Ashe and the Glass Sword

by KuroKoneko Kamen

  Ashe swiftly removed his sword from Elora’s throat and sheathed the Glass Sword in one fluid motion.

  “I can hardly believe it, folks, but Elora has yielded which means Ashe wins!” the male gorgon cried. “And it appears that Ashe is mercifully going to spare Elora’s life!”

  A chant started to rise up from stands: “Ashe the Merciful! Ashe the Merciful! Ashe the Merciful!”

  Ashe looked around at the cheering and applauding spectators in surprise. He had been expecting them to be angry that he’d decided not to kill Elora. But it was the victor’s choice to grant mercy or death.

  Ashe had been so focused on his match that he hadn’t bothered to see if he could catch a glimpse of the Queen of Glass Kingdom, but now he took that moment to look around the coliseum until he spotted a section in the stands where two thrones sat - one for Queen Krista and one for Princess Juleka.

  Queen Krista was beautiful despite her age. Her black hair that was streaked with gray had been styled up into a complicated and sophisticated updo. Krista was wearing a conservative red gown decorated with golden embroidery. Sitting on top of her head was a glittering crown of diamonds that made Ashe salivate. There was something strangely familiar about her face and her silvery-blue eyes that made Ashe feel uneasy.

  When Ashe’s attention shifted to the princess, who was seated next to her, he suddenly knew why he’d felt that way. Princess Juleka had silvery-blue eyes just like her mother’s, and long, wavy, black hair. Looking at Princess Juleka was like looking at a younger, skinnier version of her mother. Juleka was wearing a blue and pink gown with puffed sleeves and a belled skirt.

  Ashe clenched his hands into fists at his sides. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. What the hell was Julie doing sitting on the throne meant for Princess Juleka Glass unless…Julie was Princess Juleka Glass. Ashe shook his head, not wanting to believe her deception. His gaze went to the small crown of diamonds on Julie’s - no - Juleka’s head, and he frowned.

  What the fuck? A wave of anger so fierce washed over Ashe that he stumbled backwards a few steps. She’s been lying to me this entire time. Why didn’t she tell me the truth? Because she’s been toying with me. Juleka said she loved me. But there’s no way that can be true. She’s the princess of Glass Kingdom and I’m nothing but a lowly slave. Shit. I knew women weren’t to be trusted. I should have known better!

  Ashe glared up at Juleka, and their eyes met. Juleka was able to see the hurt, betrayal, and anger in Ashe’s golden eyes even at such a distance, and she sucked in a breath. She’d never meant to hurt him, and her heart clenched painfully inside of her chest. Juleka watched as Ashe turned and stomped out of the arena. She rose from her seat and ran, heading for the nearest exit.

  Ashe stalked through the prep area and past the other fighters, who were standing around and waiting for their turn to fight. They could sense his anger and none of them tried to stop him as he left the coliseum. As soon as Ashe was outside he mounted his horse, and was about to head back to the château, when-

  “Ashe!” a female voice called out to him in a beseeching tone. “Wait!”

  Ashe turned to spot Juleka. He noted that she was flushed and appeared to be out of breath. She must have run all the way there. Even so, Ashe wasn’t moved by her effort to get to him before he left the coliseum. “You’re Princess Juleka Glass.” It wasn’t a question.

  Juleka flinched since it sounded like an accusation. “Ashe, I wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t…” She nibbled on her lower lip as she thought about what she could say to Ashe that would make him understand.

  “I hate liars,” Ashe said hotly. “And you’ve been deceiving me this entire time. It must have amused you…making a lowly slave think you were in love with him.”

  Juleka paled at the harsh words coming out of Ashe’s mouth. “No! You’re wrong, Ashe. Please, listen to me. Let me explain.”

  “How can I believe a single word that comes out of your mouth?” Ashe asked in a chill tone. “I can no longer trust you. I bid thee adieu! Hyah!” Ashe kicked his horse’s sides and took off at a gallop.

  “Ashe!” Juleka yelled, her voice tinged with desperation. But he didn’t stop, and he didn’t look back. The princess of Glass Kingdom sank to her knees, placed her face in her hands, and sobbed.

  ***

  After that, Ashe continued to participate in matches held at the Glass Coliseum, but made sure to do his best to avoid running into Princess Juleka Glass. He would enter the coliseum only when he was scheduled to fight and immediately leave after his victories.

