Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [15]
I’ll feel better when we’re inside the portal. He’s cutting it quite close, don’t you think?
The Sword Master? He is, and he’d better have something planned for the finale. The warriors are starting to gain.
He does, surely.
Can you ask Scylla what it is? I’d like us all to be in the loop.
You’re scared to ask yourself?
Of course not! She reconsidered. Maybe a little. He isn’t happy with me, particularly in this form, and I’m sure that last order of his…
The one you ignored?
That one. It had something to do with shifting to a raptor and flying out of here.
I’d be scared too, Maudi.
Thanks, Dray. She snarled, a wolf’s laughter. Can you ask Scylla please?
They were running abreast with the warhorse and she could see An’ Lawrence to her left, leaning over the charger’s neck, focused on the portal ahead. Scylla was just in front of him, slackening her pace. Rosette bristled. Why was his familiar slowing down? Drayco? What’s happening?
Rosette kept her focus on the destination—an outcropping of rocks that housed the portal, the gateway to the many-worlds—but in her peripheral vision she could see the warhorse easing back too. She shot ahead, sticking to her pace. Is he insane?
Perhaps, Maudi. I think he’s going to blast them again so we can all get away.
Another spell? It won’t happen, at least not effectively. He won’t be able to conjure the Elementals on the run like this, exhausted. I know I couldn’t.
He’s going to try, nonetheless.
Wrong choice! She looked back at An’ Lawrence and caught his eye. Don’t do it! It’s too risky. She saw the grim smile on his face. She knew that look.
His mental voice boomed into her head. Rosette de Santo, the last time I checked, you were the apprentice and I was the master. Has something changed that I am not aware of? He drew his sword and eased his horse back.
Nothing has changed in that regard, Sword Master.
Then if I were you, Rosette, I’d be focusing all my energy on getting into that portal. Your pace is letting up. I thought you’d have more stamina.
But I can help with the spell if you just wait. We’ll conjure it together.
And I told you to get into the portal. Odd I don’t see you there yet.
His look changed and she cut off the retort forming in her mind. Instead she called for a final burst of speed and shot ahead of Teg, Drayco accelerating by her side. Her lungs burned with every breath. The air seemed to tear in and out of her throat and her heart pounded so hard she thought it would burst. The dry grass of the foothills shredded beneath her paws, clods of dirt and small rocks flying out behind. The slope increased to a sharp incline and she wrenched her shoulder scrambling up the rise. The horse would have trouble here. Why hadn’t he thought of that? He needed to take the trail to the east—the longer way around.
The realisation worried her, but she didn’t slow down or look back until they were through the portal, skidding to a stop. She braced her forelegs and dropped her haunches to the ground. At the speed she was travelling, it was all she could do to cushion the impact. She slammed into the far wall of the corridor, feeling her shoulder crack as it hit the smooth granite surface. The next thing she felt was Drayco’s body ploughing into hers, knocking the breath from her lungs.
Maudi? Did I bump you?
I need air. She gasped.
Me too. After a few attempts she finally drew a deep breath and with it she gathered the energy it would take to morph back into her human form. ‘Oh, why’d I do that?’ She braced her ribs, still aching from Everett’s ministrations. Her body felt like it had