The Spell of Rosette - Kim Falconer [42]
She couldn’t see all of them clearly, but she got chills from the ones she could. The east corner held a winged lion with a long tail and sharp claws, crouched to pounce, or perhaps take flight. The statue to the north was like a sea lion, laid out in a playful, luxuriant recline, as if nothing could be of any threat. It was rotund, jovial, with pups in tow. The statue to the west was a Draconian, a winged dragon rising from an angry sea. She couldn’t make out the south, blocked by the feathery branches of the willow.
On the opposite side of the oval, she saw a long wooden building with rows of metal-strapped kegs, some stacked high against the wall and others in unhitched wagons. Past them were acres of dormant fruit trees with bare branches, braced for winter. Treeon was famous for its apple cider. She remembered tasting it in Lividica and she could certainly smell it now.
There’ll be rabbits in those fields, Drayco’s thoughts cut through her own. Can you hurry?
They caught up with him at the gate. Most of the valley was obscured from view now, disappearing behind the stand of redwoods and the high arch that framed the massive wrought-iron entrance. Only the peaks of the Prieta Mountains could be seen in the distance.
‘Stick close, Dray. I don’t want bedlam on our first day.’
‘Save it for at least the second or third,’ Clay spoke out of the side of his mouth.
‘Shush.’ She slapped his thigh.
They were met at the entrance by two gatekeepers—a woman and a man, both tall and muscular. They had swords at their sides and were dressed for fighting, in black leathers and body-hugging shirts, with small shields slung across their backs.
‘Halt and present your letters.’ The woman spoke formally, but her smile was sunny and warm. This was a time of peace and little could threaten Treeon in any case.
Rosette dismounted, followed by Clay. Drayco stood between them as they fished in their packs for their invitations.
‘I’m Clay Cassarillo.’ He handed over an envelope bearing the Treeon seal.
‘Rosette de Santo and Drayco of the Dumarkian Woods,’ Rosette said, offering hers.
The woman nodded to them briefly, resting her eyes on Drayco for a moment before turning to Clay. ‘Take the horse to the orchard stables. There’s a stall and paddock reserved for him.’ She pointed towards the smoothly paved road to the left. ‘The stable crew will show you what to do.’
‘If there are any still lingering about,’ the man added. ‘You’d best hurry or they’ll all be at the top field.’
‘Where do I go?’ Clay gazed out into a network of intersecting avenues and buildings, his brow wrinkled.
‘Straight ahead. Make no turns. That’ll take you right to the draught barn.’ The man stretched his long bronzed arm to its full length, pointing the way. His biceps sported a serpent-and-tree tattoo similar to Nell’s, the emblem of Treeon Temple. ‘The welcome gathering is about to start.’
Clay and Rosette didn’t budge.
The woman clapped her hands together. ‘Let’s move! You’ll need to get to the training grounds, Rosette, through the main courtyard, past those low buildings and beyond the dorm-rooms.’ She indicated the way as she spoke.
Rosette and Clay nodded but still didn’t budge. It was like they were rooted to the ground.
‘Go, you two!’ the man urged, smiling. ‘You won’t want to miss the demonstrations.’
Rosette snapped out of her daze and tugged at Clay’s arm. ‘Come on, Clay. I’ll walk you to the stables and we can go together.’
He shook his head. ‘It’s all right. I’ll catch up.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Of course. Give me your backpack.’ He grasped the straps, slipped it off her shoulders and slung it up over the saddle before she could respond. ‘You can pick it up after. No sense lugging it when you don’t have to.’
He gave her a shove in the right direction and led Dozer towards the stables. The animal lifted his head high and crested his neck like a warhorse,