  Ashe defeated one opponent after the other until he was starting to become something of a legend amongst the populace of Glass Kingdom. People started calling him ‘Ashe the Merciful’ and ‘The Wielder of the Glass Sword’ as soon as they caught sight of him on the streets or in the arena.

  Each time Ashe’s match finished Juleka would try to go after him, but Ashe would make sure to reach his horse as fast as possible, and ride away before she could have the chance to speak with him.

  Until one day…

  Ashe was facing off against a beautiful and mysterious witch in the arena. She had long black hair with scattered braids, and there were swirling blue tattoos on her face. The witch was wearing a black, wide-brimmed, pointed hat, and a clingy black dress with belled sleeves.

  The witch slammed her staff down on the arena floor and chanted a spell. A large magic circle appeared on the arena floor. Inside the magic circle were a pentagram, glyphs, and runes. The symbols started to glow with a blue-tinged light until the entire circle was flooded with light. Seconds later, as the light dimmed an enormous direwolf was revealed standing in the center of the circle.

  She’s a Beast Summoner. Ashe thought with rising dread. Punzie warned me this could happen.

  The witch smiled gleefully, and pointed her staff at Ashe. “Direwolf, rip him apart!”

  Ashe arched an eyebrow at the bloodthirsty gleam in the witch’s eyes. “Now, that’s not very nice.” The direwolf howled before charging towards Ashe.

  Ashe sidestepped out of the wolf’s way, and tried to stab its side, but the wolf was fast and leapt backwards out of the sword’s way. It’s fast. Good thing I read the book Punzie lent me. A direwolf’s weakness is…fire!

  Ashe took out a flask, uncorked it, and poured oil onto the blade of his sword before tossing the empty flask aside. Next, he whipped out Lord Tremaine’s Zippo lighter, which he’d seen the man use to light his cigars. He used the lighter to produce a small flame, and held his sword’s blade over the flame until it caught on fire. Ashe pointed the now flaming sword in the direwolf’s direction, and took a single step forward.

  The direwolf’s gaze focused on the flaming sword, and its ears flattened on the top of its head. The beast let out a whimper, and it cowered back in fear. When Ashe started running towards the direwolf the creature turned around and started running in the opposite direction.

  The witch gawked at the direwolf in disbelief as she saw it running towards her magic circle. “No! What are you doing? Attack the swordsman! Kill him!”

  The direwolf ignored the witch, leapt through the air, entered the magic circle, and disappeared as it was transported back to the forest from whence it came.

  At this point the witch had been left alone and undefended. Ashe pointed his sword in her direction and offered her a crooked smile. “Do you yield?”

  A dark scowl formed on the witch’s face, but she dropped her staff with a nod. “I yield.” The witch was well aware of Ashe’s sword’s ability of Magic Reflection, and knew that her spells would be useless against the swordsman. Her only chance of beating Ashe had been with her summoning ability, and that had been a dismal failure.

  Raucous laughter reached the witch’s ears and her cheeks flamed out of embarrassment. The witch clenched her hands into fists at her sides, and her body started to tremble. I’ve been completely humiliated! I can’t believe a mere dullard bested me! She stomped her foot on the arena
floor in a petulant manner.

  “Hattie Sangrey yields!” Viper shouted and waved his hand in Ashe’s direction. “The winner is Ashe Smoldris!”

  The spectators started to applaud, cheer, and chant: “Ashe the Merciful! Ashe the Merciful! Ashe the Merciful!”

  Ashe turned and was just about to leave the arena when the emcee called out to him. “Not so fast, Ashe. Queen Krista is about to make a royal proclamation and she wishes you to be present to hear it.”

  Ashe shrugged and turned to face the area in the stands were the two thrones sat. He stared at Queen Krista expectantly and tried not to look at Juleka, who was seated next to her. Queen Krista stood up and all eyes were suddenly on her. “In honor of my daughter’s twenty-forth birthday…a ball shall be held at the palace. All eligible men are invited to attend, be they of noble birth, commoner, or even slave.”

