A Dawn of Onyx

Eighteen months have passed since the conscription that took Arwen’s brother, Ryder, and her best friend, Halden, from their hometown of Abbington to serve in the Kingdom of Amber’s military. Neither boy has communicated in over a year, and Arwen’s mother and their family friend, Nora, worry that Ryder and Halden may be dead. However, Arwen holds out hope that they are safe. Now, with Nora’s assistance, Arwen uses her unique healing powers to cure a case of gangrene for a patient named Mr. Doyle. Although Arwen’s family heritage does not include any witches or warlocks, she is blessed with an unconventional type of healing magic. Unfortunately, these abilities do not work on her mother, who is suffering from an unidentified ailment.

At dinner, Arwen teases her younger sister, Leigh, about a crush that the girl supposedly has. Leigh retorts that Arwen is in love with Halden. Reflecting on this moment of banter with her sister, Arwen worries about the family’s future. Rumors have spread that Amber is losing to the Onyx Kingdom. Women might be drafted to fight soon, and Arwen worries that Leigh’s recklessness will lead her to an early grave. She also worries that the stress of having all three siblings in the army might exacerbate their mother’s declining health.