Chapter Two

The Unmarked, Book One.

Oct 09, 2025

Dawn

Music played, people danced, and Dawn waited at the stand for her chips and ale. The Initiation Ceremony and the memories it had evoked weighed heavily on her.

This year, Lilly wasn’t there to celebrate with her. Dawn missed her mentor, a lot. She had been gone for almost six months on a confidential mission, which, for reasons unknown, Dawn had not been able to attend. The mysteriousness of it all nagged at her. For two years, since the moment Dawn had been apprenticed to Lilly, they had been inseparable.

Dawn thought back to her first moments with her mentor. She had been eager to start her apprenticeship, but Lilly had refused to do any training until she and Dawn had established a genuine relationship.

It did not take long for that to happen. Lilly was tremendously easy to talk to. She was open, asked all the right questions, and listened as if the words you spoke to her were her lifeline. More than that, she did not believe in small talk. When she asked, “how are you doing today?”, she genuinely cared, and if you lied, she would know instantly, and you would have no choice but to tell her what was on your heart.

After the friendship had been established, that’s when the training had begun. At that time, Dawn had still lived with Mother, for the three months that Scarlet was still be living there. But then Scarlet had moved away because she had been chosen to study under a mentor in Ardus in the Athenaeum. It was a great opportunity for Scarlet, but without her gentle and quiet presence in the house, things really started to get hostile between Mother and Dawn. Dawn had decided to move in with Lilly – who was childless and unmarried. Ever since, Lilly had taken Dawn on every mission and journey that she was assigned to.

Then, six months ago, Lilly had left, and Dawn was not only refused, but told that she could not know why. Not yet, at least. Lilly had sent a letter saying that she would explain everything once the mission was over and she was back home. That had meant to be a month ago. Dawn couldn’t help being worried. Lilly was not one to be tardy. Dawn wondered if Lilly’s mission had something to do with the unworthy rebelling in the villages.

Ma’am… ma’am…

“Ma’am!”

Dawn was snapped back to reality as an annoyed-looking stand-tender held out his hand for her to pay for the ale and chips.

“Sorry” Dawn mumbled as she fumbled on the strings of her money pouch. Suddenly, someone behind her placed a coin in the tender’s hand. “Don’t worry, I got it.”

Dawn took her basket of chips and her mug of beer and stepped aside to let a young man approach the stand.

“I didn’t need you to pay for me. But thank you” she said.

The stranger turned to her. “Definitely my pleasure” he replied, and proceeded to order himself a mug of ale.

“Do you always pay for strangers?” she asked when they stepped away from the stand.

“Only the ones that make me wait in line too long.”

Well then.

Dawn took him in. He was tall, six feet probably, and appeared to be in his early twenties. He had dark, olive toned skin and brown, wavy hair that fell around his face. He had sharp features, with a nose that looked like it had been broken once or twice. He had a charming smile, with teeth ever-so slightly parted. But it was his eyes that mesmerized her. They were a light green. Impossible not to notice. He wore a vest that revealed his arms which were Marked.

One arm indicating that he was a Member or Erom, and the other showing his rank of Third Order, like her.

Both his ears were pierced with black studs, and at his neck hung some sort of animal’s tooth.

Everything about him screamed wild.

“I’m Wolfe, by the way.”

Dawn almost laughed. Wolfe. What a fitting name.

“If you tell me your name, we won’t have to be strangers anymore”.

She smiled. “I’m Dawn”.

Was it her imagination? Or did his eyes widen at the sound of her name? But the reaction was so faint, and so quick, and now he was back to smiling his charming smile.

“And where are you from, Wolfe?” She asked as she started heading towards the sitting area.

“Torrem” he answered.

“And what brings you to Aura?”

“I was sent to deliver a package”.

“And where’s the rest of your Constellation?” Dawn asked. Third Orders who travelled to other regions usually went in groups, or at least pairs. The only time a Guardian would be authorized to travel alone would be to go on a Confidential Assignment. Like Lilly. On such an assignment, if requested, Guardians could be accompanied by Third Orders from the regions they were travelling through.

“I left her back in Ardus”.

Dawn frowned.

Wolfe paused. “Don’t tell anyone” he said, though he didn’t seem overly concerned, “but she doesn’t do well on boats. I gave her the grace of staying in Ardus while I went on and delivered the package”.

