The Spell of Rosette - Kim Falconer [85]
She sat with them while they talked of the upcoming yearling sale and the new student prospects, Makee’s horse who’d pulled up lame after a long ride, and the merits of teaching music to all first-year initiates. No mention, let alone contemplation, was made of the impending journey. It seemed as if that discussion was all over and done with. Rosette straightened her back and made ready to interrupt. She would find out what she could. No harm in trying.
‘Excuse me, but where exactly are we headed?’
‘Direct and to the point.’ Makee smiled at her. ‘You’re going to Los Loma in the Mount Prieta range.’
‘I understood that. I was thinking more specifically…like what are we to do when we get there?’
‘Retrieve something that was lost. You’ll see. There are too many mind-travellers here to say any more. An’ Lawrence will fill you in when you are underway.’
It didn’t make sense. Why couldn’t they just tell her now? They all had impenetrable mind-shields, unless the likes of Kreshkali was lurking in the kitchen; why the secrecy?
She sipped her tea, formulating the next question, but the High Priestess raised her hand in warning.
‘All those busy thoughts are hurting my head, Rosette. Let it go. It’ll be made clear in time.’
Rosette swallowed hard. She kept her mouth shut, her lips pressed tight together. If the High Priestess said she had to wait, then she had to wait.
‘Not as uncouth as you led me to believe, either,’ La Makee goaded An’ Lawrence.
Rosette raised her eyes to the Sword Master and mouthed the word ‘uncouth?’.
‘I really meant abrupt more than ill-mannered,’ he said to Rosette.
‘You might want to say what you mean if you’re going to say anything at all,’ Rosette snapped.
‘Ah. There’s a sample,’ An’ Lawrence said, smiling at La Makee.
‘She’s just like…’ La Makee let the sentence hang. ‘Finish your tea and pack your bags, you two. Take plenty of warm furs and dried food for yourselves, the temple cats and the horses.’
‘Horses?’ Rosette interrupted.
‘Yes, and I want you ready by first light.’
An’ Lawrence and Rosette stood as the High Priestess blessed them in turn before leaving the room.
A flutter of wings fanned the air above them.
‘A Lemur Raven,’ Rosette whispered, her mouth remaining in a round shape after she spoke. The bird looked over its shoulder, seeming to wink before it shot off after its mistress.
An’ Lawrence said nothing. With the High Priestess gone, a silence prevailed. Rosette wrinkled her brow at him though he turned away, reaching for his cup and sipping the remainder of his tea. Rosette put the last biscuit in her robe pocket—she certainly wasn’t taking much else away with her.
‘Let’s go,’ An’ Lawrence said, looking at the empty plate. He avoided her eyes.
‘As you wish, Sword Master.’
In silence, the two left the chamber, followed by the temple cats contentedly licking their lips. As they reached the high doors, An’ Lawrence spoke softly to her: ‘That went well.’
She couldn’t believe her ears. ‘You’re kidding, right?’
‘Not at all.’
‘In what way do you define well?’ Rosette growled as they walked out of the temple and down tier after tier of smooth stone steps. The afternoon breeze washed across her face, making her green feather earrings brush against her cheeks. ‘We don’t know anything new! Or should I say, I don’t know anything new!’
My belly is full. Delicious meat. Drayco sent his thoughts of satiation.
‘I am glad one of us is pleased,’ she quipped back.
‘Pardon?’ An’ Lawrence replied.
‘I was talking to Drayco.’ Rosette didn’t hide her irritation.
‘The meeting was not without advantage. I have a new map.’
‘Looking forward to seeing it,’ Rosette hissed at him, crossing her arms and turning the other way. ‘If I may be excused, I’ll go have my last hot bath for—well, for how long do you reckon, An’ Lawrence?’
‘Half a moon, at least.’
‘Right. I’ll meet you before dawn?’
‘At the stables. Bring your new furs.’
‘I can’t wait.’ Rosette slapped her thigh to attract Drayco’s attention, nodded to An’ Lawrence and walked away.
‘Rosette!’
His