Isolde looked down, twisting her fingers together. “Still. I feel it should have been someone tougher, more experienced. Someone like you.”
“Someone likeme?”Felix asked, eyebrows shooting up.
“Yes! You are tough, and you don’t care; you just do what you want.”
Felix shook his head and huffed a small laugh as he sat down, looking towards the last remnants of the sunset. After a moment’s hesitation, she joined him, sitting close enough to feel the heat of his body but not quite touching, her hand resting on the ground between them. Her eyes drifted to his profile, studying the sharpness of his cheekbones, the stubble along his jaw, and the quiet alertness always simmering behind his eyes.
“When I agreed to join this strange expedition,” he said, turning towards her slightly, “I expected to escort some pampered princess through the wilderness. That you would complain and cry over mud on your shoes. But you haven’t. You have shown some pretty incredible resilience. So,” he traced a fingertip along the ley marking on her hand, sending a shudder down her spine. “Be kinder to yourself. You are much stronger and more capable than you think.”
She looked down at where his touch had left the blue on her skin glowing brightly, and swallowed the lump that rose in her throat. “Thank you, Felix.”
“Anytime. And next time you want to throw some rocks around,” he said with a smirk, “let me know, and I’ll get the horses out of the way.”
She laughed at that, a real laugh that bubbled up from underneath all the knots and tension in her stomach, loosening some of them. Sparks of magic escaped her yet again, spinning in a whirlwind, twinkling like starlight before fading into the air.
“It’s not all bad,” Isolde said, half to herself, as she looked up. The sky was ablaze with vibrant streaks of orange and violet, the clouds edged in gold as the sun dipped below the distant hills.
“This journey. I’ve always wanted to travel. This isn’t quite how I envisioned it, but…”
He tilted his head at her, waiting.
“The world is beautiful,” she said finally, “and I’m glad I get to see it.”
Felix smiled. “I’d drink to that.”
They sat there long after dusk gave way to darkness. She told him about her favourite books, and how she’d hide in the library to read when she had lessons. She told him how she used to steal cookies from the kitchen and share them with the gardeners. She told him things she hadn’t thought about in years.
Felix listened. She asked him questions, most of which he evaded with that irritating charm, but some he answered. More than she expected him to. He told her a story about chasing a cat down the streets of the East Quarter that had her crying with laughter, and she learned he liked spicy food but hated fish.
It was only when Luella came to tell them it waslateand they needed to get some rest in order to not fall off their horses, that they reluctantly bid each other good night.
***
The terrain grew rougher over the next few days. Clusters of trees dotted the hills here and there, creating a kind of patchy woodland.
Felix, as usual, rode at the back of the group, keeping an eye on their surroundings. Isolde slowed down to join him more often than not.
“You know,” Felix remarked casually one morning, “Garren told me to stay away from you.”
Isolde looked up, startled. “He did? Why?”
“Obviously, because I am a terrible influence on you.”
“Hm. I suppose he is not wrong,” she replied, smiling.
Felix dramatically clutched his hand to his heart. “You wound me, my lady.”
Isolde giggled. “Well, for what it’s worth, I hope you won’t listen to Garren.” She bit her lip and looked away, acutely aware of the heat rising to her cheeks.
Felix was silent next to her. She had expected a joke or sarcastic remark, so she snuck a quick peek at him. He was smiling and was that ablush?
Triad help her, but she was starting to really like Felix. Really,reallylike him.
She glanced ahead, where Garren and Luella were riding. Garren had turned in his saddle to cast a disapproving glance back at them. Felix exaggerated his smile, raising his eyebrows innocently.
“You’re a bit insolent, you know,” Isolde said when she noticed the exchange.
“Oh, absolutely,” Felix replied, still smirking. “But look at him. He’s too much fun to annoy.”
