Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [187]
In the reflection of the wolf’s eyes, he could see the beautiful witch standing behind him. Her sword was not as high as his, her body protected by the length of it dropped along her side. The light vanished and he knew, to them, he had disappeared, leaving the witch and the Lupin face to face—too dangerous a stance for either to strike.
He leapt to the side as Willem stepped up, swinging his sword like an axe. It caught the Lupin’s shoulder and the animal yowled, spinning on the invisible attacker, missing the mark as he lunged. When the lightning flashed again, the beautiful witch sheathed her sword, transforming in front of his eyes. She jumped towards Willem, shape-shifting into a wolf as her jaws closed on his throat. The light vanished again but the wolf didn’t let go.
Xane was paralysed as he watched her break Willem’s neck. Her head came up snarling, her eyes locked onto his in the next flare of light. He stole a glance towards the cliff face before he swung his sword wide, making her jump back. He lifted his arm for another blow but he never brought the blade down. He never attacked. A black temple cat appeared at the witch’s side. The animal screamed at him and he staggered back, saved only by the glamour that hid him between lightning strikes. He crouched, holding his breath. The temple cat screamed again and the witch turned into her human form, calling after it. ‘Drayco! Drayco, to me! Up the cliff.’
He heard the name and faltered as if a hand had slammed his head into a stone wall. Dazed, he barely noticed the Corsanon High Priestesses appear, warriors on either side of them. They were after the temple cat and his witch, that was clear. He gripped his sword. Something was very wrong with his head. It felt like it was no longer connected to his body. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t think. He didn’t know what to do. Drayco? She called the temple cat ‘Drayco’. I…I love that name.
He wiped rain out of his eyes and searched the cliff. Shaea had slipped into a crevice; the Lupins, oddly, didn’t follow. They were tearing back down the cliff face, straight for the temple priestesses. They seemed desperate to protect the beautiful witch. He was glad. It didn’t make sense. She’d killed Willem, right in front of him. Willem—who had been his friend and guide. She would kill him too and Shaea, given the chance, but he was still glad. He rubbed his eyes.
The raven was about to duck into the crevice, but an eagle plummeted towards her, driving her to the ground. They tumbled down the cliff, the raven limp, a sack of black feathers at his feet. The eagle screeched again and flew off.
Xane thought he would be sick. His head spun. The pain was killing him. Everywhere he looked triggered thoughts that pulled against each other. He felt like he was being torn apart. Willem was dead, the temple priestesses were cornering the witch and her familiar. The wounded Lupin didn’t move. Xane pressed his sword hilt into his forehead, blinking, trying to relieve the pressure hammering him. The lightning flashed and vanished; the troop sergeant yelled for him to rally with the others.
‘Xane, mind the horses. Bring them round!’
He scanned the grounds and spotted his mare, two other horses with her. He turned away from the cliff, away from Willem’s dead body and his lost sister, away from the cornered witch and her temple cat, and ran, calling the horses to him, gathering as many as he could.
Rosette waited for the next lightning bolt before chasing after Nell. What was she doing, asking for the spell back and then running away? ‘Nell!’ she screamed. ‘Where are you going?’
Kreshkali’s voice rumbled deep in her mind. What do you mean, Nell?
Kali, don’t confuse me.
Nell’s at Temple Los Loma. Who are you talking to?
Nell is here. You…she…she asked for the spell. I gave it to her. Makee appeared. They both took off. Rosette clamped her hands over her ears while Kreshkali’s