Knights of Dawn Prologue part 2

"What news do you bring me? Have we located the Item?" Dawn had asked with a bit of impatience in his voice.

"No my king not yet. However, I bring word that we have won a great victory over our enemy and have pushed them back toward our western border. By sunrise tomorrow your kingdom will be freed of the Terror." Thomas reported.

"Yes but for how long this time?" Dawn asked himself. "This is good captain I'm truly graced to have you lead my men into battle and come out victorious. Nevertheless, it is imperative that we continue to focus on locating the Item. It could be the key to winning this whole goddamn war. In the morning dispatch a battalion of men into the eastern fronts. Have their swords sharpen, armor renewed, and give them a good meal tonight."

"But sir, we have alre..."

"Do not question it Thomas!" Dawn interrupted. "Just please for me get it done."

"Yes sir, I will brief my lieutenants now." And with that Captain Thomas left the his King's side without any further protest. Yet he had the greatest hate for his long time friend right now. How could he order him to lead his men to the eastern front?! The uncharted jungles of the east is no way to reward his soldiers after months of battle. After protecting Dawn's kingdom. We should be preparing for a possible counter attack not chasing after some fairytale Thomas thought to himself.

Dawn returned to his chamber soon after Thomas left steamed. Its not that he doesn't appreciate what his Captain has achieve it just that the Item must me recovered! Dawn was hellbent on winning the war and this was the only way. The 30 year war against The Shades. Creatures from hell whose only goal was to destroy, inflict pain, and kill whoever tried to stop them. They are in no way human but vile beings with no hair, fur, nor skin just darkness. They vary in size some small some the size of a behemoth. All with teeth filed to a point and armed with daggers, swords, bows, and axes. They're true goal in unclear. Some believe they have come to wipe out every living being. Some think they have to conquer and enslave humans. Others think they are in search for the Item. The history of the Item is in a prophecy 16 years running. It states that an evil will come and sweep the lands of everything and anything in search of something great and divine. This Item, as its called, is thought to give The Shades some sort of power what they would do with this power is unknown. This is only myth to most but there are few who believe that it vital for the survival of the Kingdom. Perhaps the one who believes this the most is Dawn. However, the only thing he wants more then victory over The Shades is to retrieve his daughter.

The king look out his balcony and on to his Kingdom. It stretched out as far as the eye could see in all directions. He would trade it all to see his daughter again.

"I find you Sophia." the king vowed. He began to recap all that happen the night of her capture. It was a month and a half ago when they stormed his castle in the dead of the night they killed nearly a third of his guards before they could even unsheathe they're swords. Though Dawn fought bravely he stood no chance against they're numbers. He stormed into his daughter's chamber to find her gone. They took nothing but Sophia and left nothing but death. He sat on her bed and began to weep. As he shifted he felt something in her furs. A note. He unfolded it and realized it was several weeks old. It had nothing written on it but a name he did not recognize.

The king continued to look upon his people and then shifted his view to the sky. Fixed on the stars to give him an answer he has asked for days. The started at the brightest star and asked once more:

"Who is Marcus?"