by Kim Falconer
‘Is this heaven?’ he asked.
Rosette smiled, dropping her bundle and kneeling in the soft grass. She touched her brow to the bright orange poppies growing among the clover, pressing her forehead to the ground. ‘It is heaven to me,’ she said.
Drayco inhaled the air, keeping his mouth slightly open to taste every nuance of scent before shaking the water from his fur.
‘Hey! Not so close, Dray.’
The temple cat ignored her and shook again. Who would have thought, Maudi? The cave fish river has led us home.
‘It’s wonderfully strange,’ she answered aloud. She lifted her face to the sun.
‘So we’re dead?’ Shane asked. ‘Figures.’
‘Not at all.’ She wrung out her skirt and spread her clothes over the carpet of grass to dry. The sun felt delightfully warm on her shoulders. She sat untangling her hair, her legs folded beneath her.
‘Where, then?’
‘Gaela is my home.’ She smiled at the northern mountain peaks, thanking every god, goddess and demon she knew, and any she didn’t, for her safe return. Drayco bow-stretched next to her, flopping onto his side. He rolled over and over in the grass, purring like a kitten.
‘What’s Gaela again?’ Shane asked, staring at the two as he wrung his clothes, the water splashing onto his bare feet.
‘It’s my home world.’
‘I thought you said you were from a place called Earth.’
‘I’m from there too. It’s not like this.’ Her smile faded. He didn’t seem to notice, but followed her gaze to the distant peaks.
‘I don’t recognise the mountains. How far from T’locity are we?’
Rosette straightened her back. ‘How far?’
Good luck, Maudi. I don’t think he’s going to grasp dimension shifting and the many-worlds theory right off the mark. Do you?
He studied at the Darkwood Mystery School. I think he went to third term.
Before he flunked out, Maudi?
Is that a joke?
Not really.
Shane repeated his query. ‘How far from T’locity? Do you know?’
‘Further than you can imagine, I’ll wager, but at the same time, not far at all.’
He scowled. ‘Witches’ riddles.’
‘Come on,’ she said. ‘There’s going to be afternoon sun against those rocks.’ She pointed to a tumble of boulders clustered near a small oak tree. ‘We need to dry our clothes and gather firewood before dark.’ She emptied her pack, frowning when she came across the letter to Nell. It was soaked, but the seal was still intact. She put it with her other things to dry, tempted to open it.
Will you, Maudi? Could be important.
‘I think not.’ She looked at Shane. ‘We have to hurry.’
‘What’s the rush?’ He spread his arms wide, basking in the sun. ‘It’s mild enough.’ He kept his arms out and spun, taking in the panorama, his body glistening.
‘You won’t say that in a few hours.’
‘What happens then?’
‘It gets dark.’
He laughed.
She cleared her throat, pointing at the westering sun. ‘It’ll be close to freezing by sunset, and besides, this is Lupin territory. They often come to this place to feed.’
‘And that’s bad?’ He kept smiling, waving his arms like a child.
She hated to break his rare moment of joy, but he needed to know. Their lives depended on it. She reached out to stop him, like a stick in a cartwheel. ‘Listen to me, Shane. It’s not bad. It’s not good. It’s just the Lupins. They…’
‘They what?’
‘Lupins can eat all sorts of things, including people and temple cats. Do you understand that concept?’
His smile fell. ‘Tell me what to do.’
‘Can you manage a fire? My matches are soaked from the swim.’
He nodded. ‘I can manage it easily, if I can find a piece of flint.’
Good thing he’s resourceful. Drayco licked his belly fur, turning over on his back.
‘I could get a flame going, if I had to, Dray.’
Sure you could. I’m just glad you don’t have to. The last time…
I know what happened last time. The fire got a little out of control.
A little? Maudi, you incinerated an entire valley.
Can I help it if the elementals were overenthused? Besides, I put it out!
You conjured a flood. That wiped out anything that had survived the blaze.
She snorted. ‘If we’re speaking of capable, how about you rustle us up something to cook?’ she said aloud.
