Dirt (The Dirt Trilogy) (22 page)

Rowen and Coll meet up with us later in the day. We walk
through the forest encircling the castle. The trees are greener than
green. Vibrant. Flowers bloom in every patch of meadow. I don’t
think I’ve ever been happier than I am at this very moment.

We find a waterfall tumbling hundreds of feet into a pool of
clear aqua blue. We swim in our clothes and lay in the amber sun
until we dry off. I wish everyday could be like this. Taylie is even
able to break a smile here and there. It’s exactly what she needed.
It’s what we all needed.

“
Are you getting used to Durt now?” Rowen asks as we lay on
the warm rocks, soaking up the warmth of the sky.
“I could get used to this, but it doesn’t really matter where we
are, as long as we are together.” He smiles, looking down into my
eyes and brushing the wet hair from my face.
“We need to head back.” He stands reaching down for my hand
then pulling me up. I’m about to let go of his tender grip when he
brings me up close to his bare chest, kissing me softly. Yeah, I
could get used to this
.
It appears Coll has made an exception for humans now that
he’s met Taylie. Bithlings on the other hand, are still not on his list
of favorite things. I’ve seen them strolling through the gardens,
sitting next to one another during meals and sometimes there both
gone at the same time with no explanation.
I haven’t seen much of Arcos either. I wander around the castle
on my own feeding my curiosity by looking into rooms and
meandering through corridors. It’s a building of endless size. It
goes on forever. I get lost finding my way back to my room when I
stumble into a small room that’s apparently an artist’s studio, filled
with canvases, sculptures, easels, and brushes. Dust covers every
inch of the space, wooden bowls filled with dried paint and bristles
of brushes dried up and broken. A stool sits in front of an easel
holding a canvas of unfinished work. I ease onto the painter’s stool,
and study the painting. The emerging subject has a very strong
resemblance to my father. I trace my finger over the curved lines of
dried, old paint.
“I see your mother when I look at you.” I jump out of my skin
and almost fall to the floor. Arcos is standing in the doorway.
“I’m sorry...I...I .... I’m taking look around.”
“No harm. All is well, my dear.” He strolls into the room
gently running his hands over his braided beard. His white robe
flows behind him like angels wings. He towers over me as he peers
over my shoulder at the unfinished artwork.
“So, who’s the artist?”
“This was Nuin’s favorite place. Here in Durt we cherish those
creative abilities. It is a gift not everyone holds. It is a gift treasured
beyond the gift of living. For it is through these creative gifts life is
captured for eternity.”
A feeling of warmth covers me like lamb’s wool when I realize
I’m sitting in my mother’s studio.
“This was going to be a portrait of my father,” I say staring at
the canvas with tears whelping up in my eyes. “She didn’t get to
finish it.”
“No, but you may want to finish it for her,” he says. “You can
come here anytime you like. Use this room at your leisure. I think
Nuin would love to have given this room to you herself.” Looking
at me over his shoulder, he walks out.
Quietly, I cry. I feel her here. I miss her. I long for her. Now,
I’m able to admit it, at least to myself.
During dinner, things are quiet. There’s no talk of Ruis, The
Dark Thorn or any plans of attack. Things are calm and I’m glad.
It’s time for peace, time to stop running after or away.
Taylie and I head back to our rooms after dinner. A twinkle of
her old glow is coming back. But there’s still an unhappiness
blocking her from fully experiencing the beauty of Durt.
“I miss them so much,” she says.
“I know it has to be hard. I’m sorry this happened to you and
it’s all because of me, because of what I am.”
“This isn’t your fault, Ashe. I don’t blame you. I only blame
the one who did it and he’s dead.” She walks with me down the last
corridor, locking arms with mine. “At least we have each other. I
believe things will get better with time. They have to.”
She hugs me tight and then goes to her room.
The stained glass windows of my room open onto a balcony. I
take in a big breath of fresh air. I’m so high above the ground, I can
see the tops of the trees. The stars light the sky like fireworks. He
sneaks behind gently wrapping his fingers around my waist, saying
nothing. I enjoy his touch, my hands on the rails as I absorb the
serenity around us.
“Things are quiet,” I say listening to the solitude of the woods.
“They seem so.” His manner is doubtful.
“What is it? Is something wrong?”
“Ruis isn’t going to stay quiet. He has to know Straif is gone.
The power is his now if he wants it. I believe he does want it. He
has to be up to something.”
“Ruis isn’t truly wicked. Deep within his soul, there is good.
He did let me go you know.”
“He had no other choice.” Rowen releases his caress and stands
beside me looking out. “I believe he encouraged Straif to go to
Montana, because he knows what you are capable of. He knew
Straif would not be able to defeat you. Ruis was not able to resist
your transference and he knew Straif wouldn’t either.” He pauses.
“And now he is free to rule.”
“I don’t think Ruis is like that.”
“Ashe, Ruis has the gift of deception. His entire body is
programmed for evil, for destruction. It’s who he is now.”
“I don’t believe it.”
He kisses me quickly on the lips. “Go to sleep. You’re tired.”
“Good night.” I wanted to be able to say good morning instead.
He makes me feel complete.
“Good night,” he whispers as he holds me for a moment under
the starlight.

