Vallenberg, the village where Asher grew up, was around the next bend. He shifted his weight slightly in the saddle and squeezed his fingers on the reins. The blood bay warhorse responded immediately, breaking from a canter down to a walk. "Good boy." He patted the animal's sweaty neck. After speaking with Rickert, he’d decided to not to waste any more time on what he had to do. He needed to find out what he could about his sister and accept the temporary appointment of Rickert’s Iron Guild command. He’d considered calling Reckless before he left for Cascadia to let them know he was going to be gone for a while. Rand was used to Asher’s comings and goings, but Olivia wasn’t. However, the more he’d thought about it, the more he decided it was best to just leave. Conry would be fine there for a few weeks, and he and Olivia weren’t a couple. The sooner he accepted that and stopped acting like they were, the better. The stallion flicked an ear back, waiting for another cue, but Asher loosened the reins and let him have his head.
