Ash Fallen Read online

  Rosalie’s eyes glistened and her cheeks were pink. Her expression was trance-like; haunted. She looked both fierce and vulnerable. The pain was becoming unbearable and tears fell from her eyes as she continued to chant. She wanted to move her hands but knew it might prove fatal to the man whose life depended on her powers. When her tears fell to the man’s skin, she watched the teardrops sizzle and the man’s wound closed ever so slightly. She began to rub his skin vigorously, allowing the pain she felt to summon her healing tears.

  By now she was crying uncontrollably as the pain intensified. If she could only hold out a little longer. The ground beneath her swayed and a loud roaring sounded in her ears, followed by Dillinger’s haunting screams. Or perhaps the screams came from her own lips. She knew she was losing consciousness – and if that happened, it likely meant she’d failed.

  When Rosalie came to, she was lying in bed in Ash’s room, above the covers, but Ash was nowhere around. She looked down at her bandaged hands. Her skin felt aflame. Someone had done their best to clean her up, but dried blood coated her arms and stained her clothes.

  There was a soft knock at the door, and Stryker entered the room.

  Rosalie struggled to sit up in bed, terrified. Had he come to finish her off since she’d failed to save his brother?

  “Stryker, I’m so sorry,” she began.

  “Shh. Rosalie. It’s me who should be apologizing. You were amazing. I have you to thank for saving my brother’s life.”

  She blinked twice, processing his words. “You mean, he’s alive?” She was overcome with relief.

  Stryker’s face split into a wide grin. It softened his features. “You didn’t know? He’s not only alive, he’s out there having dinner with the men.”

  She began to cry. Mostly happy tears, but she also worried what people would think of her – or do to her – now that everyone realized she was a Healer. She was having trouble coming to grips with it herself.

  “Are you hurting?” Stryker asked, the inflection in his tone revealing his obvious discomfort. He wasn’t used to dealing with such raw emotion.

  “Just a little bit. Sorry, I guess I’m just coming to terms with everything.”

  He smiled appreciatively at her and patted her arm. “You really didn’t know you had it in you, did you?”

  She shook her head no. “Is Ash mad?” she blurted out.

  “Why would he be mad?”

  “I don’t want him to think I hid anything from him.” With the mounds of pillows and blankets surrounding her delicate frame, and her wide, pleading eyes, she looked fragile. “Stryker, I honestly didn’t know.”

  “If Ash is anything, he’s beyond proud of you. And worried,” he said, touching the bandages on her hands.

  A smile spread across her lips. Her shoulders sank into the pillows in relief. “My great-grandmother was a Healer,” she explained. “People weren’t very kind to her when they found out. I’m afraid it didn’t end well for her.”

  “All the men here will keep you safe,” he assured her. “What you did was brave, and I am eternally grateful.”

  Jrynton filed in next.

  “You knew,” Rosalie said, realizing it for the first time.

  “That you were a Healer?”

  She nodded.

  His eyes crinkled. “I had a feeling. When I shook your hand, I sensed the power that passed between us was stronger than that of a Mender or a Soother.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I also sensed something was holding you back from accepting your power.”

  Rosalie nodded but didn’t offer an explanation.

  “Want a little free advice?”

  She smiled. “I’d love some.”

  “Never underestimate yourself,” he told her. “And never be afraid to explore who you really are.” He leaned in and planted a chaste kiss on her cheek. “And never stop wearing whatever that intoxicating perfume is you’re wearing,” he teased before taking his leave.

  Laughing and shaking her head, she mumbled to herself, “Purest soul.”

  Ash entered the room shortly after Jrynton left. “You’re awake,” he said.

  Rosalie smiled shyly at him. He walked to the bedside and lifted one of her bandaged hands to his lips.

  “Can you heal yourself?”

  She shook her head no. “Unfortunately, my powers don’t work like that. I can’t self-soothe, and I can’t mend or heal myself.”

  He’d already known the answer. His powers never worked on himself either. But he hated to see her in pain.

