Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [50]
Agreed.
She grabbed An’ Lawrence. He laboured to stay upright, his hand clamping his thigh. She realised now that much of the blood saturating his clothes was his own. ‘You’re a mess, Sword Master.’
‘Thank you, Rosette. You’re quite a sight yourself.’
She brushed off the comment, catching him as he listed to the side. ‘That arrow wasn’t dipped, was it?’
‘A touch of hemlock, apparently.’
‘Now you mention?’
‘We’ve been busy.’
‘Come on. One more glamour and we’re out of here.’
As she honed her thoughts towards the temple cats, energy drew to them, clinging like metal filings to a magnet, until they morphed, taking on the shape of huge bullmastiffs. The blood on their muzzles and throats she didn’t have to fake. In the guise of a High Guard officer, she snapped leashes to their spiked collars and pushed An’ Lawrence in front of them.
‘Hands behind your back,’ she said, binding them.
‘You think we’re going to walk right out of here, like this?’
‘I do. Please try to look defeated. In your state, it shouldn’t be difficult.’
His eyes flashed once before he acquiesced. She gave him a nudge towards the bottom of the stairwell then followed behind, the death dogs straining at their leads, snapping and growling.
As they reached the landing, a score of warriors entered the tower, pushing past the water line. Rows of men and women were passing buckets hand over hand, a meagre attempt considering the size of the blaze. All the warriors veered away from her party. No one was keen to stand in the path of a death dog, though the captain drew his sword, shouting to Rosette from across the doorway, ‘Where’re you taking him?’
‘Out for a feed, of course.’
He nodded. ‘Any more up there?’
‘They’ve got the witch cornered. You’d do best to put out the flames before they reach the armoury.’
‘The armoury!’ he shouted.
Smoke billowed and a thunder of explosions erupted. The walls of the tower rippled. Rosette used the moment to carry on, marching her prisoner past the warriors and out of the citadel as it crumbled around them. She didn’t look back, though she felt their eyes return to her when the blast subsided. Had the glamour slipped? Looking down she caught her breath. Her belly seemed to have doubled in size.
Maudi?
I don’t know what’s happened, Drayco, but suddenly I feel the need to sit down.
Not yet. Keep walking.
I will, and you keep snapping. You’re hungry, remember? And he’s food.
Cool air hit her as she walked into the night. There were clanging bells and rushing people, a horde of noise around them. The square was grey with smoke, flames licking the rooftops on both sides of the street. People ran in every direction: the appearance of the death dogs scattered them like hens. She doubted the coach would still be waiting, but she headed them across the square and down the side alley anyway. They had to get out of the city fast. It was going up in cinders. When they reached the shadows of the side street, she let the glamour drop, falling with it to the ground.
‘Rosette!’
An’ Lawrence was hovering over her, slapping her face until she opened her eyes. On his third swipe, she grabbed his wrist before contact, stopping him short. ‘Enough. I’m awake.’
Drayco’s nose pressed into her neck. He was worried, Maudi. Angry too, I think. We have to get out of here.
‘Rosette!’ The Sword Master stared at her. ‘You’re pregnant!’
She clutched Drayco’s neck, ignoring her father’s hand, and pulled herself up. Her belly swelled in front of her, making it hard to get to her feet. Her balance was all wrong; the buttons on her coat strained and her back felt like an anvil was pressing into it.
‘It does seem that way, doesn’t it?’ she said, warding him off when he tried to steady her. ‘How did you end up in there?’ She tilted her head towards the flaming citadel.
‘Don’t change the subject. What are you thinking, travelling the corridors like this?’ He caught her as she slumped.
‘I wasn’t like this yesterday.’
Maudi? Fire’s coming. Time to go.
She straightened, unbuttoning her coat and loosening her sword belt