by Kim Falconer
I’m not leaving you. Wait for my signal.
Signal for what?
Just wait. It won’t be long.
Maudi!
Rosette inched forward on her belly, ears pricked, listening to the conversation. Shane was playing dumb, repeating each question the captain fired at him and returning it with one of his own. Of course the ‘playing dumb’ part wasn’t much of an act. Shane was utterly ignorant. He hadn’t a clue what was happening or why he was here or where his world was or how he would get back. He didn’t even know that it was a Dumarkian temple cat that stood mute beside him and not Rosette. She peeked between the fronds, her eyes unblinking.
‘Let me put it this way,’ the captain said, his lips hidden behind a dark beard and curling moustache. ‘What are you doing with a sword woman?’
Shane scratched his head. ‘You mean Rosette?’ He stuck his thumb out towards her as he spoke.
The captain gave a curt nod as he tried to keep his horse still. The animal was restless, shifting its weight from hoof to hoof and pawing the ground with alternate forelegs. The fuss was making it difficult for the captain to stay composed. Most of the mounts were equally unsettled. They snorted and stamped and refused to stay quiet. The behaviour was most unlike any guard team Rosette had ever encountered. At Treeon, the equestrians trained in precision drills under all kinds of distractions, or at least they had in Rosette’s time, in Rosette’s Gaela. Here the riders were sloppy and unsettled, adding to their mounts’ distress. Pathetic.
Rosette belatedly thought that her scent might be upsetting the horses, especially since Drayco had sensed no other temple cats nearby. They would picture a mountain lion, poor things, or worse. She used her tail to flick leaves over her back, hoping to mask the aroma. Too late.
One of the pups from the pack had sniffed his way from the inner circle, nose to the ground, lungs like a bellows, tail wagging in circles behind. The young dog nearly bumped straight into Rosette, face to face, before it sat back on its haunches. It let out a small yip and stood, wagging its tail faster.
Quiet, little one. No noise.
He barked again, a happy sound.
No, no, pup! Quiet time. Rosette sent him soothing words to blanket his mind. I’m not here, she told him. I’m not a feline. You cannot see me.
The pup responded, mind to mind, startling Rosette with his fresh and articulate thoughts. Not here. Not kitty. Not see? He stuck his nose into her side, inhaling deeply. He drew the black fur into his face, closing his eyes as he did. The contrast of the rich coat of the temple cat was striking against the hunting dog’s white and grey spattered fur. After a few more breaths, the pup shook as if emerging from a swimming hole. The action sent a flurry of dust and dog hair floating about them. He sneezed, rubbing his face with a forepaw before lunging towards her again, taking in more scent. Not two legs? the pup asked, as if speaking to himself. Not four legs? Not here? Not seen? He sneezed again. Not right!
He barked as the thought shot into her mind. Rosette pushed him down with her paw, resting it on his neck as she pinned him to the ground. You’re a smart little doggy, aren’t you? Now go to sleep before I turn you into a toad.
She infused him with a slumber spell and it worked rapidly on the little mind. The pup stayed down, his shoulders giving up the struggle, his hind legs stopping their frantic scramble to be free. Finally, his head dropped to his forepaws and his jaw snapped shut. He sighed, closing his eyes like window shades drawn against too bright a day. Rosette tucked her paws under her brisket and turned her attention back to the circle.
‘I told you before, Captain. I was set to watch for this woman at the edge of the Black Swamp.’
‘What Black Swamp? Outside Morzone?’
He shook his head. ‘Near T’locity. But before I could meet her, there was a huge shaker, repeated shakers, actually—they kept happening over and over.’
‘What are you talking about? A shaker?’ the captain shouted. His horse reared a few feet off the ground and came down hard. He ground his teeth as Shane continued.
‘I’m talking about my meeting with Rosette. You wanted to know what I was doing with the sword woman, didn’t you?’
The captain appeared too shocked to reply. Shane took his silence as a signal to continue. ‘We eventually found an underground stream and ended up here, wherever here is.’ He shrugged.
‘I don’t care about how you met,’ the captain shouted. ‘What are you doing with her?’
