Blurb:
Sometimes the truth can be the hardest thing to find—especially when it comes from within.
Despite the recent loss of his parents, Ash Woodhart is content living with his siblings, deep in the southern countryside of his family’s domain. Ren, an aloof boy with no home and no family, is an intrusion forced on Ash by his eldest brother. Ash dislikes Ren on sight, but as the years pass and the two come to understand each other, his feelings for Ren gradually morph into something more. However, Ren shows no sign of reciprocating those feelings—and as Ash’s recklessness leads him into danger, the truth may come too late.
Excerpt:
“Well met, my lord.”
Ren’s tone was
deferential, his expression bland. Ash looked him over and was not impressed—mostly
because if his brother was going to force a bodyguard on him no matter his
objections, he had at least expected someone more bodyguard-like.
He had envisioned
somebody large and intimidating, a man heavily muscled and bristling with
weapons, perhaps even with a great prickly beard like the famed mercenaries he
had heard of from far to the east. Yet this boy—and he was, unmistakably, a
boy—stood several inches shorter than Ash himself. To add insult to injury,
even if there had been a single weapon in sight, Ash doubted Ren would have
known how to wield it. Everything about him was neat, nondescript and entirely
non-threatening, from his plain dark riding clothes to his cropped brown hair
with not a strand out of place. Even his eyes were closer to gray than blue.
Ash already knew he
was going to dislike him.
“I thought you said
bodyguard, not playmate.” He turned his glare back to Lelande. “No offense to
little Ren here, but I’m pretty sure I’d be the one getting him out of
trouble.”
“Would you have preferred
to be followed about by a full-grown warrior rather than someone closer to you
in age?” Lelande’s tone was mild in the face of Ash’s obvious disdain. “At the
very least, I’ll rest better knowing you won’t be clambering about the
mountainside alone from now on.” His gaze lingered over Ash’s tangled hair
before moving pointedly down to his arms, bare below the elbow, taking in the
dozen fresh scuffs and scratches amid the two dozen old ones. “Incidentally,
you might keep in mind that little Ren here is a full two summers older
than you, and in many matters far more experienced. Indeed, I believe you could
learn much from him.”
Ash scowled and
rolled the sleeves of his shirt back down—a habit for which he was frequently
being reprimanded. He was constantly being told it was not befitting for a
gentleman to push up his sleeves—not even when it was very hot outside. “I can
take care of myself just fine. Just because my Gift—”
Lelande held up a
hand, forestalling his brother’s protest. “Rest assured, your Gift has nothing
to do with it. This is not a punishment, Ash. I am simply thinking of your
safety.”
That his last words
were probably true did nothing to assuage Ash’s temper. “So I’m to be followed
around for the rest of my life then?” The thought of having his personal space
permanently invaded by anyone, least of all this whey-faced boy, was
intolerable.
“You’ll have your
privacy. Ren is to have his own bedchamber, and much of his time will be
occupied in training with the men while you take your lessons. But in every
other way, Ren is to be treated as a member of this family. You will accept his
presence and allow him to accompany you wherever you may go outside this house.
In this, you have no choice. After you come of age, I may rethink the matter.” Lelande
stared levelly at him. “Trouble finds you, Ash, even when you’re not seeking it
out, and your well-being is more important to me than your pride. So for my
sake, if not for your own…please?”
Ash could tell his
brother was serious, because Lelande was calm and self-possessed and rarely
begged for anything. He was begging now.
Ash turned his scowl
to the floor. “Fine,” he snapped with ill grace. “I’ll put up with it.” For
now. “But it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Lelande sighed but
did not scold Ash for his rudeness. “I suppose that’s the best I’ll get from
you for the time being.” He turned to the boy still standing beside him. “Ren,
if you have need of anything, I will be speaking with Luck in the stables. My
brother will see to it that you’re shown around the manor. Isn’t that right,
Ash?” He waited for Ash’s reluctant nod of agreement before turning to leave,
and then Ash was left alone with the still silent Ren.
Ren looked at him.
Ash looked back. The silence stretched out.
“Come on then,” he
huffed when it became painfully clear that Ren would not speak for himself.
“I’ll show you around.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Ash was already
leaving the room before Ren had opened his mouth to reply. He walked quickly,
forcing Ren to scamper to catch up. “And don’t call me that,” he added
impatiently, not looking behind him. “My name is Ash.”
“Yes, my lord.”
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