Ashdom
Copyrighted to Alicia
Part 5


Previously: Sir Christian and Allis made it back to safety after escaping from the pirates, but now they must return to Ashdom with the duke to see if Sir Luke survived and protected the town. Now: The truth of Ashdom.

It couldn't be said that Lady Aria was grateful to the knight Vashti for saving her life, but she favored him enough for her father to become concerned. The duke called her into the library the day before his party was to leave Sir Murphy and Lady Leslie's home to warn her to stay away from Knight Vashti, but his daughter responded harshly.
"My Lord and father," she said sarcastically, "Perhaps you should commend Vashti for that little business of saving my life!"
The duke looked at his young daughter sadly as she rejected his teaching. "My child, my child, I love you, but I cannot do for you what you will not let me."
And so Vashti, the Duke, Sir Christian, and the Maid Allis left for Ashdom, leaving Lady Aria behind in safe keeping.
The duke and his men spoke of the brave knight Luke as thought he were already dead. He could not possibly have held off the besieging army from Soja this long. In the meantime, something about Sir Vashti had begun to bother Allis. There was a darkness around the knight that was very strange to the young maiden. She didn't see him very often, however, as he was the vanguard for their group. They made it to Ashdom in a few days, and surveyed the fortified town from a summit nearby. The ground outside the stone walls was completely burned, but empty of all besiegers.
"I will go to the gates under a white flag," volunteered Vashti. The other three watched him approach the moat, riding slowly, and waving the flag of peace. The drawbridge was lowered, but only moments after Vashti whirled on his steed and came galloping back towards the duke's alarmed party of observers.
Seconds later several horsemen took up chase riding hard towards them. Almost before the duke or Christian could move, Vashti had reached them, vaulted off his horse, and grabbed the maiden Allis. He held his knife to her throat as Sir Luke arrived immediately after. "Stand back, I'll kill her. One of your precious peasants, Duke... Let's see what kind of Lord you really are now," Vashti taunted as he backed away with Allis.
"He's working with the Sojans!" Sir Luke broke in breathlessly from the head of his horsemen. "We caught him informing them that the duke had escaped and that it was I that was offering conditional surrender."
"Vashti, it's over, let her go!" Sir Christian said sharply.
Vashti laughed. "You forgot, I spoke to the pirates, as well. Surprised you don't remember, Maid Allis."
Allis flinched, the knife digging into her throat as she recalled the noises of a visitor that night with the pirates.
"Vashti, what is it you hope to gain by all this?" the duke asked carefully.
"Give up your kingdom and I just might let the girl go," Vashti laughed, reaching behind him for his horse's reins.
"Vashti..let her go." the duke said, and all eyes turned to him. "All my kingdom means little against a life."
Vashti held Allis tightly against him. She was shocked by the duke's words. She looked at Christian and he looked back at her. He'd been right when he said there was right and wrong in the world. The Lord d'Ashdom was ready to sacrifice everything for a maiden peasant he knew little about. She could not let Vashti win if she could do anything about it.
Vashti laughed again. "Sounds about right to me. Is this some kind of trick, m'lord?"
The duke shook his head. "I am being quite honest." He looked at the horse behind Vashti and suddenly the animal reared up, knocking the knight in the back of his head. He abruptly released Allis and Christian jumped to her side to protect her. Vashti lept up with his knife, posed to attack the duke, but Sir Christian caught him before he could move.

Ashdom celebrated. Their Lord was back and safe, the evil within and out was vanquished, and they had two heros in their midst. Sir Luke and Sir Christian were honored.
Allis went back to staying with some of her former neighbors. The good duke had plans for rebuilding homes for all of his people and everyone was very grateful to their great leader. Rouen did not understand the changes in Allis. She was told to prepare for her wedding, and her strange trip was ignored. Allis was now unsure. She asked for the good duke's blessing, but he told her simply to do the right thing for herself and the "young man".
Christian was to leave on a pilgrimage but he came to see her before he left.
"Vashti is to be executed," he offered as they walked together. "It seems he insisted he should have special treatment because he saved the Lady Aria's life. The duke decided that despite that, he was not following the code of honor, only concealing his transgressions."
Allis was silent.
"You are marrying Rouen?"
"Yes sire..."
Christian turned to her quickly. "Allis, you need not marry him."
"My parents promised..."
"And yet you did not. Tell me why you did not marry until now?"
"My parents desired for me to find a good man that I...loved."
"Allis. It is your choice now. I am going away, but I will come back. I want you to marry me." He looked down at her. "I love you."
Allis blinked in shock. "My lord I am betrothed..." she murmured, looking down at her feet.
"If this is indeed only a matter of honor, the promise is rightly between yourself and the lad Rouen. If you do not wish this match you must go to him about it." Sir Christian reached for his horse. "I will be back at the next moon." He looked back at her. "Your parents are dead, Allis. The duke will look out for you until I come back.....until your marriage."

To be continued......
Next part: Allis' decision: The conclusion!

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