The Spell of Rosette - Kim Falconer [78]
‘I get around.’ He lifted his head. ‘One more question, Nell. Do you know your matrilineal ancestry?’
She stared at him, mouth open.
‘Who’s the first remembered in your line of priestesses?’
‘We go way back…’ Her voice trailed off.
‘Tell me her name, please. It’s important.’
‘We call her Docturi Janicia, but it’s really…’
‘Janis Richter.’
Nell dropped her mug, tipping her chair over as she leapt to her feet. Mozzie wove his way across the rafters, lowering his head to hover just above her eyes. She had never heard that name spoken, but had found it with the things her mother had left her. It pulled her mind back to the late-night talks between herself, her mother and her grandmother in the secret places of her childhood training, and she faltered. She gripped the edge of the table. ‘Who are you?’
‘Can’t you guess?’
‘The JARROD?’ she whispered, not knowing if her legs would support her.
‘I always liked the name,’ he said, lifting his face with a smile.
‘Jarrod?’ she whispered again.
‘Still in the flesh.’ He opened his arms. ‘A newer Tulpa, several actually, since I saw Janis last, but me just the same.’
‘Oh, Jarrod.’ Nell walked towards him, the cottage so quiet she could hear the floorboards creaking underfoot. She stood in front of him, tilting her head up before she fell into his arms.
‘Tell me, Nell, is Earth hanging in there?’
She gave him a strong squeeze. ‘By a thread.’ She released him. ‘Where have you been? You’re the one missing piece I didn’t know how to find. Why didn’t you answer me? I’ve been calling for you from ridge to mountain top, Corsanon to Morzone, for the last twenty years.’
Jarrod took her hands. ‘It’s your first-class glamour, Nell. I couldn’t spot the blood of the Techno-Witch, even this close up. I thought it was Kreshkali who carried it. I’ve been tracking her for at least that long, but damned if I could catch the woman.’
Nell chuckled. ‘She is tricky, isn’t she?’
‘But, Nell, why does Rosette have Passillo? I thought it was to lie dormant until…’ His face beamed. ‘Is the worm deleted? Are we ready to go back?’
‘No, not yet. I’m still working on that. Jarrod, Rosette doesn’t just have Passillo, a charm around her neck.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’m not the last of my line.’
‘What?’ He stared at her, holding her at arm’s length. ‘You have a child? A daughter?’ He let go his grip. ‘Where is she? Earth? Is she safe?’
Nell winked. ‘Oh, she’s not lost, if that’s what you’re worried about. Just hidden.’
‘Where?’
‘Can’t you guess that yet?’
He looked into her eyes. ‘Goddess of the night…right under my nose too?’ he whispered.
Nell nodded. ‘Though that connection was a fluke. Didn’t see it coming at all.’
‘Rosette?’ His voice choked.
‘She’s all mine.’
Jarrod lowered his head and moaned. ‘That would explain the attraction…’ He let out his breath and wiped his eyes. ‘How’d she end up with the Matosh clan? Is John’ra her father or…’
‘No!’ Nell stopped him short. ‘No, no,’ she said again, softer, looking at the fire. ‘Rosette’s not a Matosh.’
‘Who’s her father then?’
‘A man from the ancient line.’
‘Ah,’ he smiled. ‘Rosette was born in Gaela?’ He looked around the cottage as if the answer were somehow there. ‘Things haven’t exactly gone to plan then, have they?’
‘Not exactly. I disturbed Passillo inadvertently. The rivers had changed to a gorge. I couldn’t put them back. But I had exactly what was needed to hide Passillo when I conceived. I came here for the sanctuary of Dumarka, had my child and hid the spell.’ She sighed. ‘Then I hid her.’
‘But Rosette doesn’t have Passillo. She took almost nothing with her that night. I know. I was there.’
‘Almost nothing.’
‘Are you saying she has the spell?’
Nell winked again.
‘How?’
‘It’s in her, Jarrod. It was the only way.’
‘But that means if you can’t find a way to delete the worm…’
‘I know. She can’t set foot on Earth now, nor can you, not while the worm exists. I’m the last of my line there, the last hope.’
Jarrod buried his face in his hands. ‘Does she know?’
Nell moved