Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [180]
Maudi? Hardly the time for such reverie, do you think?
I know, Dray. It just came out of nowhere.
Nothing comes from nowhere. Drayco stiffened. Don’t move. They are riding in. His hackles shot up.
Six horsemen and a priestess rode past, straight into the woods. Rosette felt another shiver up her spine. Did you feel that?
Neither Teg nor Drayco answered. She pulled brambles aside to get a better view. A temple witch raised her hand, the sleeve falling back from her wrist to reveal a spiral tattoo. She mouthed words Rosette couldn’t hear but the glamour she wove was palpable. It fell over the Corsanons like a gentle mist, erasing them from sight. Rosette squinted, tilting her head to the side. She couldn’t glimpse a thing though the ground moved with each horse’s hoof fall, leaves displaced by their hooves. She leaned closer to Teg.
Can you see them?
Nope.
Anything at all?
The horses were leaving tracks but she’s covered that too. He leaned away, following the progress of the scouts. Not good. I can’t see a thing. Some glamour, eh?
She pressed her head into Drayco’s shoulder. Can you see through the glamour, Dray?
Nothing, Maudi.
She and Teg exchanged a look.
It’s going to take something extraordinary for us to see past the spell. Got any ideas?
He shook his head. Let’s hope Kreshkali does.
Rosette pointed to the sky. She’s watching. Rosette focused her mind on the falcon. Can you spot them, Kali?
The bird whistled long and shrill before taking off. Rosette, Teg! Stay there, stay hidden, and keep track of how many enter.
Anything else? Teg asked.
Pray thunder! I want the biggest, darkest storm you can conjure.
Yes, Mistress, they said in unison.
We need lightning strikes. Plenty of them. Now!
We’re on it!
Shaea led the horses to the edge of the portal, taking in the dawn. The woods were glowing, birds bursting into song. Far above, a flight of egrets arrowed towards the east. Their bodies glowed in the sunrise until they vanished behind the canopy of trees. It was the same woods she’d wandered in before. Was that only a few days ago? She could see the ruins of the old temple in the distance, the stone bridge arching over the creek. Very pretty, in a ghostly, but haunting, sort of way.
She was feeling more and more like a stable hand than a witch’s apprentice. She didn’t mind so much any more. The thought of being glamoured to appear like a High Priestess and asking Rosette for her spell was not pleasant though. Nor was the idea of being surrounded by Lupins. She sensed them. They were everywhere and she didn’t like the feeling one little bit.
At least, she imagined Lupins surrounded her. She had no idea what a Lupin really looked like or what their presence felt like. There were so many different stories about them. Maybe it was all made up—hearsay or myth. But Makee sounded confident they were real and Shaea was pretty sure the witch had seen more than one. She stroked the warhorse’s neck. It was taut and the mare was trembling. La Makee? Where are you?
The warhorse whickered, tossing his head. Wherever Makee had gone, she must be coming back.
‘We’re too soon,’ Makee said, taking the reins from her hand.
‘Too soon for what?’
‘We’ve got to wait until they’re preoccupied, which shouldn’t be long.’ Makee chuckled.
Shaea had no idea what she meant.
‘I want you under the bridge.’
‘Under the bridge?’ Shaea followed Makee’s pointing finger. ‘In the water?’
‘Not in the water, stupid girl. On the bank, just out of sight. There’s going to be some fighting. Don’t worry about it. No one will see you until I want them to, and then you’ll be protected.’
‘Because I’ll look like Nellion Paree?’
‘Exactly.’ She snapped her fingers when Shaea looked down. ‘Pay attention! When I give the word and cast the glamour, ask Rosette for the spell. When she hands it over, bring it to me. Questions?’
‘Just one. Why are we doing this?’
‘Wrong question.’
‘What about the horses?’
‘They’ll be safe in the portal. Off you go.’ She waved her hand—like shooing a fly from a bowl of fruit. ‘Get yourself