The Mage's Heart

, strung by a net and suspended in the boughs of a tree, a little off the path. What were the chances, I wondered, of two

be a trap to lure a travell

"I think I am the

ed up there?" I asked him, we w

le, booted foot hung out between the weave, the boot finely made and tooled with elaborate detail, the sole barely showing wear. The cloth

was irritable, wriggling within t

my voice polite. If he were a trap set by one of

re," he mumbled

off the trail, even for s

etorted. "Will yo

a halt. "Don't yo

tween the weave and pointed down. I coul

uck," I commented, and too

n to shoot, serious

. He hit the ground hard, knocking the breath from his lungs. For a moment, there was no sound, and then he groaned as

ther, who was easily the biggest man in my village. His clothing was as fine as I suspected, from boots to cloak, heavy with embroidery and of luxurious material, vivi

d sort of beauty under the tangled fall of his hair, his face given more to fierceness than to charming smiles from the set of

eaving the road. As it is,

o snorted in response. "Y

of magic,"

ands onto the saddle, and lifted himself up with impressive strength and

mber offering

hands of someone given to physical labour. "You'd hardly leave me out here," he said with confidence. "We'd b

d Cory

lf closer on the saddle. He was warm against my back, and his thighs against mine were long boned and strong. The last time I had been this close to

himself from a net?" I asked to dist

think it so easy to use magic? You need the right components.

ve of a net?" I suggested, trying to keep my voice bland

mm

ould smell the herbs he carried upon him as spell components, and chypre scent of sandalwood. He sat the saddle with the conf

our horse?"

you think I

omeone who would

etter tha

ude, even for a mage. "Where a

's ah

shoulder at him.

t you don't need to kn

Yslt and ah

ities, castles, anything of actual significance?" His

ns, and beyond, eventually, the coast

tion. "You will take me to Nerith." He said t

going. How you get on from there, is

through the silence of the trees. "F-k," he muttered again. I wondered if

eature was that?"

the refuse of the village over a particularly harsh winter. They had been responsible for the lamps being erected in the village streets. There wa

he heeled Coryfe into a gallop. I saw a flash of light open before us, as if lightning had struck, causing auras in my vision, and tasted the bitter, metallic magic in t

f the air whistling through the portal stopped abruptly. "Good," he s

ng to dispel the auras as I looked around. We were in the middle of a vast area of grassland, the feather heads of the wild grasses bowing and rippling

, I could see nothing except more grass plains. There were no houses, no roads, not

wonder where we are?" F

e should be glad we're not swimming in the middle of the ocean. I suppose we

st," I replied grimly. Did the man intend

t?" he was

the dangers of the forest? "Imps, fairies, ogr

st," he replied with dignit

e type of foliage I had been taught the Fae favoured, the leaves three pointed, and as large as my hand, the colours ranging from a rich russet to a lush green. The shru

's reins, and redirecting him. "Your horse will need to rest. He is carrying two, and I am not light. We might as w