Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [160]
A little harsh, wasn’t that, Rowan? Scylla asked.
He can handle it.
Teg nursed his arm, rubbing the bruised bone. What was wrong with that man? He could have simply asked. The Lupin shook his head, then morphed into wolf form and continued to shake his whole body. The grade was steep and he wanted to get up it fast. In the form of a wolf he was quicker but many of the horses were not used to him yet. He stayed wide, morphing back when he got to the summit. Signalling for the captains, he gathered them round, keeping one eye on the troops and the other over the ridge where a cloud of dust advanced.
‘Keep everyone quiet, out of sight. We’ll give them an hour’s lead then double back.’
‘The Sword Master?’
‘He’s catching up our north scouts.’
‘And what about the Corsanons? They’ll have scouts riding flank as well.’
‘Good point. Mind the horses.’
‘And you?’
‘I’ll mind the scouts.’
Rosette panted, her sides heaving. The only sound she could hear was the rush of blood in her head and the pounding of her heart. In wolf form, the landscape took on an eerie feel. She knew that twigs snapped under her feet, wind whipped through the pines, birds called, leaves flew out behind her, but she didn’t hear any of it. Her world was silent, her sense of smell and sight magnified in the absence of sound.
How far, Dray?
Suddenly it seemed like no time had passed since she last ran this way, from the Corsanon fields to the portal near the foothills of Prieta. But this time they were staying under the cover of the trees, as much as was possible.
Across the next creek and two more hills. Nearly there, Maudi.
I thought so. Do you hear them behind us?
A far distance.
Horseback?
Ten or twelve.
Her tongue lolled out and she ran harder. Nell? Are you near? There was no answer. They didn’t break stride when they hit the creek, fording it in three bounds. Straight into the portal when we get there, Dray.
We won’t wait for Nell?
And give the portal away to the Corsanons? If Nell’s not there, it’s straight in.
And if she is there?
Straight in either way.
Nell wasn’t at the portal. Rosette called to her, in case she was overhead, out of view, but there was no answer. When they dropped to a halt below the entrance, two horses reared, the brown one breaking loose and shying away. She morphed, sending out a calming spell to the animals. The riders looked on, one shocked, the other grinning wide.
‘Have you seen Nell?’ she shouted, rushing up. Her voice was loud in her head. She had no idea what the volume was like for them.
Shane said something, mouthing words. It looked affirmative. Clay added something else. His eyes were wide, his face soft. She reached for him, falling into his arms. ‘I didn’t know what happened to you,’ she whispered.
He hugged her back.
Shane is saying he’s all right too, no worse for all he’s been through, thank you very much for asking. Odd. He doesn’t sound thankful, Maudi.
She pulled away from Clay and clasped her hands around the other man’s neck, planting a kiss on both cheeks and then his lips. ‘I can’t hear.’ She cupped her hands behind her ears, shaking her head.
Shane frowned, pointing at her belly. Clay touched her arm, asking questions, his eyebrows raised. She pretended she didn’t know what they meant.
Maudi? The temple guards? They’re about thirty seconds behind.
‘Into the portal!’ she shouted, pulling away. ‘Bring the horses. I’ll cover the tracks!’
Drayco led the way up the path and into the crevasse. They got the horses through, just in time, and Rosette waved her hand over their tracks below, causing the dust to sweep the ground clean. She caught sight of the guards before she ducked in and hoped they hadn’t spotted her.
Teg ran