Dirt (The Dirt Trilogy)

by K. F. Ridley

  I come out of the bathroom and I notice Rowen and Coll’s beds are empty. “Rowen? Rowen?” I’m concerned I’ve uncovered something and I don’t know what to do with it.

  I open the door leading to the hallway and the same huge guy blocks the entrance, so I tuck myself back into the room and leave the door open behind me. It’s weird being alone. I’m usually okay with it, but for some reason solitude is starting to feel uncomfortable.

  I hear Alder’s voice coming down the corridor, when the bodyguard moves aside and the four brethren walk in. There’s obvious distress on their faces.

  “We have to find Henry,” Rowen demands.

  When I hear my father’s name, my nerves are zapped again with worry. “What’s wrong with my father?” I ask as fear creeps into my throat.

  Alder looks at me reassuringly. “Nothing. He’s fine. We are running out of serum and…well, right now we cannot risk bringing your father out into the open, but still, we need more.” Rowen sits on the bed with his face in the palms of his hands.

  “I knowwhere to find it. But… you’re not going to like this. It’s in…”

  “Stop! Don’t tell us where it’s hidden!” Coll yells with his hand in the air. “He could be watching us. That’s why we left to discuss our plans. Wherever you are,” he gestures toward me,“he can see. Remember, your paintings.” His distaste for me grows each time he looks at me.

  “We’ll have no more discussion in your presence. Not until those paintings are destroyed,” Alder says. “It’s too risky. We’re not sure when Straif is watching.” Alder is flustered, which is totally out of character for him. Right now, it appears he’s losing control.

  I’m sick of being in the dark about everything. Seeing my apparent discomfort, Rowen walks over to put his arm around me. His body feels so wonderful up against mine. I stagger from his hand on my back. Coll fumes, irritated by our public display of affection.

  “I’m so glad you’re better. I was so worried,” I say.

  “Coll pulled through for me, but it took everything he had.”

  Rowen looks down and notices the stone hanging from my neck. “Where did you get this?” he asks lifting the pendent from my chest.

  “From my mother’s dresser at Ivy’s house.” His eyes gleam as he ogles.“What is it?” I ask.

  His hands tremble as he holds the pendent gently in his palm. “This is one of the keys, one of the keys to the doorway of Feda.” Alder walks over and his face beams with intrigue.

  Excitement surges through me. “We don’t have to worry about Straif now. We still have what we need.”

  “Remember, there are two keys. Straif still has the other one. We’ll have to have the other key, as well, in order to have full control of the Doorway of Feda. And the pictures…” Rowen lifts the necklace from around my neck and he puts his forefinger gently over my lips. “Shhhh. You stay here,” he whispers as if someone is listening.

  For some reason, I still want to keep the key. It was my mother’s and I feel closer to her than ever. I want anything that belonged to her.

  Moments later, Rowen returns. “Until those pictures are destroyed, you can’t have that thing around you. I hope he doesn’t already know.” If Straif can see me, he can see the key hanging from my neck making me even more his target.

  Alder leaves with Ruis, who appears scared and unsure, to another room to discuss the mission. Coll follows them infuriated by our embrace, slamming the door on his way out.

  “I guess he’s going to have to get over it,” I say.

  Rowen peeks into my eyes and kisses me soft and warm, as if he has been holding it in. His lips wrap around mine with perfect design. He was made for me. I can feel it.

  After his lips slowly pull away from mine, I see a bit of sadness in the beautiful blue of his eyes.

  “What is it?” I ask. His hands still perched around my waist as I surrender to the shape of his fingers.

  “Coll will never get over it…but that doesn’t really matter now.”

  I hug him tightly, my cheek pressed up against his chest. “Are they going to let you go?”

  “I’m not officially apart of the brethren anymore. I’ve spoken to Arcos and he knows where I stand and I know where he stands. I’m not leaving you. Not now. Not ever.” He smiles with a bit of mischievousness; he has broken the rules and somehow he doesn’t care.

  “Alder realizes they need me. I may not be of the brethren, but I am still your protector. They will see their options are limited. I won’t have it any other way.” He leaves me to sit on the bed. “Things are so different now, for me, for you, for Durt.”