Taylie didn
’t make it down to breakfast and no one has seen
her.
“Taylie, wake up.” I knock on her door, but she doesn’t
answer. I let myself in. “Taylie, Taylie.” Her bed is empty. Where
is she?
I find Rowen and Coll and we search everywhere for her, the
gardens, the castle, the stable, everywhere. There’s no sign of her.
“I hope she hasn’t done something crazy.”
“She wouldn’t do that,” Coll says defensively.
“I’m not saying she would do it on purpose, Coll. You don’t
even know her,” I spout back. Who does he think he is? He hardly
knows her.
“We have to find her,” Rowen says. “Ashe, did you see
anything in her room that would make you think she left? Maybe,
she tried to go back to Montana.”
We go back to her room to see if we can find a clue, anything
that will give us answers.
“Nothing,” Coll says.
I plop onto the bed and something sharp pokes me through the
covers.
“Ouch!” I yell, jumping up and pulling back the sheets. An
iridescent black ring of thorns is buried under the bedding. I look at
Rowen for an answer.
“He’s taken her,” he says.
“Why?” I yell. “Why would he want her?”
“He’s trying get to you. Come, we’ve got to find Alder.”
We go to Ivy’s room on the ground floor. “Ashe, you stay here
with Ivy. We will place a guard at your door.”
“What? I’m going with you!”
“That’s exactly what Ruis wants. If you want to help, you’ll
stay here.” Rowen is ordering me to stay as he holds his hand
firmly against my shoulder. He’s never spoken to me this way
before. My heart sinks to the floor. Before he exits, he looks at me
as if he’s in pain. I drop in the chair, vacant and confused.
“It is for the best, Ashe. They have to find Taylie. If you went
along you would be a distraction. He’d be trying to protect you as
well as Taylie. You understand. Don’t you?” Ivy asks.
“I don’t understand anything.”
I slouch in the chair for hours, staring out of the window until
night falls and she is asleep. It’s now or never.

The night sky is over cast. The moon is not as bright as I would
have liked, but I can’t let that stop me. Ivy doesn’t even notice as I
slip out of the window. I can’t believe what I’m about to do.

The stables are abandoned of anyone except for the horses. It
’s
quiet except for sound of munching on hay and a few snorts here
and there.

I ease open the stall door and my grandfather
’s horse looks me
straight in the eyes stomping his massive hooves impatiently into
the ground.

He
’s majestic and intimidating. I’m scared to death and I think
he knows it. I have no idea if he’ll accept me or even understand
me, but I have to take the chance. He’s royalty when it comes to
horses and I’m supposed to be royalty, too. So, hopefully that will
account for something.

“
Easy, easy,” I say as if it’ll make a difference. How the hell
am I supposed to get on this thing? I’ll need a ladder to reach his
shoulders. He rears up spreading his enormous wings, hitting me in
the chest and knocking me to the ground. After he knocks the
breath out of me, it takes me a minute to re-inflate my lungs. I pull
myself together and get back up.

“
Whoa.” It’s Marvin. The great white animal is motionless at
the sound of his voice.
“How did you think you were going to get on his back?”
“I didn’t know and still don’t know. I’m kind of figuring this

