Arrows of Time - Kim Falconer [184]
Drayco growled deep in his throat, or was that laughter? I’ve heard, Jarrod, that when people have something very important to say, they get a bard to help them write it out. Do you think that would have been a good idea? Even Clay, were he still alive, could have said all this much better.
Stop it, Drayco. I get that it’s not coming out the way I’d hoped.
I’m curious to see how you’ll extricate yourself. You’re in deep, deep…
I know!
Rosette’s arms were gesticulating wildly as she ranted on, firing one protest after the other. Jarrod got up, blocking her in her tracks. He grabbed her shoulders, and forced her to look at him. ‘Do you think that Nell put her life on hold to have you?’ He cringed. It wasn’t what he’d meant to say.
Going deeper with that line of thought, Jarrod. She’s still wrestling abandonment issues. Did you forget?
Rosette flushed. ‘What? Nell put her life on hold for me? Hardly. She gave me up to Bethsay, remember? She didn’t even know where you were, but she passed the spell along anyway.’ Her eyes were fierce. ‘Why don’t you ask her to have another daughter? I’ll gladly hand the spell to my little sister when she comes of age. You could time the birth for a more convivial moon sign. Ceres perhaps? Maybe that’ll make her clucky.’ Rosette spun away from him. She grabbed the door and, balancing on one foot, stomped into her boots. ‘Where’s my sword?’
Jarrod looked around, speechless.
‘Never mind.’ She snapped out the words. ‘An’ Lawrence will have it. Is he on the training grounds?’
He coughed.
‘Oh, great. So he’s still not here? Demons with him. Demons with you all.’ She spun back, her face crimson, fists in the air, poised to strike.
He raised his hands. ‘Tio, Rosette. Tio. I don’t want to fight.’
‘Really? Then why’d you bring this up?’ She turned and stormed out, Drayco bounding after her.
Rosette says to…
I hear what she says, Drayco. Thank you.
He sank to the couch, rubbing his face in his hands. He thought of going after her, but changed his mind. She needed time to get used to the idea. It would work out. It always had.
There was a tap at the door. Kreshkali looked in, and gave him a soft smile. ‘Everything all right?’ she asked, one eyebrow raised. ‘I heard a commotion.’
‘It could have been worse,’ he said. ‘Her sword wasn’t here, thank the goddess.’
‘She didn’t take the news well?’
Jarrod shrugged. ‘I haven’t exactly told her yet.’
‘About An’ Lawrence or the pregnancy?’
‘Neither.’
‘The portals?’
He shook his head.
‘What did you say?’
‘All the wrong things. It’s never been an issue before. I was on unfamiliar territory.’
She patted his arm. ‘Her mind shield is up, Jarrod. Do you know where she’s headed?’
‘Out of the manor at a run.’
‘I’ll send Teg. Time they met properly anyway. It’ll be all right.’ Kreshkali closed her eyes for a moment.
‘Come.’ She extended her hand. ‘It’ll sort out. She’s not the first young witch to have a child she wasn’t expecting.’
He nodded. ‘Let’s just make sure she’s not the last.’
EARTH—TIME: BACKWARD
CHAPTER 43
Everett stepped off the chopper, wind tearing at his clothes, the whirl of the blades deafening. He stooped, running hunched until clear of the landing pad, his pack bouncing against his back, his baggage nearly slipping from his grip. As he reached the abandoned building, the chopper took off and disappeared into the clouds. There was no wave of farewell. He hadn’t expected one.
Everett took in the surroundings. His eyes welled up, blurring the vista like a watercolour left in the rain. Oh such colours! He struggled between the rush of emotion and the desire for clear vision. The sun was shining a brilliant yellow, the horizon blue—something he’d only seen in computer simulations and digital imagery. Puffs of white clouds were strewn overhead and there were birds—real ones—flying in the distance.
It was beautiful beyond his wildest imagination—the sky,