The Spell of Rosette - Kim Falconer [53]
‘If she’s anything like her mentor,’ La Makee had said, ‘she doesn’t deserve our trust.’
‘Rosette has potential, or Nell wouldn’t have bothered.’
‘I’m not referring to Nellion’s mentorship skills, Sword Master. I am referring to her stubborn will and subversive intentions.’
An’ Lawrence had glared at her, the corner of his mouth turning into a half smile. ‘You seem familiar with those attributes.’
‘The witch stole from me!’
‘She could say the same of you.’
Makee had looked him up and down. ‘Old feelings, Sword Master?’
‘Not at all.’
‘Then why the resistance?’
‘You underestimated Nellion Paree and I fear you may be underestimating Rosette as well.’
‘Really? And you feel that being—how did you put it—“open and upfront” is going to resolve this problem?’
‘I’m just saying it’s worth a shot.’ An’ Lawrence had paced as he spoke, his face red, forehead perspiring. ‘There is nothing that directly implicates her, nor her mentor.’ He had said the last few words to himself.
‘Isn’t there?’
‘What do we know for sure about Rosette de Santo?’ he’d countered.
‘Why don’t you tell me?’
‘It wouldn’t take long. Let’s consider instead what we don’t know. We don’t know if she has any links to the Matosh murders. She may not have even met the family.’
‘That’s the point, An’ Lawrence. We don’t know. I charge you with remedying that lack.’
‘It could be done in a clear instant if we simply asked her.’
‘Are you convinced she wouldn’t lie so well that we couldn’t pick it?’
He’d stopped in front of La Makee and crossed his arms. ‘I am. What’s more, I’m convinced she would tell the truth. We’re encouraging mulengro with this dishonesty.’
‘Mulengro? Is that what you’re worried about?’
‘It will bring nothing good.’
‘Mulengro’s a state of mind, Sword Master. It brings what you expect.’
‘You talk like you can control it.’
‘Because I can. Of course you feel its presence, the prickle at the back of your neck, the tension in the air, the twist in your guts. You’re weaving a deception, manipulating others for your own ends. Get used to it. Mulengro isn’t the enemy here. It’s energy, like anything else.’
‘An energy you’re feeding. It will grow.’
‘Assumption! Have you forgotten who started the whole thing a quarter of a century ago?’
The Sword Master had pressed his lips together and looked away.
‘Then don’t give your trust to this girl just because she trained with a woman you once knew and…admired. Think back, An’ Lawrence. Nell left, and she left with more than what was rightfully hers. I want it back. Rosette may be the key to our puzzle and I’ll not have you scattering the pieces in the wind again. We’re running out of time. Mind you don’t fall under her spell as well.’
None of the other council members had spoken. Some shuffled in their seats, others looked away.
‘La Makee, this path is one you’ll regret.’
‘That may be, Sword Master, though the path is mine to choose.’
‘What are you waiting for?’
The question startled Rosette, bringing the room back into focus. All the tables in front of her were empty and wiped clean, chairs tucked under them in even rows. All except hers. She puckered her lips, remembering her optimism when she’d first arrived.
Like peaches and cream? What was I thinking?
So far, she had danced at two solstices here at Treeon and revelled in the bonfires of as many sabbats, and still had not sparred once on the training grounds. The preparations for the Samhain sabbat were now well underway. Nights were colder and winter was coming, and still she wasn’t called to join the sword and staff classes. The only practice she got was in her free time when she and Clay would slip away to work on forms and spar. It was fun, though it wasn’t like training with