Arrows of Time - Kim Falconer [110]
Yet it sounded like Rosette had stumbled upon a world that was circumventing death. That could be the key to Tensar’s imbalance, though she wouldn’t realise it if she never made it onto Tensar. The paradoxes rocked him.
‘Rosette!’ He screamed her name, and his legs gave way. If it hadn’t been for Selene’s and Shane’s automatic response, he’d have hit the ground hard. They grabbed an arm each and propped him up, one on either side.
‘Come on,’ Selene said in his ear. ‘Stay with us.’
His eyes fluttered as he lifted his head to Nell, who was still standing before him. She took a few steps back. He locked onto her, boring into her with his gaze. ‘Take me to Rosette!’
She faltered, and her familiar’s hackles went up. ‘There’s no rush,’ Nell said, stroking Torgan’s head until he calmed down. ‘Rosette, like I said, is on ice. We’ve got time to take care of these problems in their proper order.’
‘And what order is that, Nell?’ Jarrod pulled out of his companions’ grip.
‘My Gaela has to come first.’
‘Why?’
She cocked her head. ‘You’ll have to trust me on that one, Jarrod. All I can say at this point is there are wrinkles in a few worlds that need smoothing out and one must follow the other. I can help you, but you’ve got to help me first. The High Priest Corvey has to go. That’s not negotiable.’
While Jarrod kept his eyes locked with Nell’s, he became aware of the cool breeze on his face and the sun coming out from behind the clouds. It brightened the leaves of a nearby strangler fig and warmed the back of his neck. He also became aware of the many possibilities as he made instant calculations.
‘It’s a fair trade, really,’ Nell said. ‘What’s the problem?’
‘No problem,’ he answered. ‘We’ll go with you.’
‘Like dead demons we will,’ Selene said.
He turned to her. ‘I know what I’m doing.’
Selene snapped her mouth shut.
‘There’s something I’d like to check first, though, Nell,’ he said, softening his eyes.
‘What’s that?’
‘I’d like a small sample of your blood. Just a prick,’ he added when her pupils dilated. ‘It won’t hurt but a sting.’ He waited while waves of emotion washed over her face. Her mind shield faltered. It was just the chink he needed. He was in.
‘A little assurance that you’ll lead us to Rosette when the time comes,’ he said. ‘It’s not much to ask, under the circumstances.’
She lifted her chin. ‘Certainly, if it makes you feel better.’
‘It does.’
‘It doesn’t for me,’ Shane said, pulling Jarrod aside. ‘We can’t go with her, fight her battles. What about Tensar? What about Rosette? This doesn’t make sense.’
‘The best path isn’t always in a straight line, Shane. Believe me, we’re headed for both at the same time.’
Shane kicked the ground. ‘The best path is away from her, I’m sure of that.’
Jarrod turned back to Nell. ‘The blood.’
‘Get on with it,’ she said, holding up her finger. ‘Though what it’s for, I surely don’t know.’
Ah, but you do, my queen. You revealed that to me, if nothing else.
EARTH & GAELA—TIME: FORWARD
CHAPTER 23
Drayco?
Here, Maudi, by the entrance.
It’s pitch dark. I can’t see anything.
You never could see well at night.
True, Dray.
What do they call that?
Night blindness.
That’s it. You’ve always had night blindness.
So it’s not just because I’m dead?
I don’t think so, Maudi. It really is dark. You wouldn’t perceive anything even if you had a body.
You mean, even if I was alive.
Maudi, you are alive. Your body’s dead. There’s a difference.
Rosette wanted to sigh. She felt the sensation, like an exhalation, a wash of relief, but she had no physicality to perform the action—no way to express it. I don’t know how I’m going to get used to this,