Ash Fallen Read online

  The tuskentee crouched in the brush but was too massive to go unnoticed. Head like a deer, but with a body resembling a brown bear, the tuskentee had an abundance of meat and would sustain the soldiers for some time. All eyes were on Rosalie as she prepared to bring the beast down.

  When Ash had announced earlier that morning that his army would not travel to any of the villages, but instead take the day to rest up, Rosalie was pleased. But she was ecstatic when she learned he was going to take a small group on a hunt. She expected him to argue when she offered to go along. Instead he obliged her.

  The hunting party had been tracking the impressive beast for hours. Now a half-dozen arrows were trained on the animal, but Rosalie had the best position. She licked her lips, pulled the bowstring back, then released it and let the arrow fly.

  The arrow’s tip struck the animal in the heart, dropping it. Without hesitation, she plucked her spear from the ground and ran towards the magnificent beast. Ash surged forward, a long-blade knife in hand. To Rosalie’s relief, the animal was already dead. She felt comforted it hadn’t suffered. She knelt beside it, stroking its soft fur and murmuring a short chant.

  “For pity’s sake, don’t try and mend the beast,” Ash teased.

  Rosalie grinned up at him. “It was a prayer of thanks to Baskkton, god of the hunt,” she explained, rising to her feet. She wiped the dirt from her knees and shot him a playful look that seemed to say: didn’t your parents teach you anything?

  Ash grinned back at her. He’d never been a believer in the gods, but he admired Rosalie’s unwavering faith and dedication. It made her seem all the more innocent.

  “Whoever killed it gets to carry it out,” Othelia teased, coming up behind Ash.

  “Does that also mean I get to choose who eats it?” Rosalie challenged.

  “Fine, we’ll help you,” Othelia said, laughing. She embraced her friend, then knelt beside the fallen beast. “Clean kill,” she praised. “Baskkton will be appeased.”

  Ash rolled his eyes. “Oh no, not you too.”

  “Not a believer?” Othelia mused.

  “Hopelessly incredulous,” Rosalie laughed.

  When the hunting party returned to base camp, a roaring campfire had already been prepared. By the bursts of laughter from the men, it was obvious a break from the raids was what they needed.

  “Thank you for convincing Ash to take me,” Rosalie told Othelia.

  Her friend grew embarrassed. “Who says I had anything to do with it?”

  Rosalie placed her hands on her hips and cocked her head to the side.

  “Fine,” Othelia said, smiling. “You are welcome. It was great seeing you in action.”

  “I’d forgotten how much I’ve missed that.”

  “You know what you probably don’t miss?”

  “What’s that?”

  Othelia jerked her thumb in the direction of the fallen tuskentee. “Skinning and cleaning the kill.”

  Groaning, she said, “I vote we give that lovely task to one of the men.” She batted her eyes and placed her hand on her heart. “I’m but a frail female, I think I need to take a warm bath.”

  Othelia laughed. “I like how you think. Go have your bath and meet me at the stables in an hour. I’ve also convinced Ash to let us take the horses out for a run.”

  “Thank you for today,” Rosalie told Ash later that evening.

  Never one to be good at receiving praise, he grunted in response.

  “You know, while I was riding bareback through the woods, I had a thought,” she said, looking hesitant. “What if we tried something tonight?”

  “What did you have in mind?” He raised an eyebrow.

  The heat of his gaze pierced her soul and surged through her body. “I want to use my powers on you.” She bit her lip and gazed shyly at him.

  “Darlin’, I’m pretty sure you already have.” He grinned and pulled her close.

  Gently pushing him away, she said, “No, I mean…”

  “I know what you mean,” he told her, holding her gaze with intensity. “But it’s only fair if I can do the same.”

  She pondered for a moment. It wasn’t easy for her to give up control. But then again, it was no easier for Ash – and wasn’t she asking the same of him?

  “Okay,” she finally agreed.

