Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [35]
Selene paid no notice. She was speaking with the same confidence she always had, as if she weren’t naked, bruised, hungry and cold—lost in a world completely unfamiliar. ‘We stripped out of our clothes to swim hard against the current. We were nearly drowned by then,’ she was saying. ‘Our supplies gone, we ended up on the opposite side of the shore.’
‘I can see why you didn’t want to risk the swim back. That river is treacherous this time of year. I’m surprised you even attempted it.’ The woman kept one hand on the lead, the other clutching the door. She had short waves of honey-red hair; her skin was smooth and her body like a peach, round and glowing. She gradually opened the door further, the youth hiding behind her. Shane couldn’t quite make him out but he continued to giggle.
‘Come in with you both,’ the big woman finally said, swinging the door wide and pulling the dog back. ‘The fire’s on. Get yourselves warm and I’ll find you some clothes.’ She turned to the youth and Shane saw it was a dark-haired boy, probably just in his teens. ‘Tamin, can you check the river chest? There’ll be something to suit there.’
The lad disappeared without a word and the dog went back to its place by the fire as if all the excitement was over.
CHAPTER 6
CORSANON & RIVERLANDS, GAELA
Rosette focused on the Sword Master and Teg, picturing them as she entered the portal. She caressed the plasma Entity and tiny bolts of lightning tickled her palm, making her laugh. While the portal turned into a whirl of lights spinning around like a miniature cyclone, she curled up with Drayco and closed her eyes. ‘We’re on our way.’ She looked at her belly. ‘And no surprises from you!’
Back to Corsanon, Maudi?
‘I certainly hope so. In the meantime, I’ve got to sleep.’
She’d had a long day of organising the self-feeding system for the livestock. Amarillo, the Sword Master’s new warhorse, needed a constant supply of hay as his coat was thin compared to the others—not near heavy enough to get him through a Dumarkian winter. She’d rugged him up and between the hay, the slightly ill-fitting horse blanket and Wren’s proximity, he’d be all right. Even the house cow had taken to him, following him about the paddock and chewing her cud at night while she lay beside him. That would certainly keep him warm.
‘Better than a hot-water bottle,’ she said aloud. ‘Besides, Maka’ra will come soon, anyway.’
Of course. That is why we left, wasn’t it?
She laughed. ‘He’d have talked us out of another corridor trip, I’m sure.’ She dozed off and it felt like only a second before a warm breeze pushed the hair back from her face.
We’re here now, Maudi. The temple cat sniffed the air. Do you recognise anything?
Rosette got up and stretched then stepped into the desert night. She felt refreshed. The stars glittered overhead and as she lowered her sights to the valley below them she gasped. ‘It can’t be.’
She didn’t know exactly when they were but the land was familiar and so were the buildings. She’d seen sketches of them in the history books from exactly this perspective. It was a rugged terrain, vague in the grey of night, but recognisable nonetheless, mainly because the skyline was interrupted by an enormous temple. The main entrance was flanked by two towers reaching towards the moon. A golden glow filled the windows and music wafted up on the breeze. The rise and fall of laughter and clapping came from inside the courtyard—the sounds of dancing and revelry.
‘Drayco.’ She clutched his neck. ‘This is Corsanon Temple, some time in the past.’
Really? Before the wars?
‘I think so.’ She pushed back her hood.
Does that mean Teg and Rowan are here?
‘They must be. Can you reach Scylla?’
I’m searching for her now. Drayco sat on his haunches and closed his eyes; he opened them a moment later, purring. She’s glad we’ve come back. She’s been very concerned.
‘What’s happened? Is she all right?’
She’s angry and she needs help. Drayco bounded down the slope and Rosette chased after him.