The Spell of Rosette - Kim Falconer [92]
‘Ah, well. I wish her luck.’ Nell stared out at the statue of the winged lion. ‘How’ve you been, Makee?’
‘Well. And you?’
‘Very well.’ She let out a breath. ‘The place looks magnificent. Just as I remembered it.’
‘Twenty-three years is a long time.’
‘A long time to remain silent?’
Makee took her hand from her sword hilt and reached towards Nell. ‘Cup of tea?’
Nell nodded and together they walked into the temple.
Jarrod leaned against a twisted oak, braiding strands of grass into tiny stick figures. A brace of rabbits lay by his side, and Wren grazed clover at the foot of the trees, cropping it into a smooth green lawn. Nell had been gone for hours and the sun was getting low. He kept peering through the brush, scanning the road, but nothing moved. The only creature that stirred, besides him and the ravens, was a whistling bird of prey. It flew high overhead, circling in ever-descending spirals. The Sisters took flight as it neared, joining it.
Peculiar. Jarrod squinted, scratching the back of his neck as he watched the bird getting closer, heading directly for him. Maybe it’s a message from Nell?
He stepped out onto the road, checking left and right. Empty. He rolled down the cuff of his leather jacket so the hem covered his hand up to his knuckles. Looking skyward, he extended his arm out like a scarecrow.
He whistled his goshawk cry and bent his elbow. He hadn’t handled many raptors, but he’d hunted with his mentor at Montava University over the last few years. He was a falconer, Ra’Jamison, a well-respected one, and a surgeon too—a brilliant man. He’d taught Jarrod some basics.
Keep your arm steady, your mind relaxed, he’d instructed. The last thing you want to do is tense up with a falcon inches from your face.
The gust from the bird’s back-winging blew hair into his eyes. He watched, spellbound, as she landed on his arm. He didn’t recognise the species. Its talons wrapped around his forearm and its head dropped at an odd angle to look him in the eye. It had no trusses.
‘You’re magnificent,’ Jarrod said as he stroked the blue-black feathers of its neck. ‘Even if you don’t have a message for me, I am delighted to meet you.’
The black falcon whistled and extended her wings. The span was broader than Jarrod’s shoulders by double. She launched off his arm and landed on the side of the road. A blast of energy hit Jarrod in the face. He threw up his hands, shielding his eyes from the force. When he looked again, the bird shimmered, distorted and transformed. Inside of one breath the falcon was gone and Nellion Paree stood in its place, black robe wrapped tightly around her.
‘Nell!’
She rubbed her shoulders and hands. ‘Let’s get off the road. I don’t have much time.’
‘Did you see Rosette? Is she all right?’ he asked as they slipped into the shade of the oak. The Sisters landed above them, noisy as ever.
‘No, and probably not. She’s headed for Los Loma.’
‘Alone?’
‘The Sword Master’s with her, which is something. He won’t let any harm come to her.’
‘How do you know that? You said yourself we don’t know who the enemy is. What if he…’
‘Jarrod, take a few deep breaths. I’m still not sure why they’re heading for Los Loma, but An’ Lawrence would give his life to protect Rosette.’
‘How can you be so sure?’
Nell looked him straight in the eye. ‘Because she’s his blood.’
Jarrod stared at her, his mouth open. ‘What?’
‘An’ Lawrence is her father.’
‘How?’
She raised her eyebrows.
‘Okay, wrong question.’ Jarrod frowned. ‘Does he know?’
‘I’m hoping he’s worked it out by now.’
‘Hoping? He may not know? She could be just any young witch to him? Do you realise what could happen if…’
‘Jarrod. More breathing, less panicking. They headed out on the north road three mornings ago. I think they’re going to do some kind of deal with Kreshkali, but that’s just a guess.’
‘Why don’t they just jump off a thousand-foot cliff into a bottomless sea? It would save them the trouble of a more treacherous end.’
‘Jarrod…’
‘It’s suicide.’
‘Possibly. I’m going to stay here at Treeon and find out what I can. Makee and I are