ASHER
I stared into my son’s eyes with disdain as I fought to refocus my mind. Out of the corner of my vision, I could see Cassandra leaving the chamber. Though I needed to concentrate on Marco’s words, I was still a little bothered after my encounter with the healer.
“Marco, why are you here?” I asked him as my frustration began to rise. When my son began to pout, I decided to soften my tone. The boy was visibly distressed and I didn’t want to usher in another tantrum. “What’s going on?”
Though I didn’t want to admit it, part of me knew that I’d been neglecting the boy quite often these days. I’d been so caught up in all of the drama of the snakes and the market, and the other various goings on in Anemond that I’d barely even seen Marco.
“Daddy, why haven’t you visited Mommy?” Marco w
