Page 72 of Somewhere down the Ley Line
And Felix… Felix had some kind of history with Mia, there was no doubt about it. They did not act like “old friends” at all. Old friends would have chatted, caught up on each other’s news. But Felix avoided Mia, avoided even looking at her, and Mia did not seem bothered or confused by this in the slightest.
The sun was low on the horizon when Mia edged her horse next to Isolde’s. Luella and Leif were up ahead, while Garren and Felix trailed behind.
“So,” Mia said, startling Isolde out of her thoughts. “How are you?”
Isolde frowned. “I… um, well, we’ve been travelling for a while now. We had some difficulties, but I think we are making good time. I’m getting more of a grip on my magic and –”
“No, love,” Mia interrupted, smiling. “I meant, how areyou.How do you feel?”
A fierce rush of emotions assaulted her, so strong she forgot to breathe for a moment. How did she feel? How could she even begin to answer that?
“I’m only asking,” Mia continued gently, “because it would be completely understandable if you are having a hard time with all of this.”
Isolde blinked fiercely, swallowing down the lump in her throat. She would not cry in front of Mia; she just wouldn’t. She was a stranger! Her governess would have a fit at the mere thought. She stuffed the emotions back in their box.
“Thank you,” she said, not meeting Mia’s gaze. “It’s really kind of you to ask. I’m… I’m fine, most days. I haven’t been alone; the others are there for me. It hasn’t been all bad.” Before she could stop herself, she glanced over her shoulder at Felix. He walked at the back of the group, and he had clearly been looking her way because his eyes caught hers the moment she turned her head. She quickly returned her attention to the landscape ahead of them, but Mia’s expression was far too knowing for her liking.
“You are not at all what I expected,” Mia said after a while.
Isolde looked sideways at her, startled. “Um… What were you expecting?”
Mia shrugged. “A little lady, prim and proper, treating others like servants.”
Isolde smiled. “Complaining about mud on my shoes?”
“Exactly. But you sat and made everyone tea this morning, and you saddle your own horse. And the way you look at Felix is not very ladylike,” she added with a catlike smile.
Isolde blushed furiously. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, no? You’re not the first lovesick girl giving him that look, but it’s certainly the first time I’ve seen him return it.”
“I’m not… There’s nothing…” Isolde stammered, then gave up just as quickly. She let out a long sigh. “Some days I almost wish I’d never met him, but I don’t know what I would have done without him, either.”
“That sounds like Felix,” Mia said with a laugh. “Infuriatingly difficult, then suddenly kind and sweet, then ice cold again, as if he’s worried you’ll think he’s capable of feelings.” Her tone confirmed it; they definitely had a history together.
Isolde chewed her lip for a while until eventually curiosity got the better of her. “What is he to you?”
Mia waved a hand dismissively. “Right now? An annoyance, mostly. Keeps glaring at me when I try to talk to you in peace.” She glowered exaggeratedly in Felix’s direction. Isolde permitted herself a small smile.
“We used to sleep together for a while,” Mia added casually, as if she’d said they used to play cards once a week.
Isolde bit her lip, and something sour, something suspiciously like jealousy, swirled in her stomach. “Were you in love?”
Mia laughed. “Weaver, no. I don’t do love. Only brief, uncomplicated fun, no strings attached. Love eventually just makes for sad songs nobody wants to hear.”
Isolde studied Mia’s face as she gazed off into the distance, and something told her the bard wasn’t talking about Felix anymore. She breathed a tiny, involuntary sigh that was definitely not relief, decided not to poke at that particular bruise, and they both got lost in thought.
“Still,” Mia said a short while later, breaking the silence. “The moment I ran into him in Marsan, it was clearthatkind of fun was no longer on the table. I hope you’re pleased with yourself.” Her smile was positively wicked.
Isolde’s cheeks heated, and she looked away. “I wouldn’t know.”
“You… what?” Mia gaped at her with huge, round eyes. “You’ve been travelling together for how long?”
“Well, I’ve been a little busy running, fighting off bounty hunters, trying to get a grip on all this –” Isolde threw a flurry of sparks into the air to illustrate her point – “to have a lot of time for… for romance.”
Mia scoffed dramatically. “Don’t give me that nonsense. Gorgeous man who is clearly obsessed with you, and you’ve spent practically every day together for how long? What are you too busy for, at night in your bedroll by yourself?”
“I kissed him,” Isolde blurted out. Why was she telling Mia this? She barely believed it had happened at all.
