Arrows of Time - Kim Falconer [114]
‘What’s he doing?’ Kreshkali asked.
An’ Lawrence paused for a moment, his eyes losing focus. ‘Ratting, apparently.’
‘Ratting?’
‘That’s what Scylla says.’
‘Rosette’s lost and he’s having a picnic?’
‘I suspect he had to eat, no matter what’s happened,’ Grayson replied when An’ Lawrence didn’t. He stepped out of the portal. His hands were shoved deep into the front pockets of his fur-lined coat. His head lifted slightly as he scanned the terrain. ‘It felt different last time I was here.’
‘How long ago was that?’ An’ Lawrence asked.
Grayson’s face was pale and drawn. He cleared his throat. ‘Last year. Coming back from my first visit to Gaela, my holiday with…’
An’ Lawrence looked away. ‘With Rosette,’ he whispered.
Kreshkali stared at them both.
‘Stop being so morbid, you two. We’re here to find Rosette—to bring her back, not bury her.’ She threw her hands up in the air. ‘Do you think I would need all of you otherwise?’
No one replied.
Kreshkali paced, walking the distance of the platform in several long strides. Then she turned on her heels. Teg? Can you go see what’s keeping the temple cats?
The young Lupin pulled his sword out of his belt and bowed as he passed it to her, scabbard and all. She suspected he felt more comfortable on four legs in this unknown space than two. It made sense. She slipped the sword into her own belt as he disappeared down the tunnel. His footfalls echoed back, turning from a two-legged pace to a three-beat lope.
‘Where’s he going?’ An’ Lawrence asked. ‘Did you send him off or…?’
‘Easy, Rowan. I asked him to check on the felines. That’s all. When are you going to drop the grudge? Teg had nothing to do with that day on the plateau.’
‘That was more your doing, wasn’t it?’
‘Finally!’ She stopped pacing. ‘I’ve been waiting for you to get to this, though your timing is awkward.’
‘My timing or your response?’
‘Here they come,’ Grayson said. He laced his hands on top of his head.
Scylla and Drayco trotted towards them. They were being careful to avoid the deeper water, leaping over pools and sidestepping puddles. A black wolf loped easily beside Drayco, his coat luminous with grey highlights when he passed under the shafts of sunlight. Scylla avoided the Lupin, keeping to the other side of the big black cat. Within a short distance of the platform, the wolf slowed his pace, morphing in seconds into the form of a young man. His face was relaxed and sunny as he stepped out of the shock wave. He nodded to his mentor and leapt onto the platform.
Thanks, Teg, Kreshkali said to him privately. I love watching you do that.
My pleasure, Mistress.
She held his gaze for a moment before turning to the temple cat. ‘Drayco!’ She lifted her chin as she took in his approach. ‘You seem quite well, under the circumstances. I’m not going to waste time telling you how anxious we all are. What’s happened?’ Her glance went to An’ Lawrence. ‘I told you things would not be as dire as they seemed,’ she said to him with a sideways look.
‘Really? Then you haven’t heard what Scylla has to report, have you?’
‘How could I? You haven’t given it to me yet.’
‘I haven’t heard it yet!’
Drayco leapt on the platform as Kreshkali squatted down in front of him, ignoring An’ Lawrence. The feline rubbed his cheeks on her shoulder, alternating his left and right, rumbling a purr.
‘I’m happy to see you too,’ she whispered, grasping his neck and giving his head a shake from side to side.
He yawned deeply and bow-stretched.
‘We’d better hear your tale now,’ she said, standing up and brushing dust and cat hairs from her long cloak. ‘You’re up, Rowan,’ she said. ‘See what Scylla can glean. I want to know what happened, in detail. And ask if…’
He waved her back. ‘I know what to ask. Scylla knows what to ask. Give me some room so I can translate.’
Kreshkali turned to the gurgling stream that rushed along the causeway, her fingers alternately clenching and relaxing while An’ Lawrence engaged with his familiar.
Rosette quivered. The portal was glowing, someone was coming through. She felt her connection to the Entity,