Strange Attractors (28 page)

‘We aren’t moving yet,’ Rosette said, sliding in beside him.

I’m getting ready for when we do.

At least you won’t be barking all the way to the city.

Drayco yawned.
At least you didn’t turn me into a sheepdog.

Sheepdog?
Teg asked.

He’d taken the opposite seat and was staring at her with his lovely dark eyes.

‘I’m afraid so.’

‘You turned Drayco into a sheepdog?’ He laughed. ‘I would have loved to have been there.’

No, you wouldn’t have,
Drayco growled.

‘It was part of the glamour to get us to the citadel, is all,’ Rosette said quickly. ‘An effective part, I might add.’ She stroked the top of her familiar’s head.

I bet you didn’t like that much, eh, Drayco?
Teg’s laughter faded as the temple cat turned, his pupils dilating. After a short exchange Teg glanced away.
I promise I won’t mention it again.

The coach rolled along and Rosette reviewed everything she’d learned at the temple, comparing notes with Teg. ‘The healer was most helpful,’ she said.

‘Did she know much about the battle on the fields? What started it? Who they think the Sword Master is? If they are tracking him?’ Teg whispered the last sentence.

‘Not really, but she says I have at least a month to go.’ Rosette patted the top of her belly.

‘A month? This is the longest pregnancy on record, I’m guessing.’

‘It’s the only one on record. At least, the only one we know of that has been through the corridors and cryo-suspension.’ She yawned. ‘I’ll admit I squirmed when she asked me my due date.’

‘Did she suspect…’

‘What? That I was a witch of the ancient blood travelling the corridors between the many-worlds?’ Rosette laughed, shaking her head. ‘She thought I was a young apprentice from Temple Dumarka that had herself a lovely beau.’

Teg blushed, shifting in his seat.

‘Well, you are.’

‘Temple Dumarka?’ he said quickly. ‘The guard assumed that too. Because of Drayco?’

She smiled. ‘You’re so like my dad.’

‘What? I’m like the Sword Master?’

‘No, my pa that raised me. He had the sun in the sign of the Sea-goat too—and he didn’t know how to take a compliment either.’

‘I can.’ Teg straightened. ‘I’m just focusing on the
strategy. We are about to be surrounded by hundreds of Corsanon warriors. It’s on my mind.’

‘Always the practical one!’ She blew hair off her forehead. ‘Fine. All business then. Drayco’s presence signals us as Dumarkian, but it’s incredibly strange seeing as the temple was in ruins before we were born.’

‘But you’ve seen it. You’ve been there! When you met the other Nell?’

‘I have.’

‘Rosette, how can we tell if this is our Gaela, in our time?’ He rubbed his brow.

‘It’s safe to say it’s not. Temple Dumarka, Teg, doesn’t exist in our time. And neither does Clay.’

‘Unless Makee actually did stop the wars from ever happening. We don’t know how far back she went.’

‘Or how far forward.’

They both groaned.

Look at what you do know, Maudi, not what you don’t. That always works best for me.

She turned to Teg. ‘We know that we have lost Jarrod and, temple wars or no, we have to get him back.’ Rosette felt a chill run up her spine. The coach slowed.

‘Nice-looking horse,’ Teg said, staring out the window. ‘She’s almost a blue-black.’ He tilted his neck to see around Drayco. ‘What’s the breed? Desertwind?’

Rosette followed his gaze. A black mare rocked back on her hindquarters, rearing as they passed. The boy handling her stole a glance, his eyes penetrating even with the brief touch. Her forehead broke out in a sweat. ‘It’s…’

Teg nudged her and smiled. ‘A nice-looking lad as well. I see you don’t disagree.’

Rosette couldn’t breathe.

Maudi?

Drayco, did you feel that?

I always feel that when you talk about Jarrod.

She nodded. ‘We were talking about him, weren’t we? That’s all.’ As the coach rolled on she closed her eyes, thinking of her childhood friend, her lover, her companion—the quantum sentient her family line lived to protect. ‘We’ll find him. He’s got to be near. I feel it in my bones.’ When she opened her eyes, she found herself leaning out of the coach, looking back the way they’d come. She lifted her finger in a small wave but the lad was too busy with the mare to see. When they crested the second hill, she felt a whisper at the edge of her mind.

Hello, beautiful witch…

‘Teg, did you just say something? Drayco? Did you?’

