Arrows of Time - Kim Falconer [72]
‘Is that what he meant by fine?’ Grayson asked.
‘He’s not warmed to them yet, Teg in particular,’ she answered.
‘And the lad’s your apprentice?’ Grayson chuckled. ‘I can see why he’s sceptical.’
‘How so?’
‘Kali, you’re a powerful witch, High Priestess on two worlds—that I know of. You have occult magic beyond any on Earth. You can find a portal in a snowstorm, if it’s there to be found, and you’re passing all that knowledge on to a young Lupin?’
‘Ah, but that’s where the misunderstanding is.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘The knowledge goes both ways.’
Grayson frowned, his head tilting as he looked again at Teg’s retreating figure. ‘I’m lost.’
She wrapped her arm around his shoulder and headed him towards the manor. ‘Come on. It’ll make sense in time.’
‘I’m not so sure.’
She let her arm fall, slipping it around his waist. ‘Have a wash and a meal.’ She squeezed him. ‘You’ve got a lot of work ahead of you.’
‘And Rosette?’
‘If we don’t hear from her soon, I’ll go traipsing after her myself.’
Rosette peered into her mug. The rich herbal infusion was gone and only the honey-saturated dregs remained, lying in a damp mass at the bottom like a miniature landscape. It would have been good if she could read them, find the portent hidden in the shapes. She knew some witches could, deciphering tea leaves as readily as a star chart. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the skill. Something else for her list of to do’s.
Rosette had been invited to afternoon tea with Nell while Drayco and Fynn went hunting with Nell’s familiar, Torgan. The massive Dumarkian temple cat had taken a fancy to both Drayco and Fynn, though Rosette had cautioned them. She noticed there were no other canines around and was not clear on Torgan’s intentions for the pup—friend or food.
She looked at the shape of the tea leaves, seeing a dark cave and a giant bird of prey. A cold hand brushed the back of her neck, and she looked again, turning the mug. Suddenly, the shape changed into an image of Nellion Paree, rising over a river like a storm. She shuddered. What would she have to fear from Nell?
The last time you saw her, things didn’t go so well, Drayco said, reminding her of the young redhead who had sent temple guards after them.
Good point, Dray. Stay close. I don’t know where any of this is leading.
Just like the portals?
So it seems.
The tea room was comfortable, cool. The wide-open windows welcomed the fresh air, and the afternoon breeze was cooling. She heard Shane’s flute not far away and spotted him playing for a group of women. She suspected there would be no pressure from him to leave any time soon. She hadn’t seen any other men at the temple yet. If there were, they had to be outnumbered. She suspected Shane would find himself more than popular tonight, if they stayed.
Rosette smiled at the thought, then brought her attention back to the woman across the table.
‘Can you read the future, girl?’ Nell asked.
Rosette stared straight into her eyes. ‘Which one?’
Nell laughed. ‘So you still think you have a choice?’
‘There is always a choice, Nell.’
‘Preposterous. Who taught you that?’
‘You did. It’s your number one rule.’
Nell blinked, but she didn’t respond. Rosette leaned forward and clasped her hands, feeling them tense for a moment before they relaxed. She gripped them tighter. ‘I’ve got to get back to my own time, Nell, and soon.’
‘You keep saying that, but what’s the rush?’
‘I’m needed elsewhere, and I don’t know how long I’ve been skipping through the calendar—backwards, forwards, between. Has it been months? Years? I have to get back.’
‘I was hoping you might want to stay here with us…for a while.’
‘And do what?’ Rosette’s spine stiffened, and she forced herself to stay calm.
‘Teach the sword, of course.’ Nell laughed. It wasn’t a particularly joyful sound. ‘I can picture the High Priest of Treeon’s face, blanched white at the sight of a woman with a warrior’s weapon. Can you imagine his response to a whole coven of us wielding swords?’
‘Not really.’ Rosette had been keenly aware of the eyes watching