Drayco leapt to his feet, shaking off the grass and dandelion fluff. When she looked again, he’d vanished.
Rosette gathered dead wood, surprised at how quickly Shane made a fire. His prevailing melancholy seemed to have dissipated somewhat under the mountains of Gaela. He clearly had no sense of any immediate danger and simply appeared rapt in the beauty of their surroundings. Coming from that awful swamp, she could understand why. Perhaps all of Tensar was as dreary. She shuddered at the thought and turned her face back to the sun.
‘Tell me about the Lupins,’ Shane asked as they sat in front of the crackling fire chewing on crispy pieces of roasted goose.
Drayco had nabbed the bird just before sunset. The temple cat had finished his share and was sitting statue-still next to Rosette, facing away from the fire. He stared out into the night, his eyes unblinking. Tell him they are demon dogs capable of flaying victims with a single thought.
She looked at Drayco, watching the tip of his tail twitch. Let’s not push him back into depression just yet. He’s almost cheerful right now.
There’s nothing cheerful about the Lupins.
She turned to Shane. ‘The main thing you need to know is that they’re dangerous, especially now,’ she said.
‘Why especially now?’
‘No one controls them any more.’
‘What do you mean, controls them?’
‘No one keeps them in line.’
‘And who had that job?’
She hooded her eyes. ‘A powerful witch.’
Shane stopped chewing and waited for her to continue. Finally he asked, ‘That’s all you’re going to say?’
She offered a bone to Drayco who politely took it from her fingers.
Tell him, Maudi. If you don’t, I will.
‘I’d like to see that.’
‘See what?’ Shane asked.
She shook her head. ‘The Lupins are an ancient race of wolves—not wolves exactly, but shape-shifters. They used to be under the constraints of a High Priestess named Kreshkali. She isn’t here any more, and that means they are under no constraints at all.’
‘Interesting. Do you know this Kreshkali?’
‘I do.’ Rosette tucked her hair behind her ear. ‘She’s my mother.’
Shane whistled, his eyes widening.
‘Play us a tune?’ she asked.
‘I want to hear more about these Lupins.’
‘Not now.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because talking about them is like shouting out an invitation. I don’t feel like their company tonight. Do you?’
He frowned, shaking his head.
‘A tune, then?’ she asked again.
‘My pleasure,’ he said, and rummaged in his pack for his instrument.
The sound of his flute wafted into the night as he played a slow, sensual tune, hauntingly beautiful in a minor key. It was answered only by an owl hooting in the cottonwoods. She joined him on the penny whistle for a while before setting her instrument aside and closing her eyes. She let the music drift into the back of her mind and turned her thoughts to her familiar.
Drayco? Can you hear anyone? Have you tried to reach Scylla? An’ Lawrence might still be at Treeon.
We’re too insulated here. We need to get away from these mountains—closer to the coast—if we’re going to reach anyone.
We’ll head to Treeon in the morning.
>
That’s a fairly long walk.
I know the portal here. We’ll be gazing down the cliffs into Treeon Valley before morning tea.
Excellent.
She tilted her head back, opening her eyes to the sparkling vault above. Towards the western horizon a bright star appeared from behind the clouds.
‘That’s strange.’
‘What?’ Shane asked, taking the flute from his lips as he finished a reel.
Maudi?
Both Shane and Drayco were staring at her.
‘Maybe nothing, but if I have my bearings right, that’s Jupiter shining bright on the western horizon.’
‘Jupiter?’
‘A distant solar system planet. Huge. Many moons. Uninhabited. Named for an ancient Olympian Earth god.’
‘I don’t understand any of that, but its placement there is strange to you because…?’
‘Because when I left, Jupiter was rising in the sky at dusk.’
‘Still not with you, Rosette.’
Give him the facts, Maudi. He’s good with them.
I thought that’s what I was doing.
Maybe in a different order? Like, from beginning to end instead of all middle?
