Arrows of Time - Kim Falconer [158]
It doesn’t seem that much like the lush green woods of Dumarka to me.
It’s not Dumarka, Maudi. It’s Los Loma.
Can’t be. There are no mountains.
Los Loma, Earth.
It’s like a dried-up eggshell. Where’s the acid rain?
Gone. It hardly rains at all, but Jarrod says there is water at the temple and fresh green trees.
What temple?
Temple Los Loma. Do you remember it? We’ve never been there but…
The estate Kreshkali was searching for? She found it? She named it for the Lupins’ stronghold?
That’s it. Demons, Maudi, you are muddled up. Do you remember anything else? He kept asking her questions, his streams of thought holding her attention.
I remember tossing an apple towards that gate. Look! There are apple trees.
Those would be your doing.
How long have we been away?
A fair bit of time, it seems. Or none at all.
Both are one and the same, I think.
That’s right, Maudi. Come on. Keep up.
Why again?
We’re going to the temple. Almost there.
‘Where’s he off to?’ Shane asked as Drayco ran, red dust billowing behind him.
‘Fire demons! I’ve got to stop her,’ Jarrod cursed, racing after the temple cat.
Shane glanced at Selene, who simply shrugged, covering her mouth and nose until the dust settled. Fynn sat down, whining, apparently still too wobbly to pursue.
Grayson went pale, his eyes focused on the distance. ‘We have to keep moving,’ he said, sweat soaking his shirt. ‘We’re running out of time.’
‘Are you all right?’
Grayson kept his eyes ahead. ‘The sun’s too hot for her. She’s dissipating.’
‘Dissipating?’
He didn’t explain. Shane scooped up Fynn and carried him under his arm, breaking into a jog to stay abreast with Grayson.
‘What about them?’ Shane asked, jerking his head towards Jarrod and the temple cat. The two were halfway up the ridge behind him.
‘They’ll catch up, and hopefully Rosette will too.’
‘I guess it won’t work without her,’ Selene said. She jogged easily next to Shane, their shoulders touching.
When they crested the small hill, the temple lay before them. Fynn wiggled in Shane’s arms and he let the dog spill out onto the ground. When he straightened, he whistled. ‘Some place you’ve got here,’ he said. ‘What’s it called again?’
‘Temple Los Loma.’
‘It’s so lush,’ Selene said, catching her breath. ‘Where does the water come from?’
‘Underground.’ Grayson held the gurney back as they descended towards the plaza. It jostled over the bumpy drive.
The trees lining the entranceway were in bloom. They had white-skinned trunks and purple flowers. A gentle honey fragrance drifted on the air. Blossoms littered the ground, creating a lavender carpet releasing more sweet fragrance as they walked down the slope. A marble fountain dominated the centre courtyard. In the midst of it stood an impressive statue—a black horse prancing with one foreleg drawn up so high it looked as if the hoof was ready to strike. Water sprayed in mini-geysers, creating flecks of sparkling rainbows.
‘That’s amazing,’ Shane said.
Fynn made a beeline for the water. He didn’t stop to lap at the edge but plunged straight in. He was greeted by a trio of large red dogs with long cowlicks down the ridge of their backs. He was dwarfed by them but still pup enough to cool their aggression with submissive gestures.
People were coming towards them, calling out to Grayson, their expressions of joy changing quickly to concern as they saw the corpse. They poured out of the main manor, the temple gardens, training grounds and the stables. Some were leading horses, some had garden hoes and rakes in hand, some carried books and folders, some swords and bows. All stopped what they were doing to converge on his small party. A man thrust a waterskin into his hand and he drank deeply, handing it over to Selen.
Grayson was talking to a grey-haired woman who soon gave orders to the gathering. Before he could take another drink, they were ushered into a spacious, open-air temple with polished wood floors and walls that rose only halfway to the ceiling. It reminded him of Temple Dumarka. In the breezeways, hanging