Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [94]
They stared at her, shaking their heads. ‘You weren’t where I left you, that’s for certain.’ Kreshkali narrowed her eyes.
‘If you wanted me so urgently you could have sent a message, or come for me yourself. Bloody demon’s fire, that was horrid.’
An’ Lawrence and Kreshkali came closer, Scylla between them; the look on their faces was incomprehensible.
Rosette’s hands went to her face. ‘Do you realise Drayco’s left behind with no idea of where I am, if I’m alive or dead? He’ll be tearing chunks out of everyone he meets until he finds me. And Teg’s left to deal with it? What will they do? We were at the gates of Corsanon!’
‘Rosette,’ Kreshkali whispered. ‘I can’t believe it’s you.’
Rosette glared at her. ‘Who were you expecting?’
‘Not you, daughter,’ An’ Lawrence said, his voice wavering. ‘We weren’t expecting you.’
Kreshkali came to her side and led her to the table.
‘What do you mean, not me? It was a calling spell, wasn’t it? And I can’t stress enough how uncomfortable it felt. Have you ever been through one? It’s criminal. I’m tearing that spell out of my grimoire as soon as I get back to Dumarka.’
‘I’m sorry, Rosette.’ Kreshkali pulled out a chair and eased her down. ‘It was a calling spell, yes—but you’re not the one we called.’
‘Well I’m the one you got.’ She took the water her mother offered, frowning. ‘Who were you after?’
‘Whom.’ An’ Lawrence sat beside her.
She clicked her tongue. ‘Whom then?’
‘We were calling a manual,’ Kreshkali said. ‘Richter’s notes to be exact, the ones we need to bring back Jarrod.’
Rosette looked at each of them in turn. ‘A manual?’
‘Richter’s journals. She hid them from ASSIST and we’ve been searching the library.’ An’ Lawrence waved towards the shelves lining the walls to the ceiling. ‘We thought a calling spell would bring them.’
Rosette exhaled. The sun came out from behind the clouds, flooding the library with light. She rubbed her hands, flexing her fingers one at a time. The colours from the stained glass played across her skin, saffron, emerald and azure. She shook her head, a small smile lifting her face. ‘At least now we know where she hid them.’
Kreshkali hissed. ‘Is there anything that techno-witch didn’t put in our blood?’
Xane cantered the mare along the road, keeping her collected. There was plenty of time, no need to rush. He’d delivered the letter to the High Priestess and had her reply tucked safely in his saddlebag. Over the next rise was a steep climb and then the road skirted the river gorge, crossed the high arched bridge and snaked its way back to the main gates of Corsanon. He would be there within the hour, the mare in grand condition. He stroked her neck, about to praise her, when he saw them coming. ‘What’s this?’
Barrelling down the road were two black beasts. He squinted to make them out but they ran so fast he couldn’t identify them immediately. Dust billowed behind them as their long strides tore up the ground.
‘Easy, Grace.’ He shortened his reins and brought her to a halt. Her head was up and she pranced on the spot, nostrils flaring. Xane kept her under control, moving well to the side. When he looked again at the approaching creatures, he knew what they were—a black temple cat and a very large wolf.
‘That’s the one we saw before. The witch’s familiar.’ He was hypnotised, watching their approach. The mare broke out in a sweat and tossed her head, limbs shaking. ‘Easy now. They’re not after us, Gracie.’ He stroked her neck. ‘At least, I don’t think they are.’
The temple cat roared and the mare backed away, shying into a stand of white oaks. Xane’s leg slammed into the trunk, the stirrup gouging the bark. His head whipped backward as the mare lunged, her hind leg firing towards the beasts as they passed. He kept her from bolting and watched the temple cat speed away. Inexplicably, he wanted to follow. ‘Settle, Grace. We’ve got a message to deliver,’ he said aloud. ‘To the city!’
Xane shifted his weight forward, easing up on the reins. Like a racehorse from