Arrows of Time - Kim Falconer [133]
They’re sheep, Teg. Enclosed in a paddock and overfed. She’s probably more impressed with your audacity to pinch one than anything else.
Two.
What?
I said, ‘That’s true, Mistress’.
Indeed. When you’re both sated, see if you can get her to soothe the Sword Master before he carves holes in the temple walls, please?
Will do.
Kreshkali turned her attention to the woman pacing in front of the Dragon Bone Chair, ignoring for the moment Jarrod and his companions. It didn’t look good. It wasn’t clear whose blood had soaked the High Priestess of Treeon Temple—Jarrod hadn’t mentioned any violence in his brief message into the corridors—but it appeared the woman thought Jarrod had something to do with it. Kreshkali relaxed her shoulders and smoothed her expression, holding her mind shield tight in place.
‘I’m High Priestess Le Saint,’ the blood-soaked woman said. ‘I understand you and your companion have been hunting in my woods.’ She closed her eyes for a moment. ‘And pastures…’
Teg! Get out of there. ‘We’ve been celebrating Beltane,’ Kali said, extending her hand in the traditional greeting of equals—palm up. ‘Perhaps a little too enthusiastically? I do apologise.’ She allowed herself a quick smile at Jarrod and Shane. ‘I’m delighted you’ve found them. Saved me the trouble.’ She shook her head.
‘And you are?’
‘Kreshkali, High Priestess of Temple Los Loma.’
‘Temple Los Loma? I don’t know it. Are these your apprentices?’
‘They are.’ She nodded to Jarrod and Shane, making full eye contact with each. ‘The other is…’
‘Mine. I’m Sword Master Rowan An’ Lawrence.’ He took a step forward to stand next to Kali. ‘Has there been some trouble?’
‘There’s been a murder.’
Kali’s eyebrows went up.
‘My consort, Braxton Corvey, is dead.’
‘Witnesses?’
‘Hundreds.’
‘What was seen?’
Le Saint looked down at the blood on her dress, a white daisy falling from her hair as she did so. Her head came up fast and she locked eyes with Kali’s. ‘A witch—in their company.’ She pointed a finger at Jarrod. ‘Stabbed him in the liver before hawk-shifting. She escaped, leaving them behind.’
‘And?’
‘And I think you’re that witch, back here to set them free.’ She turned to the guards. ‘Lock them up.’
The men at either side stepped in and drew their swords, the ring sounding throughout the chamber. They bound her hands behind her back and did the same with the others, before leading them away.
‘Keep them separate,’ Le Saint called out.
Kreshkali’s guard forced her in a different direction, away from Rowan and the others.
Teg! she called.
We’re in.
After the sun set, Teg crept down the western slope of the temple valley, past the training grounds and stables, following Scylla. They stuck to the shadows, not making a sound. The feline knew the terrain and guided them flawlessly, keeping to dark corners and thick hedges, along paths overhung with trees swaying in the wind. The success of this venture would depend on stealth, both physical and mental. There were mind-travellers about, and other familiars. He wanted to consult with Kreshkali on their plan, let her know what he was doing, but neither he nor Scylla had risked a mental communiqué. It would be like clanging bells on a still morning. The place was alive with psychics. He shifted into his other form, directing the rippling shock wave skyward.
As a quadruped his instincts sharpened, sights, sounds and smells taking on an infrared glow. He could see the texture and nature of energy in a palpable way—as if perceiving them with a different part of his mind. He was drawn towards the temple courtyard as they crossed beneath the shadow of the guardian statues. He shivered, slinking past the smooth marble shapes, keeping to the darkness that lined the empty thoroughfares. The streets were littered with the day’s revelry, abandoned when the Beltane festivities had come to an abrupt halt.
When he came to a three-way crossing, Scylla went left without hesitation. An’ Lawrence was like a homing device to her, with or without mind communication. Teg’s link to Kreshkali was even more literal. In his