TRUTH AT DAWN

TRUTH AT DAWN
Chapter Eighty-Eight: TRUTH AT DAWN

The road stretched endlessly before them, winding through dense forests and across rolling hills. 

The wagon creaked and groaned with every bump, and the grey sky above promised rain that had not yet come.

Aiden sat in silence, his hands folded in his lap, his eyes fixed on the horizon. 

His mind was elsewhere…in a future that might never exist, with a man who might never remember him.

Beside him, Regnok watched him with quiet intensity. 

The captain had not stopped looking at Aiden since they had left the estate. 

It was as if he was trying to memorize every line of his face, every shadow in his eyes.

"You have not spoken in miles," Regnok said finally. His voice was gentle, but there was a hint of concern beneath it. "Are you unwell?"

Aiden shook his head. "I am fine. Just... thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

Aiden hesitated. He could not tell Regnok the truth. He could not say, I am thinking about the man I left behind. The man I love. The man you will one day betray.

Instead, he said, "About the past. About what I have lost."

Regnok's expression softened. He reached out, his hand covering Aiden's. "You have not lost everything," he said quietly. "You have me."

Aiden's throat tightened. He did not pull his hand away, but he did not return the gesture either. "Regnok," he said carefully, "tell me about Aldrich. When you were children. What was he like?"

Regnok's brow furrowed, but he obliged. "He was... stubborn. Even as a boy, he knew what he wanted and would not be swayed. He used to climb the walls of the castle, much to his father's dismay." 

A small smile touched his lips. "I would follow him, of course. I always followed him."

Aiden listened, his heart aching. He could picture it..a young Aldrich, wild and free, his hair windblown, his laughter echoing across the courtyard. 

A young Regnok, loyal and devoted, always at his side.

"Did you ever fight?" Aiden asked. "As children?"

Regnok laughed…a soft, genuine sound. "All the time. We fought over everything. Toys. Food. The attention of the ladies." 

He paused, his smile fading. "I never won. Not once."

Aiden looked at him, truly looked at him. There was something in Regnok's eyes..a flicker of pain, of longing. Of a lifetime spent in someone else's shadow.

He loved Aldrich, Aiden realized. He loved him like a brother. And yet, something changed.

"Why did you stay?" Aiden asked quietly. "All those years. Why did you stay by his side?"

Regnok met his gaze. "Because he was my King," he said simply. "Because he was my friend. Because I would have died for him." 

He paused. "I still would."

Aiden's chest tightened and yet, you will betray him, he thought. You will destroy everything he loves.

But he said nothing.



The sun was beginning to set when the rider caught up to them.

Aiden heard the hoofbeats first…fast, urgent, growing louder. 

He turned to see a figure on horseback approaching at full gallop, his cloak billowing behind him.

Regnok tensed beside him. He ordered the wagon to stop.

The rider pulled up beside them, his horse lathered and panting. 

He was one of Aldrich's personal messengers, his face flushed with exertion.

"A letter from the King," the messenger said, handing Regnok a sealed scroll. "Urgent."

Regnok took the scroll, his expression unreadable. 

He broke the seal and read quickly, his eyes scanning the words. As he read, his face grew pale. His jaw tightened.

"What is it?" Aiden asked. "What does it say?"

Regnok looked up. His eyes were cold, distant. "It is nothing," he said, his voice flat. "A rogue sighting. We continue."

Aiden's instincts flared. Something was wrong. Regnok was lying. He could see it in the way his hands trembled, the way he quickly tucked the letter into his tunic.

"Regnok," Aiden said carefully, "what did the letter really say?"

Regnok turned to him, his eyes sharp. "I told you. It was nothing."

Aiden said nothing but he did not believe him.



That night, they made camp in a clearing beside a stream. The fire crackled and popped, casting dancing shadows across the trees. 

Aiden sat on a fallen log, his hands wrapped around a cup of warm water.

Regnok sat across from him, his gaze distant. He had been quiet since the letter arrived.

Aiden studied him. The captain's shoulders were tense, his jaw tight. Something was eating at him.

"Regnok," Aiden said softly. "You can tell me. Whatever it is."

Regnok looked up. For a moment, his mask slipped. There was pain in his eyes. Fear and something else…desperation.

"The King wants you back," Regnok said finally, his voice barely a whisper. "He sent the letter demanding I return you to the castle."

Aiden's heart stopped. "Why?"

