Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [101]
‘What was her sun sign?’ Rosette asked. ‘Scorpion?’
‘Yes, Scorpio—shrewd, secretive, intense.’ Kreshkali laughed. ‘Clever as daybreak. She was a cryptic witch but I can see the key to this lock now.’
‘Care to share?’ Hotha asked.
‘It’s written in the stars, of course.’ Kreshkali went to the nearest computer and switched it on.
Grayson frowned. ‘I don’t get it.’
‘She left us a date,’ Rosette said, tapping the note at the bottom. It was the first time she’d spoken directly to him since her arrival. ‘All we have to do is run the chart and read the planetary longitudes, or maybe the declinations. The password will be there.’
‘And then?’ Grayson’s brow remained wrinkled.
‘We use these diagrams to image the strands of DNA, projecting them like a glamour onto a blank wall,’ Rosette said. ‘As we insert the password, the key codes will open and we’ll have the information we need to bring Jarrod back.’ She looked at her mother. ‘Is that about right?’
‘Perfect, dear. Done and well done.’
‘Thank you.’ She beamed. ‘Now if you will all excuse me, I’m heading up to the gates.’
‘Drayco?’ An’ Lawrence said as Scylla jumped to her feet.
‘He’s just launched out of the portal and I think he needs to see me, right now!’
‘Go,’ An’ Lawrence said. ‘Before he terrorises the place.’
‘But he’s so gentle,’ Grayson said.
‘Not today.’ Rosette left the library, Scylla and Fynn on her heels. I’m here, Dray. I’m here. It’s all right. I’m on my way.
Xane pounded the iron, sweat trickling down his temples. He had no idea how he was shaping the shoe to the precise fit, pumping the bellows to achieve the perfect white heat in the forge, using the hammer with the exact amount of force to draw out the toe-clip and finding just the right angle on the anvil to flatten one side of the shoe the minuscule amount necessary to match the mare’s right front hoof. He didn’t question it past a rushing feeling, a private moment of joy. He simply got on with the job.
With seven new nails hanging out the side of his mouth, he lifted the mare’s hoof, straddling it to rest between his knees. With the shoe in place, he set the first nail, tapping gently until giving one hard thwack to catch the bevelled edge. The nail popped out the side of the hoof wall, exactly where he wanted it. He repeated the process, three on the inside, four on the outside—all in neat rows. He twisted off the ends with his claw hammer, clenching the stubs tight with the nailing block and tapping them down, snug and secure. He finished off with a light rasp over the nail heads to smooth them and bring up a shine. When he put the hoof down and stood back, he’d never seen a better job in his life. He was certain that Willem and the Stable Master would agree, but the looks on their faces were strained.
‘Walk her out,’ Willem said.
Maybe they were going to reserve judgement until they saw she was sound. She would be, of course. What were they worried about? He led the mare down the length of the breezeway, the sound of the men’s conversation hot in his ears.
‘He’s not even been to the shoeing barn more than a dozen times,’ Willem said. His voice was a whisper, not intended for Xane’s ears, but he heard him clearly enough.
‘I hadn’t thought to apprentice him there yet,’ the Stable Master said.
‘Seems we hardly need to.’
‘Hardly.’
‘He could instruct the Master Farrier.’
‘True.’
‘Have you noticed his words of late?’ Willem asked. ‘He’s using ones I never heard come from him before.’
‘I noticed.’
‘What do you think? Temple witch?’
‘Possible. The beasts passed him by without attacking. He admitted it himself.’
‘Do you think he’s from Dumarka?’
‘That would explain the way he has with animals. But why reveal it if he is a spy? Why show off such skills that an apprentice could never have?’
‘Maybe the hemlock’s addled his mind. He might have forgotten his purpose.’
‘Possible.’
‘Do we report him?’
‘Not yet.’ The Stable Master sighed. ‘He was just a kid on the street, with uncanny good horse sense. Now this.’
‘That’s how it can seem, with a witch