The Spell of Rosette Read Online Free PDF

it.’
    ‘Get it over with then.’
    He sighed. ‘I walked straight up to the gates as if it was any other day. At least, any other day that your father wasn’t around.’
    ‘And…’
    ‘Nothing moved in the paddocks. The fields were empty and there was no sound from the chicken yard. No dogs bolting out to lick me to death.’
    ‘Just like last night,’ Kalindi whispered. ‘Did you see Assalo?’
    He shook his head. ‘Everything felt creepy. Things that you know should be there were missing.’ He pushed his hair from his face and looked at her. ‘The front doors were still open, so I went in.’
    Kalindi shivered.
    ‘The place was empty, just like you said.’
    ‘The kitchen?’
    ‘Empty, except for the…’
    ‘The what?’
    ‘The splatters of dried blood everywhere. I looked in the sink, but it had been washed clean.’
    Kalindi hugged her legs, staring at her feet.
    ‘I found the flour jar and got your mother’s stash of gold, ran upstairs for your things and left.’
    ‘How’d you know about the flour jar?’
    ‘I saw her one day through the window. She was making bread and counting coins.’
    ‘Lucky.’
    ‘You’re going to need it.’
    She exhaled. ‘Luck, or the coins?’
    ‘Both.’ He took another swig of water.
    ‘Did you forget my backpack?’ she asked.
    ‘It wasn’t there.’ He rubbed his hands together over the fire. ‘I hid your gear by the side of the road and headed into town. I figured there’d be talk.’
    ‘Was there?’
    ‘Plenty. The rumour is that assassins from Corsanon murdered your whole family, stock, pets and poultry! The only things left alive were the pigs.’
    Kalindi felt her eyes well up again. ‘Why?’
    ‘There was talk about your dad’s trade agreements; I didn’t get it. Maybe he was in debt. He could’ve owed the wrong people.’
    Tears spilled over her cheeks. ‘I can’t go back,’ she whispered.
    ‘It seems you can’t, Kalindi. Not now.’ He put his arm around her and pulled her close. He held her as the sun slipped under the horizon.
    ‘Look at this,’ he said, fishing into his pocket. He dangled a silver chain. ‘I got your travelling charm.’
    He leaned forward and clasped the turquoise stone around her neck. ‘And…’ He reached into his other pocket. ‘Your hairbrush. Can I?’
    Kalindi nodded, undoing the knot of hair at the top of her head and letting her tangles fall to her waist.
    His gentle brushing soothed her and she sighed. ‘What am I going to do now?’
    ‘The whole town thinks you’re dead,’ he said.
    ‘How’s that?’
    ‘They couldn’t find any bodies.’
    Her eyes went wide and he snapped his mouth shut.
    ‘Just tell me,’ she said.
    ‘Kalindi, it looks like they fed the bodies to the pigs. No telling if anyone was missed out. But the assassins—if that’s who really did it—probably knew you weren’t there.’
    ‘Unless they didn’t know how many of us there were. My sisters are married off. They might have thought I was too.’
    ‘You’re sixteen, sweetheart.’
    ‘It’s old enough.’
    Kalindi took a deep breath and stood up. She went down to the water and waited for the white foam to whoosh in towards her. She washed her hands and face and Jarrod stooped beside her, doing the same. Together, they walked back to the fire, wet hands entwined.
    ‘I think you’d best stay hidden.’
    ‘Me too. I could go north, to Dumarka. My mother’s friend lives there. She’s a Treeon witch. I’ve wanted to visit her for ages.’ She sucked in her breath. ‘I’d be safe there, don’t you think?’
    Jarrod laughed. ‘I don’t know who you’re talking about, but if she’s a Treeon witch, you’ll be safe. Nothing can get to them.’
    ‘But Mamá had powers, and they got to her.’
    ‘She never practised.’
    ‘She did! She went to Treeon Temple too when she was younger. That’s where she met the Dumarkianwitch, Nell. They trained together for a while. Mamá knew when things were going to