De'Vas Chronicles Book 4: Chapter 26

Ash sat on the stone throne inside the keep after they were sure the army had retreated. Eva stated they had killed twenty elves that day, most falling to Selena’s cannon and Sparky. Now it was time to find answers and pass judgment on the prince he captured.

Selena and Eva were on his right by the throne, while Haylee and Blake stood on his left. The elven prince glared up at him from the floor, the rune-covered armor stripped away from him now and lying on the ground between them.

Ash held a gauntlet in his hands, and his fingers traced over the runes.

“So, why did you attack my castle?” he asked, still examining the gauntlet.

The elf spat at the throne. Ash saw Haylee wave her hand as he did, a sign she was using her Water Magic, and the saliva turned around to splatter on the elf’s face.

He shook his head before sneering at Haylee.

“Because you’re that monster’s minion,” the elf said as he turned back to face Ash. “Blackthorn butchered our mother, the Queen of Everwood. That banshee is nothing but a bloodthirsty conqueror whom Vas is better without. I hope your rumors are a lie and she’s dead, rotting in the ground, or whatever hells the Vanishing takes its victims to!”

The elf’s cheeks expanded, as if he were about to try and spit at the throne again. He looked at Ash, then Haylee, before spitting at the floor not far from where he stood.

“Cleo and Master Rory told me about this war. The Queen of Everwood killed Cleo’s mother over some swamp land,” Ash said. “That’s what launched the Nightmare Queen’s conquests and attack on the Everwood Kingdom.”

The elf stared at him, his mouth agape.

“Master Rory?” he asked.

Ash nodded.

“Cleo’s my friend, and I know she’s done some horrible things in the past. I also know she regrets most of it,” Ash said, leaning back in the stone throne. “I don’t fault your grudge against her for the death of your mother, but that still doesn’t change the fact that you attacked my castle, my people.”

The elf growled.

“Do what you will to me! My brother will get revenge for both me and our mother!”

He tried to stand up as straight as his bindings would allow, putting on a brave face. He flinched as Ash tossed the gauntlet back into the pile of armor stripped from the elf.

“I doubt he’ll come back. I’m fairly sure he pissed himself before running,” Ash said, letting out a sigh. “How did you learn I was here? Or did you just take the rumors Blackthorn had a vassal at face value and marched an army to Markal Forest?”

The elf glared again, silence filling the throne room as he refused to answer.

Ash pointed two fingers at the pile of armor between them. Thunder echoed in the keep as a Bolt slammed into the pile, scattering the armor. The elf’s gaze fell to the floor as he paled and his posture slumped.

“An orc,” he said softly. “He said you showed him a portrait of Blackthorn and claimed to be her vassal. He thought we would reward him for the information.”

Ash could only think of one orc he had shown a picture of Blackthorn to who wasn’t still with him at Markal Castle. The one who ran when Blake first attacked.

What was his name again… Ken?

“What happened to the orc? Was he with your army?” Ash asked.

The elf chewed his lip for a moment, still staring at the floor.

“My brother and I tortured him to make sure he wasn’t lying. He’s alive, at least he was when we left our castle.”

Ash looked at a piece of armor, now charred from his Lightning Magic.

“I’ve heard you and your brother are slavers. Was it a slave who put these runes on your armor?” Ash asked, his tone not hiding the distaste.

The elf kept his eyes on the ground.

“Yes,” he answered softly.

Ash nodded, then turned to Eva.

“Can you get me maps and any information on their castle?” Ash asked.

Eva immediately saluted.

“Yes, warchief,” she said.

With that, Ash stood from the throne, his gaze fixated on the exiled prince before it lifted to the door of the keep. He took more than a dozen steps before he was beside the elf and lifted his hand, two fingers extended. The elf looked up, his eyes wide with fear.

“No!” he screamed.

Thunder echoed once more in the keep, followed by the sound of the elf’s corpse hitting the floor.

Ash didn’t look back; he kept moving to the door of the keep. He needed to make some more potions for what tomorrow would hold.

***

That night, Ash left the castle, bringing only a towel and a change of clothing with him. Given the events of the day, he wanted to relax, especially with what he planned to do tomorrow.

When he arrived at his destination, he spent a little time building a fire, then he stripped his clothing off.

Ash sighed as he slipped into the creek, feeling the cool water covering his body as he leaned against the rocky outcropping. Even after Selena had healed his injuries from training, his muscles still felt sore.

“When I get back home, I might need to put a hot tub or pool on the roof of the Flatiron. This is beautiful,” he said to himself.

