The Spell of Rosette - Kim Falconer [119]
‘Pupils are equal and both react to light. I’m guessing the headache is gone and you’re fit to travel.’ He smiled at the deep orange eyes. ‘Shall we go to the summit and wait for Rosette? The Sword Master says she’ll be there.’
Drayco’s ears pricked at the sound of his partner’s name. When Jarrod stood he leapt to his feet, heading up the track.
‘Wait for me. I won’t be long,’ Jarrod called. ‘I’m going to check on the others and saddle up. It’ll be quicker if I ride.’
Drayco sat halfway up the track, his tail sweeping back and forth across the snow, piling it into drifts on either side.
Nell came out of the cave wrapped tightly in her fur coat. ‘Making friends?’
‘I think we have an agreement.’
‘How is he?’
‘Concussion’s gone.’ Jarrod nodded towards the cave. ‘What about them?’
‘Sleeping. Scylla’s fever’s down but still present. I’m going to get more agate and snow root if I can find any. She shouldn’t travel yet.’
‘Not surprised. But your herbs…’
‘Have helped,’ she interrupted.
‘I’m going up to meet Rosette. If she’s not at the summit…’
‘I know. I’ve fed and watered the horses, and saddled Wren, though she won’t be of use underground.’
‘Underground?’
‘The Lupins took Rosette to the witch Kreshkali. She’s got a den down in the bowels of Los Loma. If Rosette isn’t back by the time you reach the summit, Drayco will find a way in. Wren will get you as far as the entrance, but you won’t convince her to enter the darkness. She’d be blind there anyway. She’s a good mare, but she’s no grunnie.’
‘Maybe I can persuade her to wait for me. I don’t plan on taking too long.’
‘I love your optimism, Jarrod.’
‘And I love your daughter.’ He winked at her and went back inside the cave.
Nell frowned. That could get tricky.
When he emerged with the copper-red mare, Drayco jumped to his feet.
‘Take these.’ Nell handed him dark lenses. ‘The snow will blind you without them, unless you have time to think yourself up some UV-screened optics.’
‘Thanks.’ Jarrod took a risk and roughed the temple cat’s neck with a gloved hand. ‘Ready to meet Rosette?’
Drayco launched up the path and Jarrod followed after him. As he started to climb, the sunlight warmed his face—the only skin exposed. Thank Zeeka, goddess of the mountain wind, that the morning was calm and clear. When he reached the summit, he could see forever in all directions—a magnificent panorama.
‘She should be here soon. Let’s give her some time.’
Drayco snapped his tail and continued across the summit, ignoring Jarrod’s halt.
‘Or, let’s keep going…’ He clucked to the mare, jogging after the temple cat. Winding down a path on the other side of the summit, Drayco stopped suddenly before a cliff face. Its rocks and outcroppings were thick with snow, but on close examination, Jarrod realised the rock wall was a deception. It hid a narrow fissure—an entrance into the mountain.
‘Did she go this way?’
Drayco entered the crevice.
‘I guess she did, then. Wait for me.’ Jarrod dismounted and unbridled the mare, leaving the halter on her head. He loosened the girth slightly and tied the lead rope securely to the saddle. ‘I’m hoping you’ll wait for me, my beauty. If we haven’t returned by dusk, go back to the cave. There’re shrubs at the summit, to keep you occupied. Do you understand?’
The mare fluttered her nostrils and rubbed her face on his shoulder, leaving a flurry of copper-coloured hairs floating in the air. Jarrod removed a torch from his saddlebag, shouldered his backpack and followed Drayco inside.
A wall of pitch black hit him. He couldn’t see his hand in front of his face as he fumbled to light a match. When the torch was blazing, he held it high over his head, searching for the temple cat. Drayco was nowhere in sight.
‘It’s going to be really hard for me if you disappear. I’ll never find you in this black soup.’ He inched forward until he came to three rough archways. ‘Drayco, really. We have to communicate more effectively.’ He stared at the archways.