Strange Attractors (20 page)

She made her way back to the pothole in the ground; barely distinguishable from the rest of the road, it was half buried in mud and rising water. She knew the place, though. She recognised it immediately and stood right over it like it was really there, the portal to another world. ‘I got Rall out of the city but there’s been a bit of grief. She’s not with me at the moment. Do you really mind? I’d much appreciate you letting me through, so we can talk about this face up.’

The ground shimmered and a rippling wave of energy blew her hood back, pasting her wet hair to her face. From the edge of the road a wall of rock emerged, the portal opening. It quickly became a gaping maw glowing with purple light. ‘Get in here then, girl, before you’re washed away.’

She slipped into the shelter of the corridors without a second thought, letting out a scream when she bumped into a man, lean and rugged, with startling blue eyes and a long thin plait at the back of his neck.

‘Entity?’ She made a little bow. ‘Thank you for letting me in.’

The man laughed, a delightful sound, and held out his hand to steady her. ‘Entity? Not hardly. The name’s Shane MacVenton, bard of Tensar and second marshal of the border scouts, though soon to retire that position.’ He narrowed his eyes. ‘Have you seen a lad? He’d be attached to a woman, no doubt with a sour look on her face but otherwise beautiful.’

‘You’re not the Entity?’

‘Not me, lass.’

‘Name’s Shaea. But, you didn’t ask for Rall?’

He shook his head. ‘I don’t know anyone by that name.’

She took a step back. ‘You didn’t speak to me the other day—the day of the battle?’

‘It wasn’t me, Shaea. I’ve only just arrived.’ He looked out into the driving rain. ‘Where are we, anyway? This isn’t the T’locity courtyard in spring, and you are speaking in the tongue of Gaela. Don’t tell me I’ve gone askew.’

‘I don’t know where you’ve gone but spring’s long past and I’ve never heard of T’locity.’

‘Not again.’ He grumbled before giving her a half smile. ‘I best look around in any case. The Entity makes these choices for a reason.’

‘You’re welcome to it, Shane. I’m staying put. The only thing out there is an oncoming flood, putting out the fires of Corsanon and washing away its filth.’

‘Corsanon?’

‘Where did you think we were?’

‘Anywhere but Corsanon.’

‘Why do you say the name as if it were poison? Corsanon’s a beautiful city—the upper levels, anyway. We have the most magnificent temple. It’s the centre of Gaela.’

‘That’s not how I heard it.’

‘True? What do your stories say?’

Shane frowned. ‘That nothing good comes from Corsanon and the temple has long been in ruins, but I can amend that now.’

‘You can what?’

He laughed again—such a warm sound. ‘I’d say there is something beautiful about Corsanon, and her name is Shaea.’

She smiled widely, not bothering to hide her mouth.

Teg spotted them descending the quarry road. The jagged steps had disappeared, a section completely missing. The footing was slick with silt and rubble washing by in rivulets. The Sword Master was limping, leaning hard into Jarrod, his familiar beside him. Rosette was glowing, plump with her pregnancy. How long had it been? He thought only a matter of days had passed since she and Drayco shot into the portal ahead of him but now he wondered. She held hands with a lad he didn’t recognise.

Rough time, Rosette?
Teg asked, sending the thoughts directly to her mind.

Teg! It’s good to see you. Are you well?

Well enough.

Excellent, because we haven’t heard the half of it from Kali or An’ Lawrence.
She slipped a few feet before catching herself. Drayco bounded to her as the lad pulled her up.

Our apprenticeships are hanging by a strand.
He looked at her belly.
I think we’ve been travelling at different speeds. It’s only been a day or so on my side.

Much longer here.

I see that. Who’s your friend?

She beamed.
It’s Clay.

Clay? Didn’t he die?

Not yet and I want to make sure he doesn’t. Teg, I need your help. I want to take him with us.
Rosette glanced at Kreshkali as she slipped to a stop in front of Teg.

That could be tricky, Rosette. What’s Drayco’s view?

See for yourself.

The rain pounded down on them, and Drayco cursed, not bothering to keep his complaints occult. The vocabulary was colourful and included words Teg would have to look up later. The downpour ran off the temple cat’s flanks, sheeting from his chin and belly fur.

You’re wet
, Teg said to him.

Drayco hissed.
As are you
.

