Page 82 of A Fractured Song

“Like pressure on my chest,” Zev said. “Similar to shortness of breath.”

Marieke frowned. “That’s not how I’d describe the feel of the magic.”

Zev straightened. “It’s fine. I can handle it. Let’s push on.”

“I don’t like it,” Marieke said, keeping pace reluctantly as Zev kept walking. “What if it’s killing you or something?”

Zev just made a dismissive noise. “I’m not so easy to kill.”

The conversation died out as they navigated carefully around some kind of bog, but after another five minutes, Zev spoke again, his voice more cheerful.

“There, I knew it would just be a matter of adjusting. The pressure is already getting less intense.”

Marieke realized he was right. The magic was becoming more contained, its surging power less insistent in its attempts to pour through her.

A moment later she realized why as they pushed their way through some vine-covered, low-hanging branches and emerged onto a wide, well-maintained path.

“There’s another path?” Zev said, bewildered. “I thought there was only one main road through.”

Marieke sighed. “It’s not another one. It’s the same one.”

“Are you sure?” Zev shot her a look. “What if this is a different road, made by the elves?”

“It’s not.” Marieke shook her head. “I recognize the boundary enchantment.”

Zev frowned, and she understood his reaction. She could have sworn they’d continued in much the same direction for their whole walk. It was a surprise to find that they’d traveled in a loop.

“Come on,” she said, striding back toward the foliage. “The bog must have turned us around more than we realized. Let’s be more careful of our route this time.”

Ten minutes later, they were back on the road, a sign pointing back toward a village they’d bypassed the day before.

“We’ve made no progress from where we started,” Marieke said, disgruntled. “How is it possible for us to be back at this spot? I’m sure we didn’t go through the same terrain that time as last time.”

Zev didn’t answer, just plunged back between the trees, his jaw set in determination.

For an hour they tried in vain to get deeper into the jungle, every attempt leading to the same result. Even the use of the lighted markings didn’t help. They couldn’t find them when they looked, yet their steps seemed always directed back the way they’d come.

“It’s magic,” Marieke concluded after the tenth attempt. “Some kind of magic is at work, stopping us from getting deeper into the jungle.”

“Why would the boundary enchantment be operating that way here when it wasn’t before?” Zev asked.

She shook her head. “I don’t think it’s the boundary enchantment. It’s not any enchantment I can feel. It must be something more sophisticated.”

She gasped as a thought seized her. “Something hiding itstracks. Remember how the elves can apparently make talismans that hide their own magic when they’re used? Maybe this is another form of the same craft.”

“You think it’s the work of elves?” Zev asked. He considered it. “That would make sense, wouldn’t it? If they’re keeping their existence hidden, they’d have an interest in humans staying on the road.” He raised an eyebrow at Marieke. “Why are you smiling?”

“Because if the elves don’t want people exploring this part of the jungle, it must mean we’re close!” she said. “Come on, we have to find a way around this redirecting magic.”

She struck back out, but to no avail. Nothing they tried worked, and by noon, they were both disheartened and weary.

“Any fresh ideas?” Zev asked her.

“I’m all out,” she said, groaning as she sat herself down on a boulder. “You?”

He sat down beside her, his expression thoughtful. “The only thing we haven’t tried is asking for help.”

“From the village back there?” Marieke asked doubtfully. “You think they might know about the elves after all?”

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