Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [170]
More talking. She couldn’t make out what they said.
‘Look, you two, stop. Ride with us to Dumarka. Stick to the coast road and stay out of the warriors’ way, either side.’ She leaned close, making her voice soft in her head. ‘I could use the help.’
They were mounted up and tailing her seconds after she morphed into wolf form. They galloped behind her and Drayco, all headed for the Dumarkian Woods.
Kreshkali hugged the coastline, spotting the stream. She followed it inland until the grove of gum trees was visible, their white bark peeling in long strips as they did this time of year, blue-green leaves dancing in the breeze, a hint of their medicinal fragrance in the air. Teg had shifted to his human form and was bathing in the creek, his naked shoulders dappled with sunlight. She circled, calling out in her falcon whistle.
Mistress?
Is the water warm, Teg?
Freezing. I love it.
She perched high in the treetop, fanning her wings as the branch swayed under her weight. He climbed out of the water, his body glistening. He was nearly hairless, his skin tan, smooth, muscles flexing as he wrung his hair and shook out his clothes. He had stunning tattoos, unusual among Lupins. Maluka was the only other one she knew who’d been marked. She exhaled, realising she’d held her breath.
He put on his pants and extended his bare arm for her to land. She gripped his wrist before hopping to the ground. The shock wave made him squint. When the ripple passed, he opened his eyes, dark, dreamy, aware.
‘I thought I sent you to An’ Lawrence,’ she said. ‘What are you doing this far north?’
‘I found Rosette.’ He shook his head. ‘She found me, actually.’
He filled her in while she stripped off her cloak and knelt by the stream, washing her hands. The water played over her tattooed fingers, turning the ink jet black. She drank the cool water with its faint taste of the earth. ‘Rosette’s heading to Dumarka? Alone? An’ Lawrence is facing off the Corsanons, their four to his one? What about Hotha? Where’s he now?’
‘South, backing up An’ Lawrence.’
‘You mean getting himself trapped between the Corsanons.’
‘We all are now.’
Kreshkali took his hand and he pulled her up. He held on for a moment as she stood in front of him. Warmth. Energy. He let go.
‘Are you run out yet?’ she asked.
‘I’m Lupin. I never run out.’ He gave her a half smile and she pretended not to see it.
‘I wish I’d put La Makee in the midst of this mess. Let her get a taste of what she’s done,’ she said. She clicked her tongue. ‘Here’s what we’ll do.’ She retrieved her cloak, clasping it at the neck. ‘You catch up to Rosette and Drayco. The bards are with her?’
‘On horseback.’ He nodded.
‘All right. Good. You stick with them and cut in front of those temple witches and their warriors.’ She squeezed his arm, the muscle like steel under soft skin. ‘Stay hidden. I think a Lupin trophy is high on their list of priorities.’
‘Rosette said that too.’ He looked at her hand still on his arm and stepped closer. She told her legs to take a step back but her body didn’t obey.
‘And you, Mistress? What will you do?’ he whispered.
She swallowed. ‘I’ll get Hotha and half his Lupins to meet us.’ She hesitated. ‘At Dumarka.’
He stepped closer still, his breath sweet, warm.
‘Teg. We’re in the middle of a battlefield.’
His hand touched her cheek.
‘Teg…’
He lifted her chin and bent towards her. She felt a thousand choices rise up to meet him. When his lips touched hers, she let them all melt away. The kiss washed over her like waves on the shore. When he stepped back, she looked at a man she’d never seen before. She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.
‘I’ll meet you in Dumarka,’ he said.
She nodded, dropped to one knee and leapt, arrowing into the sky. Her falcon whistle sounded over the headlands as she let the thermals carry her higher.
CHAPTER 22
TEMPLE LOS LOMA, EARTH & PRIETA FOOTHILLS & DUMARKIAN WOODS, GAELA
Nell blasted through the portal, the sulphur taste in her mouth sending her