  Slave? Ashe’s jaw dropped open in shock, and his gaze darted to Princess Juleka. Juleka simply stared back at Ashe while he gave her a questioning look. When Juleka suddenly smiled slightly Ashe realized that Juleka was essentially inviting him to attend the ball. He narrowed his eyes at the crafty princess. Well, too bad. There’s no way in hell I’m going to a stupid dance. Ashe was still much too angry to even consider going to the ball.

  That’s when a sudden thought occurred to Ashe. He’d forgotten all about Picasso’s plan to attend Princess Juleka Glass’s birthday celebration, and to slip a love potion or drug into her drink. Picasso planned to seduce and impregnate the princess so that she’d have no choice but to marry him. Picasso was determined to become King of Glass Kingdom.

  At the time, Ashe had only been slightly worried about his stepbrother’s nefarious plan since he hadn’t even personally known Princess Juleka. But now…Juleka was his Julie. Shit. Ashe inwardly swore. Ashe may have been incredibly angry with Juleka, but that didn’t mean he wanted anything bad to happen to her. Despite her lies, he still cared for her.

  Princess Juleka’s life and honor were in danger. Ashe’s shoulders sagged in defeat. I’ll have to go to the ball whether I want to or not. I have to protect Juleka from Picasso. This isn’t about ‘us’ - it’s about Princess Juleka Glass’s safety. It’s time for me to step up, and be a hero. I must thwart the League of Villains’ plot. Ashe scratched his head in an exasperated gesture. And to think I once thought to myself how this wasn’t my problem.

  As Ashe left the arena the sound of people chanting Juleka’s name over and over again followed him. The people of Glass Kingdom loved their princess. A determined expression settled over Ashe’s face. Don’t worry, people of Glass Kingdom. I won’t let anything happen to Juleka.

  ***

  As soon as Ashe had closed the front door behind him upon entering the château, Lord Tremaine called out from the living room. “Ashe, come in here.”

  Ashe swallowed a lump of nervousness, wondering if Lord Tremaine planned to punish him for striking Picasso. Did that asshole rat me out? Ashe wondered venomously before making his way into the living room.

  Christian was seated on a tapestry wingback chair while Picasso and Knuckles were seated together on the settee. Christian waved a hand at the wingback chair that was sitting directly across from him with an impatient gesture. “Please, take a seat, Ashe.”

  Trap! Trap! Trap! Ashe’s instincts were screaming at him, but he stiffly made his way over to the wingback chair, and took a seat.

  Christian took out a cigar, lit it with another Zippo lighter he had, and took a drag. When he exhaled he created an impressive smoke ring that perfectly circled Ashe’s head. The silence in the living room was heavy and uncomfortable. Knuckles wore a confused expression on his face while Picasso looked pleased. Ashe decided that wasn’t a good sign. “I know everything, Ashe,” Christian drawled.

  “Y-You do…?” Ashe stammered as he thought about how he’d punched Picasso.

  “Oh, yes,” Christian said, his gray eyes glittering. “Did you really think I wouldn’t hear about you becoming an undefeated champion at the Glass Coliseum? It pains me you never asked for my permission to participate in those matches.” Christian took another drag from his cigar as he awaited Ashe’s response.

  “Lord Tremaine, I…” Ashe started.

  Christian held up a hand to stop Ashe and smiled sharply. “No need to look so worried, Ashe. I know why you’re fighting at the Glass Coliseum. It’s to save up the money to buy back your freedom from me, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” Ashe confirmed.

  “I thought as much,” Christian said, nodding to himself. “You’re much smarter than I gave you credit for. I’m almost impressed that you managed to find a way to participate and survive in those dangerous matches. If I were a better person…I’d say I was proud of you.”

  “Lord Tremaine…?” Ashe murmured with a bewildered expression on his face. Coming from Lord Tremaine that had almost been a compliment, and was probably the closest thing to a compliment that Ashe was ever going to receive from the harsh man.

  Christian let out a low chuckle at the stunned expression on Ashe’s face. “You thought I’d be angry, didn’t you? But I’m perfectly alright with you fighting in the Glass Coliseum because technically it’s making me money.”

  Ashe let out a breath of relief and his shoulders sagged.

