Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [128]
‘What’s that you were saying?’ The healer was too preoccupied to register his strange sentence, the inexplicable answer to why his wound had not closed.
‘Tobacco weed, it makes things hard to heal. They mix it with the hemlock, just in case I guess.’
‘You know your herbs well, for a stableboy.’
Xane rubbed his head. Better than you can imagine.
‘Still with the headaches, lad?’
He nodded.
‘Well it’s too late to send you back. You’ll have to carry on.’ He handed him a mug. ‘Drink this. It’ll help.’
Xane held the mug to his nose, inhaling deeply. He identified the contents, a benign mix of herbs designed to soothe and promote a good night’s sleep. He tossed it down and thanked the healer.
‘Stay warm, lad. And don’t get shot again. You’ll not be so lucky a second time.’
Xane nodded and left the tent. There was more to worry about than getting shot, now that the Stable Master and Willem thought he was a spy. He buttoned his coat, the wind off the mountains cold enough to rattle his teeth.
Nellion Paree felt a waft of air in the corridors. It lifted the hair that framed her face the moment she’d let go of Rosette’s hand. A spell? She glanced over at her daughter and the temple cat. They were making their way to the back of the portal and didn’t seem to notice. ‘Wait,’ she called to them both. ‘Did you feel that?’
Rosette rubbed her belly and yawned. ‘I felt the baby kick. Are you saying you did too?’
‘There was something else,’ Nell said. ‘Be mindful.’
Rosette’s hand went to her sword hilt but her belt was empty. The temple cat’s head came up.
‘Where did you leave it?’ Nell asked.
Rosette groaned. ‘No idea. An’ Lawrence will disown me.’
‘Perhaps not under the circumstances. Never mind. You have a blade at the cottage.’
‘I wish you’d warned me that late pregnancy was akin to amnesia.’
‘I did.’
Rosette winced. ‘Then I’ve forgotten that as well.’
Nell laughed to hide her shivers. In spite of her daughter’s lack of concern, she felt certain someone had just been in the corridors. Darlings? she asked the Three Sisters. Anything?
They perched high on a ledge, flapping their wings before they folded them neatly into their backs. All’s well. Only our family be here.
‘I don’t sense anyone,’ Rosette confirmed. ‘Nor does Drayco.’
‘Nor do they.’ Nell tilted her head towards the ravens before passing her hand over the plasma Entity. ‘Just us.’ The tiny zaps of electricity tickled her palm. ‘Something’s not right though.’
‘Do you think we’re being tracked?’ Rosette asked. ‘Is Makee about?’
‘I think she’s running the corridors like a scent hound.’
‘I guess my timing’s not the best.’ Rosette slid to the ground, her hands holding her belly. ‘What can I do from Dumarka?’
‘Plenty,’ Nell said, sitting beside her. ‘First and foremost, you can have this baby. That’s a complete enough task on its own.’
Rosette closed her eyes. ‘I won’t argue.’
Nell listened for her daughter’s thoughts but her mind shield was tight. That in itself was not suspicious. She’d taught her to keep it that way. Whatever she and her familiar were saying to each other was private. She respected that. There was something, though—perhaps in the complacency and speed of Rosette’s agreement to come to the cottage—that suggested trouble.
Nell shook her head, remembering how she felt, late pregnant with her own daughter and uncertain of the spell. She had taken comfort in the safety and seclusion of Dumarka. It made sense that Rosette would too. Stop worrying about it, Nell! she told herself. If there is anyone lurking in the corridors, all the more reason to take the next step.
‘Are you nervous about seeing the Watcher?’ Rosette asked. She hadn’t opened her eyes but took her mother’s hand and held it in her lap.
‘I always feel some anticipation.’
‘That’s a new word for it.’
They both laughed.
‘Come.