Page 13 of Somewhere down the Ley Line
It was no use. The torrent of overwhelming power was right there beneath the surface, ready to grab her and dunk her into the rapids. One moment of annoyance was all it had taken.
No.She stumbled backwards, away from the horses. Her heart was pounding in her ears, panic clawing at her insides. What if she lost control and hurt someone?
Magic was seeping out of her in long tendrils, seeking, reaching. Then Garren was beside her, resting his hand on her shoulder.
“Breathe, my lady. Focus.”
She nodded, frantically scanning her surroundings. She latched onto a lantern hanging on the stable wall. Something mundane and simple.
Focus on the lantern. Focus on its lines, on the cold materials it’s made of. Glass and metal and–
The lantern shattered, its glass panes and even the metal framework fracturing into hundreds of tiny pieces. The horses whinnied and jostled, but they were mercifully far enough away not to get hit by the spray of fragments.
Isolde stood in silence, arms clutched around her sides. The magic was gone again; the current inside her receded to a steady stream.
“Right,” Garren said, not looking at her but at the shattered lantern. “That was… Well, it could have been worse.”
His comment did not make Isolde feel any better, but she gave a small nod and turned back to her horse. She reached for the reins with shaking hands, grateful when Shadow did not shy away from her. It could have been worse indeed.
“Remind me not to piss you off,” came a voice from the side, low and dry.
She looked up to see Felix already mounted on Ranger. He didn’t look at her, adjusting his stirrups instead, but there was a faint flicker of amusement on his face. Without another word, he nudged his horse forward, leaving her to stare after him in confusion.
Had he been rude to her again, or was that an attempt at lightening the mood? If so, he wasn’t very good at it.
***
They followed a well-worn track into the woods at first, but an hour into their journey, Luella guided her horse onto a narrow game trail. Ferns unfurled along the path like fans; tangled vines drooped from low-hanging branches. The air was thick with the scent of moss and earth, and birdsong and the buzz of insects sounded all around them.
Isolde’s stomach clenched as realisation dawned. She couldn’t be near people, because she was a danger to anyone with even a small amount of magic… They would avoid all towns, all roads. Any civilization at all. They would stay far from the populated coastal areas to the east; the wealthy Triad States that Azuill was a part of, and the High Holds in the north. Instead, they would likely travel inland, through unclaimed wilderness. It would be just the four of them for weeks and weeks.
They rode in silence until the sun reached its zenith. When they came across a small stream, Garren signalled for a stop to water the horses. Isolde dismounted and stood by Shadow while the others stretched their legs.
“So far, I’m less than impressed,” Luella said dryly. Isolde looked up, startled, but the other woman was looking at Felix, not at her.
Felix turned to her, raising an eyebrow. “Oh no,” he deadpanned, “and here I was thinking I’d already swept you off your feet. I’m sure I can impress you later, if you’d like.” His grin was almost a leer.
Luella huffed, rolling her eyes. Isolde stifled a gasp at his boldness.
“Mind your manners,” Garren grumbled. “You’re in the presence of a lady.”
Felix shrugged, brushing his hands on his trousers. “So, what is the plan? Are we just going to ride dead north and see what happens?”
“We know where we’re going,” Garren said flatly.
Felix raised an eyebrow. “That's not what I asked. I’d like to know if the next month of my life is going to be endless plodding through the forest after you two, or if we’ve got an actual plan. I don’t think that’s a lot to ask.” As he spoke, he rolled his shoulders, loosening up after a morning of riding. The motion was casual, but Isolde found it rather hard to look away from the slight glint of sweat on his collarbone, beneath the open neck of his shirt.
Stop it. You’re a lady, act like one.
“We’ll cross through mostly unclaimed lands,” Luella said, her tone cool. “I know them well enough. The route is safe. I’ll guide us.”
“Mostly?” Felix’s eyes narrowed.
“Yes, mostly.”
Isolde looked curiously between them.
“You’re saying we’ll be passing through Crovan lands,” Felix said, crossing his arms.
