Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [67]
‘You’re mad.’ Kreshkali followed her glance. ‘Rosette will not bend to your will.’
‘I’m no madder than most,’ she laughed. ‘And you aren’t seeing what I see. Now play nice or I’m not going to tell you where Jarrod is.’
Kreshkali stiffened. She had been searching wildly for Jarrod’s consciousness ever since spotting the corpse but there had been no response. Teg, can you sense Jarrod?
Not here, Mistress. Do you want me to…
Stay. Don’t say anything. Wait.
Makee jerked her arm. ‘None of that,’ she said. ‘I need you to play along, so don’t even think of giving me away.’
‘What have you done?’
La Makee winked. ‘It was a slip. An accident. It was not my intention for it to happen quite that way but it’s done now. Your quantum sentient’s out of the picture, Kreshkali. Get used to it.’
Kreshkali tuned into An’ Lawrence. He leaned against the back wall, his leg braced, eyes closed, hands clutching the wound on his thigh. He needed a healing. Everyone did. They were all so pummelled that no one had noticed Jarrod’s absence. She had planned to get them under shelter before discussing what to do. Rosette would react the strongest. She didn’t want her traumatised further.
Rosette was in the corner shivering. Teg held Clay as the bard doubled over, coughing until he retched. The Lupin was hiding his own pain, barely. Shane was there—how, she’d yet to learn. He chatted to a girl she didn’t recognise. Who was she? They were no match for Makee in this state. She searched again for Jarrod and got no response. Kali levelled her eyes on the other witch. ‘What exactly do you want?’
‘You’ll see, High Priestess, if you live long enough.’ She laughed again, the sound of burning leaves. ‘Just mind you don’t let anyone out of the corridors. Rosette is to stay put, or she draws her last breath where she stands.’ Makee didn’t wait for an answer. She blinked, weaving her glamour again; the luminous dust at her feet rose, clinging to her body. In the time it took her eyes to open, she returned to the guise of Rall, a Lemur raven landing neatly on her shoulder.
Rosette had walked Clay to the portal, Drayco at her side. They made their way to the back wall of the corridor and collapsed, water dripping from their faces, cloaks saturated, bodies bumped and beaten. Her skin was blue and she shivered uncontrollably. Drayco shook water from his coat like a dog, his limbs braced wide, water spraying the walls with dark spatters. She pulled Clay closer and took his hands, trying to warm them. Everyone stared until she snarled back. ‘What?’ she said through chattering teeth. ‘You think I should have left him to freeze, or get swept away in the next flash flood?’ She eyed them all, daring anyone to cross her, until she noticed the strange young witch leaning against the opposite wall. Rosette’s brow lifted. ‘Who are you?’
The girl cleared her throat. ‘Shaea’s my name, and I come from Corsanon, but she can tell you more.’
Shaea pointed outside. Next to Kreshkali stood another witch, lithe and beautiful. They were talking in the rain. A Lemur raven clung to her shoulder, wings shuffling as she folded them back. The Three Sisters bristled, screeching out a territorial ahk ahk ahk aaaah, their throat hackles fanned. The Lemur didn’t respond but only tilted her head to scratch her ear. Rosette looked back to Shaea, remembering them both. They were from Temple Corsanon, the women from the coach.
‘I’m Rall.’ The witch next to Kreshkali stepped forward. ‘Glad you all made it out of the city.’ She frowned, scrutinising their faces. ‘But where’s Jarrod? Don’t tell me you were going to leave without him.’
Kreshkali bristled.
Rosette’s head shot up. ‘Jarrod!’ Drayco? Can you hear him?
The temple cat was up, tasting the air. He’s not here.
What do you mean, he’s not here? We left him behind? Where? What happened?
I don’t know, Maudi. He never came into the corridor. There is no scent of him at all.
Talk to him, Drayco! He can hear you at this distance.
Maudi, I tried. There is no answer.
She