Arrows of Time - Kim Falconer [82]
‘Give me a moment. We can’t jump back into the corridor and get whirled out into another random place. I’ve got to get my bearings first, Shane. I have to work out when and where this is, and why we landed here. Something’s happening with the corridors…’
‘Girl, you haven’t had your bearings since I met you. Where do you think you’re going to find them now? In this?’ He looked into the distance as if the answer would appear on the horizon. A mistake. He didn’t see it coming.
Rosette slammed his shoulder with a full-palm strike. It tipped him off balance, knocking him to his knees. His hands sank into the mud to break the fall and disappeared beneath the surface of the ooze.
He glared up at her. ‘What was that for?’
‘Your compulsion to focus on the negative.’
‘Me? What about your response? I’d call that fairly negative.’
‘Like attracts like.’ She crossed her arms.
Fynn bounded to his side and jumped up to lick his face. He pushed the dog away. ‘Back off, you crazy mutt.’ He glanced at Rosette and flicked mud off his hands, a half smirk curling his lips. ‘The lot of you are crazy.’
‘Maybe.’ Rosette extended her hand to help him up. ‘But I’d like to remind you that I can and will find my bearings.’ She smiled. ‘And, just so you know, I haven’t been a girl for quite some time.’
Shane cringed. ‘It’s a figure of speech,’ he said.
‘Don’t use it around me.’
He nodded, took her hand, and allowed her to hoist him up. ‘Never again.’
They stood face to face, the thunder cracking overhead, their feet and hands covered in mud. They suddenly started laughing so hard Rosette didn’t notice the toads had gone quiet.
Maudi, the portal!
She stiffened.
Someone comes. Her familiar crouched as he sent the thought.
Rosette spun around, drawing her sword. The sing of it clearing the scabbard rang out just ahead of another clap of thunder. Drayco’s hackles fanned, a low growl rising from his throat. Fynn released a series of husky barks, surprisingly deep for a pup.
‘What is it?’ Shane said, drawing his sword as well. ‘I can’t see a thing.’
Rosette sidestepped and motioned to Shane to do the same, making certain they were outside of each other’s kill circle. Her eyes focused on a figure emerging from the rock crevice. Drayco sprang forward, flying through the air.
Maudi, Maudi! We found him.
‘Wait, Dray. Who?’
Sheath your sword, Maudi. He’s here.
Laughter came from the man walking towards them. ‘Actually, Drayco,’ Jarrod said, his voice booming over the reanimated toads, ‘it’s I who have found you.’
Rosette lowered her sword. ‘Jarrod!’ she shouted, slipping her blade into its sheath and charging. She leapt, wrapping her legs around his waist, almost knocking him over as he slid backward in the mud. Drayco ploughed the top of his head into the entwined couple, purring like an engine. Fynn barked rapid-fire—high pitched and ear-piercing now that the danger had passed—his tail wagging.
‘Here you are at last. The glorious Rosette de Santo,’ Jarrod said, his voice still projecting across the barren landscape. ‘My beautiful witch.’ He wrapped his arms around her tighter, whispering, ‘Where have you been, love?’
She hugged him back, squealing with delight. Jarrod teetered, struggling to keep his balance before releasing her to the ground. She planted a kiss on his lips that lasted long enough for Shane to turn away. When Rosette pulled back from the embrace, she laughed aloud. ‘I’ve been lost like you wouldn’t believe.’ She grabbed his face and kissed him again. ‘Where have you been?’
‘Most recently? Treeon. Looking for you.’
‘You’ve managed to keep track of him, I see.’ A woman stepped out of the crevice and nodded towards Shane. She took in the scene, her eyes squinting in the rain. Her hand was on her sword, her face stern.
‘Rosette, this is Selene,’ Jarrod said, introducing the women.
‘From Tensar?’ Rosette queried.
‘I am,’ she said. ‘And you…’ Her tone dropped as she directed her attention to Shane. ‘What have you