Chapter 55; A higher power

MAERWYNN POV

The wind nipped at my cheeks as I rode into the woods, my horse’s hooves sinking into the frost-laden earth with each deliberate step. The familiar path was narrow and winding, framed by gnarled, ancient trees whose branches clawed toward the slate-gray sky. The scent of damp earth and decaying leaves lingered in the air, mingling with the crisp bite of winter that threatened to settle in the marrow of my bones.

I pulled my cloak tighter around me, its thick wool offering some protection against the chill. But the cold was a constant companion in these woods, the kind that seeped through even the warmest layers. As I guided my horse deeper into the forest, the oppressive silence surrounded me. No birds sang, no rustling leaves disturbed the stillness. It was as if the forest had drawn in a deep breath, waiting, watching.

The trees seemed taller here, their skeletal branches reaching toward the heavens like twisted fingers. Patches of moss clung to their bark, a vibrant gr