The Spell of Rosette - Kim Falconer [45]
‘All you have to do is build on your relationship with Rosette and report to me when I contact you.’
‘That’s it?’
‘Hopefully, you’ll work with the fourth-year students on composition. You’ve a knack for that, I’ve heard.’
Is there anything you haven’t heard?
It wouldn’t hurt to train with his peers, even though he was already a journeyman. He liked the idea of teaching, and there were tunes floating around the music halls that he’d never heard before. It would be great to expand his repertoire.
‘I don’t have to remind you of the consequences if you should reveal our agreement to the girl, or anyone else, do I?’ The Sword Master’s voice had a deep finality to it, jolting Clay from his musings.
‘No, you don’t.’ Clay looked out through the doorway, taking in the expanse framed like a picture on a wall. The breeze touched his face with the scent of apple pulp and freshly stacked hay. He rubbed his cheek on his shoulder and turned back to An’ Lawrence. ‘When do I start?’
The Sword Master gave a half smile as he unbridled Dozer and flipped open his stall door. The horse nickered, heading straight for the manger filled with oats and alfalfa hay.
‘Right now. Find Rosette and make sure you accompany her back for her things. I want to know if she suspects this pack has been searched.’
‘She wouldn’t, would she?’
‘You don’t know her very well yet, do you?’
‘Do you?’
The Sword Master didn’t answer right away. ‘She’s an initiate of Nellion Paree. Best not underestimate her.’ He started going through the contents of Rosette’s pack. It seemed he was looking for something very specific as he set out each item, one by one. He glanced at Clay. ‘You’d better hurry. I want you to get as close to her as you can. Do you understand?’
Clay hesitated for an imperceptible moment then lifted his head. ‘Sure thing.’ He winked at the Sword Master then dashed out of the barn.
‘Coming through,’ a woman in a dark blue robe called out. She nearly bumped into Rosette as she shouldered past. ‘Oh, geebeeza! What in the underworld is that?’ She didn’t wait for an answer but swerved, giving Drayco a wide berth before breaking into a run.
Rosette felt herself being sucked into a stream of people, all intent on one destination. After years of living with Nell and only the occasional visitor to fill the small cottage with a foreign voice, Rosette felt overwhelmed. As the intensity of Treeon swirled around her, she faltered.
Maudi? What’s wrong? The temple cat seemed unperturbed by the energy of the place.
‘I can’t breathe.’
More robed figures veered past like a river around rocks. Rosette wavered in the middle of the thoroughfare, Drayco at her side. She could hear the gasps and exclamations of those startled by the temple cat and it made her feel even more out of place. Her chest was tight. She couldn’t take a proper breath. Moving out of the traffic, she stopped in front of the plaza’s southern statue.
‘I really can’t breathe,’ she gasped.
Sit. Head down. Look away from the crowd.
Rosette slid to the foot of the statue. It was a huge winged deity, recognisable now. Looking skyward, she identified the head of a falcon, the body of a lion, the wings of a sea eagle and the tail of a snake. It bore many names, most she couldn’t pronounce. Nell called it Werefey, the goddess of transformation who presided over birth and death. Fitting. Rosette felt like she was about to die.
Take a deep breath.
Rosette closed her eyes and drew in as much air as she could, then spilled it out in front of her.
And another. Keep going.
After a few more inhalations, her dizziness settled. She rested her eyes on Drayco, mindful of her breathing, slow and steady, in and out, in and out. When she started to relax, she looked again at Were-fey.
The statue fascinated