She smiled, took a sip of water and smacked her lips. ‘Jupiter has a twelve-year cycle—it takes twelve years for it to travel one complete orbit around the sun. If the planet’s setting now, and we’re in the same season, it’s been six years since I was last on Gaela.’
Six, Maudi, or eighteen. Drayco sent the thought with little concern, like counting daisies.
She stared at him. What?
Or thirty…or forty-two…or fifty-four…or…
‘Drayco, stop.’
He blinked his orange eyes at her before twisting around to lick a spot between his shoulder blades. I’m just saying, Maudi, we don’t know how long it’s been or even if we’ve come forward.
You think we might be backward?
‘I wish you two would converse aloud. These long silences with your eyes glazed over is unnerving.’ Shane poked the fire with a stick and threw on another log. Sparks danced up inside a curtain of smoke.
‘Drayco’s suggesting that it may be many more than six years in the future or perhaps even the past.’
If it is six years ago, or more, Nell would be here. I’ll see if I can contact her.
‘That’s right! Six years ago you and I were living with Nell in the Dumarkian Woods. It was before we left for Treeon. Are you saying you’re going to try to contact yourself?’
Interesting, don’t you think?
‘But, Dray, you can’t, or, you didn’t. If you had, we’d remember.’
The temple cat lifted his left paw, licking it before washing behind his ear. You’re right. But maybe I reached Nell.
‘She would have told us.’
Perhaps not. Nell keeps secrets.
Rosette nodded. ‘See if you can.’
‘See if you can what? Who’s Nell?’ Shane stared at her, his eyes dark in the firelight. ‘On second thought, maybe it is worse when you converse aloud. I have no idea what you’re talking about, either way.’
‘If it’s the past, then we might be able to reach Nell. Drayco is going to try to get a message through to her.’
‘And Nell is?’
‘Nell’s my mother.’
‘I thought you said the High Priestess Kreshkali was your mother.’
‘I did. They’re one and the same.’
Shane scratched his head. ‘Isn’t she here now?’
‘No, she’s on Earth, I think.’
‘Hang on. Earth? Gaela? What are you talking about?’
‘They’re different worlds. Different places in time and space.’
‘I don’t understand?’
Maudi, I can’t raise Nell…and if the grumpy birdsong man would stop asking so many questions and listen, it would make more sense to him.
Grumpy? I thought he was almost cheerful tonight.
Oh, come on, Maudi. He’s got wider mood swings than the other one had.
What other one?
Clay.
Her smile faded. Maybe it goes with being a bard.
Drayco stared at Shane and lashed his tail. Obviously, in this case it does.
‘You two are talking about me, I know it! What’re you saying?’
‘Drayco suggested you might like to hear the whole story, that’s all.’
He frowned at her for a moment. ‘I might regret this, but yes, I would.’
‘It’s a long one.’
‘I’ve got no other plans for this evening. Do you?’
Rosette laughed. ‘You’d best get comfortable.’
For hours they sat by the fire, adding log after log until her story was told. Shane focused on the embers, shaking his head.
‘That’s it?’ he asked.
‘The highlights anyway.’
‘Many-worlds with corridors between them?’
‘Yep.’
‘I had no idea.’
‘Realities are immersive, Shane. Like a good story. The knowledge of separate dimensions doesn’t exactly blink like a neon sign. I don’t think it’s meant to.’
‘What kind of sign?’ Shane turned his head to her, brow furrowed.
‘Just think of starlight in a tube going on-off, on-off.’ She brightened. ‘At least it’s warm; usually these mountains are freezing all year round.’ She sat bolt upright. ‘Dray! Does it smell like spring or summer?’
Early summer. Time of the Twins.
‘Can you be sure?’
Yes.
‘How?’
The geese were nesting.
‘What is it?’ Shane asked.
‘If it is early summer, time of the Twins, then it can’t be six years ago, or any immediate future.’
‘Why?’
‘Because Saturn was in the sign of the Twins then, and he’s not there now.’ She pointed directly above them. ‘There’s Saturn, in the sign of the Fishes by the look of it. Oh, great mother goddess.’
‘What?’
