Ash: Chapters 13–16

by Malinda Lo
Ash is under the thumb of a heartless stepmother and torn between a promise to the menacing fairy Sidhean and her feelings for Kaisa, the king's huntress. Learn these words from Malinda Lo's lyrical retelling of the Cinderella story.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–8, Chapters 9–12, Chapters 13–16, Chapters 17–21

Here are links to our lists for other works by Malinda Lo: Huntress, The Fox
40 words 28 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. reproach
    express criticism towards
    Impulsively, she went to the horse and held her hand out; the mare sniffed at her empty palm and then looked at her with gleaming brown eyes that seemed to reproach her for not having an apple to share.
  2. unperturbed
    free from emotional agitation or nervous tension
    Kaisa seemed unperturbed and merely asked, “When will you be free?”
  3. novice
    someone new to a field or activity
    Afterward, Ash would remember that first ride less for the awkward way she mounted Jewel — she had to climb on with one foot propped onto the lower bar of the gate — or for her novice’s mistakes that sometimes made the whole endeavor quite painful, but for the way the ride made her feel like she might, someday, be free.
  4. considerable
    large in number, amount, extent, or degree
    Clara did her part as well, praising the elegance of his handwriting when Ana showed her his letters, and Lady Isobel could find no fault with his country house — or his considerable fortune.
  5. relish
    derive or receive pleasure from
    She took care never to allow them to see how much she relished their absence.
  6. suitable
    worthy of being chosen
    Kaisa said, her tone carefully conversational: “I dislike Seatown in the summer. It is all young ladies and their mothers, seeking out suitable husbands.”
  7. simultaneously
    at the same instant
    Ash was simultaneously overjoyed and worried — her stepmother would never give her permission — and her hands flew up to cover her mouth, but she could not contain her smile.
  8. condescending
    characteristic of those who treat others with arrogance
    Clara gave Ash a condescending smile, and Ash bristled.
  9. eligible
    qualified for or allowed or worthy of being chosen
    Clara’s cheeks turned pink and she looked slightly embarrassed, but she said indignantly, “Why not? Everyone says the King is going to announce that Prince Aidan will choose from among all the eligible girls in the country. I am eligible.”
  10. scoff
    laugh at with contempt and derision
    When Ash simply stared at her, dumbfounded, Clara said, “It may not be your dream, Stepsister, but do not scoff at those who do dream of it.”
  11. taut
    pulled or drawn tight
    And yet, seeing him again, she felt something within her bending toward him as though drawn on threads pulled taut by his hands.
  12. grant
    bestow, especially officially
    Though Sidhean might grant her wish, she knew there would be a price to pay.
  13. proclaim
    declare formally
    “The prince has proclaimed that he will make some sort of announcement at the hunt,” she continued, “and my stepmother and stepsisters will be there. I wish to go without them knowing.”
  14. bargain
    an agreement between parties fixing obligations of each
    There had been no sign of Sidhean since the night she had struck the bargain with him, either, and she wondered whether her wish really would be granted.
  15. embroider
    decorate with needlework
    There were riding breeches made of creamy leather and a tunic of dark green, embroidered at the cuffs and collar in rich gold thread that matched the pattern of leaves and vines tooled into the leather satchel.
  16. luminous
    softly bright or radiant
    She sat down on her bed and pulled the medallion out of her pocket, and looking at the luminous, smoky stone she whispered, “Thank you, Sidhean.”
  17. pavilion
    a large and often sumptuous tent
    At last the path turned and broadened into a large clearing in the forest, and on the far side of the clearing there rose a great pavilion, the walls striped in tan and blue, and from the pinnacle flew the King’s standard.
  18. prominent
    having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
    He looked over at Ash as she entered, and she saw that a thin but prominent scar ran down his left eyebrow and partway down his cheek.
  19. constrained
    lacking spontaneity; not natural
    Ash was conscious of the other people in the marquee looking at her, and she felt constrained and shy.
  20. vigor
    forceful exertion
