Strange Attractors by Kim Falconer Page B

‘We won’t find out sitting here.’ She scribbled a list. ‘We need to get a few more bales of hay down from the lofttomorrow, Dray, and see to the hens’ grain. We can open the goat paddocks to the creek and chop more wood.’ She topped up her tea when the kettle whistled. The cabin filled with the scent of mugwort and red raspberry leaves.
    Is that what the chart says?
    She chuckled. ‘The chart isn’t commenting on the stock feed, at least as far as I can tell. I’m just thinking ahead.’
    Rats?
    ‘I’m sure we’ll come across some in the loft.’
    I’ll help with the hay then.
    ‘Thank you. I was hoping you’d say that.’ She looked at the chart again, blowing on the rim of her cup.
    Worried about the horse beasts, Maudi?
    She shook her head. ‘They’ll be fine.’
    Maka’ra then?
    ‘A bit. He was meant to be here.’
    So were we. But we left.
    ‘True.’ Her eyes drifted to her sword which was leaning near the door. She’d been training every day, thinking the islander would arrive at any moment to test her skills. It had been quite some time since they’d sparred and she couldn’t wait to show him her new patterns. But he didn’t come. No one did. She was all alone.
    I’m here.
    She smiled at her familiar stretched out on the plush rug. ‘And I thank the goddess of the woods every day that you are.’
    He purred. Are you restless, Maudi?
    She rubbed her belly; it was only slightly round even with the passing time and her enormous appetite. She picked up the chart again. ‘I’m keen if you are.’
    Do we have a destination?
    ‘We haven’t, and that’s got me concerned.’ She frowned. The only planet in the seventh house, the designation for ‘the others’, was Mars, the warrior planet. That fitted, considering where she’d left Teg and the Sword Master, but it was square to Saturn—the hermit, the planet of hard work, ambition and boundaries—and Saturn was not well placed. ‘The boundaries are too tight,’ she said.
    What’s that, Maudi?
    ‘Saturn can be restrictions, impediments.’
    What are you suggesting?
    ‘They may have been captured.’ She stood up. ‘We’ve got to help.’
    There’s a certain logic there. I follow it. But what about the litter? He flattened his ears when she hissed. I mean, what about the little girl? Kali didn’t want you travelling the corridors and that was two moons back.
    ‘My little girl seems fine, and very small. I’m hardly showing and aside from needing to eat half a hay field every day, I’m the same as ever.’
    And you don’t like meat.
    ‘And that, yes.’
    Drayco got up and bow-stretched.
    Nell didn’t show much until the end either.
    ‘What?’
    Nellion was the same with you. She didn’t get big until the end.
    ‘Drayco, darling, you can’t know that. You weren’t even born yet.’
    It’s curious. I can’t know it, but I do.
    Rosette rubbed his flank with her toes. ‘I don’t see how. In any case, a quick trip to check things out will do us good.’
    The chart uses those words?
    Rosette studied the symbols again, her eye going back to Neptune rising, and the Archer. ‘Not exactly. It does say to trust intuition and explore.’
    That could mean our hunting party tomorrow?
    Rosette laughed. ‘It could. How about this? We get hay down for the horses before the hunt, pack in the afternoon and head out on dark. Deal?’
    Sounds good to me, though I have nothing to pack.
    She laughed again. ‘It’s done then. We’ll be off at sunset.’
    Grayson brushed snow off the latch; the change of climate from Temple Los Loma was shocking. He huffed into his hands and rubbed them together. ‘Rosette?’ he called. ‘Are you about?’ He knew the answer before the silence gave it away. He called again, cracking ice from the hinges and pushing the gate open.
    The cottage was still. No smoke wafted from the chimney and no light glowed from within. The windows were black, free of condensation. They reflected his bulk as he