  “Although, there is something that’s bothering me about this whole thing,” Christian said, puffing on his cigar thoughtfully. “According to my spies your fighting prowess managed to gain Princess Juleka Glass’s attention. So much so that she had her mother make a royal proclamation allowing eligible slaves to attend her birthday celebration. Juleka Glass obviously wants you to attend the ball, Ashe. I’ll be honest with you. I’m impressed, and furious by this unexpected turn of events.” Christian blew a stream of smoke in Ashe’s direction.

  Ashe gulped. “Lord Tremaine, I would never presume to-”

  “If that is Princess Juleka Glass’s will…you shall go to the ball,” Christian said. “Understood?”

  Ashe’s brow furrowed in confusion. “You’ll allow me to go?”

  Christian looked over the ratty suit Ashe was wearing and clucked his tongue in a disapproving fashion. “You’ll have to find something suitable to wear on your own. I won’t be wasting my money on a slave. I will, however, be purchasing new suits for myself and my sons.”

  “You plan to attend as well?” Ashe arched a curious eyebrow at Lord Tremaine.

  “Picasso is quite taken with the lovely princess and wishes to court her,” Christian said, letting out a stream of smoke in Picasso’s direction this time. Picasso frowned and waved his hand through the air in an irritated manner. “I’ll allow you to share a single dance with the princess, Ashe. Afterwards, Picasso shall dance with her. Princess Juleka will ultimately choose whom she likes more. Let’s fight this battle for Princess Juleka’s heart fair and square. What do you say, Ashe?”

  Fair and square? Ashe inwardly scoffed. He’d already overhead them talking about either drugging Juleka or slipping her a love potion in order for Picasso to be able to seduce her and get her with child. Even though Ashe knew Lord Tremaine and Picasso were both up to no good he had no choice but to agree to Lord Tremaine’s terms so that he’d get to go to the ball too. “Yes, of course. Fair and square.”

  A twisted smile spread across Picasso’s face. “Let the best man win fair Juleka’s heart, Ashe.”

  “Let the better man win,” Ashe countered, causing Picasso to narrow his eyes at Ashe. Ashe stared back and lightning seemed to flash between their gazes.

  Ashe left the living room and headed to the attic. As soon as he had the door shut and locked behind him he started to rummage around in the trunks that contained his father’s belongings. He needed to find a suit that he could mend and wear to the ball.

  Ashe discovered a white and gold suit that was a little old-fashioned, but in reasonable condition. It would only take a little bit of mending here and there to get the suit ready in time for the ball.


  Lord Tremaine visited the most expensive and skilled tailor in all of Glass Kingdom, and commissioned three new suits. They would be tailored in the latest style, and made of the finest materials available.

  It took Ashe an entire week to mend his father’s old suit, and he just barely had it ready in time for the day of the ball. Ashe had just finished dressing in his father’s old suit, and was staring at his reflection in the full-length mirror. With his hair loose around his shoulders Ashe thought with a pang inside his chest that he resembled his father a little. As a sense of longing filled him he reached his hand out towards the mirror.

  “Father, I wish you were still alive. Life has been hard without you. If only you hadn’t died a hero…then maybe things would have been different. Maybe my life wouldn’t have been a living hell. And maybe Mom wouldn’t have succumbed to her gambling addiction, and then she wouldn’t have betrayed me. Maybe we could have lived together as a normal, happy family,” Ashe said wistfully. “But according to Punzie a member of the League of Villains cut your life short. I doubt you deserved such a fate. One day, I will get revenge on the man who killed you, Father. This I vow.”

  The sound of someone knocking on the front door of the château drew Ashe from his dour thoughts. The carriage Lord Tremaine had hired to take them all to the palace had arrived. Ashe let out a sigh. “I suppose I’d better hurry and get down there before Lord Tremaine decides to change his mind about letting me ride in their carriage. I need to stay as close to Picasso as possible in order to keep an eye on him, and make sure he doesn’t do anything untoward to Juleka.”

  A bitter smile curled Ashe’s lips as he gazed at his reflection one last time. “Beauty is nothing but an illusion. I look handsome, but that’s a lie. My body is covered by hideous scars.” A squeak drew Ashe’s attention and he saw his pet mouse Gustava looking up at him. He bent over and patted her on the head. “Wish me luck, Gustava.” Ashe heard a commotion coming from downstairs as Lord Tremaine, Picasso and Knuckles gathered in the foyer and prepared to leave.