Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [11]
‘They’ve never been in a portal, it seems,’ Jarrod said, keeping his mount from bolting as it spun around. He turned the gelding back, stroking his neck and talking to him. The horse finally stood still but his limbs were shaking. He snorted at the opening between the rocks. The galloping Corsanon warriors were gaining.
‘We don’t have time for this!’ Kreshkali stood up in her stirrups and chanted a calming spell. She directed it towards both animals, feeling the tension in her mare melt away as she did. ‘In we go, no hesitation,’ she said, clicking her tongue. ‘This is a safe place.’ She tightened her legs around the mare and nudged her heels deeper into the horse’s sides. After a single baulk, the horse jumped across the opening as if it were three lengths wide, lifting her hooves with exaggerated steps when she landed on the far side. Jarrod didn’t follow.
‘Demon palomino!’ Kreshkali yelled. ‘Get your horseflesh in here.’
‘That tone’s not helping, Kali.’
An arrow whizzed by Jarrod’s head and bounced off the rock face. He spun his mount around to face a barrage of arrows which fell just short of the mark and backed him into the portal. He kept backing up until the sound of the approaching Corsanons vanished. Soon the echo of hooves on fine gravel and the horses’ laboured breathing was all that could be heard. ‘Do you think they know about the corridors?’ he asked.
Kreshkali leaned over the mare’s shoulder, swiping the plasma stream before she answered. All her focus was on the shape and contours of the portal in the foothills of the Prieta Mountains—their intended destination. It was a day’s ride away as a crow flies—or a blink of an eye through the corridors. If they got there before An’ Lawrence, they could find him easily enough. If he’d already gone through, she hoped there would be a sign left behind offering some clue to his intention. The energy signatures of the Entity remained altered for some time after each pass. She was getting better at reading them. With any luck she’d know where he’d gone. ‘What’s that, Jarrod?’ she asked.
‘Do you think they’re aware of this portal? Will they follow?’
‘Not likely. If they knew about the portals, they would have sent troops on ahead.’
‘Any sign of that?’ Jarrod made to dismount and she stopped him with a warning hand.
‘No Corsanon’s been through here in ages, I’m certain. But we don’t know what we’ll find on the other end. Best stay mounted. This won’t take long.’
‘What’s going to stop them now? Haven’t we just given away the location of the portal? All ye world travellers come hither?’
‘Good point.’ Kreshkali closed her eyes and called in the Elementals, sending them to the entrance of the crevice as she chanted. She stroked the mare’s neck to keep her still then opened her eyes and smiled. ‘That should fix it.’
‘I’m almost afraid to ask what you’ve done,’ Jarrod said.
She winked. ‘I conjured a bit of a glamour over the entrance. It won’t look like more than a pothole in the road for quite some time. Nobody’s going to be following us today.’
‘Unless they saw us go in.’
‘The riders were too far away, even with hawk-eyed scouts. We’re safe, so you can relax.’ She looked at the trembling gelding. ‘And then maybe your horse will too. He’s a wreck.’ She sent a further soothing spell to the animals, filling the portal with a warm glowing light.
The horses exhaled and lowered their heads. The mare cocked a hind foot and swished her tail. The gelding stretched his neck down to his knee, rubbing his face on his outstretched foreleg.
‘Thanks,’ Jarrod said. ‘But don’t take it too far. We’re already here.’
Kali waited in front of the portal as the whirl of colours, like the curtain of lights in the far northern skies, dissipated. In front of them was a familiar view—the foothills below the Prieta Mountain Range. The wind swept by her face as she urged the mare forward, only to halt abruptly.
‘Back!’ she yelled as an arrow whizzed by her ear and hit the granite wall behind her. ‘We