  “The skin isn’t broken or blistered,” he told her. “Only red. We put some cream on it.”

  “It will heal in a few days. I’m told my great-grandmother’s hands used to do the same thing.”

  “I’m proud of you, Roe,” he admitted. “You saved a good man today.”

  She stared up at him. He appeared sad. A lock of his red hair fell on his forehead, and he brushed it back with his forearm.

  “I promise I didn’t hold out on you,” she said, worried she was the reason for his sadness. “I really didn’t know.” Although she wondered to herself if subconsciously, she always knew.

  Ash leaned in and kissed her forehead. “It isn’t that. I was having selfish thoughts.”

  “Oh?” she teased.

  “Well, until now people assumed you were just some girl I was using for amusement. And I was fine letting them think that, because they left us alone. But now that they’ve seen your powers…”

  “You’re worried they’ll want more from me,” she finished for him.

  He nodded.

  “I thought the same thing,” she admitted.

  The room fell quiet. Rosalie thought about what Jrynton had told her. Never be afraid to explore who you really are.

  “I want to tell you about my scar now,” she said, breaking the silence.

  “You sure?”

  She nodded and Ash stretched out next to her on the bed. She began to tell him about how her great-grandmother had been tortured and burned once the villagers discovered her healing powers. She explained how she had kept her soothing and mending powers a secret, even from her closest friends. “When I was sixteen, a classmate was injured during a game of stick-splat ball. You remember, the game where you hold the stick…”

  “I remember it,” Ash interrupted. He knew she was stalling.

  Rosalie drew out a breath, then continued. “Anyway, I could tell his arm was busted and he was screaming in pain. I didn’t think. I rushed over to him and performed a soothing chant until the medical team arrived to take him away.” By now tears streamed down her pretty face, but she continued. “After school I was walking home through the woods, alone, and three of the boy’s friends jumped me. They taunted me, called me a witch and accused me of putting a curse on their friend.” Her shoulders shook.

  Ash pulled her close. “Roe, you can stop now if you need to.”

  “No, I need to talk it through.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her bandaged hands and took another labored breath. “One boy shoved me. I lost my balance and fell to my knees. He kicked me in the back and shoved my face into the dirt. Another boy must have had a lighter or a match. He’d lit the end of a branch on fire and he kept screaming that I needed to burn. He tore my shirt and shoved the burning stick into my shoulder blade.”

  Ash wanted to tell her to stop. He couldn’t bear to hear anymore. But it would be selfish not to let her continue. Instead he sat up in bed and scooped her into his lap, cradling her in his arms. “Go on, Roe,” he heard himself say.

  “They were ripping at my clothes, pulling my hair, and saying all sorts of foul things… and that’s when Talon saved me. He came up on the scene and charged at all three boys. He knocked one senseless and the other two ran away. I had an ugly scar to show for it, but it could have been so much worse.”

  Story complete, she snuggled closer to him and felt comfort in his warmth. Silent tears of healing fell from her face. Los
t for words, Ash stroked her hair and rocked her like a child. He made a mental note to find better living arrangements for Talon. Petty jealousies aside, he owed the man a great deal of gratitude.

  “Your scar isn’t ugly,” he said aloud.

  Rosalie laughed despite herself. “You have this way of saying all the wrong things, and yet somehow, it’s exactly what I need to hear.”

  Ash chuckled. He leaned down and kissed her.

  “I’ve never shared that story with anyone else. Not even my parents. Only Talon and those three boys know about it. Now, someday you’ll tell me your deepest and darkest secret.” She gazed up at him expectedly.

  He nodded. “I will,” he said, and they both pretended to believe it.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Rosalie heard Ash’s army singing from afar off. She’d been pacing the floors for over an hour, anxiously awaiting their safe return. When she heard the men approaching, the knots in her stomach loosened. The closer the men came, the louder and more off-key they sounded. She would have found it comical if she hadn’t been so concerned about their safety.

