The Spell of Rosette - Kim Falconer [72]
She’s not asking about me, is she?
‘I think you’ll like this,’ An’ Lawrence said before she heard an answer.
He carried two bowls filled to the brim and trailing a spicy scent that made her mouth water. As the aroma drifted over the table, her body turned to follow.
‘What is that?’
‘Avan-chak—spiced bean curd cooked with fruit, chilli, pine nuts and wild rice. Old family recipe.’
‘You come from the Prieta range?’ She knew he didn’t, but she asked anyway. Their dishes were known to be as exotic as their lifestyle. Those remaining nomadic tribes were fascinating, a people scattered throughout the region, holding to the old ways and the old gods.
He shook his head, as she had expected.
‘Where, then?’
‘Beyond Corsanon.’
Rosette had no idea what was beyond Corsanon. ‘Where?’
‘To the east.’
She frowned. ‘Is it a secret?’
‘You’d know.’
‘Pardon me, Master?’ Rosette stared into his eyes.
‘I think you know what I mean.’
‘I’m sure I do not.’
‘Eat up. We have much to talk about.’ He placed two other bowls near the hearth and looked up at the rafters. ‘Scylla, bring your new friend down,’ he said aloud. ‘I’ve saved some raw meat and bones.’
The temple cats were on the floor, pacing towards him before he’d finished his sentence.
They toasted, dining in silence. It was not a tension waiting to break, but a curious expectation. Rosette closed her eyes with every bite and exhaled slowly. The food was divine.
‘More?’ he offered, as her wooden spoon scraped the bottom of the bowl.
‘A touch,’ she smiled. ‘Please.’
‘A touch it is,’ he said returning to the kitchen.
Is he flirting with me?
His voice altered when he sat down, direct, stern. ‘Rosette, you’ve been moved into my school for a reason.’
Definitely not flirting.
‘A reason?’ she asked, slipping another spoonful into her mouth. She didn’t close her eyes this time. She fixed them on him. Could this be it? The apprenticeship?
‘We have something very specific in mind.’
Her face fell. ‘We?’
‘The High Priestess and I. We’ve selected you to perform a certain task. We thought there’d be more time to prepare, but it turns out there isn’t.’
Rosette stopped eating and put down her spoon. ‘What kind of task?’
‘I can’t say yet, only that it involves crossing Los Loma undetected.’
‘This time of year?’
‘It’ll be chilly.’
‘Chilly? Are you insane? It’s solid ice and blizzards up there.’
‘I won’t pretend there are no risks in the travel, let alone the rest of the assignment.’
‘What rest?’
‘An exchange, if things go to plan.’
‘And if they don’t go to plan?’
‘There’ll be fighting.’
He reached for the flagon of wine and re-filled their glasses. She lifted hers, but did not take a sip. ‘I’m hardly ready for such an assignment.’
‘I know.’
Rosette glared at him before taking a long swig. ‘Then why do you want me?’ she asked, placing her empty glass down on the table.
‘Partly because of your ability to shield your thoughts and use your magic undetected, and partly because you’re not without other inherent skills, though I still can’t work out why, unless it’s in your blood. Is your mother a witch?’
‘No,’ she lied.
‘What about your father or grandparents?’
Rosette laughed at the thought. ‘Hardly.’
‘Curious. But either way, by the next moon, your sword skills will be tenfold.’
She had a pretty good idea how many hours, days, months and years it would take to make that true.
‘You’re saying I’ve only a matter of weeks to prepare for this adventure?’
‘A little less.’
Rosette turned to stare out the front window. All she could see was his reflection, watching her like a bird of prey, golden in the fire’s glow.
Sounds exciting, Drayco chimed in.
‘Drayco’s coming.’ It wasn’t a query.
I’ll be there. He’s not an idiot.
‘Of course your familiar will accompany you.’
‘And?’ She raised both eyebrows. ‘Who else?
He looked away.
‘You aren’t telling me that’s it, are you? Me, Drayco and the mountain of Los Loma? Midwinter?’
An’ Lawrence took a long drink before answering. ‘You’ll be travelling with me.’
And Scylla, Drayco added. It was a smug, happy cat sound