Arrows of Time - Kim Falconer [56]
‘I don’t care about how you met,’ the captain shouted. ‘What are you doing with her?’
‘What do you mean? Your questions about women and swords don’t make any sense to me. Perhaps you can rephrase it with greater clarity?’ Shane stared at the captain, who had gone crimson. Leaning towards Rosette, he mumbled under his breath, ‘I could use a little help here…can’t you say something?’ The body of Rosette remained still, silent.
Buy us a little time and talk to the captain, will you, Dray?
You think it will help?
Can’t hurt.
Your call, Maudi. ‘Excuse me, Captain,’ Drayco said. He used Rosette’s voice more articulately than before. ‘Am I to understand that Treeon Temple no longer respects the right of the sacred feminine to partake of the ritual art of sword training or, for that matter, battle?’
The circle went suddenly still, the men’s eyes wide.
Even the dogs dropped down to their bellies at the sound of Rosette’s voice, though they probably didn’t understand the precise meaning of her words. Only the clip and snap of the shifting horse hooves and the wind through the trees overhead broke the silence—that and the snore of a young pup deep in the bracken. In the distance, a goshawk whistled. ‘You have not been asked to speak,’ the captain said as his horse reared again.
‘Yet I am speaking just the same,’ Rosette answered, smiling. ‘Clearly that is the best way for us to solve this mystery, wouldn’t you say, Captain? Direct communication?’
‘Silence her!’ the captain shouted, pointing his sword to Shane.
Shane’s brow furrowed. ‘You’re kidding, right?’ He chuckled as if humouring a child and the captain’s face turned an even darker shade of red.
Rosette, watching from the cover of grass, tried to figure out how her lovely Treeon had fallen into the lopsided patriarchal dominance this situation suggested.
‘I think you would do best to talk with her directly, as she says,’ Shane continued. ‘She knows far more about our circumstances, and her own sword mastery, than I. We’ve only just met, as I was explaining, and I’m hardly qualified to speak for her in any case.’
The captain’s face twisted. His horse was out of control—bunching his hindquarters, ears flat against his neck. The animal’s head shot up as he made another attempt to rear; the whites of his eyes were showing. The guards began pressing in towards Rosette and Shane.
‘Listen to me!’ the captain yelled above the cacophony. ‘Women do not wield weapons of that nature. You are not allowed a sword at your side. Hand it over and come with us. You have no options here. There will be no more talk.’ The captain’s voice was like gravel under wagon wheels.
Are you hearing this, Maudi?
Rosette felt her hackles rise as she took in the measure of the group. All too clearly, Dray. She sized up the situation. There were ten men present. The others must be scouting the periphery of the circle, looking for the temple cat that Nell had undoubtedly reported. She swished more loam over her back. Nell would have communicated full details of the nature of their group. Rosette reminded herself to strangle the little vixen, mother or not, when they next met, but for now she had to act. She inched forward. Dray, I’m going to count to three and then we’re switching back.
I have a better idea. I count to one and you run to the portal. I can handle this until you return with Kreshkali. Get going! You’re meant to be there by now.
But I’m not, so listen carefully. I don’t know how well Shane can handle a sword, but we’ll have to risk it.
It’s about to blow…
I realise that, and we’re going to use it to our advantage.
What are you suggesting, Maudi?
If we can get those two horses, the blacks…
The sensible ones?
Yes. If we get them, and unseat these buffoons, we’ll leave them in the dust. Are you ready?
Why switch? I can handle this fight.
Really? Have you forgotten how much you hate riding?
Drayco hesitated, ignoring the captain’s final request to hand over the sword and shooing him away with a flick of the