Strange Attractors (5 page)

S
hane leaned over the cave pool; his torch illuminated the water. It was a familiar place, the caverns that bordered the Black Swamp, and the sensation of standing there, peering into the depths of the pool, brought back memories of his travels with Rosette.

The surface of the water was like a mirror revealing the outline of his body, a silhouette. He couldn’t spot Selene behind him, but he knew she was there. He could feel her breath on his neck. And what was that sound? Was she actually tapping her foot? ‘Can you relax?’ he said, his jaw barely moving.

‘Not really.’ Her voice was cool, a contrast to the cave’s sultry atmosphere.

‘Then at least back off.’

She didn’t move. ‘This is our way out?’ she asked. ‘Are you sure?’

He turned to her. ‘I am.’

‘And what if it’s not?’

‘Trust me. It is.’

‘Where does it lead?’

He braced the torch in a nest of rocks and pulled off his shirt, indicating for her to do the same. ‘Last time, it took us straight to Gaela. It’s a portal, of sorts.’

‘You and Rosette? To her home world?’

‘Where she grew up, yes.’

‘But didn’t it end up being the wrong time? Some kind of unlived past?’

‘Something like that.’

‘So how do we know when or where we’ll come out, Shane? How do we know it will even be Tensar?’

‘We don’t.’ He undid his sword belt and stuffed his clothes into his pack. The water wouldn’t be good for his flutes and whistles, or his sword, but they’d exhausted every other option. The other portal was gone, a solid wall in its place, and he knew of no other escape than the cave pool. They had to risk it if they were ever to get out of this prehistoric world. In all their searching, they had found no settlements and no other human being.

He stood naked, holding the torch over the pool again. Last time there had been fish in the water, blind, colourless and biting, but now he couldn’t see anything moving in the depths. Had something eaten them? Scared them away? Had they even evolved yet? He had no idea how far back into the past they’d gone. It wasn’t recent.

When he and Selene had returned to Tensar, their home world, he’d been relieved. The portals had run true. Selene was thrilled to be back as well, glowing with the new intimacy they’d shared. He sighed. That was until she’d realised they’d returned to a Tensar millennia before his time. Coming through the portal into the Black Swamp was the first hint that something
was askew. A major ground shaker had destroyed that portal before he’d left but the Tensar they were in now hadn’t experienced that event—not yet, and maybe it wouldn’t for a million years to come.

An extended exploration had confirmed his theory—no cities, no roads, no people. The only animal life they encountered was an abundance of strange and varied birds, enormous insects and alarmingly large footprints around the edge of the swamp. The flora was ridiculously green and healthy, though the trees were not tall and there were many more ferns than he’d ever remembered—their leaves thick and broad, their trunks laced with dew-dripped spider webs large as rope. It unnerved him.

Selene didn’t admit to any fear, keeping quiet for most of the exploration, but he had no problems voicing his. There was something disquieting about finding an untouched valley where a city of thousands had been the last time he looked. It was like a dream, a nightmare. He shook his head. What had he been thinking, travelling the corridors without a witch of the blood, without Rosette? Now he was about to do it again.

He knelt by the edge of the pool and tested the water. Better to sacrifice his fingers to a cave predator than his entire body. Or was it? He drew his hand away.

‘What are you doing?’ Selene’s voice echoed in the cave.

‘Just checking.’

‘For what?’

‘Anything that might nip.’

‘Nip?’

He smiled but she didn’t return the gesture. She stood naked, her sword and pack in one hand, the
other on her hip. Her expression made him cringe, but by the goddess of the night, she did look good. Unfortunately, her mood made it impossible for him to enjoy the moment beyond an abstract pleasure in her form.

She snarled at him, pointing a finger. ‘If you think I’m getting into that black hole if it’s harbouring vipers, you’re deranged.’

‘If we stay in this ancient world one more minute, I will be. Come on.’ He held out his hand. ‘I’ll go first. It’s only a few seconds’ swim to the other side. Or it was last time, anyway.’

She didn’t budge.