One of the ways to travel from Ardus to Aura was in fact by boat. It was the fastest way, but not the only. She spoke her thoughts out loud.

“Would you have taken the long way?” he asked.

Dawn considered this for a moment. “Probably not” she admitted. “But I’d probably ask for a partner who actually liked boats”.

Wolfe shrugged. “Didn’t really get a choice in the matter” he replied. “Unfortunately.”

They came to an area where tables and chairs were set up. People lounged, talked and drank.

“And now you’re here in a foreign region, during the Marked ceremony, celebrating by yourself?” Dawn teased.

“I’m not alone. I’m here with my friend Dawn, and we’re going to sit together and she’s going to share her chips with me because I paid for them”.

He grabbed a chip from her basket and plopped it into his mouth, not taking his eyes off her. “Things always taste better when you’re away from home” he said as he sat down.

Dawn just stood there, one eyebrow raised in amusement. Wolfe gestured for her to sit. Dawn set her chips and ale across the table and sat.

Wolfe leaned in towards her, as if sharing a very important secret.

“This is the trick to making friends, Dawn: You buy them food, get them to sit with you, share their food and then” he slammed his hands onto the table, “bam! We’re friends!”.

He took another swig of his beer and munched on another one of her chips.

Dawn smiled. “I’m taking mental notes as we speak”.

“And, if you’re really lucky, they actually end up being pretty good looking” he said, looking her over and giving her a wink.

Dawn snorted. She knew this type. He was a lonely traveller who knew exactly how handsome and charming he was and was hoping to bring a drunk girl back to his room by the end of the night. She was surprised that he was wasting his efforts on her. All he needed to do was sweet talk some serving girl and show her his Guardian Marking and she would practically throw herself into his bed. Maybe he was tired of catching easy prey and was up for a challenge. Dawn smiled to herself. If that was the case, then he’d lose.

“So, where are you off to after tonight?”

Wolfe leaned back in his chair. “I’m sticking around for a bit. I’m still in the process of taking care of business”.

“Such as …?”

He seemed to take a moment to consider his next words. “Confidential affairs, I’m afraid.”

The sound of those words rubbed her the wrong way. That’s what Lilly had told her.

“Interesting. My mentor is away from home as well, similar reason. She was supposed to be back a month ago”.

“Probably got delayed”.

Hopefully. If Lilly’s mission really did have to do with rebellion attempts by unworthy, couldn’t that be extremely dangerous for her mentor to be involved in?

Wanting to steer away from her anxieties, Dawn tried questioning Wolfe about details of his journey. Where had he been? What had he been doing? Where was he staying? Who had he met on his trip? But for some reason, each answer was vague and evasive. Bored at not getting much information from Wolfe, Dawn was ready to excuse herself. She had been gone for, what, over a half hour since leaving to get her chips and ale? River was probably wondering where she was, and she didn’t want to keep lingering. But then Wolfe spoke.

“What about you Dawn? I’m curious to know more”. She was going to dismiss herself anyways, but then she reconsidered. If River really did care about where she was, he would have come looking for her a long time ago. Guess he was also preoccupied. Dawn relaxed into her seat. Leading-on a desperate, lonely traveller could be entertaining.

“Well, unlike you, I’m not so secretive. So, ask me anything” she said with a smug smile.

She was expecting anything, really. What was the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to her? Was she courting anyone... But he asked the one thing that caught her off guard.

“What’s your relationship with your mentor like?”

The question hit her. It was quite random, and yet, very specific.

“Oh…um…” she stumbled over her words. “Good.”

That was a stupid answer. Why was she being stupid? Why was she feeling stupid? Dawn felt vulnerable, exposed. She had never spoken about her relationship with her mentor to anyone.

Dawn took a moment to gather her thoughts. “Her name is Lilly. She’s been my mentor for two years…” and then for the next half hour, it was her turn to speak and be questioned. What was her favourite memory with her mentor? What did she admire the most about Lilly? What was the greatest lesson that she learned from her? Dawn spoke her heart out.

There were only three people on this earth Dawn truly cared about: Scarlet, River, and Lilly. Each relationship was different and affected her life in a special way. She loved Scarlet because she was kind, innocent, pure and incredibly talented. She looked up to Dawn and was constantly her supporter. Dawn cared for her because Scarlet deserved to be cared for, and there was no one out there to do it.