  Because of the spies who watch from a canvas of magical oils, what I’m allowed to know is limited. For now, I’d have to go along with things.

  “Ruamna will be here soon.”

  “I thought only brethren could ride.”

  “Leprechauns have their ways with horses. Marvin especially. Lucinda on the other hand, she’ll do well by staying on.” He smiles. “They’re bringing her here.”

  “Does all this mean we can be together? So, my grandfather approves?”

  “He approves of you. He does not approve of us, but that really doesn’t matter. Without you nothing else really matters.” Taking my hand, he gently pulls me onto the bed and I lay there beside him thankful and worried all at the same time.

  “But what about my father?”

  “He’s safe. We shouldn’t discuss that right now. Straif might be watching.”

  We lay on the bed, my head on his shoulder and his arm around me. It’s wonderful being alone with him, without having to please anyone else, without having to abide by some unreasonable law. I could be in love with him, and no one can stop me. No one except for, Straif.

  18

  Worry clouds the youth on Ruis ’ face. The fear of who he is about to become takes a toll on him.

  “You are going to do great things, Ruis. I know you are.” I try to give him support. I try to give him something. I wrap my hand around his forearm and he puts his hand around mine. The moisture of his hand reveals that his nerves are winning.

  “How can you have so much faith in me?”

  “Because I know deep down inside, you are good, Ruis.” I know he isn’t fearful of the caverns, but scared of surrendering to darkness, becoming evil for eternity. I feel sorry for him. I really don’t know if he’ll be able to pull this off or not. I’m not about to let him know I have a bit of doubt.

  Rowen’s hand touches the back of my arm. “Let’s go,” he whispers.

  Ruis walks away to meet Coll and Alder on the other side of the field. Apparently, we aren’t going with them.

  “I know you can’t tell me what’s going on…but what’s going on?”

  When he looks at me I’m totally vulnerable and totally comfortable. He doesn’t have to ask. “Yes, I trust you,” I answer.

  We stroll toward the stables under cloudy skies. The rain lets up, except for a slight drizzle. Ruamna sees Rowen and neighs, stomping her feet shaking the ground beneath my feet.

  “Easy, girl.” Marvin brushes down the magnificent sorrel, attempting to keep her calm. Lucinda, on the other hand, sits in a chair a few feet away looking worn and tired. Her hair stands straight on end as if she has been tumbled in a dryer for a couple of hours. I can’t help, but chuckle. I guess flying on a giant horse at five thousand feet isn’t something that agrees with her. She is oblivious to her disheveled appearance.

  “Ashe, dear, you’re here. We’ve been so worried about you.” She puts me in the strangulation hold and Marvin joins in.

  After they release me from the choke hold, I catch my breath. “How’s Dad?”

  “He’s fine. He’s worried about you. We told him we would make sure you’re all right. You are all right aren’t you?” they ask as if they know something.

  “Yes, I’m fine.” I don’t tell them about the ordeal with Straif. It would make them worry. I’m sure they know what’s going on, but I’m no
t going to give them any details.

  They dote over me for a few minutes, while Ruamna and Rowen catch up with one another. Rowen leans his forehead into Ruamna’s shoulder breathing her in. The sorrel reaches behind and nudges him on the back with her muzzle, her flaxen mane blends with Rowen’s blond hair. One completes the other.

  Marvin and Lucinda ask me a thousand questions. It’s comforting to see familiar faces. “Tell Dad I love him.”

  “We will,” Lucinda reassures.

  With a concerned expression, Marvin leans in and says to Rowen,“I don’t know exactly what is going on, but you take care of her, you hear?” He sounds like my father. Well, he sounds like my father would sound if my father was normal.

  “I’m not going to let anything happen to her,” Rowen answers respectfully.

  He jumps onto Ruamna’s back and puts his hand out. I take hold without delay. When the horse kneels down, Rowen pulls me up to join him. As we glide into the sky over the field behind Congramaid, I wave‘good-bye’ to the Birches, hoping I’ll see them again soon.

