Chapter 6. To Flee

SAELYNA

The row of sycamore trees that line the top of Halden Hill used to be a spot where town folk gathered in the evenings to relax and get together. Here, it’s peaceful, especially at night. A clear view of the village is offered from this point, and one can see just enough of every corner of Halden.

I dig my left toe into the grassy soil and twist up the earth. I’ve been here for half an hour, but it’s starting to feel like forever. I’ve bitten my nails to the stub, I can’t mess with my hair any longer, so I’m on the edge of going wild with apprehension.

A sudden sound makes me jump and turn around. Someone is coming up the hill, slowly and deliberately. I duck around a tree, listening to my heart thumping wildly, as he summits the crest. He’s wearing a black hood and a cloak. They’ve found me, then. The mages have tracked the magic. I brace myself to bolt at the slightest slip. I can’t outrun a mage, but I have the advantage here, given that I’m an elf.