Ascension Read Online Free Page B

older than myself.
Startled at our brash entrance, he looked up. He tucked a strand of
blond hair behind his ear, which had fallen out of his ponytail. It
rested against his tanned skin, an obvious sign that he was from
the surface. Even the guards tent to wear a dull pallor, their
color having faded after only a few months
underground.
    There were strange, clear pieces of
glass that the messenger held up to his eyes, making them appear
very large and very blue. When he lowered the glass pieces, I had
to hold back a chuckle, as his eyes now seemed too small for his
face. His mouth was twisted into a grimace, as if he had just taken
a sip of spoiled goats milk. The overall effect was less than
intimidating.
    “ Can I help
you? ” He had an unpleasant, nasally tone
that seemed to say, “I ’ m too important for you, why are you wasting my
time? ” I considered whether of not I
wanted to spend my journey to Ahrenia with this man, or it I should
wait for another, more amiable Ahrenian. Before I could make up my
mind, Gethro shoved me further into the room.
    “ This lass here
wants to be evaluated. Thinks she has what it takes to go to the
surface. ” Gethro eyed me up and down
appreciatively, making it all too apparent that at least he
believed that I did, indeed, have “it” .
When his eyes trailed up to meet mine, he grinned suggestively. My
face flamed and I looked away.
    “ I ’ ll be the one to decide
that, ” the messenger announced. He waited
a few moments before clearing his throat. “ Alone. You are dismissed. ” I kept
my eyes down during this exchange, only looking up after hearing
the flutter of the curtain that announced Gethro ’ s leave.
    “ So you want to
get out of here? I can ’ t say I blame you. Now come over this way so I can see what
you ’ ve got to
offer. I can ’ t
see you in the dark. ” He stepped towards
me and turned me around slowly, taking me in from every angle. I
tried to suppress the chills running down my back as I felt his
eyes rake my body, but when he put his hand on the back of my neck,
I couldn ’ t help
but flinch. I heard him chuckle under his breath as he brushed my
hair to the side, revealing my number. He asked me and I stepped
closer, turning around so he could read my neck.
    “ 923.” He turned
me back around, his hands starting at my shoulders, then trailing
it down my sides. After reaching my hip, he rose one hand, cupping
my chin firmly in his grasp, then used the other to pull me against
him, so that his hand could slide all the way around and grip my
rear. I pulled back a bit in surprise, but he kept his grip,
rotating my face from side to side, his expression
contemplative. “ Your face is fair enough,
and you have developed well. It ’ s a shame you
don ’ t have more
meat on your bones, though. I guess it can ’ t be helped. I
wouldn ’ t expect
you Nethers to know how to farm anything other than mud. ” He gave my rear end another squeeze, and I
gasped in alarm, to which he simply commented, “ It seems pretty firm. However, I ’ m afraid that I
can ’ t see your
shape under that potato sack you ’ re wearing. I
don ’ t suppose
you would mind taking it off so I can get a better
look? ”
    I glowered at
him, and with every ounce of dignity I could muster, I told
him, “ That is up for the King to decide.
He is the one who must evaluate me, I only need you to take me to
him. ” At that, the messenger slapped me
across the face, then caught it so that he was looking me directly
in the eyes. I held his glare, refusing to back
down.
    “ You have no
right to speak to me that way. You are scum. Just another worm in
the dirt. I don ’ t have to do anything for you. For all I care, I could
evaluate you right here, in whichever way I choose. Or, better yet,
I could send you to the guards, let them decide whether or not you
are good enough for the King. ” With my
chin still in his grip, he used one hand to rip my tunic down,
revealing my chest.