"I do not know." Regnok's hands clenched into fists. "But I will not let him take you. I will not."

Aiden's mind raced. Aldrich wants me back. Why? What changed?

"Regnok," he said carefully, "perhaps I should go back. Perhaps there is a reason…”

"No." Regnok's voice was sharp, final. "You do not understand, Aiden. If you go back, you will never leave. He will keep you there, and I will lose you." 

He stood, pacing around the fire. "It’s bad if he discovers you have powers too…I will not lose you too."

Aiden's throat tightened. "Regnok, Aldrich would understand…”

"Enough." Regnok stopped pacing, turning to face him. "We leave at dawn. We go deeper into the mountains. He will not find us there. I’m ready to leave everything all for you”

Aiden opened his mouth to argue, but Regnok had already turned away.



The attack came at dawn.

Aiden was woken by the thunder of hoofbeats. He scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding. Regnok was already on his feet, his sword drawn, his face a mask of fury.

They were surrounded.

Aldrich sat on his horse at the head of a company of soldiers, his crown gleaming in the pale morning light. His face was hard, his eyes fixed on Regnok.

"You forced my hands," Aldrich said, his voice cold. "I gave you an order, Regnok. You disobeyed."

Regnok's sword did not waver. "You do not need him," he said, his voice tight. "You have Liora. You have your child. Why do you want to take him from me?"

Aldrich's eyes flicked to Aiden, and for a moment, something softened in them. "He is the Moon Child," he said simply. "He is important to the kingdom. He must return, I’m not against your relationship with him”

"Liar." Regnok's voice was sharp. "You do not care about the kingdom. You care about him. I have seen the way you look at him. I have heard the dreams you have. You want him for yourself."

Aldrich's jaw tightened. "That is not true."

"Is it not?" Regnok stepped forward, his sword raised. "I know what you are, Aldrich. I have known you my whole life. You have always taken what you wanted. And now you want him."

Aldrich's eyes darkened. "Lower your sword, Regnok. I do not wish to fight you."

"Then leave." Regnok's voice was cold. "Leave us, and I will forget this ever happened."

Aldrich was silent for a long moment. Then he dismounted, drawing his own sword. "I cannot do that."

Aiden watched, his heart pounding. This was it. This was the moment everything fell apart. He could feel it in the air, heavy and inevitable.

The soldiers moved to surround Regnok, but Regnok raised his hand. "No," he said, his voice ringing. "I want to fight him myself."

Aldrich nodded slowly. "Very well."

The two men circled each other, their swords gleaming in the morning light. And then they clashed.

They were evenly matched…two warriors who had trained together since childhood. Their swords sang through the air, each strike precise and deadly. 

Aldrich was stronger, but Regnok was faster. They fought like men who knew each other's every move, every weakness.

Aiden watched, his heart in his throat. This is bad, he thought. This is only going to make the rivalry worse. This is going to make the fate happen.

He had come to this time to prevent Regnok's betrayal. But now, he was watching it unfold before his eyes. The jealousy. The anger. The desperation.

I am making it worse, he realized. My presence here is making it worse.

Aldrich's sword found its mark. A sharp cry escaped Regnok as the blade sliced across his arm, drawing blood. 

He stumbled back, his grip on his sword faltering.

Aldrich did not press his advantage. He lowered his sword, his eyes fixed on his friend. "It is over, Regnok. Stand down."

Regnok's eyes blazed with fury. "It is not over," he spat. "I will come for you. I will come for you, and I will destroy everything you love."

Aldrich's face hardened. "I will not let you."

Regnok turned and ran, disappearing into the trees with supernatural speed. The soldiers moved to follow, but Aldrich raised his hand.

"Leave him be," he said quietly. "Let him go."

Aiden could not hold it in any longer. He stepped forward, his voice shaking with desperation. "What are you doing?!" he shouted. "This is bad! This is all wrong!"

Aldrich turned to him, his expression confused. "Aiden…”

"Do you not understand?" Aiden's voice cracked. "He will betray you! He will destroy your kingdom! He will…" 

He stopped, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "This is how it happens. This is how it all falls apart."

Aldrich stared at him, his face pale. "What are you talking about?"

Aiden's throat tightened. He had said too much. He had revealed too much but it was too late to take it back.

The soldiers stared at him. Aldrich stared at him. And Aiden stood there, trembling, the weight of everything pressing down on him till he fell to his feet

He had just revealed the truth and now, there was no going back.