One of the Three Sisters was hunched on Kreshkali’s shoulder, wings slightly open for balance, feathers rumpled. The other two shot down to the portal. Kreshkali’s aura was like a live volcano. Teg swallowed and turned towards her.

‘Teg.’ Kreshkali gave him a quick nod. ‘Care to shut down this rain?’

‘Pray sun, Mistress? It’ll take a moment.’

‘A moment might be more than we have.’ She looked back up the cliff.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Observation, Teg. What’s that you’re standing on?’ Kreshkali asked.

He looked at his boots. The growth underfoot was bent, grey under the cloudy night sky. Silt rushed past in black globs. ‘You mean the grass?’

She shook her head. ‘Is that all?’ She turned to her daughter. ‘Rosette?’

Rosette squatted by his feet; she plucked a blade and tried to stand. Clay, still holding her hand, hauled
her up. She wiped water out of her eyes then twisted the stem.

‘Class
liliopsida
, order
poales
, family…’ She squinted, holding the blade closer and feeling its edge. ‘
Cyperaceae
, most likely. There are more than three thousand species filling seventy-five genera, so I can’t be sure.’

‘Hazard a guess?’ Kreshkali said.

‘
Carex
, most likely.’

‘Which is?’ She turned to Teg.

He scratched his nose. ‘That’s a…um.’

‘A common sedge,’ Rosette said, supplying the answer.

‘I was about to say that.’ Teg kept his eyes on the ground. The water pooled in the culvert, the surface rippled by the wind. It was rising fast.

‘And, Teg, what do ground-sprouting sedges tell you?’

‘Wetland, Mistress.’ He answered quickly, his head coming up. ‘Listen! Hear that roaring?’

Above the sound of the driving rain came a rush, the rip of fast-flowing water.

‘Get out of it, now!’ Kreshkali reached for Rosette, the raven taking flight. Teg crouched and sprang; shifting in midair, his body cleared the oncoming water as he landed on higher ground. He whirled, shifting back to human form to grab An’ Lawrence, pulling him up as the water swept past. Scylla stood behind him, shaking her wet fur. When he looked at Kreshkali’s face, he knew instantly who hadn’t got out.

‘Rosette!’ she screamed. Rising out of a shock wave, Kreshkali morphed into falcon form and shot down the cliff.
She’s caught in the deluge. Run, Teg. Get to the bottom as fast as you can!

Again Teg shifted, tearing down the teeth of the stairs, following the rapids that carried Rosette and her familiar towards the bottom.

Rosette loved reciting the scientific names of flora and fauna, especially in moments like these when her mentor was fit to snap. It might pacify the High Priestess a little. She had thought of sending the information to Teg, knowing he would not look good with his stammering, but she changed her mind. He could handle it and she wanted the redemption herself. They had yet to sit down with Kreshkali and explain themselves. It was very much her idea to leave Dumarka and search for An’ Lawrence. She would have to admit that, so why not at least gain a little ground while she could?

Maudi, I think we need to literally gain ground. Do you hear the roaring?

Like a beast. What is that?

Water.

Water?

Yes, and we’re standing in a culvert, as your sedge grass shows.
The temple cat’s head went up.
Climb, Maudi! Get out!

Kreshkali screamed, grabbing her arm. Rosette felt the vice-like grip for a second before it was ripped away. A wall of water knocked her off her feet. She gulped in a breath and was dragged under, the black deluge closing over her head.

Drayco! S
he shrieked her familiar’s name.
Where are you?

Beside, Maudi. I’m here.

She was buoyed up, and wrapped her arm over Drayco, the momentum of the rapids throwing them forward as they shot down the cliff.

‘Clay!’ she screamed above the white water, her head barely above the surface. She couldn’t see; her eyes were stinging and her cold limbs were finding it hard to keep her upright.

He’s here, Maudi, next to me.

Is he breathing?

He’s screaming, just like you.

What about Jarrod? The others?

I don’t know.

The ground came up fast, the water pounding her into the road. She gasped, choking as she half crawled, half swam to the edge and dragged herself out. An arm reached for her, helping her up. Drayco had her by the cloak, pulling her forward as well.

‘Rosette! Where in the demon’s mountain did you come from?’ Her rescuer pulled her to her feet, supporting her as she coughed up water. ‘You’re nearly drowned.’ He pulled sticks from her hair as he pushed it back from her face.

