The Spell of Rosette

by Kim Falconer

  ‘We do have such an amulet, but it contains no spell,’ the leader of the Lupins said at last.

  ‘The Spell of Passillo has been encased in the amulet for decades. It cannot escape. It was hidden in Lividica and taken from there. We know Kreshkali has it, and we want it back.’

  ‘The amulet contains no spell.’

  ‘So you say.’

  Rosette stared at the back of the Sword Master’s head. She had no idea why he was provoking the Lupins, but it had every one of them snarling. Drayco was on his feet, his hackles as high as her waist. An’ Lawrence had one hand on his sword hilt, the other on Scylla’s head.

  ‘You’ll not live to question our word again,’ the lead Lupin said simply as he drew his sword.

  Look out! Rosette screamed and drew her sword as well. The Lupin was on top of An’ Lawrence just as his sword sang from its sheath, blood spurting as he sliced into its shoulder. Scylla went for the throat.

  Rosette had no time to watch the outcome. Drayco faced off with one of the Lupins that had shifted back to wolf form. The third remained bipedal, levelling his sword at Rosette’s throat before she could strike.

  ‘We aren’t here to fight. If you want to know more about this spell, you can come with me, alone.’

  ‘I don’t think so!’ She sent a charge of energy through her limbs, the lightning flooding her with warmth and strength. She knocked away his blade with a spinning kick and cut towards his head. He blocked it instantly, the ring of steel on steel sounding over the plateau.

  Above, the hawk shrieked.

  The Lupin wavered, looking her in the eye. ‘Rosette,’ he said, his voice reprimanding her as if she were an errant child. ‘Put down your sword before you hurt yourself.’

  Inflamed, she swung again, aiming to cut his head off. Mid-strike she dropped to her knees, pain searing through her body.

  Maudi?

  For a moment, she couldn’t speak. She could barely raise her head long enough to register the Lupin above her. The magic she’d released had opened her mind-shield and the energy was being driven back into her by the Lupin. He held her down with the force of his thoughts.

  ‘Shield, Rosette!’ The shout came from An’ Lawrence.

  ‘I’ll let you up as soon as you stop this nonsense,’ the Lupin said, his voice strangely calm.

  When she relaxed, she found she could stand. Sheathing her sword, she glanced at An’ Lawrence in a stalemate with the other Lupin. Both had their swords in the guard position, waiting for the other to attack. Scylla lay in the snow, breathing but apparently unconscious.

  ‘Wait!’ she said. ‘It’s all right. I’ll meet your Kreshkali and learn more about this Passillo, but put your blades away.’ Drayco, what’s happened to Scylla?

  She’s been cut, Maudi! At that moment Drayco attacked the Lupin in front of him, trying to charge past to get to Scylla. He was dropped to his belly, the much larger Lupin pinning him down, his lashing tail the only part of him that moved.

  ‘Don’t hurt him,’ Rosette said, her voice a growl, her sword half drawn.

  ‘You have brought us more than our sacred stone,’ the Lupin facing An’ Lawrence said. ‘This woman has the blood of the Mistress, and we’re taking her with us.’

  ‘Blood of your Mistress? She has no such thing,’ An’ Lawrence shouted.

  The Lupin laughed. ‘We’ll let Kreshkali decide.’

  ‘Take me.’ An’ Lawrence lowered his sword. ‘I will deal with your queen.’

  The Lupin snarled. ‘You think we’re fools? Only females of the blood can carry the Spell of Passillo, if they can carry it at all, and this one can.’

  The Sword Master twisted his head around to look at his daughter. Rosette?

  I have no idea what he’s talking about!

  ‘You won’t take her,’ An’ Lawrence answered, his hand moving his sword imperceptibly upward.

  He kicked a mound of snow up in the air and lunged. Rosette knew it was a distraction, a chance for her to break free, but the Lupin in front of her froze her mind again with his strange magic.

  Don’t do it, An’ Lawrence. It’s no good. I can’t move.

  There was a resounding clash of steel on steel before An’ Lawrence dropped to his knees. Rosette strained her eyes to see what had happened. He was face down on top of Scylla. Drayco let out a yowl that was cut short by a blow from the hilt of a Lupin’s blade. Her familiar’s tail stopped lashing and his head sank to the snow.

