Dirt (The Dirt Trilogy) by K. F. Ridley Read Free Book Online Page A

time to time.”
We
share a glance. I’m falling for him. I don’t know what to do with
my feelings.
“Except for me,” Rowen continues as he turns away. “My
assignment has never changed. I was chosen at a very young age to
be your sentry, to protect only you. Coll has always had an issue
with that. He thinks it should have been him.”
“I guess that explains why he was giving me such a dirty look.
He gave me the creeps.”
“Don’t worry about him. He’s angry at me. He’s always angry
at me.”
“Why were you chosen to protect me and why would I need
protecting? I’m nothing. I’m nobody.”
He chuckles. “You really don’t know anything about who you
are. Do you?” I guess my face is blank. “Unbelievable. You...”
“What?” I can tell he wants to relinquish more. “You never
told me why you were chosen.”
“Well, Arcos
believed
I
had the
strongest
powers
of
resistance.”
“Who is Arcos?”
“Our king…” He wavers again. I can feel the words building
up in his mind. He revisits the whole truth, giving into his thoughts.
“He’s your grandfather,” he spouts. “You might as well know that
much. You have a right to know.”
“My grandfather,” I whisper the words with disbelief. I’ve
never heard those words together. They make me feel my mother
was real. I scoot to the boulder behind me, reaching back to feel for
it as if I’m blind. I sit quiet for a few moments, taken aback and
discombobulated.
He kneels down in front of me and takes my hand. “Are you
alright?”
“Yeah…yeah.” My voice stumbles. I’m not sure if I’m okay or
not. Actually, I feel more insecure than ever. I have no idea who I
am or what I am. The secrets about my life are beyond my
imagination. Apparently, I’m the secret.
Rowen places his hands on my trembling shoulders. “Do you
trust me?”
“Yes,” I respond without dithering. “Tell me one thing.”
“What is it, Ashe?” His eyes sear me with cerulean heat.
“Is my father really all right?” He told me he was and I
believed him. I just want to hear it once more.
“Your father is safe, for now. He’s with Marvin and Lucinda,
but I don’t know exactly where they have taken him. His safety is
something Arcos will make sure of.”
The beauty of this place is overwhelming and beyond anything
human. Its name doesn’t do it justice.“Of all things, Durt?” I ask.
“Dirt is from where all things come. We came from dirt, our
food comes from dirt, and our air comes from dirt. Everything starts
there. Everything starts where we stand.” I guess he can see the
perplexed expression on my face. “You’ll understand in time.”
I try to digest everything I’ve heard and seen. Taking my hand,
he pulls me from the giant rock.
“Come with me.” I follow as we head back to the car. We get
in and head for the forest. The engine purrs. “Why would you have
a car like this here? Won’t it ruin the air or something?”
“Runs on water,” he responds.
“Oh.”
“We’ve taken a few human machines and made them safe.”
“Where are we going now?”
“To put this thing away.” We drive a few minutes beyond the
tree line. The engine is passive and makes little sound. The trees
congregate, merging closer and closer together. We stop, as the
trees close in around us and I sit motionless in the passenger seat
feeling as if we’re about to be swallowed up by the forest. The door
opens; Rowen offers his hand to help me out. His chivalry is
satisfying and pulls me in even more. Walking away, I look behind
me. The car is gone and a maze of green completely covers the area
where the car had been. We walk out into the meadow, my hand in
his. I’m certain of nothing, but trusting him with anything.
I think we walk for hours. The trees are greener than green, the
grass thicker than carpet. The verdure is pure. And I thought
Montana was the most perfect place in the world. Above us, an
eternal rainbow paints the sky with colors I never knew