The Spell of Rosette - Kim Falconer [131]
‘And that’s where I came in,’ An’ Lawrence added.
‘Do tell.’ Rosette’s eyebrows rose.
He laughed, shaking his head, wincing at the motion. ‘I’d just come back from the cliffs of Tuscaro, south of the main battlelines—that’s where I meet Scylla.’ His voice softened as he stroked her thick fur. She stretched in her sleep, purring like a kitten. ‘I was to team up with one of the priestesses from Treeon, minding her back while she conjured a water spell.’
‘A water spell?’
‘Something to turn the tide in our favour, so to speak,’ Nell said. ‘We planned to change the course of several rivers, cutting off Corsanon troops from the north and east. La Kaffa sensed trouble right away, and I think she almost enjoyed it.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Makee and I both wanted to work with the young Sword Master, though Makee had her own designs that I knew nothing about.’
‘What did she want?’ Rosette asked.
‘What all ambitious people want: power, and lots of it. She saw An’ Lawrence as a means to make herself indispensable. La Kaffa, I think, had the best intentions of Treeon in mind, though it was I who actually stirred up the biggest trouble.’ She chuckled before going on. ‘Makee and I—once as close as sisters—became very competitive.’
‘Over him?’ Rosette nodded to An’ Lawrence, her mouth turned down.
‘Not so much for the Sword Master’s attention as for succession to High Priestess. We both agreed anyone else would be dangerous in that position and that one of us should be chosen, to protect Treeon and the free lands of Gaela. La Kaffa was too uncertain in her reign—too indirect. We were losing ground to the Corsanon armies under her command.’
‘Who did she choose for the succession?’
Nell shrugged. ‘It’s irrelevant. Egos got way too involved and my bond with Makee frayed.’
Rosette stared at the Sword Master. ‘Because of you?’ she asked.
‘An’ Lawrence wasn’t responsible,’ Nell answered, looking directly at him as she spoke. ‘He kept his mind on the war for the most part, but we did end up together in Los Ghatos Regela after making one fine water spell. We changed the course of five rivers that day, and inadvertently awoke the Spell of Passillo in the process.’
An’ Lawrence’s eyes widened. ‘We did what?’
Nell ignored him. ‘We thought our task was over and celebrated all week in a beautiful little village above the falls. It was really something, a magical time. The cherry trees were in bloom…Do you remember, Rowan?’
‘Of course, but what do you mean when you say we awoke the Spell of Passillo? Nell…?’
Jarrod caught Nell’s eye and gave a slight shake of his head.
‘Back at Treeon, it was anything but peaceful,’ she continued. ‘I think Makee was doing her best to protect the coven—which in the end she did. Makee thought she’d save everyone the trouble and all but put herself in the dragon-bone chair. Of course, only one could wear the title of High Priestess and La Kaffa was still it. The tension arose when Rowan and I returned, especially when La Kaffa realised I had possession of the spell of legend.’
‘Passillo,’ Rosette said.
‘Yes, Passillo. The bane of my life—and yours.’
‘How did La Kaffa know you had it?’
Nell fidgeted. ‘I told her.’
‘And how did you know you had it?’ Rosette asked.
She sighed. ‘My mother and her mother and hers, since the beginning of our line, had known where Passillo was buried; they had entrusted each generation with the secret. We were told to keep it safe if ever there was a danger, and to guard it if it’d been discovered. But it had been such a long time since the first woman of my line had taken on the responsibility, that it seemed like merely a mother’s story to a young girl before sleep.’
‘I’m confused,’ Rosette said. ‘What’s this got to do with me?’
‘It has everything to do with you,’ Nell answered. ‘I showed Passillo to La Kaffa and explained the meaning as best I could. I needed help, and I left Passillo in the temple coffers for safekeeping.’
‘What happened?’
‘The voice of Passillo, like a screaming demon, came through