    But once back under the shade of the trees the stag regained his momentum — or found a new desire to live — and the chase was renewed with vigor.
  21. carcass
    the dead body of an animal
    Ash looked back at the carcass of the stag, and saw that the dogs were being held off now, and one of the men was approaching with his kit of knives to begin the butchering.
  22. eerie
    inspiring a feeling of fear; strange and frightening
    She took it by the antlers and laid it on the ground at the foot of the King, and when she removed the green cloth the crowd gasped, for the head was an eerie sight in the torchlight.
  23. transformed
    given a completely different form or appearance
    During the hunt, the pavilion had been transformed into a great ballroom.
  24. attendant
    someone who waits on or takes care of the needs of another
    Attendants carried pitchers of wine around the room, and on a smaller dais directly facing the entrance, musicians were playing.
  25. elaborate
    developed or executed with care and in minute detail
    Relieved to be free of that conversation, Ash watched Lore and Gregory bow to each other before they entered into the elaborate roundelay that was in progress, the ladies’ many-colored gowns spinning outward like blooming roses scattered over the ground.
  26. accurate
    characterized by perfect conformity to fact or truth
    She wasn’t exactly telling the truth, but she wasn’t entirely lying, either, for she did not believe that wrong was an accurate description of her feelings.
  27. perplexed
    full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment
    Perplexed, yes; uncertain, yes; but beneath it all something as yet unnamed was coming into focus.
  28. affront
    treat, mention, or speak to rudely
    There was something in her voice that sounded the tiniest bit affronted, and Ash looked at the huntress and said quickly, “Oh, I did — I will never forget today.”
  29. masquerade
    a party of guests wearing costumes and disguises
    “The King has invited us to a masquerade on Souls Night,” Lady Isobel said with satisfaction.
  30. favorable
    encouraging or approving or pleasing
    “He says that I am to bring my daughters. Ana must have made a favorable impression on His Royal Highness at the hunt.”
  31. consult
    get or ask advice from
    They wrote to their aunt and cousins to consult on which colors to wear; they plotted over the first words they would say to His Royal Highness when they were presented to him at the ball.
  32. proper
    marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
    “One must be properly respectful and yet give a hint of playfulness,” Lady Isobel instructed her daughters over supper.
  33. stature
    high level of respect gained by impressive achievement
    One cannot diminish the importance of this — you must always show that you admire his wealth and stature, but at the same time you must not be in too much awe of it.
  34. luxury
    something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
    He must know that you are comfortable with the luxuries in life, and yet at the same time you should not be too comfortable with them — after all, what will he give you if you seem to already have everything?
  35. impassioned
    characterized by intense emotion
    “I simply do not believe it is right to pursue someone because — because he is high-born, or has a station above yours, or can buy you a manor house in Royal Forge,” Ash said, increasingly impassioned.
  36. remnant
    a small part remaining after the main part no longer exists
    She knew there was still a bit of flour trapped beneath her fingernails, remnants of her day’s work; across from her, the huntress wore a ruby ring on her right hand, the stone glowing in the lamp light like a tiny fire.
  37. offend
    hurt the feelings of
    “You have made me feel so welcome, as though I were the same as you and no servant at all; you have never offended me.”
  38. seduce
    lure or entice away from duty, principles, or proper conduct
    “Do not be seduced by false glamour; do not shirk your duties; do not wander off alone into the Wood at night.”
  39. ornamentation
    something used to beautify
    There was more to this ring than mere ornamentation.
  40. disquiet
    make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed
    When she slipped it on her finger, she had the disquieting sensation that she was being swallowed by him, that he was all around her, and though it was uncanny, it was not entirely unpleasant.
Created on Wed Jun 22 18:35:27 EDT 2016 (updated Thu Sep 20 16:18:17 EDT 2018)

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