  “Okay then. Do we need a safe word?” he teased. He cupped her buttocks in his hands and playfully nipped at her earlobe.

  “I think we can handle ourselves.”

  Rosalie’s heart beat wildly as Ash moved in closer. As he framed her face with his hands, he asked, “Do you trust me?”

  She nodded. “I trust you implicitly.”

  “Hmm, doubtful,” he said, flashing her a grin.

  “I mostly trust you implicitly,” she amended. Her green eyes glowed with amusement. And desire.

  A deep, throaty laugh escaped his lips. He kissed her softly, then closed his eyes in concentration as his hands caressed her face. Rosalie could feel something stir within her. It was more than desire. It was as if she and Ash were the only two people on Orthron and the universe orbited around them. Her body hummed, and a deep warmth spread through her unlike anything she’d felt before. When he leaned down to kiss her, she stood on her tiptoes to meet his mouth as it claimed hers.

  Dizzy with excitement, she closed her eyes and trailed her fingers down Ash’s back. He tensed, then relaxed as she let her soothing charm begin. She could feel his tension alleviate through her fingertips. His shoulders drew slack, but his breathing became erratic as his desire built.

  When he began to undress her, she felt completely at ease. She didn’t worry about the ugly scar on her shoulder blade, or the smallness of her breasts. Her insecurities melted away because she knew all she was, it was enough for him.

  She touched the cut above Ash’s eye and murmured the mending chant her mother taught her. She pulled his head towards her lips and kissed the wound with her Mender’s lips.

  Ash grinned at her, then lifted her towards him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his hips. He slid her downward until he fit inside her. She felt his fullness and her head lulled back as she sighed with desire. He pressed her against the wall as he moved his hips, pushing deeper with each thrust.

  Rosalie’s skin felt slick against his and Ash fought to keep his control. He murmured something in her ear; an ancient charm, she suspected. His words cut straight to her heart and she was overpowered by her feelings for him.

  Her heart swelled until she thought it might burst. Emotions running high, she feared she might suffocate beneath the weight of them. Her vision blurred as her other senses heightened. She was losing control. “No more,” she begged.

  Startled, Ash slid out of her and set her down gently, steadying her when her legs wobbled. “You okay, Roe?” he asked. “Did I hurt you?”

  “No,” she reassured him, looking embarrassed. “I didn’t mean for you to stop. I just … What I felt was…” She looked down at the floor, unsure how to explain herself.

  He took her by the hand and led her back to the bed. He sat down next to her and slung an arm over her tiny shoulders.

  “That was just more than I expected.” Her heart still beat wildly.

  “Me too,” he whispered. He planted a soft kiss on her bare shoulder.

  “Maybe no magic this time?” she suggested, looking up at him.

  He smiled at her, tugging playfully at her hair. “Who says what you were feeling was magic?”

  He pushed her down on the bed and stretched his body over hers. She gazed up at him, longingly. “I need you Ash.” She didn’t just need him to make love to her. She needed him in ways she’d never needed anyone. Or wanted to need anyone. It left her raw, vulnerable, and completely out of her element.

  “I need you too, Roe,” he told her. And he meant it in every way she did. He kissed her stomach, then her inner thigh as she squirmed with anticipation.

  When he made love to her, it was slow and gen
tle. He needed her to know she was loved; that what she was feeling was real. He wanted to feel her body against his, hear her beg for her release, and to know without a doubt she loved him in return. It was important to him they both knew they were together for the right reasons. He was no more her captor than she was his. “Give it to me,” he told her, when he sensed she was getting close.

  “No, Ash, I want more,” she begged.

  He deepened his thrusts. The pair moved together, the intensity building. “Is this enough for you?” he growled seductively.