His gaze rested on the night sky overhead. Only the sound of his campfire crackling and the song of crickets for company, after all, that was why he chose to come out here tonight. The peace and quiet.

He needed it; the past few days had been long. Everything from sparring with the behemoth, to the strange elf, and the attack on the castle, his mind felt like it was trying to run four different places at once. All while the countdown to his encounter with the oni ticked away. Then there was the question he kept avoiding: What would happen to those in the castle once he was gone?

He splashed water on his face, trying to clear his mind. He would face that decision and others as they came to him. Right now, he owed it to Selena and Haylee to get them home.

The gentle rocking of the current was soothing, and he took a moment to close his eyes and let his mind rest. Only opening them once he felt Sparky leaving his elemental scar. He turned his head and saw the blue cat give a stretch on the rocky outcrop before trotting off into the grass, no doubt to terrorize some of the noisy crickets.

“Have fun,” he said as the cat vanished into the tall grass.

Ash let the elemental do as he pleased and tried to return to his relaxation. A few minutes later, he heard a large splash. His eyes opened again and saw someone swimming toward him in the moonlight, just their head above the water.

“Decided to go for a late-night swim, Haylee?” Ash asked as he caught sight of her red bikini in the moonlight.

She swam over to sit beside him in the water.

“I thought I would check on you,” Haylee answered.

They both sat there staring up at the stars.

“You showed nothing when you killed that elf,” Haylee finally said.

Ash shrugged.

“What could I do? Let him live and make him Blake or Eva’s problem once we’ve left?” Ash asked.

Haylee clicked her tongue.

“I’m not saying it was the wrong call. You’ve changed since you first became District boss. I still remember when you executed that elf Fargo after the undead attack,” Haylee turned and looked at him. “You carried it out, but I saw the hesitation in you. You didn’t want to kill, but knew you had to.”

Haylee looked back up to the sky.

“You didn’t hesitate, not even for a second,” she said. “You were decisive in what you did.”

Ash watched her, only to see Haylee look back at him with a smirk.

“Also, you’re kidding yourself if you think Blake, Grace, and Eva are staying behind. Once we find a way to get back home, they’re coming with us.”

Ash raised an eyebrow.

“Blake and Grace, I can understand. Luna and Faylen are back in District 114, but Eva?”

Haylee nodded.

“She stays stuck in her herald role around you, so you probably don’t know. Her life wasn’t exactly good until you showed up. Her family were considered traitors to Warchief Mullin. The bastard even killed her father, and her place in the clan was the bottom rung of the hierarchy. Now she’s near the top, because of you,” Haylee answered. “She’s not leaving your side.”

Ash laughed.

“I didn’t ask to be warchief,” he said.

He felt Haylee lean against him, her bare skin and the fabric of her bikini touching his arm.

“Did you ask to be District boss?” Haylee asked.

Ash shook his head.

“No. Cleo dropped that surprise in my lap.”

Haylee’s head rested on his shoulder.

“You’ve done well as both a District boss and a warchief,” she said.

Ash lifted his arm, putting it around the otterkin and pulling her closer to himself.

“Tomorrow you’re heading out to attack the Princes’ castle?” Haylee asked, though she knew the answer.

“Yes. Blake and Eva are accompanying me with some of our soldiers and scouts,” he said, which she also knew. “Sparky and I will be the heavy hitters. We want to take out the last Prince and take control with minimal losses.”

He felt Haylee’s hand rest on his leg, and, unlike her, he wasn’t wearing any swimwear.

“All while Selena and I stay back at the castle,” she said with a click of her tongue.

Ash nodded.

“I trust you girls to protect it,” he said, skirting around the fact that he wanted to keep them safe.

She looked up at him with an arched eyebrow.

“We’re not fragile, Ash,” Haylee said. “We understand the castle needs to be protected, but we’re not always going to wait around in it while you rush off to danger.”

He sighed.

“I know. But you girls are in this mess because of me,” he said, meeting Haylee’s gaze. “And I want to get you both home safe and sound.”

Haylee swung her leg over his so that she was straddling him. Her hands rested on his shoulders as her hazel eyes looked into his.

“And we want you to get home safe as well,” Haylee said, smiling at him. “Because you’re important to us, Ash.”

Haylee leaned forward, kissing him. Ash put his arms around her, holding her as they made out. After a long moment, Haylee broke away from the kiss with a gasp and looked at him with a heated gaze. Her hands left his shoulders to move behind her back, and Ash watched as she untied her bikini top before throwing it onto the shore.