The Spell of Rosette - Kim Falconer [80]
‘Done, Rosette. Well done,’ he said, allowing a smile. ‘Bathe and refresh. We start all over again in the morning.’
The young witch dipped her head in acknowledgement, sheathing her training sword and ducking under the netting. The students made way as she passed, looking at her with respect. An’ Lawrence was obviously not the only one she had impressed. He chuckled quietly as he stood alone in the arena with the darkness setting in. He was creating quite a warrior. What would Nell think of that?
He rubbed the back of his neck. He couldn’t dispel his musings. She clearly had him remembering feelings he hadn’t counted on, and didn’t want.
Are you going to the baths as well? The voice of his familiar came to him from behind the armoury.
His brow relaxed. ‘Scylla, it’s a wonderful idea, but that would keep me in her presence. It’s not the most beneficial plan. I’m having enough trouble coping when she is attacking me with a sword. I can’t imagine what would happen if I let my guard down.’
She reminds you of another, that’s all. You miss the one I’ve yet to meet.
‘I never said that!’
You didn’t have to.
‘I’ve sworn an oath, Scylla. She—Nellion and I—we’ll never meet again and I want…’
You want Nellion. It’s as clear and clean as the fur on my belly.
‘Hush, Scylla. It’s more complicated than that.’
When has a little complexity ever kept you from a task, or an adventure? All this magic in the arena is forbidden to her rank as well. The girl’s not even your apprentice. The journey itself…
‘I know. It’s a sticky situation, but we can’t talk about it here.’
Rowan, no-one can get through our mind-shields, so stop avoiding. Complex or not, you want to see that woman, the girl’s mentor. The Nell witch. Admit it.
‘Saying it, Scylla, doesn’t help my resolve one bit! I’ve sworn to stay away and I won’t break that oath.’
As you please, she purred. It was an alluring sound.
‘It’s a moot point, my love. I am the Sword Master of Treeon Temple and my life isn’t completely my own. Plans have been made. We’ve a much greater road ahead than rekindling an old romance—an affair, I might add, that went disastrously wrong.’
Okay, Rowan. You can stop explaining. I’m convinced.
‘Then why are you still pestering?’
Because you’ve yet to convince yourself.
‘Scylla, I haven’t seen Nell in…’
Decades!
‘You’re keeping track! Just because these feelings have resurfaced doesn’t mean they’re important. It’s just a ridiculous memory.’
I’m sure you’re right.
‘It’ll pass!’
If that’s how you see it…
‘That’s how I make it!’ He laughed at the cat’s mental equivalent of exasperation. His familiar was obviously perturbed. It wasn’t the first time they’d broached the topic, finding themselves with opposing views. ‘Let’s see about some dinner, shall we?’ An’ Lawrence changed the subject.
Cooked meat?
‘Good idea.’ He smiled. It didn’t take much more than the thought of a rump roast to get Scylla onto another track.
Ducking out of the arena, he saw her emerge from behind the far shed. No doubt her quest for rats had gone unfulfilled. Rosette’s familiar had cleaned out the entire training complex over the last few weeks, now that she allowed him to hunt here.
‘Magnificent creature, the Dumarkian black.’
On that we agree. Scylla met him halfway down the path, pressing the top of her head into his hand.
It was unfortunate that things had ended so badly with Nell all those years ago. He’d been young, stubborn and fixated. She’d been detached, though patient with his adoration, until she’d let her guard down, for a while. The attraction they’d had for each other had become unbearable. It had to be expressed.
Looking back in the direction of the arena, now the