‘What do you mean? Your questions about women and swords don’t make any sense to me. Perhaps you can rephrase it with greater clarity?’ Shane stared at the captain, who had gone crimson. Leaning towards Rosette, he mumbled under his breath, ‘I could use a little help here…can’t you say something?’ The body of Rosette remained still, silent.
Buy us a little time and talk to the captain, will you, Dray?
You think it will help?
Can’t hurt.
Your call, Maudi. ‘Excuse me, Captain,’ Drayco said. He used Rosette’s voice more articulately than before. ‘Am I to understand that Treeon Temple no longer respects the right of the sacred feminine to partake of the ritual art of sword training or, for that matter, battle?’
The circle went suddenly still, the men’s eyes wide.
Even the dogs dropped down to their bellies at the sound of Rosette’s voice, though they probably didn’t understand the precise meaning of her words. Only the clip and snap of the shifting horse hooves and the wind through the trees overhead broke the silence—that and the snore of a young pup deep in the bracken. In the distance, a goshawk whistled. ‘You have not been asked to speak,’ the captain said as his horse reared again.
‘Yet I am speaking just the same,’ Rosette answered, smiling. ‘Clearly that is the best way for us to solve this mystery, wouldn’t you say, Captain? Direct communication?’
‘Silence her!’ the captain shouted, pointing his sword to Shane.
Shane’s brow furrowed. ‘You’re kidding, right?’ He chuckled as if humouring a child and the captain’s face turned an even darker shade of red.
Rosette, watching from the cover of grass, tried to figure out how her lovely Treeon had fallen into the lopsided patriarchal dominance this situation suggested.
‘I think you would do best to talk with her directly, as she says,’ Shane continued. ‘She knows far more about our circumstances, and her own sword mastery, than I. We’ve only just met, as I was explaining, and I’m hardly qualified to speak for her in any case.’
The captain’s face twisted. His horse was out of control—bunching his hindquarters, ears flat against his neck. The animal’s head shot up as he made another attempt to rear; the whites of his eyes were showing. The guards began pressing in towards Rosette and Shane.
‘Listen to me!’ the captain yelled above the cacophony. ‘Women do not wield weapons of that nature. You are not allowed a sword at your side. Hand it over and come with us. You have no options here. There will be no more talk.’ The captain’s voice was like gravel under wagon wheels.
Are you hearing this, Maudi?
Rosette felt her hackles rise as she took in the measure of the group. All too clearly, Dray. She sized up the situation. There were ten men present. The others must be scouting the periphery of the circle, looking for the temple cat that Nell had undoubtedly reported. She swished more loam over her back. Nell would have communicated full details of the nature of their group. Rosette reminded herself to strangle the little vixen, mother or not, when they next met, but for now she had to act. She inched forward. Dray, I’m going to count to three and then we’re switching back.
I have a better idea. I count to one and you run to the portal. I can handle this until you return with Kreshkali. Get going! You’re meant to be there by now.
But I’m not, so listen carefully. I don’t know how well Shane can handle a sword, but we’ll have to risk it.
It’s about to blow…
I realise that, and we�
��re going to use it to our advantage.
What are you suggesting, Maudi?
If we can get those two horses, the blacks…
The sensible ones?
Yes. If we get them, and unseat these buffoons, we’ll leave them in the dust. Are you ready?
Why switch? I can handle this fight.
Really? Have you forgotten how much you hate riding?
Drayco hesitated, ignoring the captain’s final request to hand over the sword and shooing him away with a flick of the wrist. It surprised Rosette that they hadn’t asked for Shane’s weapon. Their biggest fear seemed to be the presence of an armed woman. How odd.
In this body, Maudi, I can handle a horse.
And I suppose you have learned to wield my sword as well, while I wasn’t looking?
There was no hesitation this time. Actually, no. I haven’t learned that yet.
Then as soon as we switch, unseat the riders. Can you get them all on the ground at once?
One would hope so…
Good. On my count. She gave him no more room for thoughts. One, two, three!
