The Spell of Rosette - Kim Falconer [158]
‘Cascade?’
‘The many-worlds, like a stack of cards.’
‘Seems like there might have been an easier way,’ she said. ‘Like simple detection. I would have spotted the tracker, if I’d been informed, and we could have paid the captain a few extra coins to drop a dinghy over the side and set them afloat. That captain’s dead now, by the way. Remember?’
‘Rosette,’ Kreshkali said, her eyes bright, not hearing her comments.
‘There’s more?’ She felt like she would be sick.
‘Remind me to give you back your sword when we get to the next portal.’
‘You’ve got it?’
‘Of course. And An’ Lawrence says to try to keep track of it this time.’
‘The Sword Master knows?’
‘He does now.’
The portal behind the waterfall shimmered at their approach.
‘How long will it take to get to Corsanon?’ Rosette asked. Purple light reflected off the edge of the entrance as she passed, sending tingles through her fingers.
‘We’re going to Dumarka first.’
‘Dumarka?’
‘I’m not leaving the horses here, and where we’re going, they can’t follow.’
Rosette nodded, strapping on her sword. When she looked up, Jarrod and Kreshkali were leading the horses out into the Dumarkian Woods, slipping their halters off and setting them free. Jarrod lingered a moment, speaking softly to Wren before the mare shook her head and nickered.
‘Now, to Corsanon,’ Kreshkali said, brushing horsehairs off her cloak.
‘That fast?’
‘You’ve got some things to learn about time, don’t you?’
Rosette closed her eyes, opening them to an expansive view of a pastoral valley and gorge she’d never seen before.
‘Passillo?’ a voice howled desperately from the distance. ‘Passillo!!!’
‘I think I’ve been discovered,’ Rosette said. She felt her blood pulse through her body in an orgasmic rush. ‘I’m here, lost one,’ she answered instinctively before the others could speak, linking empathically with the sundered Entity. ‘Passillo is here. Rosette is here. Come to me. This is where you belong.’
Rosette stepped out of the portal into the rocky alcove above the Valley of Corsanon, and the dissipated energy of the Entity flew to her, embracing its other half as she realigned the portal with her presence. Warmth flowed from the walls around them, and a humming sound echoed as if the entire mountain was singing.
Rosette took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Her face glowed.
‘That was easier than I thought,’ Kreshkali whispered to Jarrod. ‘Come on, Rosette. This is only the beginning. You too, Jarrod.’
‘Where?’ Rosette asked.
‘Earth.’
‘I can’t,’ Jarrod said, stepping back from the portal. He blanched. ‘The worm.’
‘We’ve got a plan for that, trust me.’
Jarrod paused a moment before following them in.
They emerged in the sewers beneath the crumbling city of Half Moon Bay. The air was thick and difficult to breathe, like smoke from a burning rubbish heap.
‘This is like my dream,’ Rosette whispered before she started coughing. ‘I feel like I’ve been here before.’
‘We call that déjà vu,’ Kreshkali said.
‘What’s the horrible smell?’ Rosette wrinkled her nose.
Drayco sneezed and wiped his face repeatedly with his front paws. Death, Maudi—the world smells of sickness and death.
‘It’s not a pretty place, Rosette, but we can change that.’ Her face was set, firm and direct. She looked at Jarrod. ‘We don’t have long, and we have to keep you hidden.’
Jarrod nodded. ‘No argument there.’
‘Why hidden?’ Rosette asked.
‘Because, in this world, he’s a wanted Entity.’
‘Entity?’
‘A Juxta-quantum Arranged Rad-Ram Operating Determinate, to be accurate,’ Jarrod said. ‘There’s a worm out to get me. I’d say we have thirty-six hours, wouldn’t you, Kali?’
‘Sounds about right.’
Rosette went pale. ‘I don’t know what you said, but I think I’m going to be sick.’
‘When we shut down the solar shield, we can start thinking about widespread hydroponics, ion-based energy sources and reforestation, but we’ve got to resuscitate the oceans first.’ Kreshkali stared at the figures in front of her, speaking her thoughts aloud.
‘That, and balance the O2 so we can establish