Dawn cared about River in a different way. He was her best friend. Her partner. They shared memories, dreams and ambitions. Dawn felt like he was the only person in this world who understood her, because, in a sense, they were the same. Driven by their desire for success. Ambitious. Strong. If she were being fully honest, she hoped that she and River would someday share a future together.

Then there was Lilly. A mentor. A parent. A best friend. The only person who could pel back the layers of her heart. The only person who had ever known how Dawn was truly doing. The only person who had ever seen her cry. River understood her, but Lilly knew her. She knew her weaknesses, her fears, and the things that made her heart ache. And with that knowledge of Dawn’s entire being, came compassion. Lilly never pitied. She never judged. On the contrary, Lilly challenged her, pushed her, and helped her sort out the broken pieces of her soul. The most vulnerable and private aspects of Dawn’s life stayed with Lilly.

Now that Lilly was gone, it was as if the most important part of Dawn’s identity was gone as well.

Without her mentor by her side, Dawn felt hollow.

But speaking to Wolfe about her mentor allowed her to develop profound admiration for Lilly. Her mentor had impacted her life in a powerful way, and she was proud to share that with someone.

“Lilly sounds like someone I’d want to be friends with” Wolfe said, his gaze distant.

The sound of violins filled the square. A slow song was being played. People began clearing the square and couples took their places, holding each other, swaying. Dawn and Wolfe watched in silence. Dawn expected River to come up behind her and ask her to dance with him. But he did not. Disappointment roiled inside of her. Where was he?

She casually scanned the crowds until her eyes caught sight of a tall young man with tousled blonde hair.

River.

Then she noticed he was talking to a girl who was laughing and brushing her fingers across his left arm.

Sweet talk some serving girl, show her your Guardian Markings, and she’ll practically throw herself into your bed...

The longer Dawn watched, the more her rage boiled inside of her. River was making no effort to stop the girl’s advances. Dawn decided that two could play at that game.

Her attention refocused on Wolfe. “Let’s dance” she said.

Wolfe grinned and his eyes lit up. “I thought you’d never ask”.

He bolted up and reached across the table, palm facing upward, offering his hand. Dawn took it and let him lead her to where the people danced. She watched River as she walked, and mid conversation his eyes drifted from the girl and fell to her… and then to her hand which was interlocked with Wolfe’s. His brows furrowed. Dawn gave him a sly smile, whipped her head around, and continued walking after Wolfe. Satisfied.

They stopped in the middle of the square. Wolfe set his free hand on her waist and pulled her close. Very close. The smell of woodsmoke and pine needles surrounded her. They began to sway. Wolfe was only slightly taller than she was, so she still had to tilt her head up to look into his eyes. His green gaze took her in; searching the details of her face, as if by looking at her, he would know her more. All the while, his charming smile never left his lips.

She tried keeping a casual demeanour, but she felt herself blush. Her heart slammed against her chest, and her hands were getting clammy. She was totally horrified with herself. Why was she acting like a twelve-year-old version of Scarlet!

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked playfully, trying to redeem herself.

“Oh, I thought we had set an unspoken agreement to look at each other in that way” he said innocently.

“I don’t get to meet lots of mysterious men. Maybe I’m just trying to figure you out” she said, trying to hide how vulnerable she felt.

“I am mysterious, aren’t I?”

“You still didn’t answer my question seriously.”

His smile softened. “Well, maybe I’m trying to figure you out too, Dawn Brookesdaughter”.

The ballad ended, the music quickened and suddenly she was being twirled by Wolfe. Whatever had been building up between them at that moment dissolved in a heartbeat and they were jumping and twirling and laughing. They danced together, and Dawn let herself go. River was still there, alone now, and every time she caught sight of him, his frown seemed to deepen, until she could practically see smoke spewing out of his ears. She and Wolfe danced together as if they had done so a million times already. They went back and forth like two skilled swordsmen in the heat of battle.

When they were both sweating and out of breath, Wolfe leaned to her “Why don’t we take a break? I’ll go get us a drink”.

“Good idea” she said, panting, one hand on her hip, the other wiping the sweat from her brow.

Wolfe stalked off towards the stand, and Dawn turned around to a very jealous looking River.

“So, you go off to buy drinks and you come back with a new boyfriend?”. He meant it jokingly, but the edge in his voice was obvious.