  We fly in the rain for a few minutes, until we break the cloud barrier and we’re above the storm. The warm air blows and dries us out. I don’t care if I’m wet, cold, or freezing. I’m glad to be with Rowen. No one flies along with us. It’s paradise. I hold on, my arms around him tight, and unrelenting. Every once in a while, he turns and kisses me, without holding back, without anyone watching, without anyone judging.

  In the distance, stand the Mountains of Li Sula. Déjà vu visits me with fear as we land in the valley beneath the mountain. Rowen slides off Ruamna’s back, and I sit frozen with my hands on her withers. Terror runs through me like sparks of fire. Ruamna is agitated. I hold on to her even tighter.

  “Whoa, whoa girl,” Rowen tries to calm her.

  I can’t scream. I can’t make a sound. I hold on for dear life when she rears up.

  As she stands on her hind legs pawing at the air, my grip loosens and I slide over her rump and off her back. Rowen catches me before I hit the ground. As my touch leaves her, the great horse calms and returns to her normal demeanor.

  “What was that all about?” I ask.

  “I have no idea.” Rowen puts me down gently, my legs shaking. He checks on Ruamna, who is herself again. It was as if a demonic horse spirit momentarily possessed her.

  We watch making sure she remains calm, and then we leave her there to graze as we head up the mountainside. I’m uneasy. The walk doesn’t seem long, I guess because my mind continues to wander into the world of‘what-ifs.’

  Before we proceed through the entry of the caverns, Rowen informs me of the plans. We are to hide out until we have a sign from the others. Ruis is going to transform and approach Straif in his dark form. That will give us time to find the paintings while Alder and Coll hunt for the sister key.

  After we sit quietly for a few moments, Rowen notices something. “There,” he says pointing. In the sky, are the brethren’s horses without riders. We see the silhouette of the massive beasts as they land beside Ruamna. They’re apparently glad to see her, neighing and rubbing one another with their muzzles. The peace of watching them has to end. It is time.

  We make our way through the entrance. “I’m here,” he reassures me. He squeezes my hand gently, and I stop trembling. Even though he is with me, I’m scared to death. The last time I was here, I almost died. This time things are different. I have my protector. I try to convince myself I’ve nothing to worry about. I take a deep breath and pull myself together. A chill cuts through the air, with the reminder of my last encounter here as the scent of disgust fills my nostrils.

  I hear movement in the hallways, but no one appears from behind the sounds. Rowen holds my hand as we make our way down the stairwell, his sword drawn at his side. We hear voices coming toward us, and Rowen pulls me into a small breezeway off to the side of the stairwell. I hold my breath as two dark cloaked Thorn pass by us preoccupied with chatter. After their passing, we venture further downward deeper into the underground. I start to notice works of art I’d seen during my previous visit.

  “I recognize these. We’re going the right way,” I tell Rowen as he speeds up. He never lets go of my hand. The deeper we delve into the fortress of darkness, the more I recognize and the more terror seeps into the corners of my mind. I wonder if they have anyone else in that cell, or if it was intended for me.

  “Turn here.” We sneak by the open door to the dining area. It’s vacant except for a couple of imps leaning back and dozing in the chairs of the still decorated room. Their obnoxious snores resonate in the hallway as we slip by unnoticed.

  “We’re getting close. I hope my paintings haven’t been moved.” I recall the event before I left the cell. Straif tore them from the wall and threw them onto the floor. I doubt they’ll still be lying there.

  As we approach the room where I had been previously held captive, silence soaks the space with eeriness. My homework isn’t on the wall. I look over to the floor where they had been thrown and they are no longer there.

  “Great!” I hiss in a whisper. “Now, what do we do?”

  “He’s probably watching us right now,” Rowen points out.

  Voices move toward us from the stairwell and one sounds vaguely familiar. I recognize thatit’s Duir because of the strange hoarseness in his tone. “You can go back. I’ll take them to Straif.” He sends his help away and calls down from the passageway,“We know you’re here.”

  Rowen pushes me behind him as he shoves our bodies into a small crevice in the wall. Enough space remains for us to breathe as our bodies press together. I could stay here forever, except for the fact that Duir is outside.

