Page 38 of Somewhere down the Ley Line
“Felix, no!” She ran up to him and attempted to wrestle the blade from him. He quickly dropped it on the ground. “Damn it, Isa, did you want to cut your finger off? Don’t do that.”
She was shaking, still clutching his arm. Her hands were warm. She stared up at him for a heartbeat. He twisted towards her, more out of instinct than anything else, but then she hurriedly let go and stepped back. Isolde cleared her throat and looked down at Beorn’s unmoving body. “He was… He did… I did not mean to do that! But…”
“He deserved it,” Felix supplied helpfully.
“Yes! He did!” She stomped her foot, actually stomped it. Felix could not hide a grin.
“What are you laughing at?” she snapped, rounding on him. “And why are you even here?”
Felix blinked. “Why am I…? Why do you think? I saw him follow you!”
“I handled it just fine!” she shot back, crossing her arms and glaring at him.
Felix looked at Beorn’s crumpled body. “You did, yeah. Well done. He won’t try that again anytime soon. Why am I getting yelled at for trying to make sure you were alright?”
“I didn’t need your help! Why don’t you go back to the campfire, since you were having such a fantastic time!”
He tilted his head and bit back a smirk. Was that… jealousy? Before he could say anything, Isolde turned on her heel and marched off toward the cabin, leaving him standing there.
“Noted,” he muttered to himself. He rubbed his face with both hands, then bent down to pick up his dagger. For the briefest moment, he considered stabbing Beorn with it, just because it was such an excellent opportunity.
“You’re lucky she got to you first,” he grumbled at the unconscious man instead.
“What in the Watcher’s name did you do now?” someone said behind him.
Felix spun to come face to face with Garren, sword in hand and a deeply disapproving scowl on his face.
“Believe it or not, but this was Isolde, not me,” he said with a sigh. “Where have you been?”
Garren didn’t answer but blinked, looked down at Beorn, then back up at Felix with narrowed eyes. “And you just happened to pass by…?”
“Really?” Felix threw up his hands and scowled. He was not in the mood for a lecture from Garren. “Save it, Garren. I’m going to bed.” He sheathed his dagger, then walked off without another word.
15
A single decision
The morning brought a loud, insistent banging at the cabin door, dragging them all from their sleep. Isolde sat up in bed with a start. Luella was already up, sword in hand. When she left the bedroom, Felix and Garren were just leaving theirs, equally armed. Isolde got up and cautiously followed behind.
Felix yanked the door open mid-knock to reveal Elric, fist raised and face red with fury. Four warriors flanked him. Beorn was not among them.
Seeing the doorway blocked, Elric planted his feet and glared. “We are here for the Beastmonger! Her cursed presence has gone on long enough. We will not suffer our people being attacked in the dark, unprovoked!”
Felix snorted, his knuckles whitening on the handle of his axe. Luella took a small step backwards.
Garren remained calm. “Luella was here in the cabin all last night. No matter what happened to your warrior, she had nothing to do with it.”
Elric bristled. “And I should take your word for it? One of my best hunters is found half dead, as if a beast tossed him around! No human did that! Your cursed friend is the only possible explanation, and she will answer for it!”
A shiver ran down Isolde’s spine. Elric was talking about Beorn.
“Yourbest hunterdeserved what he got,” Felix said. “If he wasn’t such a fucking idiot, he would be fine today.” He looked murderous. Isolde’s insides knotted together with anxiety.
Elric’s face darkened, and he half-drew his blade. “Watch your tongue, Skraeling, or –”
“Or what?” Felix leaned closer, his tone mocking. “You’ll fight me? Please do – you and all your little friends. Wouldn’t want it to be unfair.”
Garren shoved an arm between them. “Enough,” he said sharply, his voice cutting through the rising tension. “Nobody is fighting anyone.”
