Page 65 of Somewhere down the Ley Line
“Hey! Watch the ale!” Leif complained.
Felix didn’t answer. He merely hauled him toward the stairs, growling curses. He caught one or two suspicious looks, and his heart sank. “Don’t mind my friend,” he said to nobody in particular, trying to diffuse the situation. “He’s a bit funny, horse kicked him in the head. Never the same since. Sees fairies everywhere.”
“Do you have any idea how many people were listening?” he hissed as they reached the top of the stairs. “Did I notexplicitlytell you not to mention Isolde?”
“I thought –”
“No, Leif, you didn’t think, you just reminded half this bloody fucking town that there is a leytouched girl out there with a bounty on her head, painting a nice big target on our backs in the process! There is a mage tower here; do you think they won’t hear of this?”
Leif laughed, mumbling about mage flowers, as Felix shoved him inside. He stumbled and flopped face-down onto the bed. “You worry too much,” he mumbled into the mattress.
“You’re drunk.”
“I’m not, I’m fine…” His incoherent words faded into silence, and he let out a loud snore.
Mia followed them into their room, closed the door and leaned against it, folding her arms and looking at Leif with faint amusement. “Well,” she said, “he certainly made an impression. Not a bad storyteller. Do you know if he has any talent for music?”
“How many people left after he started talking?” Felix asked, ignoring Mia’s question.
The mirth disappeared from her eyes. “Enough. The word will be on the streets by now.”
“Shit. We need to go.” Felix grabbed Leif by the arm and dragged him off the bed. “Up. Now. We’re leaving.”
Leif startled, flailing his arms. “Wha –? I thought we were leaving in the morning?”
“We were until you decided to run your mouth,” Felix grumbled, shoving him with his foot.
Once Leif stumbled to his feet, they made their way down the stairs. Mia led them away from the taproom and through the back, where a grimy-looking cook raised an eyebrow but did not otherwise comment on three strangers traipsing through his kitchen. It probably wasn’t the first time someone made a quick exit here, Felix thought wryly.
Outside, the alleyway reeked of stale ale and rotting food. Leif clapped a hand over his mouth, heaving, but Felix pushed him along without pity. They were about to slip out into the street beyond when the sounds of boots echoed from around the corner. Cursing under his breath, Felix pressed his back against the wall and dragged a staggering Leif beside him.
He listened intently – four men. Headed their way. As they approached, he could pick up fragments of a conversation.
“– true what they said? He claimed she healed him?” an elderly-sounding voice said.
“Several people in the tavern attest to his claims,” another, younger voice replied. “If it is true… If word gets out…”
Leif held his breath, his eyes wide in the dark.
The older person clicked his tongue angrily. “We cannot afford to let that happen. Every peasant with a bad leg will rally behind her. There will be petitions, and the nobility… No. Damn the Azuill circle for not acting when they had the chance.”
“The Duskrend have been hired to… deal with her.” One speaker halted, mere steps away from the alley. Felix’s heart was pounding in his ears so loudly he feared the strangers passing by would hear it.
“By whom?” The other voice said from up ahead. The second person still did not move. Felix’s hand crept towards the hilt of his dagger.
After what felt like hours, the footsteps picked up again, moving away from their position. He allowed himself to exhale slowly. Next to him, Leif gasped for air.
“An unknown party.”
“Hmph. If they have been unsuccessful so far, I expect little more. If this boy was here in the city, she must be nearby. We must –”
Felix strained to catch what they must, but at that point the two strangers rounded the corner, well out of earshot.
Leif heaved the contents of his stomach onto the cobblestones.
“Oh, lovely,” Mia said dryly. “That was my boot.”
Leif mumbled something incoherent that may have been an apology.
