Arrows of Time - Kim Falconer [127]
‘And you think she’s going to come to her senses now that he’s dead?’
‘I do.’
‘And then what?’
‘And then new doors will open.’ He closed his eyes again. ‘They’re coming now. Let me do the talking.’
Kreshkali smiled at Teg as he ran towards the tree line. He disappeared into the woods and she caught the change of his bipedal gait as it became the easy lope of a wolf. Her heart beat faster, and she drew in a long breath to steady it.
‘Where’d you send him?’ An’ Lawrence asked, frowning at the sound of Teg’s shift.
‘He’s checking the road behind us.’
‘We’re being followed?’
‘I hope so.’
‘You don’t mind if I send Scylla along too?’
‘That would be ideal,’ she said, unruffled by his mood. ‘I want us captured, not them.’
‘I can’t wait…’
She looked at the Sword Master; his jaw was tight, his hand on the hilt of his sword. ‘Rowan, we know they’re being held beneath the temple itself. This is the quickest way to get to them.’
‘Getting to them isn’t the problem. It’s getting out that worries me.’
‘I’m not without skills.’
‘Nor I, but this is not our Treeon and we don’t know who the High Priestess is. My guess is she’s adept, or she wouldn’t have Jarrod locked up in the first place. Have you thought about that?’
‘I have.’
‘And?’
‘I’m not worried.’
He avoided her eyes and stared at the hills around them—lush, green and covered with wild flowers. ‘Do you have any idea when we are?’ he asked.
‘Other than Beltane?’ Kreshkali shook her head. ‘Not a clue.’
‘Didn’t think so.’
They’re coming, Teg announced. Riding hard. Seems they got the message.
His voice resonated in her mind. How do you do that?
Mistress?
How do you deliver an ordinary bit of news, yet make it sound like…She faltered, giving herself a little shake.
Like what, Mistress?
Never mind. We’re ready here. Kreshkali paused for a moment, catching An’ Lawrence’s grimace. How many are there? she asked Teg.
Six.
And Scylla’s with you?
Grudgingly.
Can you stay out of sight and still track us?
What do you think?
Kreshkali laughed. We won’t be long, Teg. Stay close. She turned to An’ Lawrence and rested her hand on his shoulder. ‘There’re six riders heading this way, at the gallop,’ she said. ‘Teg’s going on to Treeon Valley under cover, with Scylla, of course.’ She tilted her head at him. ‘But you already knew that, didn’t you?’
He nodded, his lips tight. ‘I did.’
‘And are you ready to roll over, Sword Master?’
His knuckles went white as he gripped the hilt of his weapon. ‘I am.’ He said it like an oath.
‘It’s expedient, Rowan. Please play along. I don’t want any surprises.’
Before he could answer, half-a-dozen riders crested the hill behind them, creating billows of dust, dirt brown against the green fields. The one in the lead drew his sword when he spotted them and Kali moved her hands away from her sides, letting the hood fall back from her head, her cloak slipping to reveal her shoulder. An’ Lawrence stood, his legs wide apart, arms crossed. When the riders were on them, they skidded to a halt, the horses’ haunches tucking neatly beneath them. They circled, swords drawn.
Kreshkali beamed a smile. ‘Looking for someone, are you?’ she asked the captain.
‘The High Priestess Le Saint requests your immediate presence,’ he said, his horse blowing after the hard sprint.
He rode a copper-coloured palomino, tall and well proportioned. Her flaxen mane fell in rippling waves as she tossed her head. Kreshkali’s eyes drifted over the mare, thinking she would be a fine addition to their growing herd at Temple Los Loma.
‘Fabulous animal,’ she said.
The guard sheathed his sword and dismounted. He had light hair himself, and broad shoulders. He was stripped to the waist save for a leather vest and a round shield slung on his back. His blue eyes flashed.
‘You hold priestess rank,’ he said. It was a statement, not a question. He was studying the tattoos on her hands and followed the line of her arm to her shoulder which bore the symbol of Treeon Temple—the serpent-entwined tree. As he studied An’ Lawrence, his jaw began to work. ‘I’ve been at Treeon all