Arrows of Time - Kim Falconer [191]
‘Where?’
Behind the temple. You can see it from here…to the right of the grove. Blue and shimmering.
She shaded her eyes. ‘Oh, lovely. Not as big as Treeon’s, but no bathing pools are, unless you count the ocean.’
There is ocean in Dumarka.
She turned to her familiar and stroked the top of his head. ‘I miss it too,’ she whispered. She roughed his neck. ‘Come on. Let’s get to that pool and have a quick dip. I’ve dust in my eyes and grit in my teeth.’
And then?
‘We find Grayson first, I think.’
That shouldn’t be a challenge.
‘Meaning?’
He’s coming this way.
Grayson walked towards them, his long strides quickly closing the distance. He carried a waterskin. Brilliant man. She was parched.
‘How was the hunt?’ he asked. He directed his question to both of them, but his eyes were on Rosette.
‘Grand. I’m looking for a bath, though.’
‘The pool’s beautiful—mosaic tiles the colour of the sky. You’ll love it.’
‘Your mood has lifted,’ she said, taking the waterskin and drinking deeply. She poured more into her cupped hand for Drayco. ‘Show us the way?’
‘My pleasure.’ He looped her arm in his.
She felt her heart swell. It was good to be with him when his mind-set was so light. He must have had a breakthrough. ‘Grayson, there’s something I want to talk to you about.’
He put his arm over her shoulder. ‘I’ve been wanting to talk to you too.’
She looked at his face, ready to laugh, but he wasn’t smiling. She felt a wave about to break. ‘I know,’ she said, wanting to forestall it. ‘I haven’t been too accessible, have I?’
‘Rosette, you’ve been dead.’
She chuckled, but her mirth faded when he went silent. Drayco?
I don’t think you will like his breakthrough, Maudi.
Chills went up her spine. ‘What’s up?’ she asked, trying not to stiffen underneath his touch.
His arm slipped off her shoulder, but he didn’t speak. She couldn’t stand the empty space between them, so she filled it with words. ‘I know I’ve been gone for some time. It must’ve been frustrating.’ She searched for other ways to say the same thing.
‘Frustrating?’ He took a deep breath. ‘It’s made me think deeply.’
‘About?’
‘Us.’
‘You know I’m not…’
‘Rosette,’ he interrupted. ‘You are a beautiful and amazing woman.’
That’s never a good opener, Maudi.
Hush, love. Let him explain.
‘You’re powerful, full of energy, dynamic, intelligent…Being with you was an exhilarating experience.’
Rosette bit her lower lip. ‘Was?’
He brushed the hair back from her cheek as they walked. ‘You know I love you.’
Rosette swallowed hard and kept her eyes on the path. ‘And…?’
‘You’re from the line of Janis Richter.’
‘I am. This is true.’
‘You’re linked to a quantum sentient, Rosette, you’re linked to the Lupins—it’s part of your brilliance, of course—but it’s making it too hard for me to be with you.’
‘Too hard.’ She nodded, not trusting her voice.
‘For almost a year, I haven’t even known where you were. When I finally found you…’ He paused, looking into the distance. ‘You were dead. As I tried to deal with that, you came back to life. Now here you are, as vibrant and enthused as ever.’ He pulled her to a stop. ‘Rosette, I can’t handle the unpredictability. I can’t handle the separations, the not knowing. It’s too much for me.’
‘You mean, it’s not enough.’
‘That too. When we’re together, you’ve business brewing; training, teaching, planning, organising. And…’
‘More?’ Her throat was so tight she could barely speak.
‘There’s Jarrod.’
‘Jarrod is my…’
Grayson put his fingers over her lips. ‘Let me finish, please. I know who Jarrod is to you. I know what your work is like. You’re a free spirit with interests and intentions in all four directions. I respect that. I admire it. I adore it.’ He pulled her into an embrace. ‘I just can’t live with it,’ he whispered into her ear.
The tears she had so carefully contained filled her eyes and overflowed, running down her cheeks.
Maudi?
It’s okay, Dray. I’m okay. She took a deep breath and tightened the embrace, crying into his neck. He held her for some time before she straightened and wiped her eyes. ‘You’re right, of course,