out as I go.
” Marvin leads him from the stall.
“Sleuchd,” Marvin says firmly and the white horse kneels
down on both knees. “Dagda is all yours.”
I’m a nervous wreck. I have to get a hold of myself. Any
agitation I have will transfer into the horse, making this a rough
ride. Taking a deep breath I tell myself I can do this. I was born to
do this. I’m the protector now.
I take hold of his thick, snow-white mane and pull myself onto
his back. When he stands up on all fours, I’m so high off the ground
my stomach starts to turn. Get a grip. Remain calm. This ride is
already a risky one.
“What do I do now?” I ask Marvin as Dagda stomps his feet.
“Think about where you want to go and he’ll know.”
“Aren’t you are going to try and stop me?”
“Ashe, when I look at you I see your mother. There’s so much
about you that is like her. She was free-spirited and independent.
That is you. It’s always been you. You didn’t know it until you
were forced to become whom you were meant to be.”
“I’m not sure if I can do this, Marvin, but I’ve got to try.” He
hits Dagda on his scaled flank. The horse takes off in a gallop then
hits the sky as I picture the Mountains of Li Sula.
The air becomes warmer the higher we fly. I’m relaxed,
comfortable. I don’t let my mind wander into worry about my
grandfather and what he’s probably going to do after he finds out I
took his horse. I focus on what I have to do. I’ll deal with the rest
later.
It takes a while to reach the mountain range. The other horses
aren’t there and the place is isolated. I don’t know where to go from
here.
I remember Scout and we head for Skewantee. We land
outside the village.
“Sleuchd,” I command and Dagda puts his knees to the ground.
I wander around looking for someone, anyone. Many of the huts
have been destroyed, burnt to the ground. “Scout,” I shout in a
whisper. “Scout,” I say louder this time.
“Who are you?” I voice from behind me asks. I turn around.
“Oh, it is you. The Secret. What are you doing here? You must
leave at once. You are not wanted. You have brought much harm to
my people. You must go. You must go, now.” Scout is insistent.
His nose twitches frantically.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to bring harm to anyone. I’m trying to
find Ruis, The Thorn.”
“I jus want you to go. If I tell you where they hide, you will
become the sacrifice then we will all be destroyed.”
“That won’t happen. Please tell me where they are.”
He rubs his furry hands together nervously, pacing back and
forth with his huge furry paws shuffling the dust around him. “I
don’t know what to do,” he mumbles.
Lilly, Scout’s wife, waddles out of the hut. “Hello, my dear.
What brings you here again?”
“I need to know where The Thorn is hiding. They’ve left the
caverns. I have to find them. Someone is in danger.”
“If you go twenty miles south, beyond the mountain range,
there is a pathway leading to nowhere through a doorway of
darkness. It is there you will find them.”
“What have you done, woman? This will truly be the end of
us,” Scout shouts as he tramples off into one of the few huts left
standing.
“I’m sorry for all you have suffered,” I say sincerely.
“I am putting my trust in you to put an end to it,” she says.
I fly south with no idea what she meant about a path to
nowhere, but I’m hoping it will all make sense when I get there.
As soon as we pass over the snow-capped mountains, a line in
the ground appears; a pathway marked in the soil. We descend,
landing in a valley nearby, when I see Ruamna, Mugwort and the
palomino grazing. I dismount and make my way down the path.
Discomforting sounds ring through the trees meeting me in the
darkness of the wood. I’m scared, but in control. I keep moving
hoping to see something that will make sense as I remember what
Lilly told me.
A piece of wood lies in the middle of the trail. As I get closer, I
notice a handle on it. I lift the handle as a gush of musty air brushes
over me as I open the door in the ground. A ladder leading to a dark
abyss invites me into the underworld. There are no lights and I have
no idea where I’m headed. With each step of uncertainty I moved
deeper into the underground.
As I delve deeper into the hole, I hear the echoes of voices
flowing from the darkness. The sounds grow louder and turn into
the bitter edge of screams. My foot finally meets the last rung and I
step onto the ground below me. I head toward a flicker that turns
into a brighter light. The sounds of the screamer grow louder and
more horrifying with each step. I meander through passageway
after passageway, each one giving up very little light, each one
holding the secrets of evil.
I turn the corner and see a brighter light moving about. As I get
closer to the source of illumination, I see them. Rowen is going to
be mad. Surprisingly, I don’t care at this point. I’m going to prove
myself.
I’m
going to save
my
friend, the
friend who’s
lost
everything because of me. Ruis captured her in order get to me and
he’s going to get what he asked for.
I walk up on the three sentries, none of them aware of my
presence until they hear my voice. “Have you found her?”
The three of them jump out of their skins, and turn around.
Shock and awe. That pretty much explains their expressions.
“How did you get here?” Rowen says loud of enough to
resonate.
“The same way you did,” I respond.
“Ashe, you shouldn’t have come. It’s not safe for you.” Rowen
is surprised and confused.
“I don’t need protecting.” I may sound a little too sure of
