The Spell of Rosette Read Online Free PDF Page A

that. John’ra’s never warmed to you, especially since he caught us sparring behind the barn.’
    ‘I said it’d be risky.’
    ‘You were right.’ She gave him a light smile before letting it fade. ‘What do I do now?’
    ‘You have to stay hidden, at least until we know more. Why don’t you take the bow and go south to the seagull cliffs? If anyone sees you, you’re just a girl out hunting. If someone’s after you, you’ll be armed.’
    ‘What about you?’
    ‘I’ll check out the estate and meet you at the cove before sunset.’
    She closed her eyes and looked away. ‘They might still be there.’
    He pulled her into his arms. ‘It’ll be all right. Just don’t let anyone spot you crossing the main road. No-one knows you’re here?’
    Kalindi shook her head, pulling on her boots. She took the quiver and bow. ‘Did you bring matches?’ she asked.
    He fished in his pocket and handed them over. ‘Take my short knife too.’ He pushed stray hair back from her face. ‘Do you need anything?’
    ‘If you get into the house?’
    He nodded.
    ‘Can you get my hairbrush and coin purse, and my journal and pens?’
    ‘Top dresser drawer?’ he asked.
    She smiled back. ‘And my wool coat, please. Oh, and my backpack. I left it on the swing-seat.’
    ‘I’ll get what I can and meet you before dark.’ He kissed her lips.
    ‘At the cove,’ she said.
    Kalindi knelt in front of the kindling. The sea breeze had picked up, making the fire tricky to start. With dry kelp and a stack of twigs, she managed a smoke-covered glow. Cupping her hands around it, she blew gently until it crackled with a bright flame. She sat back, warming her hands and adding twigs and, finally, large chunks of driftwood. Convinced it would not go out she turned to a brace of rabbits she’d trapped. She skinned and gutted them, rinsing the meat in the sea before spitting them over the fire. She smiled. Jarrod would be pleased.
    At the thought of him, Kalindi looked up the cliff. The sun had lowered towards the horizon and she didn’t like to think of him shimmying down the sheer face in the dark. She pushed wet tangles off her brow, spotting him on the headland a hundred feet above. He signalled to her, dropping some things over the edge before starting the descent. She ran to where they landed, scooping them into her arms. It was her winter wool coat, the quilt from her bed and a pouch of gold bigger than anything she had in her dresser drawer. Where did he get that?
    He took his time climbing down, jumping the last ten feet and landing lightly in front of her. He didn’t smile. He didn’t even look her in the eyes for more than a second.
    ‘Thanks,’ she said, clutching her things as they walked back towards the fire.
    ‘I’m going for a swim,’ he said, pulling off his sweater and unbuttoning his shirt.
    ‘Wait, Jarrod. Tell me what happened. What did you see?’
    ‘I won’t be long.’
    She nodded and sat cross-legged in front of the fire, turning the spit while he stripped off his pants and disappeared towards the water.
    He came back blue and shaking. Kalindi raised the spit and added more driftwood to the flames. They burst to life as Jarrod squatted in front of it, his naked back to the wind. Kalindi took the edge of her quilt and dried his shoulders and hair, the rich brown ringlets uncoiling and bouncing back.
    ‘Give me the news.’ She turned his face to hers and held it so he couldn’t look away. ‘It can’t be worse than what I imagine.’
    He dropped his eyes and shook his head. ‘Let me get dressed…eat something.’
    They sat side by side in front of the warm coals eating rabbit, bread and cheese.
    ‘Delicious,’ he said, tearing off bits of hot meat with his fingers and popping them into his already full mouth.
    ‘Now,’ Kalindi prompted, ‘you’re washed. You’re fed. Tell me what happened.’
    Jarrod took a swig of water and wiped his mouth with his hand. ‘You aren’t going to like