Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [198]
‘Nearly. How’s Teg? The bards?’
‘Clean up and you can see for yourself.’
Rosette smiled. That meant they were recovering. Her joy faded as she grabbed the hitching rail for balance. The ground shook almost continuously. ‘I’d hate to think we’re getting all cleaned up to be buried alive.’
‘Then don’t think it!’ Jarrod said. He came armed with towels and his own bottle of soap. Apparently they didn’t think he smelled very good either. She hadn’t noticed.
We smell like old dog breakfast, Maudi. Very old.
‘You’re right,’ she said, handing Jarrod the hose. She concentrated on scrubbing mud and bloodstains from her skin, alternating with vigorous curries of Drayco’s fur. It soothed her mind, like a ritual cleansing. The water was warm, pumped by the Pelton wheels and heated by the sun—still shining hot through the haze. She rinsed Drayco clean, forbidding him to roll. The grounds were covered in a carpet of ash and the clover pastures were dry and full of grass seeds. The soot floating down from the mountains was difficult enough to keep clear of. It was falling like rain. Her familiar exhaled forcibly and sat on the covered deck adjacent the tack room, licking his sparkling fur. She roughed him with a big towel.
Will they have hunted, Maudi?
‘I certainly hope so, Dray. I could eat an entire bush pig on my own.’
Liking meat, now that the litter is gone?
She shut her eyes and rinsed her hair of suds as it streamed past her flat belly. ‘Seems that way.’
‘Rosette?’ Jarrod asked. He was lathered from head to toe and she passed him the hose again.
‘I’m fine.’ She watched him rinse, a smile playing across her face.
‘What are you staring at?’
‘No tattoos. It’s so strange to see all that untouched skin.’
He swung his hair out of his eyes, a trail of water arcing overhead. ‘Something to look forward to?’
‘I think so,’ she said, stepping closer.
He hesitated. ‘Have you talked to Grayson?’
‘Not since the birth.’
Rosette? He used his mental voice.
I can’t talk about it now.
Later?
She nodded then hung her war gear on the fence and hosed it down. The horses stabled nearby flared their nostrils, taking in the battle smells. An’ Lawrence approached, leading Fortuna. The gelding’s ears pinned back at her. Drayco hissed.
‘I don’t know what you see in this one, Sword Master,’ she said, moving clear from the horse’s path. ‘His legs are too long, flanks too narrow and his disposition leaves…’ She shook her head as the horse pawed the ground. ‘Much to be desired.’
‘You haven’t seen him in battle, Rosette!’ His eyes were fierce. ‘Magnificent warhorse. He loves it.’
The animal side-kicked the stable door when the other horses tried to sniff him.
Rosette rolled her eyes. ‘I’ll bet he does.’
She pointed at the rail and An’ Lawrence passed her a clean towel. At the tilt of his head, Scylla jumped into the tub that Drayco had vacated. ‘Go get something to eat, the lot of you. I’ll finish up here.’
The horse took a nip at her bare shoulder as she walked past. She scolded him and he squealed.
Jarrod walked straight up to the beast and stroked his neck. ‘I remember you.’ The gelding’s ears relaxed as he whickered. ‘I am proud of you, Fortuna.’
‘Some friends you pick.’ Rosette wrapped the towel around her shoulders, drying her hair with the ends. ‘We’ve got to do something about this ash. Is all of Earth on fire?’
‘I think it might be,’ An’ Lawrence said. ‘The whole continent is about to blow.’
The kitchen was silent save for the thump of Fynn’s tail. The temple cats stared at the dog and he stopped.
‘It surprised me too, I promise,’ Grayson said. He could tell by Rosette’s face she wasn’t liking it. He sat back, folding his hands. He’d checked and double-checked. There was no mistaking it. DNA didn’t lie.
‘It has to be a mistake,’ Rosette said.
He stared at his mug.
She grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to turn towards her. ‘It’s a mistake, Grayson.’
‘Rosette, it’s no mistake, not according to the