  In response, Rosalie arched her hips and screamed out as she climaxed. Her release was Ash’s undoing. He called out her name as he lost himself inside her.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “Spit it out,” Rosalie said, setting down her bowl of mush on the tree stump she shared with Ash. He had joined her for breakfast, but his brooding silence was keeping her off-balance. “You clearly have something you want to say, so just say it.” Her no-nonsense tone told him her patience was wearing thin.

  “Come with me today,” he said, reaching for her hand.

  She snatched her hand away and folded her arms in front of her chest in defiance. “To invade someone’s home? I want no part of it.”

  Ash paused, his pride and patience being tested. “You don’t have to do much. I want you to see we’re not the monsters you’ve made us out to be in your head.”

  She glared at him. She didn’t see a monster staring back at her. She saw a man she cared deeply for. A man who was passionate about his cause – whatever that cause might be. But she couldn’t overlook the fact that it came at the expense of others.

  “I’ll pass.”

  “Roe, you know I wouldn’t ask you if it wasn’t important.” He couldn’t mask his regret. When she didn’t respond, he continued. “The city doesn’t have walls surrounding it. The villagers will see my men from a long way off and may ride out to try and stop us. If we’re unable to incapacitate everyone at once, risk of injuries, even casualties, is much higher.”

  She frowned and her brow furrowed in thought. On the one hand, she didn’t approve of the raids and didn’t want any part of them. On the other, she couldn’t live with herself if she had the chance to prevent casualties and didn’t act on it. She took a labored breath. “What do you need from me?”

  “The village was recently hit with a bout of sickness. You can ride ahead and offer your mending services. Convince everyone to gather at a central location. That’ll provide enough of a distraction for us to sneak in and use the gas more effectively.”

  Rosalie remained silent, soaking in the magnitude of his request. She was angry with him for asking her when he knew how strongly she felt against the raids. Even more angry with herself for entertaining his request. “Fine,” she finally mumbled.

  “Thank you, Roe, you won’t regret it.”

  “I already do.” With bitter tears welling up, she stood up and stalked away.

  Sensing she needed time alone to process everything, Ash didn’t go after her. Asking her to do him this favor didn’t sit well. But Marx had convinced him it was the only way. All he could think was that his old friend better not have gotten this wrong. It very well may have changed the way Rosalie felt about him forever. War was about sacrifice – but the thought of losing her seemed like a sacrifice too heavy to bear.

  When the soldiers neared the village of Amanatria on horseback, Rosalie’s arms tightened around Ash’s waist. Despite her anger, she kissed the back of his neck. He lifted one hand off the reins and covered her hand with his. His hand felt firm and warm against hers.

  They dismounted about a half-mile from the city. As Rosalie prepared to walk the remainder of the way to the village, Ash took her by the hand. “Maybe we should rethink this.”

  She pulled her hand away. “You got me into this. Your men are all waiting. I’d say it’s a bit late for that.”

  “Then you’re on board with this?”

  “I’ll never be fully onboard with this,” she corrected. “I’m doing this to prevent casualties. Not for you.”

  Ash’s jaw tightened, but he nodded in understanding.

  “Now I’ll need about an hour,” she said.

  “An hour?” Stryker interrupted.

  She shot him a warning look. She wasn’t about to let him intimidate her. “You’re using my mending powers as a ruse to gather everyone together. I plan to actually use those mending powers for good before you guys come storming in with your gas and bullish ways. Now does anyone have a problem with that?”

  Before anyone could argue, she turned on her heel and headed toward Amanatria.

  When she arrived at the village, she wasn’t met with any probing stares. In fact, the streets were mostly empty. Those bustling about outdoors appeared unphased by her presence.

  “Does your village have a PA system?” she asked a woman passing by. The woman responded with a blank stare.

  “A public address system,” Rosalie explained. “Something to communicate announcements in case of emergencies?”

  “Sure,” the woman said. “Our town chieftain likes to use it to make important announcements.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s that way,” she said, pointing frontward. “Towards the marketplace.”

