Felix.Isolde turned the name over in her mind. It was Medraj; she was certain of it. She was almost sure it meant “luck”, though her Medraji was rusty at best.
“It’s nice to meet you, Felix. You can call me Isolde, please.”
She became abruptly aware of both Luella and Garren watching her. She had been staring at Felix for far too long.
“You will address her as Lady Isolde,” Garren said stiffly.
Isolde lowered her gaze, clasping her hands in her lap to stop her fingers from twisting together. After a moment, a flock of birds lazily swept by overhead, and the tension of the moment dissolved in the calm beauty of the morning.
***
Their boat reached the dock of the hunting lodge soon after. Mist shrouded the edge of the dense forest bordering the house.
Felix hopped out first. He looped the anchor rope around a pole and turned to offer Isolde a hand as she got up to step out of the boat. His skin was callused and rough, and so warm it startled her. He did not meet her gaze and let go of her hand as soon as she had both feet on the dock.
Isolde followed Garren up toward the lodge, the hood of her cloak drawn low. It was so quiet. Every other time she had arrived here, servants had met them at the dock with refreshments, the huntsmaster chattering about the conditions for the day. But many of them could not be near her now, in case she accidentally killed them. Her insides clenched at the thought, and her knees went weak. She stumbled on the steps leading up to the house.
A steady hand caught her arm. “Are you alright, my lady?”
Garren’s voice was deep and reassuring. She looked up at him and managed a small smile.
“I will be, Garren. It is just… a lot.”
He sighed and nodded gravely.
“But I’m glad you’re coming with me. Thank you.”
He did not meet her eyes but placed a large hand on her shoulder for a moment, then quickly withdrew it. “No thanks are necessary, my lady. It is my honour to travel with you. I would have trusted no one else with this.”
Inside, two nervous servants met them, bowing hastily before leading them to a sitting room. There were several packs and bundles placed near the wall, likely their supplies. Isolde stayed off to the side, head down, while the servants avoided her like she was diseased. She didn’t mind. It wasn’t their fault that they didn’t understand what had happened. After all, she didn’t understand it herself.
Felix’s expression brightened at the sight of the hearty breakfast laid out on a table. He did not wait for anyone else, filling himself a plate and eating while standing up.
Luella sniffed at Felix and wrinkled her nose. “Well, there goes my appetite,” she muttered.
As for Isolde, she wouldn’t have been able to keep any food down if she tried. She forced herself to drink half a cup of milky tea, then headed outside with Garren.
Their mounts for the journey ahead were waiting for them in the stable yard. Isolde went straight to Shadow, smiling as the sleek black mare snorted and mouthed her hand in greeting. She saw Felix approach the horse next to hers from the corner of her eye.
“His name is Ranger,” she said as he patted the gelding’s neck and let the animal smell him.
“He’s one of my father’s horses. Do you have much experience with them?” she asked, unable to mask the open curiosity in her voice.
“Enough to get by.”
Felix did not look at her. He busied himself instead with securing his pack. Was he being rude, or just preoccupied? She turned to her own bag, lifting it onto Shadow’s back.
The weight was awkward, heavier than she had counted on. Shadow sidestepped nervously, jostling her, and for a humiliating moment Isolde thought the entire bag might topple to the ground.
But before anything like that could happen, Felix stepped smoothly up next to her, grabbing the horse’s reins with one hand and steadying the pack with the other.
“Careful,” he said. “We’ve barely left, and you’re already trying to get yourself maimed.” He spoke so casually it was almost insulting.
Isolde’s face heated. He probably thought she was some helpless girl who had never had to do anything for herself. He wouldn’t even be wrong.
“Let me assist you, my lady,” Garren said from behind. His voice carried a note of disapproval as he stepped between her and Felix, taking Shadow’s reins from his grasp. Felix shrugged and returned to his own horse, unbothered.
Isolde clenched her jaw and let Garren help her, feeling a rush of frustration. Tiny blue sparks appeared, swirling around her like petals in a breeze. It startled her, the sudden visual reminder of why she was about to depart on this journey.Calm,she told herself.Just be calm.
