Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [174]
His smile faded. ‘There are a few unknowns, I admit.’
‘What’s that?’ She cupped her ear.
More than a few unknowns. But sometimes it’s the uncertainty that…He didn’t finish his thought. His smile grew again.
They went down to the edge of the creek and drank. Drayco stayed above the bank, peering into the dark, his tail waving back and forth.
What’s wrong, lovely? she asked, joining him.
No one answers.
None of the temple cats hear you?
Not a one.
Are we in the right time? Teg asked, taking over watch while Drayco slid down the bank and lapped at the edge of the stream.
‘You saw Kreshkali last. Did she say what was happening here?’ Rosette turned him towards her, catching his eyes. ‘What’s that look for?’
It’s nothing.
‘Are you blushing?’
No, I’m thinking. Kreshkali said to meet us here. That’s all.
There’s no one here, Maudi. The temple is gone, just like it’s always been.
Could we be too late? Teg asked.
Rosette put her hand on Drayco’s back. I can’t smell battle, can you?
There’s been no battle, Maudi.
‘No battle,’ she repeated aloud.
What next? Teg asked.
There’s only one way to find out, Maudi. Shall we check the temple grounds?
Lead on, Drayco. She turned to Teg. Eyes open, all of us. Traps, glamours, ambush. Be aware!
Shaea grimaced as she dismounted. Her back ached and her legs nearly buckled when she touched the ground. The constant riding was getting her down.
‘Water them, be quick about it.’
So was the constant nagging from La Makee.
They’d jogged for the last hour, picking their way through the foothills until they came to this creek. La Makee was animated. She said they were nearly there. Where there was, Shaea didn’t know, but the Entity was close. It had spoken to her again. It had told her to do whatever La Makee asked, no matter how strange or dangerous it sounded.
She frowned. It seemed very convenient, that directive. Convenient for La Makee. She loosened the girths and led the horses to the stream. They tugged at the reins, their heads dropping to the water the moment they reached the sandy bank. She squatted beside them, watching the ripples expanding out from the horses’ muzzles. When they lifted their heads, water fell from their mouths. The stallion rolled the bit with his tongue, turning to sniff the top of her head.
‘Hey, that’s wet!’ She pushed him aside, thinking of Xane and how much he would have loved caring for these horses. ‘At least your last year was happy,’ she whispered to him. ‘Wasn’t it?’
‘Get them up here.’ La Makee’s voice cut into her thoughts. ‘Let’s go, girl.’
Shaea bristled. She wasn’t used to taking orders from anyone. Living off the filth of Corsanon, she was free. She never knew if she’d find food, or if she would survive the streets and alleys through the night, but she was her own spirit. She answered to no one else. She’d never appreciated that before. Never thought her life lucky. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. If it weren’t for the Entity’s instruction, the promise of travel through the corridors, escape to another world, she’d be re-thinking her company. ‘Coming, Mistress.’ She hustled, leading the horses back, waiting for Makee’s next order.
The witch was gazing up at a granite cliff face. ‘Take them the long way around,’ she said, pointing to a side track. ‘But don’t go into the portal. I’ll meet you there.’ Makee morphed into a raven and shot towards the mountain.
‘Where are you going?’ Shaea asked.
Checking on the enemy.
The enemy? Shaea had no idea who that was. She led the horses up the track, wondering if she would recognise the portal when she saw it. This time, she did. It was a wide, tall opening in the side of the cliff. She stood at the entrance and poked her head into the dark. ‘Entity? Are you in there?’
She waited for a reply, kicking at stones on the ground when none came. She had half a mind to lead the horses straight in and take her chances when the raven landed on a gnarly oak growing between the