Some minutes later, both of them began toward their right, seeking to discover a brook in the forest, connected to the river but shallow enough for them to find fishes.
Asher had pulled off his gambeson, gloves, boots and left only his shirt and pants on. The others were left dry.
His eyes examined the forest as he walked by.
“You know…”
Sapphira stopped, drawing his attention.
He turned his head backwards, facing her with a raised brow.
He squinted when she just stared at him.
“Asher, I’ve wanted to ask since you returned. What happened to your hair?”
“I awakened a talent.”
She blinked. “You’re one strange man. Awakening your first talent tens years late and still awakening another. Your first one makes you a threat once you bleed, what does this one do?”
Asher raised an eyebrow. “I do not recall informing you about my talent.”
“You don’t have to. I did my own research and it’s not hard to get information from men.”
“I see. My first talent connects me to my predecessors once I bleed. With their experience, knowledge and talents at my command, I become much stronger than my base form.”
Asher sighed as he resumed walking. “The second however is less broad but of a higher order. Kryos.”
The temperature around them decreased. Ice spread across the land creeping up trees at an alarming rate!
Asher opened his hand and an ice spike came out.
“Kyros isn’t a secret. Houses founded centuries ago or linked with knowledgeable mages would know about it. It’s one of the talents of the first men to walk this land.”
Sapphira looked at him. “It must be a powerful talent then. The power to unleash and control ice to your desire without uttering spells makes you a higher threat than mages but…”
“… You’ve changed from the past Ashbournes. Your house stuck to discipline and never allowed change, a trait that took them to the peak. They were ambidextrous, could wield the elements of their pet beasts and were excellent Swordsmen. The Grays, they called them. You’re walking away from that and soon, I believe it might be long lost in the past, covered by the dust of time.”
Asher unsheathed Euodias and looked at his reflection.
Sapphira’s feet touched the earth and left light prints as she made her way from his side to his back.
“The first Ashbourne built his code but it has been weathered by time and the glory days are long gone. You, my lord, are not another Zenas.”
Asher’s pupils shook. The picture that was seared into his mind was that of Lord Zenas because not only was he the first man he saw when he came to this world, he was also a powerhouse that single handedly built House Ashbourne.
“You’re Asher. I believe you are bound to be greater than Zenas. You are the next generation of Ashbournes and your rule won’t end at being a Duke. The north is yours.”
Asher looked at Sapphira.
“You’ll step out of the shadows of Lord Zenas by conquering the depths, uniting the races instead of unwanted slaughter and you shall build a dominion greater than any that stands or once stood.”
Asher sheathed his sword. “And where shall you be?”
“By your side as a loyal servant. I say this because I believe there lies greater prospects in you but Kelvin, your regent doesn’t see further than the boundaries set by the old Ashbournes. He’s bled and will bleed more for you but his scope might keep you in chains.”
“Hmm… We are but humans, Sapphira. We’re bound to emotions and flaws. Only God isn’t.”
He closed the gap between them, looking down while she looked up.
Their eyes met.
“Sparing other races would not be beneficial, I—!”
“I, Alex and Eritrea have been of benefit to your cause, my lord.”
Asher narrowed his eyes. “They are half humans.”
“And I?” Sapphira blinked. “You may speak your mind. I will not hold it against you.”
At this moment, Asher knew he faced a woman with a hundred years of knowledge and experience under her belt.
She wasn’t the same woman who melted under him a while ago.
“I have seen what beastmen has done to my people. I have read about how dwarves built walls with thousands of humans as foundations! Elves disregarded and taught us in exchange for our fellow kin as slaves!”
Seeing the anger in Asher’s eyes, Sapphira calmly replied. “Humans first gave the beastmen horrible impressions as they mocked and used them for hard labour. Elvin women were victims to all races and humans did the trade. Mind you fairies suffered the most.”
Asher’s eyes flickered.
“I don’t know what kind of fairy I am, Asher but I’ve had dreams. Visions of what was done to my kin and have you seen me draw my sword against them. I rule them… even better!”
Sapphira exhaled. Her eyelashes fluttered as she looked into Asher’s burning eyes.
“Pain has turned the races against each other. We don’t need someone who is right or wrong, we need someone who is superior.”
“I did have plans to build an army of different races except the beastmen.”
Sapphira exhaled in relief. “Start from the beastmen. Show them you can be superior but if they take your mercy for granted, kill them.”
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Asher gave a silent nod.
He wrapped his hands around her and drew her into his embrace.
Sapphira couldn’t formulate words as Asher gently caressed her hair.
…
Hours later, both of them sat in the woods, a good distance from the river leaning against one tree while the fire crackled.
The sun had set and the whipping of Bezerk’s tail and gentle snorts disturbed their ears.
Clack!
Asher threw the bones of a fish into the fire before turning toward Sapphira. His lips curled into a smile when he saw her fast asleep.
“Nature is still her home.”
He chuckled.
“We ended up hunting fish.”
Far away, the golden rider watched with furrowed brows.
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