“A new boyfriend? I didn’t know I was already taken.” Dawn laughed out. Because, as much as she wanted him to, River had never made the move.

River’s eyes widened, and embarrassment showed on his cheeks.

“Well, I-I” he stammered.

“Well?” Dawn said.

“You know” River said.

“I know what, River?”

“How I feel about you”.

“No… I’m not sure I do. Enlighten me”.

River took in a quick breath and the next thing she knew her face was between his hands and his lips were pressed against hers. Soft and sweet. Dawn had never kissed a boy before. Of course, lots of them had tried to make a move on her, Dawn was no stranger to admirers, but she never set her lips on anyone else’s. Only one boy would get that privilege.

River pulled away just enough that their noses touched. His blue eyes were bright. She smiled at him. He smiled back.

“That’s how” he whispered.

***

It was when the festival was over, the unworthy emerged to clean the square, and Dawn had kissed River goodnight and was walking home in the deserted hours of the night that she realized Wolfe had never come back.

“Well, maybe I’m trying to figure you out too, Dawn Brookesdaughter.

Dawn stopped dead in her tracks. She went over her introductions with Wolfe and realized she had never told him her last name.

In the moment, Dawn had thought that Wolfe was just using the statement as a playful reply. But now his words seemed to carry deeper implications. He knew her, or at least, of her. But how? She was beginning to doubt the coincidence of their encounter. Had he planned on approaching her? What were his intentions? She began wondering if maybe she had something to do with his confidential affairs. Part of her dismissed this thought as an overreaction, but another part couldn’t shake the feeling.

Dawn had shifted her course from home and was heading towards the closest inn. The place was deserted, except for the man who was snoring at the check-in desk. Dawn rang the bell that rested at the edge of the desk and the man bolted upward with a panicked groan. When he saw her his wild gaze turned annoyed. She was expecting something angry and insulting to come out of his mouth, but his eyes fell on her Guardian Marking and he wisely thought better of it.

“What can I help you with, Ma’am?” he asked in an overly-kind tone.

“Do you have anyone by the name of Wolfe admitted into your inn?”

The man narrowed his eyes at her as he reached for his entry book. Usually, this kind of information was confidential to ordinary members. But Dawn was not an ordinary member.

“Do you have a last name?”

“I don’t. But I know he’s a foreigner, from Torrem”.

The man grumbled. “Ah yes, him. Only foreigner from Torrem. Tried to sweettalk one of my waitresses into giving him a free meal. You’d think a Guardian have more class… and money” the man permitted himself to say. “Is he in some kind of trouble?” the innkeeper asked.

“Possibly” Dawn said in her most commanding tone possible.

“Well then, it grieves me to tell you that he already checked-out”.

“When?” Dawn demanded.

“Earlier this evening”.

“Did he say where he was heading?”

“If he did, I wasn’t listening”.

“Thank you for your time” Dawn said, annoyed. If she had been older, or of a higher ranking, the innkeeper would have gone out and beyond to give her any information about Wolfe. But clearly, she was not “mature” or “experienced” enough to receive the respect that any Guardian was due. The innkeeper mumbled something that sounded like a “you’re welcome” and settled back into his sleeping position.

Anyways, she knew now that Wolfe was gone, which made her even more perplexed. Why would he check-out of his room in the evening?

Confidential Affairs.

As curious as she was, Dawn was not going to start searching every inn in Aura to find Wolfe. Maybe she was overacting. Maybe he hadn’t even used her last name, and her sleep-deprived, ale muddled mind fabricated the memory. She would keep an eye and an ear out for anything that might concern him. That aside, it was time to return home and get some sleep. She was scheduled for training with River first thing in the morning.

River was another mystery. She thought back to the kiss and wondered how she felt about it. All her life she had dreamt of the day when they would become more than friends. Commit to each other. Start a life together. Now the thought made her stomach churn. Commitment. Vulnerability. Feelings. All of it made her uncomfortable. Was she ready to let anyone into her life in that way? She was used to leading him on, flirting with him, being in control, making the other girls jealous…what would happen now? Dawn decided not to think about it. Better to figure things out when she was in a clearer state of mind.

***

Lilly’s home came into view as Dawn rounded the corner. As she approached the little home, she noticed a package resting at the foot of the door. She jogged up the stairs, curious. She picked up the package. It was bundled in brown paper and tied with rope. Suddenly self-conscious, she looked around if anyone was there, but she was alone.

