Arrows of Time - Kim Falconer [125]
Drayco still couldn’t get into this world, though having him in the corridors was very useful. He could keep in contact with the others, at least while Scylla was in the corridors. She suspected Drayco would not have gone over too well anyway—a huge black temple cat, seemingly unaccompanied. There were no animals to be seen in this place, save for Fynn and a small kettle of vultures circling high in the distance. She moved closer to Grayson.
Being with him yet not being able to talk, to touch or to let him know she was there, was making it hard to concentrate. He felt more animated now; the edges of his aura were turning a subtle green, matching an emerald tint of Everett’s. That seemed to happen a lot—people’s auras taking on the hue of those around them, the dominant feeling transmitting somehow to the others. Interesting. She would remember that for future reference.
As twigs snapped under the men’s shoes, her attention returned to the present. She focused on their words. This conversation might offer some crucial hints to her body’s location.
‘Before I answer,’ Everett said, picking up a stick and tossing it off into the distance for Fynn. ‘I’ve got some questions of my own.’
The little dog dashed after the stick, stirring up dirt and gravel as he ran.
‘Fire away,’ Grayson said, his eyes on the path ahead.
‘The body art on your chest…is that permanent?’
Grayson smiled. ‘It is.’
‘And did you put it on yourself?’
‘You could say that.’
Oh, goddess of the woods, Grayson. Don’t start telling him about your genius DNA tattooing. This man’s with ASSIST. Haven’t you worked that out yet!
He doesn’t hear you, Maudi.
Her familiar’s voice sounded drowsy, as if she’d woken him.
I know, but I can talk anyway. Maybe some essence of my thoughts can get through, even if he thinks they’re his own.
I do that all the time.
Rosette stopped. You do?
The only response was the sound of his purr.
We’re going to talk about that later, Drayco. She turned her attention back to the men. They had reached the lake and were skirting its edge. Everett kept calling Fynn away from the water, but the little pup wasn’t responding to the command.
‘Canie! It’s foul. Don’t drink it.’
It looked none too pure to her either. Fynn, little lovely? The water’s bad. Stay out of it.
Water’s wet. Wet is good.
Not this time. Look! Grayson has a stick. Go for it. Hurry. She shimmered as he scurried away from the shore, catching the toss before it hit the ground.
‘Have you put such marks on others?’ Everett asked.
Grayson took the stick from Fynn’s mouth and tossed it again. ‘It seems like that’s all I’ve been doing lately.’
The men fell into silence. Rosette suspected that each was taking the other’s measure.
‘And what are you doing here?’ Everett asked, indicating the smoke-lined horizon.
‘I’m looking for a woman,’ Grayson said. ‘She may have come through your facility—wounded perhaps.’
‘Did she have…’ Everett hesitated, looking at Grayson’s chest.
‘Tattoos? Yes. You’ve seen her?’
Grayson’s aura jumped to orange and Everett’s matched it, though he didn’t respond immediately.
Say YES, you idiot! Rosette hovered over him, wishing she could scream, bombarding him with her thoughts anyway. It was like shooting an arrow at close range, straight through a cloud. The man didn’t so much as twitch. She knew he heard her before when she was first brought into the healing centre. Why couldn’t he hear her now?
He thinks you’re dead, Maudi. On ice. His mind cannot conceive of communication with you now.
Well, his mind is an ant-sized dust bunny.