Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [66]
He froze. ‘You don’t think it’s mine, do you?’
She waved her hand in the air, laughing as she and Clay headed to the portal. ‘You should see your face! Come on, Dray. I want out of this rain. And tell Jarrod and An’ Lawrence to hurry. Knowing him they’ll be debating in the rain until sunrise.’
Kreshkali followed Rosette towards the portal, pausing outside the entrance until everyone passed through. Her guts were in knots. She did another mental sweep of the area. Get them away first, she whispered to herself. ‘We are off to Temple Los Loma,’ she said aloud, setting her intention before swiping the plasma Entity. ‘No detours please!’ The Three Sisters teetered on her shoulders, vying for space, their black twig feet clinging to her cloak as they cawed a warning. Too late.
‘Aren’t you forgetting someone?’
Kreshkali froze as a hand gripped her, spinning her around.
‘I can’t imagine you’d want to leave the most precious member of your party behind—the one you’re sworn to protect? What would Docturi Janicia think of such an oversight?’
Kreshkali went to draw her dagger but the grip on her wrist tightened.
‘Don’t even think about it, High Priestess. I’ve got a demon’s spell woven under your feet. Unless you want to take the lot of them to the underworld, you best listen to me.’
Kreshkali hissed but lowered her hand.
‘That’s better. We’ve got some things to talk about and this time you’re going to listen.’ The glamour faded like a shawl slipping off one shoulder. The witch became immediately recognisable.
‘Makee! What are you doing here?’
‘Surprising, isn’t it? I’m called Rall, by the way, so try not to confuse anyone.’
‘What have you done with Jarrod, Makee?’
‘Are you sure that’s the best question?’
‘I saw his tulpa. No consciousness was there. What have you done?’
While Makee chuckled, Kreshkali made a choice. She took the moment—a split second—to shoot herself through the portal and into the corridors, the shape of Nellion Paree forming in her mind. It would have been visible to none, a faint shadow rendered unimpressionable by its short duration. There was a wisp of breeze, enough to turn Teg’s head, but that was all. ‘So you’ve learned a new glamour, have you?’ Kreshkali said, keeping Makee’s attention on her. ‘Well done. We’ll have to compare notes some time.’
‘I look forward to it, but not now.’
‘No, not now.’ Kreshkali’s hand was throbbing under the vice grip. ‘What’s this about, Makee? I thought we were on the same side.’
‘We were, while it was convenient.’
‘And it’s not any more?’
Makee lowered her voice. ‘I’ve figured out a way to change the past. You’ll be impressed.’
‘Is that so? And what have you done exactly?’
‘I think it’s safe to say there won’t be any temple wars now that I’ve had him here to help things along.’ She tilted her head towards An’ Lawrence who was slumped against the wall. ‘You’ve put my fires out, though, and I’m not at all happy about that. Still, there can’t be much of a war now, and you know what that means.’
Kreshkali smoothed her face, considering. ‘You’ve kept the High Priestesses of Corsanon away from the Entity? They never concoct their brew that sunders it? The other temples don’t step in. The battles are not fought…’
‘That’s it. You can rewrite the history books, if you like. But don’t forget the most important event, or should I say non-event?’
‘What’s that, Makee?’
‘Nellion Paree won’t change the course of the Lake Drid rivers.’ Kreshkali’s knees weakened. Passillo.
‘That’s right. You can’t have taken the spell.’
Kreshkali looked towards the gorge above Corsanon though all she saw was rock and rain.
‘The Spell of Passillo is still resting quietly in its cairn.’ Makee clicked her tongue. ‘Waiting.’
‘And you think you can simply dive in and take it for yourself?’ Kreshkali said.
‘Precisely.’
Kreshkali shook her head. ‘It’ll do you no good. Don’t you understand? You don’t have the DNA for it. You can’t carry it and you certainly can’t use it.’
‘Maybe not me, but I found