The Spell of Rosette - Kim Falconer [52]
Rosette grinned widely. What an amazing experience, especially the shape-shifting. She knew that Nell could do it, but it wasn’t something she had taught Rosette or even allowed her to see. La Makee was unbelievable! While Rosette stood staring in awe, the crowd began to disperse; some went to the stage to talk with the masters, others moved off to get on with their day. She touched Drayco’s head as he dropped his front legs to the ground and they both slipped quietly out of the crowd.
‘What did you think of that, Dray?’
Not bad, for two legs.
‘I agree. Let’s find Clay.’
He’s finding us.
Clay’s face was red and he seemed out of breath. ‘I had to fight my way through the crowd. How’d you get up so close?’
‘I had help.’ She glanced up at the stage and caught the Sword Master’s eye. He waved and she raised her hand, palm towards him, fingers spread.
‘From high places, it seems.’
‘It was a chance meeting,’ she shrugged. ‘Did you see all the demonstration? Did you see La Makee shift?’
‘I sat halfway up that tree.’ Clay pointed to a tall, twisting oak at the edge of the oval. ‘I saw everything, including you.’
‘Wasn’t it amazing?’ She folded her hands on top of her head, looking at the empty stage.
He smiled, fishing deep in his pockets. ‘This is what’s amazing.’ He handed her a green apple and took a bite from his own, talking around his mouthful. ‘There are bins full of them behind the stables.’
She laughed, polishing the fruit on her sleeve until it shone like hard candy. She took a big chomp and closed her eyes. Juice trickled out the corners of her mouth.
She beamed. ‘Delicious!’ The sweet nectar washed over her tongue and down her throat. She wiped her mouth with her fingers and sucked them clean, the crisp white fruit tantalising her with its heady fragrance and sugary taste, the scent of apple blossoms lingering on her breath. ‘Thank you, Clay. That’s magic.’
‘My pleasure,’ he said, taking a little bow. They walked on. ‘The demo was impressive, but I enjoyed the syncopated drumming as much as the sword work.’
She laughed and took his hand. ‘That doesn’t surprise me, my bard.’
Rosette was feeling better about coming to Treeon. It seemed the right place to be, even though the sheer numbers would take some getting used to. All she had to do was stay focused, advance through the preparatory training, and before she knew it, she’d be sparring with the sword apprentices. It’d be like peaches and cream, or make that baked apples and cream. She took another bite.
What do we do now? Drayco’s question cut into her thoughts. The temple cat was yawning.
‘We have to find our dorm and report to Mistress Savine,’ Rosette said. ‘Clay, I need to get my pack.’
The young bard looked away, his eyes focusing on the distant winding road that led out of the valley. ‘Sure,’ he answered, staring at the horizon.
Drayco twitched his tail. Then what, Maudi?
‘Then, it begins.’
CHAPTER 7
An’ Lawrence watched them head for the barn. They were friends already, hand in hand, companionably munching apples, smiling like the summer days were already here. He frowned uneasily and turned away. Part of him felt disappointed in Rosette for not sensing trouble, and another part of him was pleased that the bard could pull it off. It meant he could tell Makee that all was in place. Of course, Clay wasn’t really working a deception. That’s why it was so effective. The lad was taken by her, clear as crystal waters. He didn’t have to pretend to be interested or enthused, or aroused. Good. Yet, oddly, An’ Lawrence felt uncomfortable. Something wasn’t sitting right.
Of course it isn’t sitting right. His familiar’s voice floated into his mind. When did it ever, with mulengro about?
You’re right, Scylla.
What’s setting it off? Guilt? Envy? Assumption?…Deceit?
Deceit mainly, and perhaps some Envy.
That’s honest.
I know, and it hurts.
He didn’t want to begin the training of Nell’s student with