Chapter 24: Not Welcome

"What do you mean I'm not welcome?" Ashur asked, looking at the lanky young man standing in the black mist. “I am here to deliver a message to Astraea’s old Master.”

He hadn’t come all this way just to be turned away at the door. How could he possibly be so close yet so far?

Narrowing his eyes at this stranger in front of him, he asked, "Are you Astraea's old Master?"

The man laughed scornfully. He shook his head and said, "Do I look like a Master to you? My name is Bhan, and I am Master Damocles's loyal servant. It was he who told me not to let anyone enter his house."

Bhan added pointedly, "And that means you."

Ashur was tired from his journey up the magical mountain and didn’t feel like arguing with this stubborn servant.

"Mistress Astraea told to deliver the message to her old Master, please let me in," he repeated again insistently.