  Rosalie thanked her, then hurried in the direction the woman pointed. When she arrived at the marketplace, she was surprised by the lack of people. Despite the dozens of booths of assorted fruit and furs, few came to make a trade.

  “Where is everybody?” she asked an elderly man selling brightly colored scarves.

  “People have been getting sick,” he explained. “Most are too afraid to come outdoors.”

  “I see.” Rosalie smiled warmly but felt plagued with guilt. “Thank you for your time.” Glancing around, she saw an outbuilding marked Chieftain’s Office and made her way towards it.

  “Are you the chieftain?” she asked the portly man sitting behind a desk littered with paperwork and empty food wrappers.

  “I am,” the man said proudly. He circled around the desk and stretched out his hand towards hers. When she took it, he pumped it vigorously. “Chieftain Brotsun, at your service. How may I help you?”

  When she explained she’d heard his village had been plagued by illness and that she was a Mender, Brotsun was happy to oblige her request to gather the townspeople together so she could use her mending powers. He insisted, however, on making the announcement himself; a request that Rosalie was happy to oblige.

  With a promise of hope for their ailing loved ones, it didn’t take long for the villagers to flood the marketplace. Rosalie wrestled with her emotions as she calmly directed the crowd into an organized line.

  Sweating from exertion, but eyes gleaming with satisfaction that her mending powers were having an immediate effect on the illness, Rosalie patted the hand of her final patient. But her feelings were replaced by guilt and sorrow once the canisters were launched into the marketplace – into the very spot she’d convinced the naive townspeople to gather. Bitter tears stung her eyes. How had she become this person who stood by while this helpless village was plundered? To her relief, there were no screams from the villagers, no dramatic pleas for help. She witnessed only murmurs of confusion, followed by silence.

  Ash waited the appropriate amount of time, then gave the signal for his men to enter the city.

  Rosalie recognized the posture of the townspeople. A wave of nostalgia and nausea engulfed her at once as she observed the swaying bodies and vacant stares of those around her. She felt dizzy and her vision blurred. Fearful she might topple over, she took a seat on a nearby bench. From there she had a front row seat to the invasion. She leaned back, arms crossed, and prepared to judge harshly.

  As Ash wielded his powers, Rosalie watched in amazement. He spoke in hushed tones to the immobilized villagers. When met with opposition, he chanted softly – assuredly. “You will awake feeling at peace. All will be well,” she heard him say. She shook her head to clear it, doing her
best to avoid his hypnotic presence. But watching him work, she finally saw him clearly for the first time. He genuinely cared about these people. He did what he needed to keep them safe.

  Two variants were found amongst the villagers. Both were men – one old, one young. Rosalie didn’t know what their powers were, but recognized their scared, puzzled faces and the way their alertness set them apart from the rest. As the variants were being led to a wagon, she hurried to join them.

  “I myself was taken from Mabel Village. These people mean you no harm,” she told the two men. “Everything will be revealed in good time.” The men glared back at her with accusing stares, but she hoped her words brought comfort. She could have used them not so long ago.

  When it was time to leave, Ash wore a smug grin as he helped Rosalie onto the horse. As they rode away, she cast a final glance back at the swaying villagers. They looked peaceful; like they were sleeping standing up.

  “Well?” Ash asked once they’d returned to base camp and were behind closed doors.

  “Well, what?”

  “Is that what you imagined?”

  She frowned, considering. “You’re still stealing and taking people against their will.”

  He looked disappointed. “Is everything black and white with you?”

  “That did put my mind at ease quite a bit,” she admitted.

  “Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’ coming?”

  She offered a tight smile. “But I wish you’d find an alternative.”

  He nodded and pulled her close, kissing her on the top of the head. “I wish that too,” he whispered.

  Instead of being comforted by his words, she pulled back in anger. “Not good enough,” she told him.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means I want to know exactly what’s going on. I’m sick of being in the dark. I’m tired of following you like a mindless dolt.”