Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [141]
‘And what would you fancy, young witch? Some bread and soup perhaps?’ Rall’s jaw locked tight.
‘That sounds wonderful, thank you,’ Shaea said, folding her hands in front of her.
I should have left you in the gutter!
No, Rall. I should have left you in the gutter!
‘I’ll order us soup then.’ Rall straightened, patting Shaea’s hands. ‘You can tell me all about your friends when I get back.’
Shaea watched Rall push her way through to the bar. Most of the punters stepped back to give her room though some, drunk and oblivious, had to be nudged aside. Shaea was fascinated by the power of the woman. Could this really be that old stick insect she knew as a child?
A hand touched her shoulder and she nearly jumped out of her skin. ‘What are you doing here, beautiful?’ Clay asked.
‘Me? What are you doing here?’
‘Playing music, of course. Where did you get to, Shaea?’ Clay shoved his red curls up into his knitted cap. ‘You left without a word.’
‘I’d say it was the other way around.’ Shaea pointed a finger at him and he grabbed it, pretending to bite. She tried to pull away but he brought it to his mouth and kissed it. Her eyes widened. ‘You were gone when I got back to the portal,’ she whispered.
‘And you were nowhere to be found when we left.’
‘But here we are now,’ she said, her face lifting. ‘How strange.’
‘It is.’ He leaned in close. ‘What are you doing here?’
She shrugged then whispered into his ear, ‘I’m doing as the Entity has told me.’
‘The what?’
‘The Entity. The guardian of the portal. It speaks to me.’
He cocked one eyebrow. ‘It speaks to you?’
‘It does.’
He leaned forward, his lips brushing the curve of her ear. ‘The Entity didn’t speak to me, but a High Priestess did. I’m working for her,’ he said, tilting his head back towards Shane. ‘We both are.’
‘How?’
‘We’re playing music and watching out for the High Priestess of Treeon Temple. There’s something going on with the temples. Something big.’
‘Which High Priestess of Treeon Temple?’ she asked.
He was about to reply when Rall returned to the table.
‘Who’s your friend, Shaea?’ Rall asked. ‘Please introduce us.’
‘This is Clay, a lad I met…on my way here,’ she said.
Where, girl? Say it plain.
‘Corsanon!’ she said, her arms crossing.
Not aloud! Pests and demons, you don’t understand this at all, do you?
Shaea stuck out her lower lip. How could I when you haven’t taught me anything?
‘Pleased to meet you, Clay, though there’s more to that name, I’m certain. What brings you to the edge of the Mobbie Desert, if I may ask?’
‘I’m honoured by your interest, Mistress. I’m a journeyman bard, playing in the outlands of Treeon until the end of summer. It’s part of my apprenticeship.’
‘Then it’s been plain luck to find you here tonight. What a coincidence.’
‘Plain luck it is,’ Clay said, looking over his shoulder. ‘I’ve more music to perform, so if you will both excuse me.’ He gave a smile and was gone.
‘Is that what you mean?’ Shaea said, leaning back in her chair. Because he was certainly playing a game with you.
He was. And I know exactly who put him up to it, too.
I’m happy for you, Rall, but I’m still in the dark.
CHAPTER 18
DUMARKIAN WOODS, PRIETA FOOTHILLS, CUSCA PLAINS & CORSANON, GAELA & TEMPLE LOS LOMA, EARTH
Rosette opened the barn door, the sweet scent of alfalfa and oat hay rushing to meet her. The chickens cackled and she led them out the back, scattering scraps over the ground. With them out of the way, she poured grain for the cow and retrieved the silver bucket from the milk room. ‘Oh, Delilah, I’m so grateful for your cream. It goes perfectly with hot pancakes and strawberries. Don’t you love spring?’
Delilah mooed, her long rasping tongue sweeping up the grain. She would calve soon and the goats would kid as well. ‘We could supply Dumarka with butter and cheese, at the rate you are all freshening.’ Rosette grabbed the low stool and plunked herself down, resting her cheek against the cow’s golden flank. ‘And I will be full of milk too. Any day now.’ With the pail between her knees, the rhythmic motion of her hands and