East of Ashes (4 page)

He frowned and pushed the teetering light over the edge. Leala looked to be his only hope at finding purpose and meaning in this world and in the end, if the sword was the only way to get her, then so be it.

In a forest clearing on the edge of town there stood a small cottage. A single
-
story, rectangular building with a straw roof, it looked like the kind of place you'd hear about in the fairy tales told to children.

From its chimney a lazy column of smoke rose into the air. To the passing traveller it looked most inviting. And it was.

This was Joash's little corner of the world. As a soldier, he spent most of his time training at the castle, honing his skills as a swordsman. But it was here, in this little clearing on the edge of town, where he made his home.

To Leala it resembled everything that she'd come to love about Joash: strong, warm, and peaceful.

As she was walking towards his house, Leala replayed the meeting with Lamech in her mind. He was a deeply troubled person and her heart went out to him, but she couldn't help compare him to Joash.

She wasn't sure how Joash would react to the news that Lamech wanted to join them on the journey to Arles, but then again, if he really wanted her all to himself all he needed to do was say the word.

The town gossips would probably have a lot to say about her travelling alone with him - not to mention with two men - but she felt safe in Joash's company. She knew he would take care of her. And if the gossips had a thing or two to say about it... well, it wasn't like the orphan girl of a soldier had much in the way of reputation to uphold anyway.

In her heart she knew how the Lord felt about her, and that was enough.

Well, nearly enough, she had to admit.

She found it irritating that Joash seemed to be as blind as a bat. She knew he loved her dearly, but unfortunately it was the affectionate love of a brother. In spite of her barely
-
veiled feelings towards him, his embraces were warm, but respectful. He teased her playfully, but made Leala feel more like a child than a desirable woman. And it was wearing down her patience.

The sound of an axe crashing into blocks of wood led Leala around the house to the back, where she found Joash chopping firewood. So intent was he on his task that he didn't notice her standing there.

The sight of him arrested her senses and made her insides twist in a knot. She did not see herself as someone who
was
easily affected by men, but she had grown to love this man from the bottom of her heart.

She stood quietly for a moment, drinking in the sight of him as he placed another piece of wood on the chopping block and lifted his axe high into the sky where he balanced it for a moment, before bringing it down in a strong, controlled arch. The axe crashed down with a resounding thud.

Her girlfriends all giggled whenever Joash was around. Seeing him now would probably have sent them into a dead swoon. They often teased her about the roguish smile he seemed to save only for her.

They had become close friends over the last year, constantly engaging in easy banter. There had been times where he had shown her a more serious side too, but she knew the two aspects of his personality were never far away from each other. He was not one to let himself be controlled by his emotions, but he was intimately familiar with the depths and heights available to man.

But it was the gentleness of his spirit and his compassionate heart that really drew her. He was the kind of man that would fight alongside the bravest in battle, and yet be able to intimately share in the pain of others.

If only he wasn't so oblivious
, she sighed. It frustrated her that he made her heart rush and yet she barely affected him. Honestly, could he not see how she felt about him? Sometimes she wanted to pummel him senseless with her fists out of sheer frustration.

Joash bent down to pick up the pieces of wood he had neatly cleaved in two and dropped them on the pile to his right. Lifting his left arm to wipe away the sweat from his eyes, he finally noticed her.

"Enjoying the scenery on your walk?" he asked, a grin spreading on his face.

"You wish," she answered with a smile
.
"Tell me, is there an invading army heading our way that I don't know of? Because by the look of it you're preparing for a siege."

"Now, now, no need to get nasty," he said, still grinning as he quickly hit the axe into the block, leaving it stuck in the wood. He grabbed his shirt, and pulled it over his head. Giving his face a last wipe on his sleeve, he walked towards her.

"Although one never knows when one of those marauding group of bandits would decide to give us an unexpected visit. Then I c
ould
lock myself up in my house and sit out the attack with plenty of wood to keep me warm and happy."

"With all that wood they
’d
only have to throw a burning ember into your house and poof, you'll be gone," she answered with a pointed look.

"Oh you'd like that, wouldn't you?" he shot back with laughter in his eyes, as he came to a standstill in front of her.

