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My eyes narrowed when I spotted a fine glowing red ribbon that stretched across the field before it disappeared into trees farther away. The red line waved and shimmered, as if manipulated by the wind, but I doubted nature’s elements affected it. I sensed strong magic coming from it.
“Look, that’s magical,” Haxil waved toward the red line, and Ilara clapped in excitement.
“Let’s investigate.” She strode toward it, and Haxil followed her like an eager pup before I could stop either of them.
Nish rolled his eyes and looked to me for direction.
I sighed. “They’re right. That line is indeed magical. Perhaps it’s part of the Headquarters we seek.”
We all strode toward the line, stopping just short of it. I let puffs of magic out to assess it more.
“Do you taste that?” I asked everyone. “This barrier has a flavor. Mint and anise.”
“I taste it too,” Ilara said with a nod.Her black hair draped over her shoulders between her beautiful white wings.
“Same,” Haxil replied as my other guards also confirmed they sensed it.
I cocked my head. “It’s a barrier of some kind, and—” The air rippled around the red line. I peered closer at it. A shimmer appeared, just a vague sense of a Shield of some kind. “Illusion magic is at play here.”
“Can you see past it?” Ilara asked.
I shook my head. “It’s too different from mine. Perhaps with time and effort, I could learn to see through it, but at the moment, no.”
“What’s that over there?” Sandus pointed farther down the red line.
An arched doorway appeared, made up of the same glowing red line as the barrier but in the distinctive shape of a door.
“Perhaps that’s where we enter?” Ilara looked at Haxil, who was grinning, before the two once again took off.
Ryder sighed. “Those two are as eager as young children.”
Nish sneered. “I don’t know why. This place is...” He shuddered.
Snorting at his typical pessimism, I followed my mate and guard as the other three prowled behind me.
As soon as I stood before the door, a strange-sounding voice said, “Prince Norivun Deema Melustral Achul and guests, welcome.”
Nish jumped. “Ock! What in all the realms. The air is speaking to us!”
A glowing flat surface appeared from out of thin air, with the outline of a hand on it. The strange otherworldly voice again said from nowhere, “Please scan your palm before entering.”
“Strange magic.” Ryder shook his head. “Strange magic indeed is at work here.”
“How fascinating!” Ilara grinned ear to ear.
Haxil leaned closer to inspect the flat surface. “It doesn’t appear malicious.” He straightened. “How intriguing. Do you suppose one lays their hand on it?”
“I would assume so.” I studied the strange flat, glowing contraption again. I also didn’t sense any sinister intentions and figured this was part of the Supernatural Forces’ magical process, but before I could lay my palm on it, Nish stopped me.
“Let me, my prince. In case it bites you.”
Haxil laughed, but Nish’s guard instincts were obviously running at full throttle as he laid his palm on it. His jaw ground while the glowing screen assessed him.
“I’m impressed, Nish.” Sandus grinned. “I thought you would have cleaved it in two with your sword instead of trusting it.”
Nish glowered. “I was considering it.”
“Access denied,” that same strange voice said, Should you need assistance from the Supernatural Forces, please contact your local agent.”
