Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [36]
‘Wait up. We can’t just barge in on the temple like this. We’re Dumarkian, remember? We might be the enemy.’
She’s not in the temple, Maudi. She’s in the city, hiding. They’ve taken An’ Lawrence prisoner.
‘The chart…It said there was a restriction, but how is that possible? His magic alone would…’
His magic doesn’t work when he’s unconscious.
‘Unconscious?’ She caught up to Drayco before he crossed the road and held him back. ‘Wait. We have to think this through.’
The temple cat whipped his tail, snapping the air, but he halted. Let’s think it through quickly!
‘First we have to mark where we are. We have to be able to get back.’ There was no path leading from the portal so Rosette studied its position, taking in the flanking white oaks and the stand of eucalypts further up the hill. She gauged the distance to the temple grounds and frowned. ‘If An’ Lawrence is in the city, why did the Entity bring us here? The portal over the river gorge is a closer hike to the gates.’
Drayco didn’t answer, though his tail stopped whipping.
She crossed her arms. ‘There must be something at the temple we need to see.’
Or meet. Someone comes.
As they stood by the side of the road, a coach pulled up to the temple entrance. It was drawn by four dappled grey horses, purple plumes on their headstalls, white manes braided with dark ribbons.
‘Priestesses,’ Rosette whispered. ‘This is definitely before the sundering!’
Before the Entity was split apart? That’s interesting. Then Dumarka is not yet at war. Maybe we should announce ourselves? Get a lift back to the city?
‘Worth a try. Keep your eyes open.’
Always.
The witches who stepped from the coach were stunning. One had ringlets of black hair bouncing over her shoulders. Her cape was thrown back to reveal white satin lining and a violet dress. She wasn’t as tall as the younger woman with her but she carried herself like a warrior, or a queen. The other had honey-coloured hair sweeping down to her thighs, rich against her sable cloak. Her body was lithe and graceful but she seemed uncertain—the apprentice? Neither was visibly armed.
Rosette could tell they’d been arguing. The younger woman’s face was tight and her companion’s eyes blazed, black coals framed by her dark curls. But as they stood to instruct the driver, they transformed—eyes relaxed, lips smiling. There was no glamour on them; Rosette was sure of that. But the dark-haired one had an aura of crimson, and more than temple initiation on her mind. The other’s aura matched, though it was shot with purple and gold as well.
Rosette suddenly felt rustic in her woollen cloak and leggings. She went to cinch her sword belt a notch tighter and found it wouldn’t move; the bulge in her belly had grown. ‘Great,’ she whispered. ‘I told you, no surprises.’
Problem, Maudi?
She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath, wafting a gentle glamour over herself and Drayco, hiding her sword and turning him into a sheepdog. Not any more.
Drayco took a few steps forward and looked down at his shaggy white paws.
Maudi. I know what you’ve done. Don’t think for an instant that I am at all pleased.
Let’s just get ourselves into the city without debate, shall we?
You mean other than the one we’re about to have?
Dray, sweetheart. We need to hide our identity until we find out what’s going on. Remember, Scylla needs us. An’ Lawrence needs us.
Yes, and Teg probably needs us too. He’s completely lost, it seems.
Demons. I forgot about him. Where is he?
No idea.
Right. To Corsanon then. Please play along.
And what will you call me?
‘Laddie! Come on, boy,’ she said aloud, slapping her thigh.
Drayco tried to hiss but it came out like a sneeze. Rosette stepped up to the coach as the women passed, smiling as if she’d come from the temple and was expecting the lift. She did her best to look the part of a young priestess on her way to the city, no doubt to join a nobleman in some festivity. The women nodded to her and walked towards the temple gates without a word.
That was easy, Maudi.
So far. What did they have in old Corsanon, Dray? Palaces?