  I told her a lie, and kissed her goodbye,

  Never to find my way home.

  She recognized the lyrics as an old bar tune and her concern was replaced with annoyance. She’d been sick with worry and here they were … drunken and celebrating.

  The tromping of Ash’s feet, followed by muffled cursing when he lost his balance, officially announced his arrival outside their shared room. When Rosalie flung open the door, he stumbled through it.

  “Where have you been?” she asked, hands on her hips.

  He offered her a sheepish grin. The scent of gin lingered on his breath.

  “You’re drunk.”

  “No, baby, I just had a little.”

  “It doesn’t smell like just a little.”

  When he started to argue, he pitched forward and she caught him by the arm. “Here, let me help you into bed.”

  “Will you be joining me?” he asked, obnoxiously.

  “Absolutely not.” She helped him into bed, then removed his boots. When she bent down to straighten the covers, he grabbed her wrist and held it.

  “I was too late. I couldn’t save them,” he whispered.

  He’d slurred his words and Rosalie wondered if she’d misheard him. Before she could ask, he passed out.

  Once they’d sobered up, Ash, Stryker, and the Discerner met behind closed doors to discuss the disaster they’d encountered the day before. By the time the Liberation Alliance had arrived at the village, it was a devastating site. Most of the homes had been burned to the ground. There was death and destruction everywhere. There were no survivors. Even the livestock had been slaughtered. Ash knew it was the work of Lord Zebadiah, ruler of Castle Druin. It churned his stomach.

  His men had taken it hard, especially the ones without prior battle experience. He recalled the way Skatson, barely nineteen, had thrown up at the scene. Some of the men wept openly.

  It had been Stryker’s idea to go to the local bar. The townspeople wouldn’t be needing it. Without a bartender to fix their drinks – or regulate them – things had gotten out of hand fast; but it was the perfect way to blow off steam. Liquid therapy.

  “What happened out there yesterday?” Ash asked the Discerner. His tone wasn’t accusatory. He was still shell-shocked by the previous day’s events.

  Marx sat silent for a moment. “Lord Zebadiah must have changed his plans. My visions indicated his Receptor wouldn’t recommend that village for weeks. They must know what we’re up to, and they’re making adjustments.”

  “How were you not able to see it?”

  “I have two theories. They might both be the reason, actually.”

  “Let’s hear them.”

  “First, Lord Zebadiah must not be making a decision on what village to hit until shortly before the raid. If a decision isn’t made, there’s nothing for me to foresee.”

  Stryker looked thoughtful.

  Ash looked doubtful. “And the second reason?”

  “My visions have been fuzzy since we invaded Mabel Village.”

  Ash became defensive. “Are you suggesting Rosalie’s the cause?”

  “Actually, no. The man who came from the same village as her.”

  “Talon?” Stryker asked. There was disappointment in his voice. He had accepted Talon as somewhat of a protégé.

  “There’s something about him. I can’t get a read on him; and as I said, ever since he arrived, my powers feel dulled. Unreliable.”

  A thought occurred to Ash and he felt guilty he hadn’t considered it before. “He’s a Blocker,” he revealed.

  “He mentioned that,” Stryker said, “but I wasn’t quite sure what it meant.”

  “From what I understand, he can block people’s powers from working on him. And he can extend that power to block people from inflicting their power on others he comes in contact with.”

  Marx paused to consider this information. “I don’t think he’s intentionally blocking my visions. My guess is his powers are stronger than he realizes. Perhaps under duress or unfamiliar circumstances, he’s doing more blocking than he intends to.”

  “Well, that’s easy then,” Stryker said. “We cut our losses. He’s doing us more harm than good. We’ll dump him at the next village.”

  “No,” Ash cut in.

  “No?” Stryker argued. “You just heard Marx say…”

  “I mean, no, we owe him more than that.”

  “We don’t owe him a th…”

  “I owe him,” Ash said. He didn’t elaborate. The edge to his voice indicated there would be no debate. “I’ll give him a horse, some supplies, and allow him to return to his village.”