It was unfortunate that she had no way to speak directly to Shane’s mind. She’d tried on a few occasions, but it was like tapping on a tree trunk—alive, sturdy, yet impenetrable. She couldn’t see in, let alone transmit anything. Fortunately, the man caught on quick. The moment Rosette felt her limbs fill out her human form, she drew her sword. ‘Would this be what you’re after, mi capitán?’ she asked, the sun glinting off the steel tip as she held the hilt high over her head with both hands.
She sent a boost of energy up her arms, through the lapis and silver hilt and into the sword blade. Fending off the guards, she turned slowly in a circle, staring down each rider. Their expressions were shocked, faces blanched. The horses were prancing about, barely controllable. These guards are useless, Dray. Unseat them!
Instantly, Drayco tore around the circle, nipping at the horses’ hocks, sending them rearing and bucking like broncos. Eight of the riders were unseated, while the others were engrossed in trying to restrain their steeds. Shane drew his sword seconds after Rosette, the sing of it ringing out over the trample, snorts and shouts. Good man. The last thing Rosette wanted was for him to stand transfixed in the middle of the chaos, a sure target for the captain, who seemed reluctant now to tackle her. What was their problem with women warriors?
She didn’t bother to work it out. Instead, she lunged towards the captain, dropped to one knee and sliced the air in a short arc towards his horse’s near shoulder. It was a close cut. She severed the taut reins, nicking only a few grey hairs from the animal’s throat as she did. The captain, who had been tugging wildly on his mount, was flung backward by the sudden release. He rolled off his horse’s rump and landed hard on his spine. He was winded, by the look of his vacant eyes and open mouth.
‘That’ll teach you to hang onto your reins,’ she said. Drayco! Run this one.
Her familiar slammed to a halt and sprang back over his haunches. In one leap he was beside the captain’s horse, swatting a massive forepaw along its flank. It needed little encouragement to bolt, even though the feline’s claws were all but sheathed. The animal lowered his head and shot out a hind foot before tearing off into the woods, back the way they’d come. Aimed at the feline, the iron-shod hoof missed its mark as Drayco swerved, and caught the captain square in the chest as he struggled to rise. He hit the ground a second time, unable to draw breath. Rosette was not impressed. ‘Whoever taught you lot to ride is in desperate need of a review,’ she yelled out, unseating the two remaining guards with a blast of energy from her sword tip. Their horses bolted after the captain’s.
None of the men responded. They were too busy trying to avoid being trampled by the hysterical steeds or sliced by each other’s waving swords. Rosette had the reins of one black mare in tow and was reaching towards the other as it trotted past. Drayco was backing several men towards a tree, and Shane had disarmed three others. Good swordsman. She calmed her mounts with a waft of soothing energy and sent a blast of confusion to the rest, both man and beast. She felt like she was in the middle of a ghoulish merry-go-round, the horses stricken, terrified, neighing and screaming, the riders faltering, swords pointing every which way like scattered toothpicks.
‘Mount up,’ she shouted to Shane, handing him the reins of the nearest black mare.
He looked at her, his face enraptured. ‘You’re amazing.’
Rosette sheathed her sword and vaulted onto her horse, the stirrups too short to reach from the ground. ‘You can thank me when we’re through the portal. Let’s go.’
Shane struggled onto his horse, a toddler climbing steps for the first time.
‘Demons! You can’t ride?’ Rosette frowned at his awkward seat, one hand clutching the uneven reins and the other gripping the pommel of the saddle. His boots couldn’t find the stirrups, and his attempts inadvertently poked the mare, sending her in jerky circles as he bounced up and down.
‘I’ve seen others do it, since coming here…’
‘You’re a bard, for demon’s sake. Why can’t you sit a horse?’
‘It’s a long story.’
‘Goddess help us! Hold still.’ She snatched the reins and drew them over the horse’s head. ‘Get your feet in those stirrups, and be still. Sit deep. Stop kicking her sides!’ She waited a second for him to adjust himself then led his mount along like a baggage pony. ‘Relax. Let your legs be easy, Shane. You’re sending her a hundred different messages all at once.’
‘Like this?’
She shook her head. ‘Heels down, toes parallel.’
