12. Skysinger #2
“Yes, well, it would add to the hospitality if our lives were not being threatened every three seconds,” he grumbled, glaring in the direction Beorn had left.
“Don’t mind him,” the young man said. All eyes turned to him, and he looked startled and blushed. “I ah… I’m Leif,” he said. “I… live here. ”
Felix raised his eyebrows, but made no comment. Isolde hid a smile behind her hand.
“Leif is my nephew,” the old woman said.
“And Asara here is my niece. But I think perhaps some food and rest are in order before anything else.” She clapped her hands on her knees.
“Leif, will you show the young lady and her companions to the visitors’ lodgings, please, and make sure they receive something to eat and are treated with respect.
” She addressed Isolde. “I was hasty, wanting to talk to you right away, my dear. Forgive me.”
She shook her head. “Please don’t apologise. I am sorry for any unrest our presence here causes. It was never our intention.” She glared at Felix, who winked at her.
Leif guided them out of the hall and through the village.
They soon reached a small cabin bordering the forest beyond.
It was a modest, comfortable space with a front room furnished with a long table and chairs.
A hearth took up the wall, unlit and swept clean, and a narrow hallway led to two bedrooms.
“We will take this one,” Luella said, surveying the space. “Felix and Garren can share the other.”
That made perfect sense, of course. There was no reason to divide the rooms in any other way, or to feel a slight pang of disappointment at the arrangement.
Leif left and returned soon after with a large basket full of food. Isolde almost drooled at the sight of the spread laid out on the table for them, having lived on mostly dried trail rations and whatever they foraged or hunted over the last few days.
There was dark, dense bread, smoked fish – which Felix grimaced at but ate regardless – and a bowl of small, sour apples. As soon as Leif left, the four of them attacked the food in companionable silence.
Felix finished first, then loudly cleared his throat and swung one leg over the bench so he faced Luella directly. His eyes gleamed with mischief. Isolde looked curiously between them as she continued nibbling on an apple.
Luella didn’t look up. “No,” she said flatly.
Felix raised his eyebrows. “You don’t think some explanation is required by now? ”
“No.”
“Come on, Lu.”
“My name is Luella.”
“Oh, now she gives a shit. Don’t change the subject, Skysinger .”
Luella leaned forward, resting her arms on the table, hiding her face in her hands. “It’s none of your business, Felix.”
“Not my fucking business ? You’re getting called weird names, we almost got shot full of arrows and threatened by angry little forest men because of it. If I have to watch your back, you can at least tell me why.”
Isolde laid her apple down on her plate and sat up straighter. “Luella, if you don’t want to share, of course, that’s your right. But Felix has a point.”
“I don’t need you to watch my back,” Luella muttered, scowling at Felix.
He rested one elbow on the table and leaned his head against his upturned fist with a mocking smile. “No? Want to go for a nice walk through this lovely village by yourself? Meet some friendly locals?”
Garren sat quietly, concentrating on cutting an apple into small pieces. He looked disinclined to join the conversation. Luella rolled her eyes, then turned to Isolde.
“You saved my life,” she said, holding Isolde’s gaze so intently it made her a little uncomfortable. “So you deserve answers.”
“Very touching,” Felix cut in. “Now tell us.”
Luella ignored him, though a muscle twitched in her jaw. “I am from Gotvig. Among my people, sometimes one is born with an… affinity for animals. In my case, it is birds. I can see through their eyes, and communicate with them, in limited ways.”
Isolde pressed a hand to her breast, struggling to keep her mouth from hanging open in a very unladylike fashion. “That is… that is amazing, Luella. I had no idea. I have read about it, but… I always thought it was just stories.”
Felix let out a low whistle. “That’s how you knew about the bounty hunters. And the ambush, and the cave. ”
Luella nodded, not looking at either of them. When Isolde chanced a glance at Garren, he looked unperturbed. She turned her attention back to Luella, her mind buzzing with a hundred questions.
“Is it magic? What are your people’s beliefs about it? Do they consider it a blessing from the Gods?”
Luella shook her head. “It’s not magic. Not like yours, anyway. And a blessing, hah. More like a curse. It isn’t looked upon favourably.”
“So quite like mine, then,” Isolde said with a small smile.
“I… in some ways, I suppose,” Luella answered, meeting her eyes. She was silent for a while. “I used to wish it away,” she finally said. “Tried to pretend I was the same as everyone else. But it’s a part of who I am, so I made peace with it.” She shrugged. “And it’s useful. So I will use it.”
“Well, now that you’ve bonded over your cursed existences,” Felix butted in before Isolde had the chance to reply, “Garren, do you have any secret talents?”
Garren calmly continued slicing his apple. “No.”
“Shame,” Felix said. “Anyway, what’s the plan?” He looked around at the three of them.
The sudden change of topic jarred Isolde. She tried to form a response, but Garren spoke first.
“I believe we should stay a day or two,” Garren said, his tone measured, “so Lady Isolde can speak with the… elder, but after that, we should be on our way. It would be unwise to test the goodwill of these people. This warrior, Elric, seems to be pacified for now, but it surely will not last.”
Felix frowned, then looked at Luella and Isolde.
“I’d like to stay longer,” Isolde said, her voice firm. “I believe there’s much I can learn here. The elder is a wise woman; she clearly knows a great deal about my magic, and –”
“Or she could be full of shit, Isa,” Felix interjected. “You’ve exchanged all of three words with her. And I thought you were eager to get to the Nexus as soon as possible?”
Isolde crossed her arms tightly. Yes, she wanted to go to the Nexus.
But she also wanted answers. The Crovan elder must know something about her magic, otherwise why would they bring her here?
How could she walk away from an opportunity like that?
She sighed in frustration. “She knows about leytouched, Felix! They even have their own name for it! These people have some kind of ancient knowledge. I need to learn everything I can from them.”
“If there is indeed some knowledge to be gained here, that will help to keep the… magic under control,” Garren said, without looking at anyone, “that would be beneficial.”
Felix drummed his fingers on the table. “What about Lu?” he asked, jabbing a thumb in her direction. “They hate her. She’s not safe here.”
Luella threw him a venomous glare. “Do not make this about me.”
Isolde looked down. She hated that he had a point.
“I know. That worries me as well. But I think…” she said, giving Luella a pleading look, “if Luella is willing, maybe if we just keep our heads down and don’t provoke them, it could be alright…
” It was an awfully weak argument, and she knew it. Luella saved her.
“Lady Isolde, don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
Isolde felt her heart swell with gratitude, and she reached across the table to clasp Luella’s hand. “Thank you, Luella. That means a great deal to me.”
Felix grumbled but accepted his defeat. “Fine. We’ll stay. For now.”