Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [119]
You mean Nell’s is different than Kali’s?
Well it would be, wouldn’t it? Kreshkali stayed on Earth, for the most part, and from what I gather her work was grim, the environment horrible; quite a contrast to the beauty of the Dumarkian Woods and Treeon Temple. Nell had the admiration of all her peers, at least until she nicked off with Passillo. Kreshkali was shunned, under constant threat of death just for being a witch. Her closest confidante betrayed her. Jaynan, was it?
Right, Jaynan…You sure know a lot about it.
We talk. He shifted in his seat. She told me about Jaynan. She turned out to be a tracker. Kreshkali killed her in the end, her best friend. Horrid, really.
I think I get it. Nell and Kreshkali experienced different realities and it’s given them—the same person—different perspectives. Is that what you’re saying, Teg?
I am. It’s like when I take wolf form. I have a kind of meta-awareness that both shapes—man and wolf—house my consciousness. I’m detached enough to know that my point of view has shifted, but I still have two distinct points of view. Don’t you, when you swap with Drayco, or fly off as a falcon? Run as a wolf?
I worry less, that’s for certain.
And think what would happen if you swapped for years, or shifted for years. How different would the two aspects of you become?
‘That makes sense,’ she said aloud.
‘So you’re siding with him, Rosette?’ Nell looked at her, waiting for her response.
I want to congratulate you both on your mind shields. Nell sent the message to Rosette and Teg. I have no idea what you’re prattling on about, but if you can’t stay focused, there’s no point in you being here, is there?
Rosette blew on the rim of her mug and took a sip. ‘Can you repeat the question for me please, Nell? I drifted off, I’m afraid.’
Nell chuckled, levelling her eyes at Teg. ‘And you? Did you drift off too?’
‘I did, Mistress. The coffee will help.’ He took a gulp and blinked his eyes. ‘I’d best have another.’
‘I wish I could have one,’ Rosette whispered.
‘Pregnancy can make you a little vague, sweetie,’ Nell said. ‘How are you feeling?’
‘My legs ache a bit…’
Nell patted her thigh and Rosette offered her bare foot. Nell nested it in her lap, massaging her toes. ‘Shall we recap?’
‘Please,’ Rosette said, though her eyes were closed. Drayco purred.
‘Since Teg’s news of the march, your father’s wanted to join ranks with Temple Dumarka and fight the Corsanons.’
‘Of course, that does make sense,’ Rosette said.
‘You agree?’ The Sword Master’s brow went up.
‘It’s what you did, isn’t it? Fight the Corsanons, but I was thinking it might be the perfect diversion.’
‘Good to have you back with us, Rosette. Diversion for what?’
‘It’s clear to me that Makee, or Rall if that’s who she really is, wants the spell so badly she’s been willing to change events to the point where you never got it, and you never passed it to me. That’s what we suspect, right?’
Nell nodded.
‘So the spell is still in the gorge. Maybe battle would be the perfect diversion. We can slip in there and retrieve it again, before she does.’
‘Makee didn’t stop the wars,’ An’ Lawrence said. ‘She’d planned to delay them long enough to get the spell.’ He drained his mug. ‘That must be why she tipped me off to the Corsanon warriors. She knew if I were captured, it would bring you looking for me, Rosette.’
‘But I was dead at the time. You were looking for a High Priestess.’
‘For all we know, Makee may have put that falconer Jacko in my path,’ Nell said.
‘She saved you, so you could save me, so I could save An’ Lawrence?’ Rosette shook her head. ‘That’s planning. I’m starting to think she’s Virgo rising, not Leo.’ Rosette stiffened. ‘I had to be in the same place and time in order for the spell to be gone from me and still in the gorge.’ She looked up. ‘It’s my fault we lost Jarrod!’
‘It’s no one’s fault, Rosette.’ Nell squeezed her foot.