Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [168]
A flash of images crossed his mind—twisting ladders, rivers of blood, wolf packs hunting, being hunted. Silver tables, heat lamps, puppies in a box. They came so fast he wanted to scream. These couldn’t be true visions. They made no sense. Besides, Lupins were mythical creatures, composed by the ancient storytellers to control adventurous children, explain strange sightings, missing livestock, rumblings in the ground and even the theft of blue lapis, a stone supposedly sacred to the creatures. Myths, all of it. Xane used to think so, anyway. Why was he even speaking of them?
He recalled the man in the carriage next to the temple cat and the later reports of the wolf. The ravaging. He cleared his throat, thinking of the wolf that had passed him and Gracie that day on the road. ‘Lupins are myth, as far as I know, but what I’ve seen is the likes of them and I’ve seen more than one for sure. They are headed this way.’ He didn’t mention the ones he saw, or thought he saw, before.
The witch waved her hand, shooing a fly. ‘I hardly think you’ve seen one at all, lad.’ She turned her attention to Willem. ‘Ride on. We’ll follow the scouts. This is nonsense, but we will vanquish the fears.’
Xane frowned. The temple priestesses were giving orders to Willem?
‘And you!’ She pointed her finger straight at him. ‘Follow me.’
Xane hesitated, looking to Willem. He knew the man wanted to keep him close but his face was a mask. He flicked his hand at Xane, his attention elsewhere.
‘Yes, Mistress,’ Xane said, clucking to Rose. This High Priestess was doing nothing to vanquish his fears, or the mare’s. Rose was reluctant to ride off with the temple witches on their golden mounts, and so was he. It took a strong heel pressed into her flank but he got her moving, off the road, into the trees, straight for where his Lupins were last seen.
Teg skidded to a halt, his tongue lolling. He’d left Rashnan’s clan to the south and was checking the road to Dumarka. He sensed riders coming his way and ducked behind a tree just in time. He knew he was hidden from human eyes and the horses wouldn’t scent him upwind. He peeked around the edge of the tree, his ears pinned to his neck, out of the way. He blinked once and dropped to his belly. That lad on the dappled grey mare, the same one he’d seen from the carriage with Rosette, had halted a tree length in front of him, staring. Can that be coincidence? Why do I keep running into this boy? He drew to him the Elementals and made ready to blast him out of the saddle. He didn’t want to drop him, or send up a warning that would alert the other scouts, but he was ready in case he was spotted.
Teg waited a moment before backing away. He stayed crouched and hidden. In three silent leaps he was far off to the side, indistinguishable among the foliage. The lad looked immediately his way. Impossible. A human couldn’t have spotted that movement. Teg lifted his head and they stared at each other until the lad turned his horse, bolting towards the road.
Demons! They’re closer than I thought and now the boy will set up an alarm.
Teg looked behind. Rashnan’s clan was a half-hour’s run back. He wasn’t going to get help from them any time soon. He needed to stay hidden. Make his way southeast. A falcon cry sent shivers up his spine. Rosette?
Teg? Are you crazed? You’re like a duck on a dinner plate that close to the road. Get out of there.
He took off.
Not that way! she screamed in his mind. You’re heading straight for the archers.
He doubled back and she screamed again.
Stop! It’s no good. They’re all around you.
I’ll not be trapped.
Not if you hold still and listen to me.
He froze, trying to control his panting.
Stop gasping. I can’t weave a glamour over you when you’re heaving like a bellows.
He snapped his mouth shut, the air rushing in and out of his nose.
Quiet!
He took one long, exaggerated breath and let it out a molecule at a time, willing his heart rate to drop and his respiration with it.
Better. Are you so out of shape?
Hardly. I’ve covered leagues at a