Arrows of Time - Kim Falconer [44]
Drayco? Can you hear anyone? Have you tried to reach Scylla? An’ Lawrence might still be at Treeon.
We’re too insulated here. We need to get away from these mountains—closer to the coast—if we’re going to reach anyone.
We’ll head to Treeon in the morning.
That’s a fairly long walk.
I know the portal here. We’ll be gazing down the cliffs into Treeon Valley before morning tea.
Excellent.
She tilted her head back, opening her eyes to the sparkling vault above. Towards the western horizon a bright star appeared from behind the clouds.
‘That’s strange.’
‘What?’ Shane asked, taking the flute from his lips as he finished a reel.
Maudi?
Both Shane and Drayco were staring at her.
‘Maybe nothing, but if I have my bearings right, that’s Jupiter shining bright on the western horizon.’
‘Jupiter?’
‘A distant solar system planet. Huge. Many moons. Uninhabited. Named for an ancient Olympian Earth god.’
‘I don’t understand any of that, but its placement there is strange to you because…?’
‘Because when I left, Jupiter was rising in the sky at dusk.’
‘Still not with you, Rosette.’
Give him the facts, Maudi. He’s good with them.
I thought that’s what I was doing.
Maybe in a different order? Like, from beginning to end instead of all middle?
She smiled, took a sip of water and smacked her lips. ‘Jupiter has a twelve-year cycle—it takes twelve years for it to travel one complete orbit around the sun. If the planet’s setting now, and we’re in the same season, it’s been six years since I was last on Gaela.’
Six, Maudi, or eighteen. Drayco sent the thought with little concern, like counting daisies.
She stared at him. What?
Or thirty…or forty-two…or fifty-four…or…
‘Drayco, stop.’
He blinked his orange eyes at her before twisting around to lick a spot between his shoulder blades. I’m just saying, Maudi, we don’t know how long it’s been or even if we’ve come forward.
You think we might be backward?
‘I wish you two would converse aloud. These long silences with your eyes glazed over is unnerving.’ Shane poked the fire with a stick and threw on another log. Sparks danced up inside a curtain of smoke.
‘Drayco’s suggesting that it may be many more than six years in the future or perhaps even the past.’
If it is six years ago, or more, Nell would be here. I’ll see if I can contact her.
‘That’s right! Six years ago you and I were living with Nell in the Dumarkian Woods. It was before we left for Treeon. Are you saying you’re going to try to contact yourself?’
Interesting, don’t you think?
‘But, Dray, you can’t, or, you didn’t. If you had, we’d remember.’
The temple cat lifted his left paw, licking it before washing behind his ear. You’re right. But maybe I reached Nell.
‘She would have told us.’
Perhaps not. Nell keeps secrets.
Rosette nodded. ‘See if you can.’
‘See if you can what? Who’s Nell?’ Shane stared at her, his eyes dark in the firelight. ‘On second thought, maybe it is worse when you converse aloud. I have no idea what you’re talking about, either way.’
‘If it’s the past, then we might be able to reach Nell. Drayco is going to try to get a message through to her.’
‘And Nell is?’
‘Nell’s my mother.’
‘I thought you said the High Priestess Kreshkali was your mother.’
‘I did. They’re one and the same.’
Shane scratched his head. ‘Isn’t she here now?’
‘No, she’s on Earth, I think.’
‘Hang on. Earth? Gaela? What are you talking about?’
‘They’re different worlds. Different places in time and space.’
‘I don’t understand?’
Maudi, I can’t raise Nell…and if the grumpy birdsong man would stop asking so many questions and listen, it would make more sense to him.
Grumpy? I thought he was almost cheerful tonight.
Oh, come on, Maudi. He’s got wider mood swings than the other one had.
What other