Not me, Maudi.

‘Say what?’ Teg asked.

She pushed her hair away from her face. ‘I must be imagining things, is all.’ She leaned back in her seat and the coach rolled on.

An’ Lawrence sat at the long table, his leg on the opposite chair. He was getting comfortable with using the computer database. He’d grasped the basic structure of its complex systems and felt close to pinpointing the code. Richter had hidden her notes, embedded them in other applications of the computer. There were so many password protections he was certain she assumed Jarrod would be there to run the numbers and open them. But Jarrod wasn’t there and An’ Lawrence was sure the techno-witch would have left hard copies somewhere, and a key to finding them as well. ‘Have you come up with anything, Kali?’

Her head popped up, looking over the stack of books
piled high around her workspace. ‘It’s fascinating. There is so much here about the last century before the tectonic shifts.’

‘Anything about Jarrod, I mean?’

‘Not yet.’ She closed a book and set it aside, bringing another down from the stack. ‘What about you?’

‘I’ve split all the apps into front and back ends, and I’m running searches through every generic code, form, report, query, table and update I can find. So far, it keeps sending me around in circles. Janis Richter didn’t want this information found by anyone.’

Kreshkali raised one brow. ‘I knew you’d be good at this.’

‘Not good enough.’ He lifted his splinted leg with both hands and stood. ‘We need another approach, Kali.’

‘The horary chart was unreadable. Not enough degrees on the ascendant. Too soon to tell. You know we can’t ask the same question twice.’

‘But we could weave a calling spell. If she had her hands on those notes last, they’ll respond.’

Kreshkali put down her book. ‘A calling spell is risky.’

He hobbled to the door and locked it. ‘Time to take one, don’t you think? We could search for years and not find what we’re after.’

‘But a calling?’ She looked pale. ‘Just the two of us?’

‘Three,’ he said, tilting his head towards Scylla. ‘If it’s going to work, three is enough. If it doesn’t work, only three are lost.’

Kreshkali closed her eyes.

‘Hotha and Grayson can take over, with Zero and Annadusa,’ he added. ‘We aren’t irreplaceable. But Jarrod is.’

She stood, pushing back her chair. ‘Power down the computers. We better do this before I lose my nerve.’

Scylla emerged from under the table, stretching. She sat, looking up at An’ Lawrence.
Rowan, are you sure a calling spell is wise?

We need the notes, Scylla. We need them now.

But if the spell doesn’t bring the notes to us, it will…

I know. It will send us to them.

All fine if they are on a bookshelf in a cosy room upstairs, but, Rowan, if they don’t exist, you realise we go there too.

I do.
‘They have to exist. I stake my life on it.’

‘And ours.’ Kreshkali pushed aside the chairs and tables until the centre of the library was clear, a circular space beneath the high-domed ceiling. The sun was at the zenith, turning the carpet into colourful patterns as light filtered through the stained glass. She lit candles and looked around, satisfied with the preparations.

‘Pyramid?’ An’ Lawrence asked.

They took up the positions of north, southeast and southwest, Kali at the top of the pyramid, Scylla and the Sword Master forming the base. They focused on the empty centre and began to weave the spell. Clouds obscured the sun and the room turned dark, the candles flickering though there was no breeze.

Teg opened his eyes when the coach rolled to a stop. ‘I didn’t expect to see those here.’ He pointed at the tall white statues guarding the gates of Corsanon—temple cats carved out of marble. ‘A perfect likeness, don’t you think?’

Rosette studied the twin cats. ‘The ties between Corsanon and Dumarka must be strong.’

‘Gifts?’ Teg asked.

‘I don’t know.’ She capped her waterskin. ‘They aren’t in the histories.’

The driver jumped down to help them out.

‘Your pregnancy is quite an asset,’ Teg whispered. ‘I never remember being treated so well.’ He winked. ‘Or maybe it comes with having such a beautiful travelling companion?’

She laughed. ‘It’s not always like this, I promise.’

Are you remembering our first coach ride to Treeon, Maudi?

‘I am.’

‘Run into some trouble there?’ Teg asked.

You could say that.
The temple cat yawned, flashing his teeth.

Teg roughed his neck. It was a pleasure when Rosette’s familiar spoke to him directly, or even let him share in their conversations. He missed the intimacy of multiple mind-to-mind communication—one of the most rewarding aspects of being Lupin born and raised. Rosette and Drayco filled a void and he was grateful.

