Arrows of Time - Kim Falconer [73]
‘You can’t see it yet?’ Nell asked. ‘Warrior weapons are taboo to women. Simple as that.’
‘It’s not the way of my Gaela, or Earth for that matter. At least, not now. Or, then…whenever I’m from.’ She coughed. Was she forward or backward? She wasn’t sure. What were the Entities doing, slipping her around like this? She lifted her chin. ‘In my world, anyone who wants to train, and has the aptitude, can.’ She squeezed Nell’s hands before releasing them. ‘What happened here? How did the sword become an exclusively male weapon?’
‘A different choice, made by one person. That’s all it takes to change a world’s paradigm.’
‘Can’t you make new choices now? Change it back?’
‘That’s my intention, and I want it to be yours as well.’
Rosette cleared her throat. ‘Why don’t you get the “me” that lives in this world to do it? She would have greater motivation and not as many previous obligations.’
Nell shrugged. ‘That’s the funny thing, Rosette. There is no you. Not here. Not this time.’
Chills. ‘Is that so?’ She rubbed her hands together and tilted her head. ‘You resisted the charms of my father? I bet he was disappointed.’
‘Resisted his charms? Child, I’ve never resisted anything decent in my life, and by the look and manner of you, he must be quite decent.’ She laughed. ‘I simply haven’t met the man yet. Who is he?’
‘He’s brilliant. You’ll love him. He’s called…’
Nell threw up her hands and jumped back from the table, tipping over her mug. ‘Stop!’ Her eyes flashed. ‘Don’t say it. I don’t want to know.’
‘Then why did you ask?’ Rosette said, righting the mug.
‘I shouldn’t have. It’s enough to know that a girl like you might come from me some day. Let’s not tamper with too much foreknowledge. I’ll know him if we meet. That’s enough.’
Rosette was surprised at Nell’s response—her mood swinging widely from calm to alarm. This woman was certainly made of a different temper than the mother she knew. Mothers…As much as she might like to stay for a time and teach the sword, it wasn’t practical. To start with, there were no weapons, and they would take time to forge—a process beyond her expertise. Even carving wooden bokkens for practice would be a lengthy task, and proper training would take months.
Years, Maudi.
You’re right, Drayco. Years. We’re going to have to slip away. I just need to check one more thing and then we’re excusing ourselves.
Excusing?
Or making a run for it.
The walls were closing in. If Nell didn’t want her to leave, it could get tricky. ‘I’ve got to get back to my world,’ she said.
‘Again, what’s the rush?’
‘Jarrod,’ she whispered, watching Nell’s pupils. Rosette let his name hang in the air until it slowly dissolved like wisps of clouds evaporating over a dry land.
The other woman didn’t flinch. She returned to the table and refilled their mugs. She drank from hers, savouring the taste, leaving glossy droplets on her lips. ‘Who’s that, dear?’ she asked. ‘Some boy you’ve got to get back to?’
‘Jarrod,’ Rosette said again in a normal tone.
Nell raised her palms. ‘Is that name supposed to mean something to me?’
Rosette could see that it didn’t. Drayco, are you following this?
Following what, Maudi? Her temple cat seemed distracted.
Dray?
I’m hunting with Torgan.
How’s that going? Fynn all right?
He’s a champion scent dog. Glad we kept him.
That’s great, but, Drayco, Nell doesn’t know Jarrod.
It’s surprising, isn’t it?
How can she not know him?
I’d say because they’ve never met.
Rosette shook her head. Her familiar was sending her mind in circles.
‘They do that,’ Nell said in a soft voice.
Rosette snapped up her mind shield and nodded politely.
‘So, who’s this Jarrod? A beau, I