He grimaced.
‘That’s better. Now lean forward, just slightly, and hang on.’
‘That’s it?’
‘For now.’ She levelled her eyes at him. ‘Whatever you do, don’t fall off, and don’t draw your sword!’ Run, Drayco!
I’m way ahead of you, Maudi. Me and this ridiculous beast you encouraged.
What beast?
Some goofy pup. Says his name is Fynn.
She groaned. White with grey speckles? Thin tail, always wagging? Great mind speech?
I wouldn’t call it ‘great’ mind speech, though I suppose for a dog it’s above average. Mostly he’s enthusiasm and legs.
Ignore him. Run!
They left Treeon’s temple guards behind, stumbling and groping like blind men without canes.
‘It shouldn’t have been this easy,’ Rosette said, looking over her shoulder.
‘You call that easy?’ Shane asked. ‘Where have you been?’
‘If you only knew,’ she answered. She urged his mare on, clucking to both horses. They moved into an easy lope, Shane holding onto the saddle with both hands.
Just be glad it was easy, Maudi, or we’d never get out of here. Come my way, north-east.
I’m thinking we skip this portal and head to Corsanon, Dray. We need distance between us and those guards and we can’t get that by zigzagging through these woods.
My thought too. Follow me, Maudi. I remember a short cut straight to the Corsanon route.
I hope it’s still there.
It is. Run!
TENSAR & GAELA—TIME: FORWARD
CHAPTER 13
Jarrod approached the dais, and the woman at the top of the steps. She was sitting like a lotus flower, hands folded in her lap. Her face, though craggy, was relaxed, her eyes closed. The only discernible movement was behind the lids where her eyes darted, the rapid motion framed by folds of skin, arched by her sparse grey brows. While her body rested in meditative composure, her eyes continued to roll, threatening to escape her face. Was she dreaming? Jarrod rubbed his jaw. Calculating?
Her white hair was cropped close, her body lean and ropy, browned from the sun like dried fruit. She was clothed in colourful material, a flowing curtain wrapped and tied in ways he hadn’t seen before. He checked his database and found a similar style in Earth’s Hindu culture. As the gyrating beneath her lids subsided, her s
houlders squared. She smiled and let out a sigh. The expression lit up her face, turning it into an image of welcome and delight. She fluttered her lashes, eyes opening. They were piercing green gems, like freshwater ponds in the springtime. He smiled back.
‘You’ve come,’ she said, her voice surprisingly deep for her size and gender.
‘We followed the thread of your call.’
‘Indeed you did.’
Selene raised her head when the Caller spoke and stepped forward to introduce Jarrod.
‘Where did you find him?’ the older woman asked, her brow lifting.
‘At the foot of Mt Pelt. He sat waiting like a beggar.’
The Caller wrinkled her nose. ‘Came by the back door, did you, Jarrod?’ She laughed. ‘Brave of you.’
He shrugged, still smiling.
‘Noisome swamps, those,’ she said. ‘I don’t know how they tolerate them.’ She tossed her head towards Selene. ‘Disgusting place, don’t you think, dear?’
‘Agreed.’
Merriment fell from her face. ‘Did you go there alone, Selene?’
‘Shane MacVenton came too. He’s the…’
‘I remember him,’ the Caller said, cutting her off. She glanced behind Selene. ‘Where is he, then? You didn’t have to leave him on the steps, you know.’
‘I didn’t. I left him at the foot of Mt Pelt.’
‘What in the world for? Punishment?’ Waving to Selene to be silent, the Caller closed her eyes again. They popped open seconds later. ‘I see. That makes sense.’
Jarrod raised his eyebrows. The Caller appeared to be using her inner vision to scan the surrounding lands as easily as one might glance about a room. Impressive.
‘Go on, now.’ The Caller motioned Selene away. ‘But not too far. I want you to collect this one after we’ve had a little chat. I’m sure he’ll need your assistance.’
If Selene was surprised at the dismissal, she didn’t show it. She left the room with only a nod, ignoring Jarrod. The Caller’s voice brought his attention back. ‘You said we followed the thread of your call. Not alone, then?’