  Rosette screamed as her captor brought a dagger to her throat, pricking her skin just enough to draw a single drop of blood.

  ‘You’re coming with us.’

  ‘I’ll not leave them,’ she gasped. Drayco! Are you all right?

  My head hurts, Maudi.

  She struggled against her captor and again the blade pressed her neck.

  ‘What are you doing!’ A voice cut through the air, halting the Lupins. ‘Put that knife away, Rashnan, and let her go!’

  Striding towards them was another Lupin, tall in his human form, eyes blazing. He scowled at the others and Rosette again suspected they were in silent communication.

  He turned to her. ‘Rosette, I apologise for this.’

  She was kneeling in the snow next to Drayco. ‘What have they done to him?’ Her face was red and streaked with tears.

  ‘He’ll be fine. It’s a mild spell.’

  She pointed at An’ Lawrence and Scylla, also unconscious in the snow. ‘Mild? They’ll freeze to death like that.’

  ‘If you come with us, I’ll release them. They’ll be in the cave by a warm fire before dark. Kreshkali simply wants to meet with you. No-one’s meant to be harmed.’

  ‘It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?’

  ‘Again, my apologies.’

  She tried to pull her heart out of her stomach, but it wouldn’t budge.

  ‘Come, Rosette. My name is Hotha and I mean you no harm.’

  She looked him in the eyes, as black as his waves of hair. ‘You’ll wake them if I follow?’

  ‘I will.’

  She touched her neck, her fingers coming back bloody. ‘How far is it?’

  ‘To the other side of the plateau. There’s an entrance to Los Loma there. We will guide you.’

  She turned to her familiar, tears still stinging. Drayco? She couldn’t feel his mind. ‘And if I refuse?’

  ‘That is your choice. We will wake your companions in either case, once we are under the mountain.’ He looked skyward. ‘Choose now, Rosette. Dark comes quickly on the mountain.’

  A hawk whistled from the far side of the plateau.

  Follow them, she heard whispered softly into her mind. She turned to Drayco, but he hadn’t moved. Dray?

  The Lupin motioned her forward.

  She let out her breath. ‘All right. I’ll meet your Kreshkali, though I think you’ve made a big mistake. I don’t have the blood you speak of and I don’t know the Spell of Passillo.’

  ‘She’ll be pleased to meet you, just the same.’

  ‘And you will wake them?’ she asked again.

  ‘I will.’

  ‘All right, Hotha, please lead the way.’ Her spine erect, she forced her shoulders back and followed as they moved towards the far side of the summit. She sensed for her familiar and was relieved to feel Drayco’s dark dreaming. He was only unconscious. They would release him. It was all right.

  As they approached the far side of the summit, she heard his voice, faint like a distant sea.

  Don’t go, Maudi. Not without me.

  It’s all right, Dray. When you can, get to the cave with the others. It’ll be fine. I’ll meet you there.

  She sent him the message with a blast of healing magic, discovering that as long as it wasn’t directed at the Lupins, she could boost all she liked.

  Listen for me. Wait for me. I’ll be back by morning. I promise. Just get to the cave.

  The Sword Master? Scylla?

  They will wake up soon. You all need to get to
the cave.

  And you? Why are you going?

  To meet Kreshkali, High Priestess of the underworld. Don’t try to talk me out of it, Drayco, or I’ll lose my nerve. This is a chance of a lifetime. I’m not going to pass it up.

  She sent him another boost of healing energy and followed the Lupins through the snow.

  It took Jarrod a few seconds to realise that Rosette was not on the mountain summit. It was less than half that time again before he saw how badly things had gone. The place looked like a battlefield: the victors fled, the casualties left to freeze.

  He moved to a body lying face down and covered with snow. Had he fought the wildcat beneath him? He pulled his glove off with his teeth and felt the throat for a pulse. A regular beat pushed against his fingers. He did the same to the feline. Both were alive, just unconscious and impossible to rouse.

  Jarrod levered the man onto his back. He could find no wounds. He pulled back the eyelids, checking the pupils then gently patting the man’s face. ‘Are you with me?’

  The man groaned and coughed.

  Jarrod held his head above the snow. ‘Can you tell me your name?’

  ‘An’ Lawrence,’ he whispered.

