Their concern noticeably grew when they saw her face. Several city residents were gathered around and looking on curiously.

  The soldiers formed a protective circle around Vai as they walked through the city streets. Despite wearing her formidable battledress and being surrounded by her largest contingent of personal guards yet, she had never felt so naked and alone.

  The guards escorting her shielded her from the view of the civilians and pedestrians they walked through, and the only sounds she could hear were the steps of her men and the mutters of passing city folk. The contrast in mood and spirit between the current morning and previous night was visceral. “Empress Vai’s in there?” a woman asked. “One of them Rockmen’s a traitor, I heard!” a child squeaked. “Someone killed a General!” an elderly man exclaimed.

  Vai was too encumbered by her own guilt and shame to pay attention to the smallfolk’s speculations. Her mind was in a fog of purposelessness and aimlessness. When she had been Peter’s wife and sex slave, she’d been determined to defend herself and take his life. When King Hiroshi had invaded the Rocklands, she had been highly determined to crush the invaders and defend her dominion. When her childhood home had been under siege, her only purpose was to save her family from annihilation. She had believed her new purpose to be building a better world with her new husband, but now she only doubted herself.

  The long walk from the Center Inn to the edge of town had offered Vai a lot of time for self-reflection. Upon reaching the area just outside the walls, she was greeted by Lord Archard and an Emberland officer.

  “Your Majesty, I don’t even know where to begin…” Lord Archard began.

  “Neither do I,” said Vai. She drifted off before coming to and looking at the Emberland officer. “I’m afraid we haven’t met?”

  “Colonel Schafer, your Majesty. I was the commander of the garrison at Steeltower before the war.”

  “Good to meet you, Colonel. Now, can you both tell me more about how the traitor escaped?” Vai asked.

  Lord Archard nodded, his face still mildly angry. “He stole a Rockland horse. Probably figured an Emberland horse would be too slow for a getaway.”

  “He also killed the men that tried to stop him. Six Rockmen and three Emberlanders,” Colonel Schafer added.

  “How many men were sent in pursuit?” Vai asked.

  “Five hundred. He headed south, which makes sense, given that west, east, and north aren’t real options for him. The Midlands or Winterlands would be likely to welcome him, though,” Archard stated.

  “With five hundred men after him, he won’t even make it to the Midland border!” the Colonel stated with a cocktail of pride and anger.

  You don’t know him like I do, Vai thought. A man capable enough to assassinate an Emberland general and kill nine armed men could easily shake a hunting party of any size.

  “Don’t underestimate him. I still think we should send more,” Archard protested.

  “You have my leave to send a thousand of our men.” Vai’s offer shocked both Archard and Schafer, who looked at her quizzically. “We won’t ask our Emberland allies to send any more men unless they volunteer. We still have a greater threat to deal with.”

  “Howell,” Archard and Schafer said together.

  “The last report I received informed me there are still around 80,000 Rockmen engaged at the Midland front. They’ve been pursuing Howell’s forces, killing his supply lines and such. We can spare plenty from our host here. When we rendezvous with the southern Rockmen we’ll still have plenty of troops capable of defeating his forces,” Vai stated, some confidence returning to her.

  “That is good to hear,” said Archard.

  Colonel Schafer took a step towards Vai, a concerned look on his face. “Your Majesty, if it isn’t too much to ask, could I speak with you privately a moment?”

  Why would he want to speak to me in private? “Uh, sure thing. Archard, you may continue your business.”

  “Of course,” Archard affirmed, stepping aside and heading towards a group of soldiers.

  “Your Majesty, I wanted to ask you how Asher is. I haven’t seen him yet, and
he cared a lot for General Miles,” Schafer asked, while stepping away from any potential eavesdroppers.

  “He did?” Vai asked. I haven’t heard of Generals and Emperors caring for each other.

  “Indeed. Whenever Harvey was preoccupied with affairs of state, which was almost all the time, Miles was the one who tutored Asher, trained him, everything.”

  “I didn’t know. By the Stars… Asher must be—”

  “Is he doing all right?” Schafer felt immediately shameful for interrupting, “I’m sorry. I’m… I’m out of line…”

  “Nothing to apologize for, Colonel. About Asher… He seemed quite distraught, and I wasn’t, well, I, I don’t… I don’t know if he blames me… It was my Guardsman that, uh, turned traitor,” Vai admitted. She was hesitant to make such an admission to someone she had just met, but there was something genuine about the Colonel that made him seem trustworthy.

  “Stars, no, he would never blame you. Did he say something bad?” Schafer inquired with an almost paternal concern.

  “No, he just seemed distant. Disconnected rather,” she clarified.

  “Ah yes, he was like that when his mother died. He was just a boy back then, but…”

  Vai exhaled, relieved.

  “You wouldn’t mind if I offered you some advice? About Asher?” Schafer offered.

  “Of course! By all means,” said Vai.

  “Asher has a good heart. He may try to seem tough and ruthless, since he needs to, but there is kindness in everything he does. But he doesn’t express himself like most people do. He doesn’t handle trauma like others either. Believe me, I watched how he and Black Eyes interacted growing up, and Asher perceived plenty of trauma there.”

  “He’s told me about Black Eyes. He seems like a monster,” said Vai.

  Schafer looked up, trying to temper the disagreement on his face. “Well, he’s a particular type of monster. Even Black Eyes had his lighter side.”