‘It means we definitely aren’t anywhere near my “now”. We must be way further than six years.’
‘Forward or back?’
‘Either.’
‘How many?’
‘Twelve years back or eighteen years forward…or more, of course. It could be much more. Either way.’
‘You’re kidding.’
‘I wish I was.’
We might be more lost than we were back in the smelly world’s cave, running from those earth shakes.
‘Don’t worry, Dray. We’ll head for Treeon in the morning.’ She turned to Shane. ‘We can’t let the fire go out.’
‘Lupins?’
‘Yes.’ She slid under her cloak. ‘And bears.’
And mountain cats, Drayco added.
‘And mountain cats…’
Hotha ran hard, puffs of red dust flying out behind him. He jumped the chasms and rents in the ground, skirting cacti and fallen tree trunks, never slackening his pace. In the body of a wolf, he was his most powerful and most free. He revelled in it, leaping higher than necessary to clear each obstacle. In this form he was unencumbered by oppressive thoughts, the things that worried him as a man. The sudden lifting of responsibility felt like bliss—a delightful relief. After a few more miles, his tongue lolling, sides heaving, he couldn’t even remember what he felt so much relief from. The sun was shining, vultures circling—what more could he want?
He ran on, catching the scent he was after. It touched him lightly as he veered around a broad ravine and shot north. He hadn’t forgotten his purpose; he’d just forgotten why it had concerned him so much. What would be, would be. Who was he to judge?
He spotted the cliffs opposite the black gates, noting the three ravens perched in the deadwood above the crevice. Of course she would send her familiars. He didn’t mind. On the contrary, she could watch all she wanted. Before he reached the cliff face, he dropped to a trot and sniffed the air
again. Where was Teg?
On closer inspection he spotted the young Lupin in human form, hunched over a book, tapping a pen against the side of his head. Hotha growled—a deep vibration in his throat. The youth was obsessed with word puzzles.
He skidded to a halt and sat on his haunches, waiting. When Teg didn’t respond, he focused his mind and morphed into bipedal form. Instantly the worry and urgency flooded back. He shook his head, pushing stray hair off his face. Teg was still absorbed in the book. He hadn’t looked up but clasped it with both hands to keep the shockwave of Hotha’s transformation from ruffling the pages. Hotha cleared his throat.
Teg glanced up. ‘What’s a nine-letter word, starting with p, that means abundant or lush?’
Hotha’s face darkened. ‘I’ve a better question. What’s a lad doing playing with word puzzles when he’s meant to be watching for arrivals?’
Teg smiled. ‘I can do two things at once.’
‘The wind is too strong. It’s masking scents from the west. You could miss someone, or something.’
Teg looked out over the barren valley; a few brown tumbleweeds were rolling by with drifts of red dust trailing behind. ‘The Santa Ana?’
Hotha nodded, black waves of hair falling into his face. He smoothed it back with both hands and tied it at the nape of his neck, biceps flexing with the movement. ‘What do you know about her?’
‘Santa Ana?’ Teg said. ‘She’s from the east, a place in ancient times known as the Valley of Saint Anne—patron goddess of books.’ He frowned. ‘I don’t know why they say her wind comes from the mouths of demons, unless they were opposed to the teachings of the sacred feminine, or occult knowledge in general.’
‘There were plenty who equated scholarship with evil.’
Teg scratched his head, his face lighting up. ‘Plenitude,’ he said, writing the word into the small squares on the page. ‘Thank you!’
‘Demon blood vipers, Teg!’ Hotha shouted. ‘Put that away!’
The younger Lupin rose, dusting off his leather pants. He folded his puzzle in half and used it as a place marker in a larger tome. Hotha caught the title before Teg slipped it into his pack.
‘The Evolution of Consciousness in…’ He tilted his head to read the rest. ‘Closed System Societies?’ Hotha snorted. ‘No secret how you’ll be voting. Where’s your sword?’
Teg clasped his side, his long fingers grasping at an empty scabbard. His face fell. He stammered an unintelligible reply.
