Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [68]
‘Rall, is it?’ Kreshkali said, moving to Rosette’s side. She kept her eyes on the other witch while holding her daughter back.
‘She’s Rall all right,’ Shaea said. ‘But she didn’t always look like that.’
Kreshkali nodded. ‘I’m not surprised.’ She pushed Rosette down. ‘Sit. You’re freezing and half drowned. You can’t do anything for Jarrod now but keep yourself alive.’ She helped her out of her wet cloak.
‘We can’t leave without him,’ Rosette said. She shook uncontrollably.
‘Technically, we’re not, as long as we’ve got you,’ Kali whispered.
‘Are you saying he’s dead?’ Rosette’s voice went shrill. She tried to get up again. ‘Jarrod!’ she screamed.
Kreshkali held her. ‘Rall, make yourself useful and help me warm it up in here.’ She looked at Rosette. ‘You are staying put!’
Kreshkali placed her hands on the wall until a golden glow emanated from the rock surface. Rall hesitated a moment before doing the same on her side of the corridor. Rosette felt the warmth penetrate her limbs, relaxing her from the inside out. Steam rose from their wet clothes as cloaks, boots and hats were stripped off.
‘Thank you,’ Rosette said. ‘That’s much better. Now excuse me while I go find Jarrod.’ She pulled herself up to her feet.
An’ Lawrence came to her side and took her hand.
‘What?’ Rosette shouted. ‘Why is everyone looking at me?’
She turned away from An’ Lawrence and headed for the portal. He caught her and pulled her back. ‘Rosette,’ he said. ‘Listen to me.’
‘Let go!’ She had one hand on the hilt of her sword. He grabbed her shoulders and gave her a shake.
Rall stepped up. ‘Jarrod went over the edge, Rosette.’
‘What?’
‘He went off the cliff.’
Rosette doubled over.
Maudi, sit. You’re going to faint again.
Rosette slid to the ground, tears welling in her eyes. ‘He’s dead? It can’t be. I went over the edge and I’m all right. We all did.’ She stared at their faces. ‘We need to look for him. He could be…’
‘Rosette,’ Kreshkali cut in. ‘He must have gone over the other side of the steps.’
‘The quarry side?’ Shaea asked. ‘There’s no surviving that.’
Rosette sobbed.
‘Sorry,’ Shaea said. ‘But that’s the way of it. The quarry side drops straight down to the bottom, half a day’s climb. Unless he can fly, he’s as dead as my Xane.’
Rosette looked at her, the tears spilling down her cheeks. ‘He can’t fly.’
Grayson eased himself into a chair. It was a long hike to the village and he’d been alternately soaked with rain and blistered by the tropical sun. He took a drink, grateful for the refreshment. ‘You don’t remember me at all?’
Everett shook his head. He was folding and refolding a small towel, keeping his eyes on the door.
‘And Rosette?’ Grayson asked. ‘That name means nothing to you?’
‘Sorry.’ Everett left his preoccupation and lifted his head. His eyes were round, anxious. His hands trembled. ‘So sorry. I should know, of course, and I do but I don’t, if you follow. What I mean is, if I ever did it’s gone.’ He snapped his fingers and laughed. ‘Vanished, like the infants.’ He lowered his voice. ‘It was her fault. Did you know? Hers. She’s shaman and it happened right under her nose.’ He grabbed the towel, twisting it tighter and tighter. ‘She let the thief come. Might have even helped.’ His knuckles went white.
‘The thief?’
Everett jerked out of his chair. ‘Have you seen her? I know I was close this time. Had her on the run. Did she come your way?’ Everett narrowed his eyes. ‘Do you know the demon?’
‘I don’t.’
Everett looked out the window, into the distance. ‘Of course you don’t. It was long ago. Before your time.’
Grayson shifted in his seat. ‘Time is not always what it seems.’
‘Nonsense. Time is fixed. You can set your life on it.’
Grayson sighed. ‘I used to think so too.’
Everett returned to his chair. ‘If I were you, I’d go back to it. Time works best when we think of it properly.’
‘And what is proper?’
‘Time is solid, reliable. Always where you left it.’ Everett lifted his mug and clinked it against Grayson’s. ‘In any case, we have a common goal.’
‘We do?’