She sniffed the air with a deep frown, "Mind you, I think they'll have to stand at a distance and catapult a burning log through your window, because they won't be able to come near you, stinking like you do."

"Oh I stink, do I?" he laughed. "Well, then we'll make a great team because you smell too!"

"Oh I do not!" she exclaimed, and hit him with a balled fist on his arm.

Joash laughed uproariously, which only made her hit him harder.

"I didn't say you stink!" he laughed, as he fended off her punches, "I said you smell - rather nice, I guess I should have added."

Smiling broadly, he caught her arms and held them, preventing her from punching him further.

"Yes, you should have!" she said, her smile faltering at the nearness of him.

Joash gently let her arms go and took a small step back, increasing the space between them. A pained look flashed in his eyes, but it happened so quickly that Leala wasn't sure she really saw it.

Joash cleared his throat. "So, to what do I owe this unexpected visit?" he asked.

"I have a slight problem."

"Ah, a problem. Yes, it's only natural for you to come running to me with your problems," Joash said, the humour back in his voice. He heaved a sigh as he shook his head from side to side in mock exasperation.

"You're unbearable!" Leala laughed.

"I know, I know - and don't forget humble," Joash said with a grin.

"Sir, oh sir, could you please rescue this wee bitty damsel from the monsters pursuing her," Leala said, batting her eyes as she clasped her hands in front of her. "Oh please sir, you're so strong and dashing!"

"Fine, fine, you win!" Joash laughed.

Grinning, Leala dropped her hands to her sides.

"Well then, would you be so kind as to accompany me to my humble lodgings for some refreshment," Joash asked with exaggerated formality, holding out a bent arm. "And then you can tell me all about these terrible monsters."

Leala hooked her arm
in
his and they walked to his house.

"All jokes aside, I'm having trouble deciding whether a certain someone might be a monster," she said, then chided herself for sounding so melodramatic.

"This sounds good," Joash said smiling.

"Oh be serious!" she laughed, exasperated.

"Fine, fine, I'll be serious for a little bit," he smiled. "Right, monster - who are we talking about?"

She hesitated for a moment, slightly dropping her chin towards her chest as she collected her thoughts.

"It's Lamech," she finally answered.

"Lamech? But he's not a monster!" Joash said surprised. "Granted, the man needs to learn how to smile, but I don't think he's all that bad."

"That's the problem with you Joash; you always see the best in people."

"Only because everyone deserves to be given the benefit of the doubt," he answered. "Besides, I've got a good feeling about Lamech. I think one of these days the Lord is going to get his attention and, boy, I'd love to see the man he's going to become!"

"So you think he's safe?" she asked.

"Well, safe is a bit relative, isn't it? I mean, I'm not saying the man is exactly Captain Dependable - yet - but he's definitely got something that makes me think that once upon a time he was a very noble man - someone with a lot of integrity. But now it's buried below layers of... well, pain and anger. If those could be removed though..."
,
Joash whistled a stretched-out note, "That'll be something to see."

"Fine. Try this then: would you trust your life to him?" she asked.

Joash grew silent for a moment as they reached the cottage. He opened the door and then stood aside to let Leala enter first. He closed the door behind them, and then pulled out a chair for her at the table. Satisfied that she was comfortable, he walked over to the shelves to take down some wine and two cups.

"I think so, yes," he finally said, while he poured the wine into the cups. "He hasn't done anything that would make me think he wishes ill towards me."

Watching his reaction closely, Leala sprang her trap: "And would you trust
my
life to him?"

Joash faltered for a split second in pouring the wine.

"Right, now you'll need to explain," Joash said, and put the wine down. He took the two cups and walked over to the table. He handed the one cup to Leala and then dragged a chair closer for himself.

"I bumped into him this morning when I went for a walk in the forest."

Joash groaned and leaned forward, resting his head on the table.

"I've told you a thousand times that it's not safe for you to walk alone in the forest," he said, looking up at her.

"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself," she retorted irritably.

"Look, I'm not saying that. It's just not a good idea to walk alone in the forest right now. I've told you about all the villages being attacked of late."