The Spell of Rosette (52 page)

She propped herself on her elbow, staring at his goose bumps. ‘It’s more potent than I thought,’ she whispered.

He nodded and returned to the work.

They travelled the known lands of Gaela between sessions, giving the work time to heal as they explored the rivers, valleys and coastline. Rosette delighted in his wonder and surprise, watching his face come alive with each new experience. The beauty of Gaela engulfed her anew. She could only imagine what it did for him, having lived most of his life within the confines of ASSIST. She took him to Treeon’s bathing pools and to the forests of Dumarka. She taught him to ride horseback and hunt with falcons in the grasslands of Morzone. They explored the ruins of Corsanon, the restoration well underway, and trekked the Dumar gorge and the coves along the South Azul Sea. He couldn’t swim—no-one could from Earth—but she got Maka’ra to teach him. Grayson’s joy was like a child’s.

Earth was like this once, Maudi.

I get that now.

We going back?

It’s how we can help.

Soon?

I think so. Jarrod will be waiting.

He is.

‘Grayson?’

He murmured a response.

‘I love it here, but we really have to get back. There’s work to do.’

He nodded, nudging her raft as they floated over a Rahana Iti lagoon.

Rosette watched the tropical fish below, vermilion and aqua darts of colour popping out from the coral, only to disappear instantly when she swished her hand towards them.

‘One more day,’ he whispered.

‘Ours, or theirs?’

‘Theirs.’

Returning to Earth they found Jarrod pacing in front of the portal.

‘You came back,’ he said.

‘After reflection, it seemed like the best thing to do.’

‘Did you have a nice holiday?’ he asked. His eyes were unblinking, arms stiff by his sides.

‘We were gone less than a week.’ Rosette studied his face. ‘You knew where I was.’

‘Yes, I knew. And I also know that five days on Earth is more than as many months on Gaela.’

‘I was thinking, and getting tattooed.’ She kept her eyes steady.

‘It looks to me like you were getting a tan.’

‘It’s a complex design, with two weeks between each session for healing. And I wanted to have a day to swim and unwind after it was complete.’

‘You mean another month.’

‘I gave Grayson a tour, Jarrod. He spent his life incarcerated, waiting for you. I thought he deserved a proper holiday.’

‘Did you journey to every corner of Gaela?’

She shook her head. ‘Just Dumarka, Treeon…Espiro Dell Ray, of course, and…’

He stopped her with his hand. ‘I don’t need the itinerary.’

‘Jarrod?’ She was careful not to smile. ‘Why am I explaining this to you?’

He didn’t respond.

‘Are you jealous?’

His aura’s the colour of fresh blood.

She looked at her familiar, watching his tail twitch.
I see that, Dray.

‘Jarrod, we’re back now, five days of your time. I’m here. I’m healed. I’m ready to work. Let’s move on.’

She took his hand and he sighed, wrapping her in an embrace. ‘I didn’t know if you were coming back,’ he said.

‘But I did.’ Her eyes brightened. ‘Wait ’til you see it, Jarrod!’ She hitched up her skirt. ‘It’s indescribable.’

Excuse me, but I thought we were about to move on?
Drayco’s question made them both laugh.

‘Yes, Drayco, we’re going,’ Jarrod said. ‘But first, Rosette, show me.’

She smiled, lifting her skirt over her bare leg up to her hip. Jarrod stared for quite some time.

‘That’s amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it.’ He turned to Grayson. ‘It’s incredible work.’

‘Now do you see why it took so long?’ Rosette smiled.

He looked at her and Grayson. ‘I do.’ Jarrod kept his eyes on her leg after she let her skirt fall back down to her boots. ‘I’d like to have a better look, though.’

‘Any time.’ She reached out for Grayson’s hand and the three headed for Kreshkali’s stronghold.

You’ve confused the men again, Maudi.

They confuse themselves.

How’s that?

Jarrod’s like a Watcher with the libido of a bull. We’re bound to each other while I exist in this body. Grayson and I…who knows? Maybe we’ll do some DNA replicating of our own some day. Gotta get to know him better first.

It’s pretty simple when you put it that way. Still, they’re confused.

She laughed aloud.

‘Something funny?’ Jarrod asked.

Didn’t he hear you, Dray?

I wasn’t speaking to him.

She laughed again, tousling Jarrod’s curly hair and winking at her familiar.

A few weeks later she was back in the sewers under Half Moon Bay. An’ Lawrence was up ahead, leaning against the edge of the portal. The Entity nearly laughed out loud as she approached.

‘Do you know where you’re going?’ An’ Lawrence asked, staring at Jarrod first before meeting Rosette’s eyes.

Grayson didn’t speak. He walked next to Rosette, close enough to feel the heat rising from her body, but not so close they touched.

‘Not a clue, Sword Master,’ she chuckled, pleased to be able to tease him. His concerned look made her reconsider: ‘First to Gaela, to check on Makee and attend the midwinter solstice.’

‘They are announcing the succession,’ Kreshkali added. She bowed to the Entity and stepped into the portal.

‘Already?’

‘Rowan, a month here on Earth can be years on Gaela. Think how long it’s been.’

He nodded. Rosette suspected he missed his home world terribly. He’d sacrificed his life there to support Kreshkali and the restoration of Earth. He put his whole heart into that. Mostly, she suspected his mood was simply because he was going to miss Kreshkali.

‘I’ll be back after I give Makee an update and introduce myself to the new High Priestess of Treeon Temple.’ Kreshkali leaned forward to kiss his cheek. He touched her face, turning it to kiss her mouth instead. ‘I’m going to bring some more horses back too. I want to find the Paree estate before it gets any hotter here.’

‘I don’t know how long we’ll be,’ Rosette said as she and Jarrod stepped into the portal. ‘So this is goodbye for now.’

She looked past An’ Lawrence to Grayson. He held her eyes, the intensity engulfing her. It seemed to stop time, burning into her deeper than the tattoo on her thigh.

An’ Lawrence smiled, giving her hand a squeeze. ‘No such thing as goodbye.’

She gave her father a kiss.

‘After Treeon, then what?’ he asked Jarrod.

‘Then we get to work.’

The Sword Master looked perplexed.

Jarrod shrugged. ‘There are many worlds, An’ Lawrence. We are called to them…’

Rosette winked.
Drayco? You coming, or are you going to inhale Scylla all day?

Right behind you, Maudi.
The temple cat paused before entering the portal, nose to nose with Scylla. When he stepped through it rippled closed, sweeping them away.