I miss it too, sometimes.

He frowned, looking at the temple cat.

‘What do you miss, my lovely?’ Rosette asked. She stepped down from the carriage.

More minds.

Rosette opened her mouth to reply but instead she stammered, clutching Teg’s arm.

‘What is it?’ He held her up, searching her face. ‘Is it the baby? Rosette! What’s happening?’

‘Not the baby.’ She shook her head, her cheeks burning, her eyes wide. Her hair was wafting about her face though there was no breeze anywhere else. ‘Something’s got me.’ She was choking, as if an invisible riptide pulled her under.

The guard approached wearing an amiable smile, asking their destination. When he caught sight of
Rosette—her arms flailing, gasping for breath, a now wild wind blowing past her face—his hand went to his sword. Teg gripped her tight, feeling the storm. He braced his legs. Rosette drew her sword.

What are you doing, Rosette? Don’t challenge them.

Someone’s spelling me!
she shouted in his head.
Beware! Drayco, to me!

Drayco’s hackles were spiked and he stalked forward; the coachman tripped over himself to back away. The guard stood his ground, his sword drawn, ordering them against the wall. Teg fought the urge to shift and dispatch the man. He held onto Rosette.

Shield your mind, Rosette.

It’s taking me!

I’ve got you. I won’t let go.

She was shaking uncontrollably, her hair lashing her face as if she were caught on the brink of a whirlpool. Drayco’s snarl was blood-freezing. The guard shouted to the troops. Teg heard them approaching, marching at the double time.

When they burst through the gate, Rosette screamed. ‘It’s pulling me apart! Teg, help!’ She screamed again and was gone, sucked into nothing by a wind so strong it grazed Teg’s hands. Empty hands. Teg’s fingers curled around vacant space, clapping together as Drayco roared, leaping after Rosette. The temple cat landed hard and spun on his haunches, circling the ground where Rosette had stood seconds before. The guards were on them.

Teg leapt, gathering energy to him as he sprang away, shifting into Lupin form.
To me, Drayco! Come to me. Run!

Maudi! Maudi! They’ve taken her.

Before Teg could say more, Drayco launched at the
guards, tearing out the first man’s throat before his sword came down. It fell from his hand as his head rocked back, no longer supported by a neck. The other guards spread out, their broad blades drawn, ready to close in on the temple cat.

Not them. Drayco. Listen to me. They don’t have her.

Drayco didn’t listen. He spun in a circle, his claws extended like daggers, lips pulled back over blood-soaked teeth. With his tail as counterbalance, he rushed and swiped at the men as if they were toy soldiers. He crushed their bodies, severing heads and breaking limbs, spitting one out only to launch on the next. He was impervious to their weapons, his speed too fast for them to find their mark. In moments the gate yard was littered with bodies, the bell tower ringing the alarm. Shouts and screams rose from a distant crowd. Drayco continued to maul the victims, shaking the bodies like old rag dolls.

Stop, Drayco. Enough! They’re dead.

Teg stood at the edge of the kill circle, his tongue lolling out, limbs quivering. He wanted to run. More warriors would arrive and Drayco was ready to kill until there were none left, or until he died.

Maudi!
Drayco’s voice screamed in his mind.
Where is Maudi?

Not here!

The temple cat dropped his last victim and levelled his orange eyes on Teg’s.
Where is she?

I don’t know. A spell took her.

Mounted guards approached at the gallop.

We have to run, Drayco. There’s no finding her here.

Drayco roared again and launched into the air, clearing the circle of mangled bodies and landing
beside Teg. He shook the blood from his ruff, red droplets flying in an arc around him.
I have to find Maudi.

They took off, heading down the hill towards the quarry road. Drayco’s roaring echoed through the plains of Corsanon, followed by the sound of a hundred-horse pursuit.

Rosette continued to scream until she landed hard on her tail bone. The pain shot up her spine to the top of her head. She felt like she had been sucked through a mouse hole at high speed. Her throat burned. Her eyes stung and hot tears streamed down her cheeks. She had no idea how long she’d been screaming, or ripping through the unknown space. She kept her eyes clamped shut, her fists clenched. Her chest heaved, each breath tearing in and out of her lungs.