Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [111]
‘But you didn’t.’
Kreshkali shuffled the notes together and folded them into her grimoire. ‘True.’
‘I thought it might be like this,’ Grayson said, his eyes red. ‘The process itself seems painless…’
She turned on him. ‘The absence of pain is not what I’m concerned about in this instance.’
‘I just meant…’
‘We can’t risk it while she’s pregnant, in any case.’ Kreshkali looked out the window as she spoke. ‘There is no knowing how the boot-up would affect the pregnancy. That baby girl’s been through enough already.’
‘But we need Jarrod now,’ Grayson said. ‘Earth is unstable. He’s the only one who can calculate the probabilities, and we need those probabilities to decide whether to evacuate or not, or if there is anything we can do to stop the turbulence. He can determine what is causing it, effect a cure, if there is one. It’s what he was built for. We need him to answer the calls to the many-worlds. The integrity of the portals depends on him. The entire…’
‘Stop.’ She straightened. ‘I know what he is needed for.’ Her eyes narrowed on him. ‘I’m glad you can be so practical, Grayson.’
‘Kali, I meant…’
‘I know what you meant. Our family line exists to protect and sustain Jarrod and so do you.’ She went to the closest row of books and tucked her grimoire in a tiny gap between two novels. It vanished as she passed her hand over the spine, blending into the hundreds of books around it. ‘But Rosette is not going to activate that spell. Not yet. Not if she doesn’t have to.’
An’ Lawrence stood, making to follow as she headed for the door. ‘Where are you going?’
‘To trade places with an old friend.’
‘Nellion?’ An’ Lawrence asked.
She didn’t miss the hint of longing in his voice. ‘I need to get Rosette out of here. It’s time she nested in Dumarka and Nell is the one to see to her there.’
‘Where is Nell?’
Kreshkali gave a small smile. ‘She’s watching Makee, but that’s a better task for me now.’
‘Makee?’
Kreshkali frowned at the Sword Master. ‘Your friend that you felt so compelled to free from the Corsanon tower knows what happened to Jarrod. Most likely caused it, if my guess is right. It’s time I tracked her down.’
‘Makee knows?’ An’ Lawrence said, screwing up his face.
‘So she claims. He was her bargaining chip, or her bluff. I don’t know which.’ She lowered her voice. ‘I wish I’d cut that witch’s throat while I had the chance.’
‘What’s Makee got to do with this?’ Grayson asked. ‘I thought she was making her own escape back in the quarry steps portal.’
‘It was more than that.’
They both stared at Kreshkali. She avoided their eyes, turning her gaze to the window. Teg? Are you about?
We’re cresting the plateau ridge. It’s hot as demon’s fire out here, and the shakers are getting worse.
Can you see the mountains?
Aye. Smoking like a festival fire.
Rosette?
She and Drayco are chasing rabbits. She’s happier now.
I’m coming.
Is everything all right, Mistress?
It always is, with a great enough perspective. Meet me at the gates.
Kreshkali turned back to the men and nodded, leaving the library. They didn’t follow. She knew the look she gave them would keep them in their seats.
Are we going somewhere, Mistress?
We are. And, Teg, you’ll need your sword and a warm cloak.
Rosette saw it coming. The storm gathering around Kreshkali couldn’t be missed, even before she landed.
What’s happened? she asked Teg. Did she translate the notes?
He shifted from his Lupin form and waited for their mentor, his arm outstretched, his hair whipping about his face as she back-winged onto his forearm. ‘I’m not certain.’
Rosette didn’t morph. The heat was too much, and her pregnancy too uncomfortable to bear in human guise—not out here on these baking red plains and smoke-filled sky. As a wolf, it was tolerable, pleasurable even, though her tongue lolled, as did Fynn’s.
Drayco panted next to her as