CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Asher was lost in thought as he walked.
He never noticed how he skirted the clearing. Never noticed how instead of turning into the clearing leading to the old church, he walked straight past it. It wasn’t until he reached the water”s edge and there was nowhere else to walk to that he stopped and frowned.
Asher knew this island extremely well, he could find the Guild’s entrance with his eyes closed and yet he had managed to walk right past it.
His brow cocked in slight confusion as he chuckled softly to himself. He was beginning to feel like he was losing it. His grasp on reality slipping.
He turned and made his way back, retracing his steps to where he should have been. Still, once again after walking for nearly an hour, Asher found himself back at the river”s edge, right beside the hidden crank that lifted the submerged bridge.
About to turn, wishing more than anything to know what the fuck was happening to him Asher felt a sudden tug at something lodged deep within his chest.
Nothing physically restrained him and yet he could feel it, and whatever it was it was pulling him away from the Guild, but to where he didn’t know.
Was this part of the magic?
He lifted his hand to his chest and rubbed the heel of his palm over the area right where his heart was. Each time he took a step away from the river”s edge he could feel that something in his chest tightened and grew taut. Pulling so tightly the pressure began to transform into a dull ache.
Perhaps he was being drawn towards the person who had removed his bond mark. Maybe he had a price to pay for such a task.
After many attempts, he gave up trying and allowed himself to follow the pull lodged deep within him. He couldn’t fight it, it was impossible so instead, he would send the Guild a brief message as soon as he stopped close to a town. Whatever was happening he was going to get to the bottom of it.
He crossed No Man’s Land once again, but thankfully this time without incident. Remarkable really. In all his years of traversing through the dead land he had never had such an easy passing. It was as if the creatures were giving him space.
That in itself was fucking weird.
Standing on the edge of the cursed ringed island Asher glanced at the distant shoreline and frowned. The land was blanketed in white, snow laying thick on the ground.
Access to Winter was through the village of Windsdale. It was here the guards of Winter tracked who entered their land. For the most part though, they left travelers alone only making themselves known when trouble flared.
Winter was a peaceful land ruled by the High Protector, Cian Forrester. Asher had carried out a few assignments within his court and lands, but never had the pleasure of crossing him or any from his court’s circles. But he knew of the male and how he held strict to the law of the land ensuring all who lived within his Quartaine did so too.
Pulling a heavier cloak from his pack, Asher worked to ensure he would be warm enough until he found lodgings and a place to purchase warmer clothes. But staying in Windsdale wasn’t a wise choice, there were too many guards. It would be fine for picking up rations and perhaps clothing. What he was currently wearing would have him with frostbite in places he enjoyed the use of.
Shoving his things back into the pack and drawing it tight, Asher once again slung it over his shoulder. Working quickly he raised the bridge, then made his way quickly across the rickety wooden structure that bridged No Man’s Land and the Winter Quartaine.
Without giving it another thought Asher followed the tug rooted in his chest and for the first time in his life felt that he was walking into something he would probably never walk out of.
He only hoped it wouldn’t be the death of him.