‘Fine. I’ll be back in a moment.’ He sucked in a deep breath, about to lower himself in.

‘And if you’re not?’

He shrugged, exhaling quickly. ‘You’ll have to find another way out, on your own.’

That changed her expression. ‘Hurry up then,’ she said, taking a step closer. ‘I’m getting goosebumps.’

Ripples expanded across the surface as he lowered himself into the water. The tiny waves raced away, leaping in victory when they reached the far edge of the pool. His body vanished into the black, his head and neck bobbing above the surface like a harbour buoy. Nothing bit off his arms or legs…so far. He dunked, suspecting it couldn’t be much worse than getting his head bitten off by Selene. There was no sign of predators, though in this thick soup he wouldn’t see them coming if there were any. He sucked in another breath and submerged, pushing off from the rock wall.

The darkness engulfed him and all he could think of was how distasteful this would be to Selene. She was a strong swimmer, but in the depths of the mountain
cave pool, it was a cold, blind journey and she would hate that. He had an advantage. He’d been this way before, seen where it led. This was the way out; at least it had been in a future he’d already experienced.
Focus. Don’t let the mind wander.

He groped along, his hands stretched out to feel the way as he flutter-kicked deeper into the cave. An opening couldn’t be far off. He kicked harder, straining to see light up ahead. There was none. When the first niggling desire to breathe crept over him, he felt it—a tickle of scales sliding past his arm. He swam by it—twice his own length. Bubbles escaped his mouth. He needed air.

With a force that expelled his breath, it slammed him into the rocks. Heat ripped across his side, cutting like knives, jolting his body. The last air bubble escaped his lips and he panicked, the darkness a tomb around him. His eyes bulged wide, desperate for the surface, for light. His hands pressed the vault above him, searching for an opening. He had to get out before that thing came back. He couldn’t see the blood flowing from his wound, but he could feel it warming the water around him. He had to breathe. He turned back; he was kicking hard but his legs barely responded.

His head spun and his body tingled as he sank, too weak to carry on. This was it. Shane MacVenton, master bard, left-hand rank of the T’locity border scouts and many-worlds traveller, was about to die, drowned in a cave pool, filleted by a dark water demon. He tried to imagine the look on Selene’s face when he didn’t return, when the minutes passed and she knew that—even with his massive lung capacity—he could no longer be alive. Would she mourn him? Miss his company? Most likely she’d be venomous at his disappearance. After all, he was
abandoning her—her very worst fear, as it turns out. He’d never live it down.

Stop being so dramatic, Shane MacVenton. It’s not as bad as you think.

Shane pulled his head back.
What?

Relax. I can get you out of this. Just let go.
The words had to be in his head. They were as clear as a high whistle on a sunny day.

You want me to let go?

Exactly.

Help me! I need help.
He struggled again at the wall of rock but his hands were unresponsive, doing no more than brushing across the rough stones.

That’s what we’re here for, lad. To help you. Follow.

He didn’t know who was speaking to him but his last glimmer of consciousness locked onto the light ahead of him. He forced his legs to kick and followed the light until the desperation for air made him gulp. As water rushed down his throat and into his lungs, the light faded and darkness swallowed him up.

Rosette ran hard to keep up with Teg. By the goddess, that Lupin could cover ground. He took long, graceful strides, his paws gliding over the rough terrain without a single misstep. Effortless. She’d matched him at first but they’d been running for hours now and the strain began to show—on her, anyway. Her limbs ached, the impact of each paw jarring her spine. She stumbled more than once and imagined the Corsanon warriors releasing a shower of arrows that clanked onto the ground behind her. She was safe enough, out of range, but they were gaining.

Stop thinking about falling, Maudi. It’s not helping.

Her familiar’s voice was like a splash of ice water. He seemed tireless too, like Teg, his sleek body bounding
over the ground beside her. Perhaps she would have been better off shifting into a falcon’s form after all. She’d be sitting smugly on the edge of the Prieta Mountain portal by now, watching their approach, cheering them on. But there was something about her new-found power in the wolf’s body that excited her. It felt like a compensation, a solace for the uncomfortable aspects of her pregnancy. In the body of the wolf, she felt none of them.
Thanks, Dray. I’ll be all right. How’re you?