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘Scylla…’ He tried to reach towards the feline lying motionless beside him.

  ‘She has a heartbeat,’ Jarrod assured him. ‘We’ll see to her shortly. Where’s Rosette?’

  ‘Rosette?’ He frowned, unconsciousness taking him again.

  ‘Great,’ Jarrod mumbled, going to his horse and retrieving a small medical kit from his saddlebag. He looked skyward at the darkening clouds that threatened heavy snow, and sent a shrill whistle for Nell. She should have been here by now, so where in this frozen hell was she?

  Within moments his summons was answered by a distant cry beyond the far edge of the peak, but he couldn’t see her. Wherever she was, she’d better hurry. If he didn’t get the injured to shelter soon, they would die of hypothermia. Nights on the summit were subzero.

  Jarrod examined the Sword Master. Other than a bang on the head, he had no injuries. ‘Just a concussion,’ he said, looking west.

  The sun had set, the clouds thinning to reveal Ishtar, the evening star, bright in the pallid green sky. The scrunch of boots in the snow brought his head around. Nell was bent over the black temple cat. She acknowledged Jarrod only when the feline had struggled to his feet.

  ‘How is he?’ She gestured to An’ Lawrence.

  ‘Unconscious, but he’s breathing all right. We’ve got to get him off the ice and build a fire. Same for this one,’ he said, stroking the buff-coloured fur. ‘His familiar, I guess.’

  Nell nodded before putting her hand out to Drayco. He was staggering towards the far side of the plateau, following Rosette’s trail.

  ‘No, Drayco, you’ll freeze. We’ll all freeze if we don’t get to shelter. You have to show us the way.’

  Drayco stopped in his tracks, scenting. The clouds thinned, drifting apart like a curtain pulled back. The sky was glowing with stars on the horizon. He turned, retracing his steps, heading towards the track that led down the near side of the mountain. Nell stood looking down at An’ Lawrence.

  ‘Can you rouse him?’ she asked.

  ‘He’s out.’

  ‘Then we’d better use Wren. It won’t be easy getting her down that track with these two strapped to her back.’

  ‘I’ve got an idea.’

  Jarrod pulled his axe from his saddlebag and hacked down four solid pine branches. Binding them with leather strapping, he made a sled, securing it to Wren’s saddle. He and Nell hefted both the Sword Master and his familiar onto it and covered them with furs. Drayco sat on the edge of the summit, waiting.

  ‘There must be shelter nearby. Can you talk with the temple cat?’ Jarrod asked, leading his horse towards the trail.

  ‘He understands us, but he only communicates with Rosette. I think there must be a cave nearby, or he wouldn’t bother.’

  ‘Wouldn’t bother?’

  ‘He’d spend his last breath searching for her if he wasn’t certain he could save us first.’

  Jarrod grimaced. ‘Then the cat and I have something in common.’

  Drayco looked towards Jarrod, briefly opening his mouth but making no sound.

  ‘Is he all right?’ Jarrod asked, as they followed Drayco down the frozen trail.

  Nell smiled, placing her hand on his shoulder. ‘He’ll have a shocker of a headache, but other than that, I think he’s okay.’

  Jarrod concentrated on the rough track, grateful for the moonlight, brilliant on the white snow. He put his trust in the sure-footedness of Wren and the lead of the temple cat. Several times the sled caught on rocks before jerking forward, smacking the mare’s hocks. She’d tuck her tail and bunch her hindquarters but always settled quickly when Jarrod stroked her neck and gave her encouragement. They dragged more rope from the pack and tied it to the end of the sled, Nell acting as an anchor for the descent.

  After winding their way down the mountainside, the moon now a white disc above the western mountain peaks, they found the cave. A horse nickered from inside, then another, and the copper-red mare answered softly. Drayco walked straight in, disappearing into the blackness.

  ‘There’ll be a torch,’ Nell said, letting go of the anchor rope and rummaging around the entrance of the cave.

  Striking a match and lighting the pitch-soaked brand, she guided Jarrod into the high-domed cave in time to see Drayco collapse beside the cold fire ring.

  ‘They left supplies behind,’ Nell said as she searched the area.

  Jarrod walked his mare well into the cave before untying the sled. The other horses looked gaunt, their eyes sunken.