  Marx and Stryker looked at each other, realizing there was no arguing.

  “If that’s what you think is best,” Stryker said. But he didn’t hide his annoyance as he stalked past Ash, jerked open the door, and slammed it shut behind him.

  “Remember who’s on your side here,” Marx said. He placed a hand on Ash’s shoulder. His kind eyes crinkled with concern. “As our leader, we trust your judgement. But don’t forget the ones who helped you get here.”

  When Ash approached Talon about returning to his village, he left out the part about him blocking the Discerner’s visions. He didn’t want him to shoulder any of the guilt over not being able to prevent Lord Zebadiah’s attack on the last village. Ash was weighed down with enough guilt for the two of them. He took a different approach.

  “You want me to go back to Mabel Village to protect them?” Talon asked.

  “Yes,” Ash lied. “We have reason to believe Lord Zebadiah is still targeting your village. Perhaps we left a variant behind.” He was improvising.

  “If there is anyone besides me and Roe, they’re either new, or they’ve done an incredible job of keeping their power a secret.”

  “Whatever the reason, I think it would be best if you returned to check it out.”

  When Talon hesitated, Ash said, “I know Rosalie is worried and thinks it’s what’s best.”

  “Roe asked that I go?”

  Ash winced at the intimate use of Rosalie’s nickname. He shouldn’t feel jealous. Talon had been her friend for years; and had been using the nickname far before Ash even met Rosalie. But it was hard to hear all the same.

  “Yes, she thought it was time. She wanted to return herself, but her powers are needed in case we encounter injuries.” Although he was doing it for the greater good, Ash felt guilty for his deception.

  “I will go then,” Talon said decidedly. “I’d like to say goodbye to Roe first, if that’s possible.”

  “I’m afraid time is of the essence. I’ll pass along your goodbyes.”

  Talon looked disappointed but didn’t argue. “Take good care of her then.”

  “I intend to,” he said in earnest. The two men clasped arms, a respectful promise made, then Talon turned to go.

  “I tried to find Talon earl
ier today,” Rosalie said when she and Ash were alone.

  Ash tensed beside her. “And?” he asked after a pause.

  “And he wasn’t there.”

  He exhaled, slowly. “I let him return to his village.” He hoped it would be the end of it, though he knew Rosalie better than that.

  “Why? Why wouldn’t you tell me? Why wouldn’t he say goodbye?”

  “Talon asked to go back, so I sent him back. Now can we just drop this?”

  “You lie,” Rosalie said. The panic rose in her voice. “Something happened to him, didn’t it? He joined your soldiers on the last raid and you got him killed. I know it.” Her throat tightened, and her words sounded strangled.

  “Roe, no…”

  “I don’t believe you. Does this have anything to do with why you and your men got drunk yesterday?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “I can’t. I can’t stay here right now.” Choking back tears, she ran from the room.

  Ash let her go, assuming she needed time to cool off. He knew she sensed his deception, but it still angered him she immediately assumed the worst about him. Talon wasn’t his favorite person, but he knew how Rosalie felt about him and for that he wouldn’t have let anything happen to him. He thought he’d earned her trust. Perhaps he’d misjudged where he stood with her. Then again, he hadn’t exactly been forthright about Talon’s reasons for leaving. Maybe her distrust in him was deserved.

  Tears streamed down Rosalie’s face as she ran. She half expected Ash to run after her, but when she glanced behind her, he was nowhere in sight. She didn’t realize she’d run in the direction of the horse stables until she arrived. It was the first place she thought of when she wanted to feel at peace. She approached her favorite horse, Raffey, the palomino. She fished a brush from a bucket and began to groom the horse the way Othelia taught her.

  Her tears continued at a steady flow as she pulled the brush across the horse’s beautiful mane. She didn’t hear when her friend approached.

  “What are you doing?” Othelia’s chirpy voice spoke up from behind her.