Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [90]
‘That’s the whole point. You’re not meant to.’
‘Ridiculous! Kali, you realise this is a crucial time. I need to be ready for anything and so do my students.’
‘Most of all I’d say you need to be alive, so let’s get you past the septicaemia stage before you strap on your sword again. A day or two? That’s all. You have to rest. This is not negotiable.’
‘You could heal me in an instant, Kreshkali.’
‘Perhaps, if I had the time. But I think I like it better this way.’
‘With me crippled?’
She chuckled. ‘I wouldn’t call you that. You can heal yourself now while we work out what to do here.’
‘Evacuate?’
‘I don’t want it to come to that.’ Her smile fell. ‘We need Jarrod and we need him now.’
‘The backup CPU?’
‘There has to be more information about it here. Richter’s original notes, her journals. We need to search the library.’
‘I’ll help.’ His eyes narrowed. ‘That’s it, isn’t it? You wanted me in the library, not the training ground! That’s why you’ve strapped me up like a solstice parcel?’
‘Your Virgo mind is exceptional at nutting out complex systems.’
He snickered, mumbling something she thought best not to catch.
‘Come on. Lend me your skills. Please? Your knack for the fine details is going to lead us to those notes today. I feel it.’
‘Maybe. But when we do, it’s Rosette we need to find. She’s the one carrying the spell.’
‘Don’t worry. I’m tracking her already.’
‘Teg?’
‘He doesn’t know it, but yes.’
‘So you let them go, with blessings?’
‘I did.’
‘Because?’
‘If Jarrod really is out there, she’s the one who can find him.’
‘And that is preferable to activating the spell?’
‘As far as I know, much preferable.’
‘And what about the baby?’ An’ Lawrence sat and propped his leg up. ‘I thought you didn’t want her hopping through the portals.’
‘Seems all right—a lesser of two evils at this point.’
‘Let’s hope it stays that way.’
Rosette smiled as Drayco jumped into the coach. He leapt across the bench seat and stuck his head out the window, sniffing in the air.
‘We aren’t moving yet,’ Rosette said, sliding in beside him.
I’m getting ready for when we do.
At least you won’t be barking all the way to the city.
Drayco yawned. At least you didn’t turn me into a sheepdog.
Sheepdog? Teg asked.
He’d taken the opposite seat and was staring at her with his lovely dark eyes.
‘I’m afraid so.’
‘You turned Drayco into a sheepdog?’ He laughed. ‘I would have loved to have been there.’
No, you wouldn’t have, Drayco growled.
‘It was part of the glamour to get us to the citadel, is all,’ Rosette said quickly. ‘An effective part, I might add.’ She stroked the top of her familiar’s head.
I bet you didn’t like that much, eh, Drayco? Teg’s laughter faded as the temple cat turned, his pupils dilating. After a short exchange Teg glanced away. I promise I won’t mention it again.
The coach rolled along and Rosette reviewed everything she’d learned at the temple, comparing notes with Teg. ‘The healer was most helpful,’ she said.
‘Did she know much about the battle on the fields? What started it? Who they think the Sword Master is? If they are tracking him?’ Teg whispered the last sentence.
‘Not really, but she says I have at least a month to go.’ Rosette patted the top of her belly.
‘A month? This is the longest pregnancy on record, I’m guessing.’
‘It’s the only one on record. At least, the only one we know of that has been through the corridors and cryo-suspension.’ She yawned. ‘I’ll admit I squirmed when she asked me my due date.’
‘Did she suspect…’
‘What? That I was a witch of the ancient blood travelling the corridors between the many-worlds?’ Rosette laughed, shaking her head. ‘She thought I was a young apprentice from Temple Dumarka that had herself a lovely beau.’
Teg blushed, shifting in his seat.
‘Well, you are.’
‘Temple Dumarka?’ he said quickly. ‘The guard assumed that too. Because of Drayco?’
She smiled. ‘You’re so like my dad.’
‘What? I’m like the Sword Master?’
‘No, my pa that raised me. He had