The elder nodded, her eyes twinkling. “I have heard of it.”
“Right, of course,” she flushed slightly, power churning inside her. “I was, um, I became Aelithar – as you call it – on midsummer. I had to leave Azuill because of the danger of my magic. We have been travelling ever since.”
It sounded so simple like that. Straightforward. She wondered how to explain it was anything but.
“And where are you going?” the elder asked. “Forgive me for prying, but I expect you have a destination?”
Before Isolde could respond, though, the large door burst open and three Crovan warriors barged in, two with spears and one with an axe. Felix and Luella reacted instantly, leaping up and positioning themselves between Isolde and the new arrivals. Garren looked momentarily bewildered but quickly stood as well, drawing his sword.
Rage flushed the leader’s face, and spittle flew from his mouth as he shouted. “Asara!” He waved his spear at the tall woman. “How dare you bring a Beastmonger into our village! Have you learned nothing?” Isolde saw Felix take a single step to stand just ahead of Luella. He had not even drawn his weapon, but menace radiated off him. Not like the Crovan warrior – big and loud, but a simmering, quiet kind of danger. Like a wolf stalking prey.
The tall woman – Asara – did not back down from the man’s fury. “You have no right to storm into the hall, Elric, shouting and making threats.”
“I have no right? When you bring corruption into our midst! Which one is it?” Elric looked from Felix to Luella, Garren, and finally, to Isolde. “I will slay them where they stand!”
Isolde opened her mouth to defend herself and her companions, but Felix spoke first.
“You can try,” Felix said as he rolled his shoulders and flexed his fingers over the handle of his axe. He took one smooth step forward to stand toe to toe with Elric, who recoiled. It was only slight, and he tried to mask it, but Isolde saw it.She knew Felix did, too, because she could almost see him smirk, even though his face wasn’t visible to her. The young man sitting with them stared at Felix with an expression Isolde could only describe as awe.
“Felix! Don’t!” she hissed.
“Enough,” the old woman said firmly. “Elric, you will stand down. This is no way to greet our guests. This young woman is Aelithar. It is our duty to aid her, regardless of her companions.”
“Duty!” he spat. “Our duty is to our own!”
The young man and Asara both rose from their seats. “Calm down, Elric,” the man said.
Elric scowled, but the elder’s authority, along with Felix staring him down, seemed to bring him down a notch. He let out an angry huff, turned on his heel, and stormed out of the hall, one warrior following behind. The third lingered – a young man, around her own age. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with light eyes, and wore his hair in a braid. He nodded to the people assembled in front of him.
“I’m Beorn,” he introduced himself. “I, uh… welcome.” His gaze swept over the newcomers, then settled on Isolde, looking her over in a way that would be considered scandalous back in Azuill. She blinked and gave him a timid smile.
Before she could say anything, though, her view of Beorn was blocked as Felix put himself between them.
“Nice to meet you,Beorn.” There was an edge to his voice that sent an involuntary shiver down Isolde’s spine. “Now why don’t you run along after your angry little friend before he hurts himself?”
Beorn hesitated, frowning, but nodded and left. Once he was out of sight, Felix turned back to the others. Luella’s eyebrows were raised in amusement. “Felix!” Isolde said. “Really! There was no need to be rude to him; he was trying to defuse the situation. We are guests here!”
“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.