I’ll feel better when we’re inside the portal. He’s cutting it quite close, don’t you think?

The Sword Master? He is, and he’d better have something planned for the finale. The warriors are starting to gain.

He does, surely.

Can you ask Scylla what it is? I’d like us all to be in the loop.

You’re scared to ask yourself?

Of course not!
She reconsidered.
Maybe a little. He isn’t happy with me, particularly in this form, and I’m sure that last order of his…

The one you ignored?

That one. It had something to do with shifting to a raptor and flying out of here.

I’d be scared too, Maudi.

Thanks, Dray.
She snarled, a wolf’s laughter.
Can you ask Scylla please?

They were running abreast with the warhorse and she could see An’ Lawrence to her left, leaning over the charger’s neck, focused on the portal ahead. Scylla was just in front of him, slackening her pace. Rosette bristled. Why was his familiar slowing down?
Drayco? What’s happening?

Rosette kept her focus on the destination—an outcropping of rocks that housed the portal, the
gateway to the many-worlds—but in her peripheral vision she could see the warhorse easing back too. She shot ahead, sticking to her pace.
Is he insane?

Perhaps, Maudi. I think he’s going to blast them again so we can all get away.

Another spell? It won’t happen, at least not effectively. He won’t be able to conjure the Elementals on the run like this, exhausted. I know I couldn’t.

He’s going to try, nonetheless.

Wrong choice!
She looked back at An’ Lawrence and caught his eye.
Don’t do it! It’s too risky.
She saw the grim smile on his face. She knew that look.

His mental voice boomed into her head.
Rosette de Santo, the last time I checked, you were the apprentice and I was the master. Has something changed that I am not aware of?
He drew his sword and eased his horse back.

Nothing has changed in that regard, Sword Master.

Then if I were you, Rosette, I’d be focusing all my energy on getting into that portal. Your pace is letting up. I thought you’d have more stamina.

But I can help with the spell if you just wait. We’ll conjure it together.

And I told you to get into the portal. Odd I don’t see you there yet.

His look changed and she cut off the retort forming in her mind. Instead she called for a final burst of speed and shot ahead of Teg, Drayco accelerating by her side. Her lungs burned with every breath. The air seemed to tear in and out of her throat and her heart pounded so hard she thought it would burst. The dry grass of the foothills shredded beneath her paws, clods of dirt and small rocks flying out behind. The slope increased to a sharp incline and she wrenched her shoulder scrambling up the rise. The horse would
have trouble here. Why hadn’t he thought of that? He needed to take the trail to the east—the longer way around.

The realisation worried her, but she didn’t slow down or look back until they were through the portal, skidding to a stop. She braced her forelegs and dropped her haunches to the ground. At the speed she was travelling, it was all she could do to cushion the impact. She slammed into the far wall of the corridor, feeling her shoulder crack as it hit the smooth granite surface. The next thing she felt was Drayco’s body ploughing into hers, knocking the breath from her lungs.

Maudi? Did I bump you?

I need air.
She gasped.

Me too.
After a few attempts she finally drew a deep breath and with it she gathered the energy it would take to morph back into her human form. ‘Oh, why’d I do that?’ She braced her ribs, still aching from Everett’s ministrations. Her body felt like it had been hammered thin, the edges cracked and brittle. She struggled to sit up, her arm throbbing.

Drayco was panting on the ground, tail lashing.
I’m wondering why we’ve done any of this. We could be curled up by a warm fire, tucked away in Dumarka right now. Remind me why we didn’t want that, Maudi?

‘I had the perverse idea the Sword Master needed rescuing, remember?’

I do, and now that the rescue is accomplished, are you ready to go home?

‘Yes, oh yes. I’m ready.’ She rubbed her belly, the smallest bulge pressing at her waist band. It felt like butterflies were dancing in there. ‘As soon as I have a proper word with An’ Lawrence, we are heading back.’