Dawn entered the house and set the package on the kitchen table. She used a knife to cut open the strings and removed the paper. She was looking at a rectangular wooden box with two lilies engraved at the top and a little keyhole on the face. She didn’t have to wonder how to open it. Dawn bolted to her nightstand and returned with a small key in hand. Lilly had left it on the table when had she gone on her trip, and Dawn had been wondering for six months what it was for. She slid the key into the hole and turned it with a click.

Cautiously, Dawn opened the box, not knowing what to expect. She frowned when she saw a stack of neatly folded papers. She pulled out the papers and spread them across the table. As she sorted through them, her frown deepened: passports with different identities, letters of authorization, confidentiality agreements, mission statements that were stamped with dates that hadn’t even passed, a map with specific areas circled in red and notes reading safe, not safe. Dawn didn’t understand. At the bottom of the pile was an envelope. On it was written Dawn, in Lilly’s delicate handwriting. She opened the envelope and pulled out a single sheet of paper, tattooed with Lilly’s handwriting on both sides, neatly folded. With shaky fingers, Dawn set the envelope on the table and delicately unfolded the letter. There were secrets in here, which made Dawn nervous, because Lilly was not one to keep secrets.

Or so Dawn thought.

The letter read:

My dearest Dawn, if you are reading this letter, then you know that I have been delayed. It breaks my heart to tell you that there can only be two reasons for this: captivity or death. Either way, you are in danger. I know this is much to understand, but please Dawn, bear with me.

Nothing is as it seems. We live in a society that is governed by unfairness. Erom is founded on Strength, Pride and Selfishness. It gives no consideration to the helpless. There is no compassion, no love, no kindness. No one deserves to be unmarked, Dawn. No one deserves to be deemed unworthy, punished, ridiculed, stripped of their humanity and forced to work the most despicable and unpleasant jobs because they do not meet the standards of strength, beauty, and intelligence that are determined by those who are in power.

There are so many secrets hidden in the shadows of our Land. Secrets that reveal the true nature of our system: evil and corrupt. But I have kept my own secrets too, and for years I have been conflicted. As I write this letter, I begin to think it unwise of me to have kept these things from you. But the past is the past, and what I am about to tell you will shape the rest of your future.

I am part of a secret rebel group that aims to free the unworthy from their slavery and overthrow the authorities of this dark world.

Across Erom there are groups of people who are hiding and preparing to overcome the Queendom, to establish a new and better Rule. Our leader is Jeziah. I wish I could write to you who he is and why we fight for him, but that is too much to explain for this letter. It will be for you to discover.

The reason for my absence was related to the unmarked. I wish I was here with you, to help you understand what is happening and to answer all your questions. Moreover, I wish I was here with you to ask you to join me in this fight.

In the past two years, I have grown to admire you more and more each day. I am so proud of the person you are becoming. I know from the deepest part of my being that you have the potential to do great things. You are brave, strong and have a beautiful heart filled with goodness. I know you don’t have all the answers to the questions that are governing your mind right now, and that is why I am asking you to trust me. Just as you have trusted me since the beginning.

I want to end this letter by telling you that you are in grave danger. The laws of our land are becoming stricter and less merciful. Tariah, along with her governors are sensing rebellion. They feel like the strings on society are loosening, and it is time for them to be tightened. The North has been slow to change, but things are already happening in the Southern Territories, and those changes will soon come to Aura. Unworthy are being killed, curfews have been enforced, rebels and all those who are closely affiliated to them are being hunted down and publicly tortured and executed.

I am providing you with documents that will facilitate your escape. You need to get to my Unmarked camp. The map indicates shelters and safe havens for your journey. Leave as soon as you have read this letter. Tell no one.

I love you and I am so sorry.

- Lilly.

Dawn stood motionless, confused, feelings of rage, pain and betrayal thundering inside of her. It made no sense. What just happened? She re-read the letter two, three, four more times. Her mind desperately trying to grasp the meaning of Lilly’s words.

She read the last part again. Finally, she understood.

Rebels and all those of are closely affiliated to them are being hunted down and publicly tortured and executed.

Lilly was a rebel. She had been captured and maybe already killed for her treachery. Dawn was the only person Lilly was close to. And now Guardians were going to hunt her down.

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