  “Come out, come out where ever you are,” he taunts.“You can’t hide forever.” He peers around the corner and spots us. He jerks Rowen out first and then me.

  “There you are. Now, that wasn’t so hard,” he says as pride glazes his words. He grabs Rowen by one arm and me by the other. Apparently, he isn’t the sharpest tool The Thorn has. In split second, as he occupies both of his hands in our apprehension, Rowen unsheathes his sword and raises it toward Duir. The second rate thug releases me in order to draw his own sword. Suddenly, I’m not scared, but mad. No, make that furious.

  As he engages Rowen, in sword-to-sword combat, I don’t know what comes over me. I can’t sit back and watch. Out of nowhere I reach my hands out and clinch Duir around the waist holding on like a parasite. I don’t have a plan, but I’m crazed with anger.

  “Get back, Ashe!” Rowen yells at me as Duir tries to pull me off. “Ashe, what do you think you are doing?”

  Apparently, I’m not thinking clearly, only reacting. My anger blazes, Duir screams in pain, and his body becomes rigid. He’s turning to stone. His waist is hard as rock and the longer I hold on to him, the more he transforms. His screams burse with torment. I jump back, releasing my grip, and the morphing stops short of his face, which remains flesh and blood. His body is stone, complete rock. A gleam of emerald fades from his eyes.

  “What have you done to me?” he utters with his last inch of breath. His rocky figure stands in the middle of the room, as his fleshy eyes remain open.

  Rowen, walks over to me staring at Duir as he passes by the malformed dead body. “Ashe, how did you do that?” He face is full of shock as he touches Duir’s stone arm unsure of what happened.

  I inspect my hands. “I don’t know,” I say with disbelief. I’m clearly capable of something, but what I don’t know. Whatever came over me scares me. What am I?

  “Come, we must find the others, we must find those paintings.” He takes my hand, which I’m not sure he should do at this point. In reflex, I pull my hand out of his. “You won’t hurt me. It’s okay.” I’m hesitant. “I’m still your protector,” he says with a sensual smirk.

  With apprehension, I give into him and place my hand in his. We race up the stairwell. I have no idea where we are headed. We have no idea where the paintings are, but it’s obvious Straif
is still watching me. As we ascend, we hear footsteps coming down the stairs toward us. We dart off down an alternate stairwell, headed who knows where. I hear another set of voices. It’s Straif. We’re getting closer to something.

  We find another niche in the wall and scoot into the hidden place while we listen. Straif is close. He’s talking to someone whose voice sounds uncomfortably familiar…its Ruis.

  “They are here now, my lord,” Ruis says. His voice has changed so dramatically that finding young Ruis in the tone is difficult.

  “Ruis, what are you doing?” Alder yells.

  Our darkest fear has come true. It didn’t take long. Ruis has converted over. We’ve lost him to the darkness. We creep out of our safe place and walk quietly down the steps keeping our backs to the wall. Rowen looks around the corner to see Alder and Coll strapped to the ceiling by chains.

  “Ruis, don’t do this. Remember. Remember what you are. Remember who you are,” Alder pleads. Coll says nothing while fury boils within him. Coll catches a glimpse of Rowen as he stands hidden behind the wall of the stairwell, I hide behind my protector. Alder tries to reason with Ruis. The darkness has destroyed all reason. Alder’s voice gets louder and louder, but Ruis is beyond hope.

  “Do you think you could do that again?” Rowen murmurs.

  “I don’t even know what I did,” I say. Apparently my whisper wasn’t as quiet as his.

  “We have visitors,” Straif says.

  We step out from behind the wall, Rowen with sword drawn. Straif and his new apprentice, Ruis, immediately hold their swords up, ready for combat. Rowen engages the two of them, while I try to free the others, with no success. I hold Alder’s chains in my hand and imagine breaking them. Nothing. Nothing at all happens. Okay, if I have some kind of power, I need to know how to use it. When Straif’s sword flies through the air and strikes Rowen on the cheek bringing a small bit of red to the surface, rage gushes through me.