myself, but I’m tired of being seen as the damsel in distress.
“What’s gotten into you?” Rowen asks.
“She’s crazy,” Coll adds with abhorrence. Rowen looks at me
as if I’ve lost my mind. I ignore it. I only want to find Taylie.
“Do you know where she is?” I ask Rowen, who’s still looking
at me as if he’s seen a ghost.
“No, but she’s got to be down here,” Alder jumps in. I follow
behind them as we march through the underworld to pursue the
echoes.
“That’s Taylie,” I say as my head begins to pound. We’re
getting closer, her voice sounds as if it’s coming from every
direction. The air is thick and hot without any form of ventilation.
The dirt walls add to the stench around us.
“Help!” she cries out.
“Here, this way.” Alder leads us down another passageway.
The darkness swallows us whole. Her voice is clearer but I can tell
she’s getting weaker by the minute. I want to call out to her to let
her know we’re coming; to let her know we haven’t forgotten her
but doing so will put her at more risk.
We turn down another passageway and at the end of it is a
room and chained in the corner is Taylie. She’s been beaten pretty
badly. She’s weak and worn. When she sees us, her battered face
lights up. Rowen raises his sword and slams the blade over the
chains that hold her. As metal hits metal, the chains are broken, but
the cuffs remain around her tiny wrist rubbing her skin raw. Coll
scoops her up and she wraps her arms around his neck. We sprint
out weaving our way through the maze of darkness.
We make our way to the exit. Alder leads the procession up the
ladder, as Coll carries Taylie out of the pits of hell, Ruis’ hell.
Rowen climbs out behind me. We make it back to the horses. Coll
and Taylie get on Mugwort and Alder on the palomino. Escape is
their only concern. Coll and Alder leave with Taylie on flying
horseback.
Rowen pauses when he sees Dagda. “You rode him? You
actually made it here on Dagda?”
“I did,” I say with pride. I’m tired of being the cause of all the
problems. I’m taking responsibility for who and what I am. There’s
more to me than the helpless bithling everyone believes me to be.
As we’re about to embark on our exit, Ruis steps out from
behind a tree. He’s alone. His head shaven, separating himself from
his heritage, his faerie purity, his brethren.
“You’re not taking her back, Rowen,” Ruis says. His voice is
hoarse and lacks the luster that once endowed his words.
Rowen holds up his sword and Ruis joins the invitation. The
clash of metal rings throughout the carbon air. They’re going at it
pretty hard when Rowen falls into a hole that’s been covered by
twigs and brush. It’s a trap. He’s at least eight feet under and there’s
no way out.
“Ashe,” he calls as if he’s let me down again.
“Looks like it’s you and me,” Ruis says as he circles me. I
follow his every step.
I have no weapon. Only my gift. “We don’t have to do this,
Ruis, try and remember who you are. Who you once were,” I plead
for his soul.
“You keep your hands off of her!” Rowen yells from the pit.
“Run, Ashe!”
I do the opposite. I’m going to face this. I’m going to deal with
this once and for all. No one else is going to die at my expense.
“This is who I am. I was born to lead The Thorn. I was born to
be an immortal, as you were born to die.” He’s almost drooling.
Before I realize it, he raises his sword over me and brings it
down over my head. I jump back and catch the blade in its path
between the palms of my hands. I hold it steady as my anger
transforms the metal into heat. As our gazes meet, I search for a
glimpse of purity in the vague twinkle of his eyes. His eyes seethe
with the repugnance and the lust for the power that now possesses
him. He holds tight to the handle of the sword, tremors vibrating
through it. The heat builds up in the weapon as I hold it tightly. I
don’t know how much longer he’ll be able to withstand. His hands
shake violently as he loses his grip. He stands unarmed not wanting
to touch me, but wanting to kill me.
“This isn’t over,” he growls and disappears into the darkness
that knows him. I drop the sword to the ground as it turns to red
ember. The difference between Straif and Ruis, is Ruis knows my
capabilities and he isn’t going to risk his plans by being over
confident.
“Ashe, answer me!” Rowen never stopped calling out.
“He’s gone. I’m all right.” I peer into the hole keeping him
captive.
I grab a vine and throw it in. As Rowen pulls, the dried up vine
snaps in two. I try to reach and snatch his hand, but he’s too far in
down for me to rescue.
“Hold on a second,” I say as my mind moves way out of the
box for an idea.
I get on Dagda’s back and we walk over to the hole. I get off
the horse and back him toward the edge of Rowen’s trap.
“Take hold of his tail,” I instruct. The white flowing tail is so
long it easily reaches Rowen.
“Have you totally lost your mind, Ashe?”
“Do it, Rowen. Do you trust me?” I ask as he has asks me
many times before.
He grips Dagda’s tail with apprehension and I urge the horse
forward. With a few steps, Rowen emerges covered in dirt.
I jump off and run back to check on him. He grabs me holding
me close. I’m now wearing the dirt that covered him.
“I don’t know how this all happened. I don’t know how you
pulled it off, but it appears I need you more than you need me.”
Whatever anger, whatever frustration he had is gone.
“Oh, but you’re wrong. We need each other,” I say. The touch
of his caressing hand smudges dirt on my face and around the back
of my neck.