  ‘Water,’ Nell said. ‘We’ve got to melt some ice, quickly.’

  ‘Is there fuel for a fire?’

  ‘Fuel or no, a fire we’ll have.’

  Flames flickered up from the hearth as she answered his question. In moments he and Nell had An’ Lawrence by a fire that burned hot and smokeless. The rocks warmed quickly and the searing cold of the cave gave way to a sultry humidity. Jarrod carried An’ Lawrence’s familiar to the hearth and laid her next to him on warm furs.

  Nell stood over them, shaking her head. ‘You’ve got some explaining to do, Sword Master, if you ever wake up again.’

  ‘An’ Lawrence?’ Jarrod slapped one side of the man’s face and then the other. ‘You need to drink this.’

  An’ Lawrence opened his eyes and squinted up at Jarrod. Then his hand went to his sword-belt.

  ‘Relax. It’s by the fire.’

  The Sword Master nodded and winced. He looked for Scylla, stretching until his hand touched her fur.

  ‘She’s wounded, but she’ll recover. Drink this. It’ll help the pain.’

  An’ Lawrence took a few sips of the poppy tea before draining the cup. ‘You’re a healer?’ he whispered.

  ‘Among other things,’ Jarrod replied.

  ‘Where’s Rosette?’

  ‘I thought maybe you could tell us.’

  An’ Lawrence groaned. ‘The Lupins.’

  ‘Lupins?’ Nell’s voice cut through the cave.

  There was silence, like the air before an avalanche.

  ‘Nellion?’ The Sword Master shut his eyes and winced again.

  ‘You let the Lupins do this?’ Nell shrieked across the cave. She threw down an empty feedbag and crossed her arms. ‘Tell me, Rowan An’ Lawrence, what was your plan?’

  Jarrod shot his hand out towards her, blocking the intensity. She pushed it aside.

  ‘Did you even have a plan, you and Makee?’

  ‘We were after the amulet…the Spell of Passillo,’ An’ Lawrence mumbled. He looked up at her and his eyes went soft. ‘You look beautiful.’

  ‘Shut up! You and Makee are idiots. There is no Spell of Passillo in that vial—hasn’t been for decades.’

  ‘That can’t be. It’s unbreakable.’

  ‘Unbreakabl
e maybe, but not unchangeable. What were you thinking, meddling in this? It’s not your business.’

  ‘And it is yours?’ An’ Lawrence lifted himself, bracing on both elbows.

  Jarrod placed a hand on his chest, preventing him from rising further. ‘Lie down. You have a concussion.’

  ‘What happened to the spell, Nellion?’ An’ Lawrence demanded.

  She moved closer, her face inches from his. ‘I changed it, not that it’s any of your concern.’

  An’ Lawrence grabbed her arm. ‘Into what?’

  ‘I’d hoped you’d have worked that out by now. Clearly you haven’t.’

  ‘Enlighten me, witch.’

  ‘I hid it, for safekeeping.’

  ‘You’re mad!’ An’ Lawrence shouted at her.

  ‘For demon’s sake, Rowan, in the wrong hands that spell could have destroyed half of Gaela in one night. The power’s vast, and it has a mind of its own.’

  ‘And you thought you had a solution?’

  ‘I did.’

  ‘Where? Where did you hide it?’

  Nell stared at him, her eyes hooded, unblinking. ‘Take a guess.’

  He sank back into the furs. ‘Rosette?’ The name escaped the Sword Master’s lips with a sigh. ‘Nell, you didn’t?’

  ‘I did, and you’ve just handed it straight over to the Lupins like a harvest gift.’

  CHAPTER 14

  Rosette registered every detail of the path as she trailed along behind the Lupins, the doubt in her mind lifting. Guile replaced anxiety. She was going to get out of this mess, of course. She chewed on obscenities and spat them towards La Makee and An’ Lawrence. How dare they put her and Drayco in this position without warning or consultation? She would live to have it out with her Sword Master, no matter what it took. She thought of how the High Priestess had patronised her that day in the temple chambers. She would have it out with her as well. She would learn about this Spell of Passillo and decide what information, if any, she would share. Her faith in Treeon was failing fast.

  The whistle of the goshawk sounded again, far up towards the summit, and Rosette turned her head. The night would freeze their bodies if they didn’t wake up soon.