A) It's forte not forté and parperly pernounced [fort], although the [forté] pronunciation is popular; see Usage Note at http://www.bartleby.com/61/99/F0269900.html)

2) Time back way back when we were still kulchad enough to say brid instead of bird ascian and acsian were both considered correct. I have always assumed that ascian was pronounced [ah-skee-an] but come to think of it the sc was normally pronounced [sh]. The ME was asken. That may be due to Danish influence. Dunno about no [arks], no matter what you do with the r the a is an æsh in good old-fashion Murcun.