Chapter 24 Ghost of the Past
“He
said what?!” Pandora was
incredulous.
“Adore, you get us an audience right now!”
“What seems to be the commotion?” Martin had appeared behind his
advisor from the other room.
“Your Majesty, were we hearing right?
Adore just told us that you gave total control of Arden over to Dalt and
that only his Weir, no Guard are in there to run it.
You’re leaving the forest devoid of any people,” Pandora stated.
“And you are having a problem with this?” Martin nearly hissed
challengingly and crossed his arms over his chest.
There was obviously nothing more to say on the subject.
“I guess not,” Pandora sighed.
“I can see it being fine.”
Ashlyn caught the dangerous glint of anger in her eye as Pandora turned
on her heel and led the way out of the throne room.
Ashlyn kept her eyes down on the floor as she followed her out.
“Is the King possessed?” Pandora wondered out loud as they all found
their way into the lounge.
“You would know that one, Vincent.
After all, he’s your
brother.”
“I’m sure he has his reasons for doing what he’s doing.
Cut him a little slack.
He’s never been King before,” Vincent defended as he caught an
incoming missile from Blake.
He instantly had the top popped off and was taking a good draught from
it.
“Beer always makes it all better.
You should have one,” he held it up in a salute.
“But it’s his whole attitude I’d worry about.
It’s as if he’s saying “It’s my way or the highway, Buster!”
He probably doesn’t know it, but he’s ruffling a few feathers around
here—namely mine,” Ashlyn also helped herself to a beer.
“I just don’t get it.
He’s given Dalt complete control of Arden with
his army of about 600+ Weir.
That right there should be enough to ring all the warning bells and
alarms.
I mean the guy is just newly pardoned for all his crimes against this
family—he’s nearly succeeded in killing us more than once.
Just what the hell has he done to prove himself worthy of being welcomed
back into this family?
Nothing!
Brand had to place himself under house arrest and it was five
years before he was fully pardoned and allowed to leave the Castle.
Dalt has never been on our side about as long as I can remember and
suddenly Marty is welcoming him home with open arms?
I don’t think so!”
“I think it’s just best to let Marty have his fun.
I’m sure things would have different if Random were here, but since
he’s not, we’ll just have to be happy about it,” Blake said calmly.
“Well, I’m not happy,” Ashlyn grumped.
“It’s almost like Martin’s doing it so he can provoke a fight or
something.
I’ll stay quiet about it—for now.”
“Maybe this could all just blow over in a few days and he’ll come to
his senses,” Pandora said wistfully.
“I just hope he comes to his senses before we’re all murdered in our
beds,” Ashlyn grumbled.
It seemed as if things were returning to normal quiet in the next couple
of days.
Ashlyn and Ana had decided to leave the confines of the Castle and head
out to Amber City on one of their outings.
That seemed pretty normal as well—Ashlyn would be having the
conversation with Ana while Ana was doing enough serious shopping for the both
of them.
It was while they were at the Amber Bazaar did Ashlyn start getting the
feeling like they were being watched.
“Ashlyn?
Ashlyn!
Hello!
I asked what you thought of this tunic,” Ana grabbed her attention
back.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.
I just have this feeling like we’re being watched,” Ashlyn shrugged
off her stupor and tried to turn her attention back to the shopping.
“Don’t look now, but I think your watcher has just come out from
hiding,” Ana indicated over Ashlyn’s shoulder.
Ashlyn quickly turned to find herself faced with Rohan.
“You’ve managed to startle me, Rohan.
That’s not easy to do,” Ashlyn greeted with a smile.
“I was told I could find you here.
Can we talk?” he asked.
“Certainly,” Ashlyn smiled again and looked to Ana who nodded her
approval and returned to the cart to bargain over the tunic.
Ashlyn was trying her best not to stare again as she and Rohan walked
away to a more quietly, secluded place.
“I wanted to talk to you about the other day when I had arrived when I
had caught you staring, but there was far too much going on and I couldn’t get
to you until now.
Might I ask what it was that was causing you to stare?” Rohan had
seated himself on a crate.
“I was staring because of the resemblance you bear to my late brother.
I had lost him a while back and when I saw you I could have sworn that
you were he.
But I thought otherwise.
I suddenly realized how much I truly missed him.
I didn’t wish to cause a scene,” she replied quietly as she sat down
beside him.
“Why didn’t you pursue it if you thought I could be your brother?”
he asked.
“There are very similar copies of ourselves running around in those
shadows out there.
Besides that, you did not appear to recognize me when you introduced
yourself as Rohan.
I simply stepped back and decided to respect that that was the identity
you were giving.
I did not wish to insult you and just come right out and say so.
There was no point in making a big deal out of it, I thought,” Ashlyn
replied.
“Just what are you getting at?”
She could feel her insides tighten and she found herself holding her
breath.
“Until the other day when I had arrived here, I had been wandering
around Chaos and the Shadows for a few years with total amnesia.
Your cousin Pandora had noticed that I had Pattern in my blood and later
had me walk the Pattern to regain all of my memories.
When your brother had died, that was indeed his Pattern double.
Ash, it’s me, Luke,” he had a hold of her trembling hands.
Ashlyn couldn’t speak for a moment as she looked deep into his eyes and
then looked him over completely.
She could feel her emotions taking over.
“Rinaldo?” she breathed
shakily.
“Is that really you?
You’re alive!”
She threw her arms around him tightly and quietly cried into his
shoulder.
“I’ve missed you!
Why didn’t anybody tell me?”
“Ash, I know you.
Would you have believed them?”
“You’re right.
Probably not,” she smiled.
“You’ve missed out on a hell of a lot since you’ve been gone.”
“I noticed.
Martin on the throne—never thought I’d ever see that happen.
Caine dead again and Julian exiled all because of you, I understand.
My little Sis is kicking the elder’s butts!
I couldn’t be more proud!” Luke smiled appreciatively.
“Now that you’re back, does this mean that you’ll be taking Kashfa
back?” she asked.
“Yes it does and I’m going to need your help.
Get all the cousins together and I’ll meet you back at the Castle Green
Room,” he said and rose to go.
“Will do!” Ashlyn jumped up and gave him one more hug before he left. “Welcome home!”