She focused her eyes. ‘Shane!’

‘Aye, it’s me.’

‘How did you get here?’ she asked, coughing and spitting.

‘I could ask the same of you.’

She enclosed him in a bear hug. ‘To the portal,’ he said as he started to lead her away.

‘Wait. The others. Where’s Clay?’

‘Clay?’

They’re coming, Maudi.

She looked up the cliff and a wolf leapt into view, skidding to a halt in front of Shane. He morphed, Kreshkali landing on his arm before shifting as well.

‘Shane?’ Teg said. ‘How?’

‘Long story.’

‘Help me find Clay,’ Rosette yelled above the rain.

‘Teg, enough of the storm. Shut it off.’ Kreshkali closed her eyes, searching with her mind. ‘Goddesses of the woods, not this,’ she whispered.

‘It’s all right, Kali! He’s here!’ Rosette called out, but Kali didn’t move for some time.

They found Clay in an eddy a little further downstream and pulled him out. He was conscious, no broken limbs. Leaning him against her shoulder, Rosette walked back to the portal.

‘Where are you going with him?’ Kreshkali asked.

‘We’ve got to get dry,’ she shouted, the rain pouring into her mouth as she spoke. ‘And he’s not being left behind. Look at him. He can barely stand. He’ll die if we leave him.’

An’ Lawrence and Scylla came slipping down the embankment, both covered in mud.

‘It’s been quite a gathering, I see,’ Shane said. ‘And this is what happens when I leave you, my girl?’ he said to Rosette, taking in her swollen belly.

She laughed through chattering teeth then whispered into his ear. ‘You know not to call me
girl;
besides, it could be misconstrued. I’m not entirely certain about everything that happened in that time loop, are you?’

He froze. ‘You don’t think it’s mine, do you?’

She waved her hand in the air, laughing as she and Clay headed to the portal. ‘You should see your face! Come on, Dray. I want out of this rain. And tell Jarrod and An’ Lawrence to hurry. Knowing him they’ll be debating in the rain until sunrise.’

Kreshkali followed Rosette towards the portal, pausing outside the entrance until everyone passed through. Her guts were in knots. She did another mental sweep of the area.
Get them away first
, she whispered to herself. ‘We are off to Temple Los Loma,’ she said aloud,
setting her intention before swiping the plasma Entity. ‘No detours please!’ The Three Sisters teetered on her shoulders, vying for space, their black twig feet clinging to her cloak as they cawed a warning. Too late.

‘Aren’t you forgetting someone?’

Kreshkali froze as a hand gripped her, spinning her around.

‘I can’t imagine you’d want to leave the most precious member of your party behind—the one you’re sworn to protect? What would Docturi Janicia think of such an oversight?’

Kreshkali went to draw her dagger but the grip on her wrist tightened.

‘Don’t even think about it, High Priestess. I’ve got a demon’s spell woven under your feet. Unless you want to take the lot of them to the underworld, you best listen to me.’

Kreshkali hissed but lowered her hand.

‘That’s better. We’ve got some things to talk about and this time you’re going to listen.’ The glamour faded like a shawl slipping off one shoulder. The witch became immediately recognisable.

‘Makee! What are you doing here?’

‘Surprising, isn’t it? I’m called Rall, by the way, so try not to confuse anyone.’

‘What have you done with Jarrod, Makee?’

‘Are you sure that’s the best question?’

‘I saw his tulpa. No consciousness was there. What have you done?’

While Makee chuckled, Kreshkali made a choice. She took the moment—a split second—to shoot herself through the portal and into the corridors, the shape of Nellion Paree forming in her mind. It would have been visible to none, a faint shadow rendered unimpressionable by its short duration. There was a
wisp of breeze, enough to turn Teg’s head, but that was all. ‘So you’ve learned a new glamour, have you?’ Kreshkali said, keeping Makee’s attention on her. ‘Well done. We’ll have to compare notes some time.’

‘I look forward to it, but not now.’

‘No, not now.’ Kreshkali’s hand was throbbing under the vice grip. ‘What’s this about, Makee? I thought we were on the same side.’

‘We were, while it was convenient.’

‘And it’s not any more?’

Makee lowered her voice. ‘I’ve figured out a way to change the past. You’ll be impressed.’