Page 29 of Somewhere down the Ley Line
For a heartbeat, the world balanced on a knife’s edge.
A rush of wind and the flutter of wings startled them both. It sliced through the tension, cutting the thread, breaking the spell. The owl swooped low overhead, disappearing into the night sky as quickly as it had come.
Felix jumped to his feet. “Here,” he said too brusquely, thrusting a hand out to her to help her up.
He cleared his throat. “You should get some sleep.” His voice was a lot steadier than he felt, his heart hammering. “We have a long day tomorrow.”
“Yes, you’re probably right,” she replied, slightly breathless. “Thank you, Felix… for listening.”
She walked to her tent with careful steps, her back straight, then turned before slipping inside. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, and she opened her mouth as if to speak, but disappeared behind the canvas flaps instead.
Felix returned to his watch, his mind in complete shambles.
***
As they continued their journey, the scenery shifted yet again. The rocky terrain gradually softened underfoot, transitioning to earth cushioned by a thick blanket of moss. More and more trees dotted the landscape – not the dense forest of before, but a kind of patchy woodland. Birch trunks shimmered in pale clusters, and occasional firs covered the gentle, rising hills.
The first day after their late-night stargazing, Felix deliberately kept his distance from Isolde. He’d been unsure of what to make of it all – the look in her eyes, the questions she had asked, her magic flickering like starlight between them. It had stirred something in him, something that felt suspiciously likefeelings, and Felix hated feelings. So he chose the only course of action that made sense to him – he pushed the thoughts out of his mind and focused on mundane tasks.
But even as he resolved to stay away, his eyes found Isolde again and again. When she turned in her saddle to whatever Luella pointed out, her smile wide and brilliant, or when she leaned over to brush her fingers against a wildflower as they passed. She kept looking at him, too, glancing his way when she thought he didn’t notice, curious and uncertain. When they made camp, Felix kept to himself, and when Isolde excused herself from the fire, he watched her go without following.
He did not get to contemplate his feelings for long, though. One morning, as they were crossing a shallow stream, Luella abruptly halted. Her hand shot up as a signal for the rest of the group to stop. Felix was instantly alert, scanningtheir surroundings, but nothing jumped out at him. He urged his horse forward, bringing Ranger up next to Shadow, while Garren took up an equally protective position on Isolde’s other side.
“What is it?” Felix hissed, his voice low, his hand resting on the haft of his axe.
“Ambush,” Luella replied, her tone grim, her eyes never leaving the line of trees ahead. “Crovan.”
Felix’s pulse quickened. The Crovan were secluded people, known for their skill in blending with the land. This was their home, and any intruder was a threat.
“So much for them not noticing us,” he grumbled. “How many?”
“Too many,” Luella replied. “A dozen, at least.”
“Can we avoid them?” Isolde’s voice was shaky. “Go around somehow?”
Luella considered it, her brow furrowed. “We’ll try.” She turned her horse westward. The others followed, the only sounds the cawing of a flock of birds above them.
Felix kept his hand on the handle of his axe, eyes flitting back and forth. The birds flew north, leaving silence behind. Beside him, Isolde’s knuckles were white as she gripped her reins, her face pale but set with determination.
For a while, it seemed they might avoid confrontation. Luella led them carefully, sticking close to the shelter of trees, her eyes sweeping across the landscape. Felix’s hopes rose. Maybe they would make it out without incident.
A sharp whistle pierced the air from their right. Luella ducked instinctively, and an arrow thudded into the ground behind her, startling Ranger. As Felix struggled to get the horse under control again, figures crept out of the trees. There were ten or more, both men and women. They looked like warriors, dressed in furs and leather armour, armed with bows, axes, and spears. Felix’s hand tightened on the handle of his weapon as he counted at least three nocked arrows aimed directly at them.
“You nearly evaded us, Skysinger,” a tall woman wearing her hair in a distinctive braided style said, her tone almost mocking. Her voice was melodious, with a sharp edge to it. “Now give me one reason I should not kill you for trespassing on our lands. Your kind is not welcome here. We will not have our beasts corrupted.”
“Weare only passing through,” Luella responded, to Felix’s surprise. “And these are not my people – I am only their guide. We have no desire for trouble, nor to corrupt anything. Please let us pass.”
“Pah!” A stocky man in a wolf-skin pelt sneered, his bow trained on them. “These others may not be beastmongers, but they’re far from harmless, armed as they are. Let’s rid the earth of them.” And without waiting for a response, he released his arrow – aimed directly at Luella.
“No!” Isolde cried, her hands flying up. The force of magic whipped past him, knocking the arrow off course and sending it clattering harmlessly to the ground. The man’s bow flew from his grasp, and he stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock.
“Nice reflexes, Isa,” Felix said as his axe found its way to his hand, ready for a fight.
“Mage!” the man yelled, scrambling backwards, fear written across his features. But the tall woman seemed frozen, her gaze calculating.
Isolde addressed her directly. “Leave us alone, or I will show you what I am capable of!”
Felix noticed the slight tremor in her voice and the way she twisted her fingers together nervously, but he doubted anyone else would. The air shimmered with her power, swirling thickly around her.
