Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [104]
Shane frowned at him. ‘You sound like you’ve been talking to Rosette.’
‘Not near as much as I’d like.’ He shook his head. ‘I still can’t believe I have no memory of her.’ He put down his guitar. ‘What’s it to be? Do we let Shaea enjoy her green haven while we teach each other a new tune?’
‘Then back to the portal with a destination in mind?’ Shane said, taking off his pack.
‘Sounds like a good choice to me,’ Shaea said, not waiting for either to answer. She wandered down the broken steps to the edge of the ruins.
Shane shrugged. ‘Beats getting drowned in Corsanon, but let’s not stay overlong. I don’t think this place would feel so cheery after dark.’
Clay agreed and played a slip jig, one Shane had never heard before.
‘Slow it down, just a step. Is that A major?’
‘A major seventh.’
Shane took off his wet cloak, picked up his flute and played along.
Shaea listened to the music as it followed her down the path. It became fainter when she skirted the ruins, fading into the background and replaced by the sound of buzzing insects, noisy mynah birds, woodpeckers and the increasing flap and caw of forest ravens. She felt she’d died and gone to heaven, the aroma of pine cones, redwood bark and blackberry blossoms filling her senses, the colours of leaf and branch and sky tantalising. She didn’t recognise most of the herbs and trees. Nothing like this grew in Corsanon’s streets, or even hung in the markets. She pinched each leaf and vine between her fingers, lifting it to her nose, taking in the fragrance and textures. It was intoxicating.
Thank you, Entity, for bringing me here. It is a wondrous place, no matter what the others think! She sent the feelings of gratitude in all directions, tilting her head towards the sun, again twirling around, arms flung wide. Caught up in the dizzy sensations, she imagined a young man minding Xane’s charges. At first he looked like Xane but she knew it wasn’t him. He stood on the parade ground, the black mare, golden palomino and a Desertwind grey in hand. It looked like a legion was about to march.
Don’t wander your mind so far, girl. There’s work to do.
She stumbled, her boot catching on a root. Was the Entity speaking to her again? Work to do?
That’s right. Enjoy your little meander in the woods, breathe in the sweet scents, but it’s back to me when I call. There will be no waiting. The bard was right. You don’t want to be here after dark.
Shaea scratched her ear. Had she really heard the Entity or was her imagination going wild, stimulated by this rich environment?
You heard correctly. Listen for my call.
She looked over her shoulder. The wind had shifted and the music sounded so faint she wasn’t sure they were still playing. Marking her spot with an X of branches, she carried on. The exploration had lost some of its enchantment. Her new-found freedom had a leash. What work? What did the Entity mean by that?
She shrugged then skidded down a bank to the edge of a babbling stream. She washed her hands, marvelling at how clean they were even before she submerged them. She thought of Xane, buried beneath the white oak. Tears fell down her cheek and mixed with the babbling brook, her sobs lost in the sound of the stream, the ravens and the gathering wind. Alone at last she fully mourned his passing.
Drayco sat in the tub, Rosette leaning over him with a stiff bristle brush. His coat was finally clean, the last of the sticky blood washed away though the water was tinged deep red.
‘You need a good rinse now.’
The waterfall pool would be nice, Maudi.
She roughed his neck. ‘Perfect. Let’s go.’ Rosette straightened only to squat back down. She groaned, her brow knitted tight.
Maudi?
‘Just a twinge,’ she said, rising again slowly. Her knees were shaking. ‘I guess I can’t stay in one position for so long these days.’ She panted, waiting for the gripping feeling to subside.
Drayco leapt from the tub and shook. Do you want me to get Kreshkali?
‘No!’ She laughed.